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Isaaq
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<p>The Isaaq is a major <a href="/facts/Somali_clans/b9NbrFks">Somali clan</a>. It is one of the largest Somali clan families in the <a href="/facts/Horn_of_Africa/jU4Xk52j">Horn of Africa</a>, with a large and densely populated traditional territory. </p><p>The Isaaq people claim in a traditional legend to have descended from <a href="/facts/Ishaaq_bin_Ahmed/314SSDjo">Sheikh Ishaaq bin Ahmed</a>, an <a href="/facts/Ulama/7vMcAgBV">Islamic scholar</a> who purportedly traveled to <a href="/facts/Somaliland/5sSah01x">Somaliland</a> in the 12th or 13th century and married two women; one from the local <a href="/facts/Dir_(clan)/XHV3yVv4">Dir clan</a>. He is said to have sired eight sons who are the common ancestors of the clans of the Isaaq clan-family. He remained in <a href="/facts/Maydh/jtBkStmJ">Maydh</a> until his death. </p>