alHusayni

al-Husayni, also spelled al-Husseini, is an Arab nisba meaning “descendant of Husayn,” typically attached to a family name. The most prominent bearer in modern history is the al-Husayni clan of Jerusalem, a large Arab-Palestinian family whose members claim descent from Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

Historically, the Jerusalem branch held significant religious and political influence. They supplied scholars and leadership within the local Arab community during the late Ottoman period and the British Mandate, and they played a central role in Jerusalem’s governance and in the administration of the waqf surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex. The family was a key political force in Jerusalem, often contrasted with rival urban elites such as the Nashashibi family in shaping local affairs.

Notable individuals include Haj Amin al-Husseini (1895–1974), the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, who led the Palestinian Arab nationalist movement during the British Mandate and the Arab Revolt, and who remains a controversial figure for his wartime associations. Other members have held religious, bureaucratic, or political roles within Palestinian society and the wider Levant.

Spelling variants include Husayni, Husseini, and al-Husayni, reflecting differences in transliteration from Arabic. Today the surname appears among Palestinians and in the broader Arab diaspora, with the name continuing to evoke historical associations with Jerusalem’s religious-legal institutions and with Palestinian political history.