Qudwa

al-Qudwa, also spelled al-Qidwa, or al-Qudwah / al-Qidwah, (Arabic: القدوة) is a famous family of notables in the city of Gaza in Palestine of the Ashraf class (Arabic: الأشراف) . The family is also sometimes known as "Arafat" (Arabic: عرفات), or Arafat al-Qudwa.

History and Background

Many family members were prominent figures since the late seventeenth century. The family traces its origins to two brothers, Sayed Mohammad bin Yusef al-Qudwa and Sayed Arafat al-Qudwa (the first), who settled in Gaza in 1658 AD. They had moved from Aleppo (Arabic: حلب), Syria where the family was also known as "al-Nabhani", and where branches still exist in that city till today. The family very quickly established itself as notables in Gaza by belonging to the Ashraf class or the Hashemites / Husseini line, and also through extensive endowments made by Sayed Mohammad bin Arafat al-Qidwa around 1688 AD, and then later by his descendents.

According to the Islamic court registers and historical accounts, the fist few Qudwas in Gaza were traders and businessmen, and it seemed that they were well-off, managing enormous wealth in terms of endowments, farmland, assets, and luxurious dwellings in Gaza. Family fortunes later included homes and farmland in the vicinity of Yafa and Jerusalem. In fact, in the mid 18th century their assets extended to include endowments and property owned in Egypt, where a leading Qudwa, Sayed Mohammad bin Arafat (the third), and his two sons, Abdullah and Mustafa, had lived (for part of their life times) and managed their business. Mohammad bin Arafat died in 1774 in Egypt, and his two sons returned to Gaza.

In Gaza, Mustafa Arafat served as Naqeeb al-Ashraf, the head of the Ashraf class, descendents of Islamic prophet Muhammad in the late 18th century. This prestigious post was handed down to his son, Sayed Ahmad al-Qudwa, who held the post till his death. The post of Naqeeb al-Ashraf was inherited by Ahmad's son, Sayed Yusuf, who remained as Naqeeb until he died sometime around 1828. The office was then filled by his son, Sayed Hussein al-Qudwa, who was only 12 years old at that time, attesting to the influence and prestige that family had wielded at that time. He was probably the youngest Naqeeb in history. Sayed Hussein held the position till 1844, the year he was removed. This position, later on, was occupied by a relative, Sayed Dawood al-Qudwa in 1883, who is the grandfather of the Palestinian president Yasser Arafat. Sayed Dawood died in 1911.

Other influential positions, such as civil administrative offices, were occupied by leading Qudwas. Sayed Suleiman bin Mohammad bin Naqeeb Mustafa al-Qudwa (mentioned above) was elected member of the Gaza city municipality council. He died in Egypt after 1846, which meant that the family had retained business ties in Egypt. He left several sons, one of whom, Sheikh Abdul-Razzaq, was also elected to the city municipality council. Sheikh Abdul-Razzaq was also a traditionally-trained Islamic scholar who had studied under scholars (Ulema) at the famous al-Azahar mosques (University) in Egypt. He died in 1872. Sayed Mahmood (d. 1942), the son of Abdul-Razzaq, was also a prominent figure in the post-Ottoman period. He served on the council of Awqaf (Endowments), and managed the huge Qudwa endowment.

The most famous member of the family is the late Palestinian president and nationalist, Yasser Arafat, whose biography is beyond the scope of this article.

ee also see prominent members:

1) Sayed Fathi Arafat, founder and chairman of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, and member of the Palestinian National Council.

2) Moussa Arafat al-Qudwa head of the Palestinian Public Security Service in the Gaza Strip.

Note: This Article has recently been edited as to claim that a certain family in Pakistan is related to the Palestinian family about which this article has been written. However, the Qudwas of Palestine do not recognize the other family as relatives in Pakistan.

References

1) 'elat Arafat al-Qudwa fi al-Quds min khilal al watha'q al-Othmaniyah wa al-makhtootat al-'arabiah-Mohmad Hashem Musa Ghoosha-1999.

2) Ithaf al-A'zah fi tareekh Gaza- Othman al-Tabba' (manuscript). 3) Islamic court registers of Gaza and Jerusalem.