Encyclopedia of Islam

Further reading: Michael Sells, Early Islamic Mysticism: 

Sufi, Quran, Miraj, Poetic and Theological Writings (New 

York: Paulist Press, 1996); David Waines, An Introduc-

tion to Islam. 2d ed. (Cambridge: Cambridge University 

Press, 2003).

Hashimite dynasty

 

(also known as the 

Hashemites)

Descendants of the Islamic prophet m

Uhammad

,

the Hashimites have played a crucial role in 

Middle Eastern history for centuries. Muham-

mad was a member of the clan of Hashim, 

whence the name Hashimite. This term became 

important during the rule of the a

bbasid

 dynasty 

(750–1258), as the 

caliphate

 used it to trace their 

lineage to the Prophet and thus secure political 

and spiritual 

aUthority

. However, in the modern 

period, the name Hashimite most often refers to 

the long-standing custodians of m

ecca

 (until it 

came under Saudi control in 1924) and the mod-

ern rulers of J

ordan

.

K  294