Sheikh Sadik Sher Ali’s book ‘Musalman Races, Found in Sindh, Balochistan and Afghanistan’ authored in 1901, is a valuable historical and ethnographic record

The book is a Short Sketch, Historical and Traditional, of the Musalman Races Found in Sindh, Baluchistan and Afghanistan written by Sheikh Sadik Sher Ali in 1901. It is a valuable historical and ethnographic record. It gives detailed information about Muslim tribes in Sindh, Baluchistan, and Afghanistan. This work is a Great treasure of knowledge and informative piece especially the history of races (castes), their meanings, traditions, and rituals. The book was first written for British officials to help them during the census. Later, it became a complete guide to tribal history, customs, and genealogies.

The writer divides the Muslim tribes into eleven major groups like   Arabs, (Kurash ul- Hashim, Kurash ) Afghans (Pathans), Mughals, Baloch,  Makrani Baloch, Birahoi, Sindhi aboriginal tribes, new converts (Sheikh class), menial/slave tribes.

The author explains that the largest population of the Mussulmans in Sindh claim to be the descendants of the Arabs, who came to Sindh from Arabia. Their main or principal sub-divisions are: Kuresh-al-Hashmi, Kuresh, and Sheikh.

Arabs

Kuresh-al-Hashmi,

Among these, the Arab tribes, particularly those claiming descent from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), such as the Kuresh-al-Hashmi, are regarded as the most noble. The Kuresh tribe is a significant part of Arab heritage, with their name having two possible meanings in Arabic. “Kuresh” means “to come together” that signify to Fahar’s unification of his tribe, or it might be derived from “Takrush” which means “trade”, due to Fahar’s occupation. Kuresh-al-Hashmi, refers to the descendants of Hashim, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandfather.

Its Sub-groups like Sayyads, who are divided into Hasani and Husaini branches, are further classified into 22 identified sects, such as Jilani, Bukhari, Mashahadi, Shirazi, and Musawi, depending on their lineage and migration patterns.  For instance, the, Jilani Sayyads, known for their spiritual influence, settled in areas like Ghotki and Ranipur. Additionally, tribes like Kalhora and Kalwar are included under the Arab classification, although the Kalhoras are considered culturally assimilated into Sindhi society.

Kuresh

Meanwhile, The Kuresh tribe has has many branches, including Bani Ghalib, Bani Loi, Bani Kaab, Bani Marah or Bani Tim, Bani Kilab, Bani Kusi, and Bani Umiyah. The Prophet Muhammad is descended from Fahar, the founder of the Kuresh dynasty, and Hashim. The four Khalifas – Hazrat Abu Bakar, Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Osman, and Hazrat Ali – are connected to the Prophet through their descent from Fahar.

Each Khalifa has a unique title and descendants. Hazrat Abu Bakar, descended from Marah/Tim, is known as Sidik, and his descendants are called Sidiki. Hazrat Umar, descended from Kaab, is known as Faruk (distinguisher between truth and falsehood), and his descendants are called Faruki or Sarhandi. Hazrat Osman, descended from Abdu Munaf, is known as Zi-Nuren (possessor of two lights), and his descendants are called Osmani or Osmaniyah. Hazrat Ali, descended from Hashim, is known as Hashmi, and his descendants are called Alwi or Alwiyun.

(Children of Hazrat Ali from Bibi Fatima are known as Sayyids or Sharif. And Children of Hazrat Ali from other wives are known as Alwi).

In Sindh, some tribes claim to belong to the Kuresh tribe, including the Tunia and Piizada tribes, which claim descent from Hazrat Abu Bakar. However, the Tunia tribe is actually a Sindhi tribe belonging to the Saman tribe, and their name originates from a historical story about one of their ancestors.

Afghan Tribes

In the book, the author also discusses Afghan tribes that traces their ancestry back to Kais Abdu Rashi, who is descendant of the Bani Israel that embraced Islam during the Prophet’s time. The Afghans are divided into four main branches: Sarbani, Baitani, Gharghashti, and Kiran, each group further divided into dozens of septs. For example, the Sarbani branch includes the Popalzai, Barakzai, Durrani, Iand Tarin tribes. The Barakzai, is important one, produced the ruling family of Afghanistan.

Baloch Tribes

As for Baloch tribes, the tribe’s origins is complex and multifaceted. Some believe they descended from Amir Hamzo, the prophet’s uncle, who had a remarkable encounter with a supernatural being, a “peri,” while on a hunting trip. This encounter resulted in the birth of a child named Abdu Rahim, who would become the ancestor of the Baloch tribe. However, this account doesn’t explain how Abdu Rahim’s descendants came to be known as Baloch.

Another historian wrote a different perspective, that traces the Baloch tribe’s roots to Badiu, a former slave of Hazrat Ali. After Hazrat Ali’s assassination, Badiu migrated to the “Baloch” mountains in Halab, where he had two sons, Haris and Labdan. Haris went on to have a son named Sharikh Baloch, meaning sharikh born in the mountains.

A third account suggests that the term “Baloch” might actually be derived from “Badloch,” which refers to the descendants of a genie and a slave girl belonging to Amir Hamzo. Over time, the term “Badloch” may have evolved into “Baloch.”

Moreover, a fascinating view of Baloch history is the story of Harun, a descendant of Abdu Rahim, who had 50 sons from 7 wives. When the Arabs conquered Makran, Harun’s sons divided the land among themselves. However, after Harun’s son Jalaludin passed away, disagreements arose among his sons and descendants, leading some to settle in Kaich and Sindh. Today, many Baloch tribes in Sindh claim descent from Jalaludin. Jalal Khan, who had five children: Rind, Lashari, Hot, Korai, and Jatoi. Each of them found a major tribal line.

