alMuttalib

Al-Muttalib is an Arabic nisba used to identify members of the Banu Muttalib, a Quraysh clan in Mecca. The Banu Muttalib is a branch within the larger Banu Hashim lineage, which in turn is part of the Quraysh tribe. In historical and biographical sources, al-Muttalib appears as a designation for people tied to that lineage, used in personal names and genealogical references.

Etymology and meaning: The name Muttalib derives from the Arabic root talab, meaning to seek or to demand. The nisba al-Muttalib thus indicates descent from or association with a figure or house named Mutallib/Muttalib. This reflects early Islamic naming practices in which lineage and tribal affiliation were central markers of identity.

Notable bearer: The most prominent bearer of the name is Abd al-Muttalib (Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim), who died around the end of the 6th century CE. He was a leading figure of the Quraysh in Mecca and the chief of the Banu Hashim. Abd al-Muttalib is remembered for his role in Meccan affairs, including organizing the rebuilding of the Kaaba and overseeing the event in which the Black Stone was placed in its corner during the reconstruction. He is also known as the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad, with his sons including Abdullah, the father of Muhammad, and Abu Talib, the father of Ali, among others.

See also: Banu Muttalib; Abdul Muttalib; Hashim.