TheBani Shaiba (Arabic:بني شيبه,lit. 'the sons of Shaiba') are anArab clan belonging to theBanu Abd al-Dar sub-clan, that are part of the larger erstwhileQuraysh tribal confederation in theHejaz region of modernSaudi Arabia. They comprise mainly of the descendants ofUthman ibn Talha, his father Talha ibn Abdullah and his grandfatherAbd al-Dar ibn Qusai. They are known to have historically undertaken the role of theCustodian of the Kaaba and hence have held the keys to theKaaba since thepre-Islamic period and subsequently in the aftermath of theConquest of Mecca by the Islamic prophetMuhammad in 630 CE.[1]
The members of the tribe greet visitors into the Kaaba during thecleaning ceremony and clean the interior together with the visitors.Sheikh Abdul-Aziz Al-Sheibi (sometimes spelled Al-Shaibi[2]), who died in November 2010, kept the key for eighteen years.[3] His brother, Abdul Qader Al-Sheibi, became the new key-bearer.[3] Abdul Qader Al-Sheibi died on 23 October 2014.[4] Sheikh Abdul Qadir Al-Shaibi was the 108th successor ofUthman ibn Talha.[5]
After the demise of Sheikh Abdul Qadir, Dr. Saleh bin Zain Al-Abidin Al-Shaibi, the oldest member of Shaibi family became the new keeper of the keys to the Kaaba until his death on 22nd June 2024.[6] The new caretaker is Abdul Wahab bin Zian Al-Abidin Al-Shaibi.
The keys to the Kaaba were bestowed onTasm, a tribe ofʿĀd beforeQuraysh. It passed toKhuza'a, then Qusai, who gave it to his son Abdul Dar, who handed it over to his son Othman. It shifted from one person to another until it rested with their nephew Shaiba. It is still inherited by their successors.[citation needed]Muhammad, handed the keys to Bani Shaiba in the year of theconquest of Mecca, and said, "Take it, O Bani Talha, eternally up to the Day of Resurrection, and it will not be taken from you unless by an unjust, oppressive tyrant".[7] A free standing arch stood where the houses of Banu Shaybah were located near the Kabah until it was removed circa 1950 CE to expand theMataf area.[8][9]
