Isaaq
| Isaaq Reer Sheekh Isxaaq بنو إسحاق | |
|---|---|
| Somali clan | |
The tomb of Ishaaq, the father of the Isaaq clan, in Maydh | |
| Ethnicity | Somali |
| Nisba | Al-Ishaaqi الإسحاقي |
| Location | Somaliland Somalia Ethiopia Djibouti Saudi Arabia |
| Descended from | Sheikh Ishaaq bin Ahmed |
| Population | 3-4 million |
| Branches | Habr Magaadle:
Habr Habuusheed: |
| Language | Somali Arabic |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
The Isaaq (Somali: Reer Sheekh Isxaaq, Arabic: بنو إسحاق, Banu Ishaq) is a major Somali clan. It is one of the largest Somali clan families in the Horn of Africa, with a large and densely populated traditional territory.
The Isaaq people claim in a traditional legend to have descended from Sheikh Ishaaq bin Ahmed, an Islamic scholar who purportedly traveled to Somaliland in the 12th or 13th century and married two women; one from the local Dir clan. He is said to have sired eight sons who are the common ancestors of the clans of the Isaaq clan-family. He remained in Maydh until his death.