Q: What is the meaning of saying: Qabily and Khudairy?
A: This is a minor issue known among people that AlQabily is the one who belongs to a wellknown tribe such as Qahtany, Sabi`y, Tamimy, Qurashy, Hashimy and the like. This is the one who is described as Qabily i.e. a descendent of a Qabilah (tribe). It may be said Qabaly like Hanafy, Raba`y and suchlike according to the syntax rules of ascription to the word Qabila.
The term Khudairy according to people's tradition is common in Najd in particular and I do not know of any other place that uses it. It means the person who is an Arab, speaks Arabic and lives among the Arabs but does not belong to a wellknown tribe or clan i.e. is not known to be a Kahtany, Tamimy or Qurashy.
The Mawla (freed slave) according to Arab tradition is the one who was originally a slave and then became free. The `Ajam are the nonArabs (singular is A`jamy).
The ruling of Allah's Din (religion of Islam) states that there is no superiority of any one over the other except with regard to Taqwa (fearing Allah as He should be feared), whether a person is known to be Qabily, Khudairy, Mawla or A`jamy, for they are all alike. There is no superiority of this over that except with regard to Taqwa, just as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: There is no superiority of an Arab over a nonArab or of a nonArab over an Arab except in terms of Taqwa, and there is no superiority of a white man over a black man or of a black man over a white man, except in terms of Taqwa.
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allâh is that (believer) who has AtTaqwâ [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqûn (the pious. See V.2:2)].
However, in the past, it was the tradition of the Arabs to give their daughters for marriage to the tribes which they knew, and refused to marry them to persons belonging to tribes which they did not know. Unfortunately, this still prevails among people. Some might forbear this and marry them to a Khudairy, Mawla or an`Ajamy, like what had happened during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him), for he (peace be upon him) had married Usamah Ibn Zayd Ibn Harithah, (may Allah be pleased with him) his Mawla, to Fatimah bint Qays (may Allah be pleased with her) who belonged to Quraysh. The same happened when Abu Hudhayfah ibn `Utbah ibn Rabi`ah, who belonged to Quraysh. He married his Mawla, Salim, to the daughter of his brother, AlWalid Ibn `Utbah, disregarding the fact that he was a Mawla.
This also happened amongst the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) may Allah be pleased with them and those who succeeded them. People, especially in Najd and some other places, might still act stubbornly in this regard according to what they have inherited from their parents and ancestors. Some of them might even fear embarrassing their tribe if they ask about the reason for giving one's daughter in marriage to a certain person, a thing that could lead, according to their view, to violating the tribal code and mixing lineage. However, some of them might have reasonable excuses (for refusal), and there is no harm in this. The important thing is to choose a suitable person for marriage relationship in accordance with their religion and morals. This is the right thing to do, whether a person is Arabic, A`jamy, Mawla, Khudairy or other than that, as this is the basis. However, if a person insists on having a marriage relationship with his tribe only, we know of no harm in this. Allah (Exalted be He) is the One Who grants success.