Hashemite

Hashemite refers to descent from Hashim ibn Abd Manaf, a prominent leader of the early Quraysh tribe, and to the dynasties and individuals who trace their lineage to him. The term is used both for members of the Hashemite clan (Banu Hashim) and for the Hashemite dynasty, the royal family that has ruled Jordan since the early 20th century, as well as for others who claim Hashimite ancestry.

Historically, Hashim ibn Abd Manaf was an ancestor of Prophet Muhammad, and the Hashemite name denotes a branch of the Quraysh. In the early 20th century, Hashemite traders and leaders rose to regional prominence during and after the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire, which shaped the political map of the Middle East after World War I.

In the wake of the Arab Revolt, the Hashemite family established rule in the area that would become Jordan. Sharif Hussein bin Ali led the revolt from Mecca in 1916; his son Faisal I briefly ruled Syria, while Abdullah I established the Emirate of Transjordan in 1921. Transjordan gained independence as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1946. The successive Hashemite monarchs of Jordan have been Abdullah I, Talal, Hussein, and, since 1999, Abdullah II. The Hashemite monarchy remains a defining institution in Jordan, functioning within a constitutional framework with a strong ceremonial and political role.

Beyond Jordan, the term Hashemite can describe anyone who claims direct male-line descent from Hashim, a lineage recognized in historical and genealogical contexts.