alAzdi

Al-Azdi is a nisba used in Arab naming to indicate descent from the Azd, a prominent Arab tribal confederation of South Arabian origin. The Azd trace their roots to the southern Arabian Peninsula, and during late antiquity and the early Islamic era members of the Azd established communities in various regions, notably Yemen and Oman, with later presence in parts of the Hejaz and Medina. In medieval genealogies the title al-Azdi is attached to individuals who, through paternal line or tribal affiliation, claim Azdi ancestry. Some accounts also link the Medina tribes of Aus and Khazraj to Azdi origins, though genealogical lineages in tribal histories are complex and sometimes contested.

In historical texts, the nisba al-Azdi served to identify tribal origin, place of residence, or affiliation, rather than to denote a current nationality. It was commonly used in combination with given names in biographical and genealogical works to situate a person within the broader web of Arab kinship and affiliation. The usage reflects the importance of tribal identity in social and political life across the Islamic world.

Today, al-Azdi may appear as a surname or adopted title among Arabs and in diasporic communities. As with many nisbas, modern bearers may or may not have direct or verifiable links to a single ancestral line, and the name often denotes historical or cultural affiliation rather than precise genealogical descent. See also Azd; Arabic naming customs; Tribes of the Arabian Peninsula.