The Rind tribe, is mainly associated with Mir Chakar Khan, a historical figure known for his leadership and military campaigns in the Punjab. Their septs (descendants) including Bozdar, Gopang, Nizamani, and over 60 other.  Their sub-groups, are spread across Sindh and Baluchistan. While Dombki, Jakhrani, and Laghari tribes are also direct offshoots of the Rind lineage.

While one of its step, The Chandia, tribe, descended from Hot, played a prominent role during British rule, with leaders like Ghaibi Khan being granted large jagirs for loyalty and cooperation. Based on local beliefs, it is says that the Chandias got their name after their leader married a barber’s daughter.

Mughal Tribes

When it comes to Mughal, the term “Moghal,” or, properly, called “Mughul,” means proud and cruel, and was first applied to the family of Changez Khan of Khuvarzam, whose excesses of cruelty became renowned in the world.  As for Moghal population in Sindh is comparatively smaller and includes groups like Chaghata, Arghun, and Kazalbash, often associated with past military elites.

Makarni Baloch

The Makrani Baloch are a distinct group from Makran who often come to Karachi for work. They consist of various septs, including Bar, Burhanzai, Buzerzada, Bijarzai, Charizai,  Kahur, Narin and so on Makranis are sometimes referred to as “Gushi,” meaning barbarian, due to their perceived rough habits and limited education, rather than being a specific tribe.

Birahois Tribes

Like the Afghans, Birahois also appear to be Bani Israel (Israelites), and shared the same fate as befel the ancestors of the Afghans during the reign of Bakhit Nasar (Nebuchadnezzar), King of Babylon, 600 years before Christ. These Israelites took refuge in the mountains of Baluchistan, where they still reside today, and came to be known as the Birahoi, named after their ancestor Ibrahim.

Historically, the Birahois took refuge in two mountain ranges: the Sarawan and the Jahalwan. These ranges have been governed by two distinct Chiefs, with the current Chief of the Sarawan Birahoi tribes being Sardar Ghaus Baksh, Raisani. His family has a rich history, with his father, Sardar Sir Asad Khan, being a man of great influence before his untimely death in 1894. The Jahalwan tribes, on the other hand, are led by Pasand Khan, brother of the late Ganhwar Khan, a notorious dacoit leader who was killed in an engagement with government troops in 1895.

Indigenous Sindhi Muslim

Meanwhile, indigenous Sindhi Muslim tribes such as the Samma, Sumra, Jats, and Dahars, Mallah, Mahar, chachar are included under aboriginal Muslim groups, many of whom embraced Islam following the Arab conquest of Sindh some of tribes historical perspective is given below.( Sumara, chachar, solangi and Mahar).

The author of the book says that the origin of Sumro is not known, but they were the children of the soil and were probably descended from Sindh, the first inhabitant of this Province, who was a brother of Hind, and a son of Earn, the third son of Noah. But the genealogy given in the Tuhfatulkiram is not correct. Sindh was a cousin of Hind, and not his brother, and their descent from Noah,

The present headman of the tribe, Wadero Ali Mardan, says that Chachar is a sept of Gakhar Pathan, but he do not find any such sept in the Pathan tribes. Nor do he find Gakhar to be a sept of the Saman tribe. According to Khan Bahadur Abul Kher Khan, Dharejo, Chachar, like Dharejo, was originally a Hindu, and belongs now to the Saman tribe, and this account appears to be correct.

The author of a brief history of Sindh, Sayad Muhibulah son of Ahamad Shah, Waiz says that Solingi and Macchi are descendants of a person by name Sehwan, who was one of the great grandsons of Ham, the third son of the prophet Noah. The original town of Sehwan was founded by that person, but afterwards it was destroyed by the overflow of the river Indus. During the time Ambrit, a Hindu king, ruled at Alor, a Hindu, by name Siwi, was appointed by him governor of Sehwan. Siwi founded another town on a different site, secure from the ravages of the river, and called it after his name, viz., Siwi, which afterwards became known as Siwistan, and is now called Sehwan. There is a couplet in Persian, describing the effects of heat felt in Sehwan.

The Mahar is said to be a descendant of Hind, whose genealogy is given under Sumra. The great grandfather of Mahar was named Chand, a born menial servant, i.e., the offspring of a slave, of Rai Sahasi, the King of Alor. Chand was appointed Governor of Mathelo, a well-known old town, now in ruins, in taluka Mirpur Mahari, also called Mirpur Mathelo, in the Shikarpur District. During the reign of Shah Beg wd. Mirzan Shan Hasan, Mogal or Maghul, the grandson of Chand, by name Sanamak, embraced Islam. The Mahars chiefly live in taluka Mirpur and Jaisalmir territory. Their Chief is Muhammad Baksh Khan wd. Haji Khan, Mahar, who lives in Khanpur, a small village in taluka Mirpur. Muhammad Baksh Khan is a large zamindar and exercises greatinfluence over his tribe.

Sheikh – New Muslim

The Sheikh Nao Muslim, or new converts to Islam, include groups like the Meman and Khoja. The Meman, found primarily in Kutch and Sindh, are engaged in trade and agriculture. The Khoja, originally Hindus, were converted to Islam about 500 years ago and have since split into two factions: the Panjaibhai, who consider Agha Khan a divine representative, and the Pirai, who view him as a mere religious head. The Khojas have a unique system of prayer and pay a share of their profits to Agha Khan. Some Khojas have revolted against these practices, seeking to follow traditional Islamic precepts.

Slave tribes

During the Muslim rule in Sindh, slavery was common, with slaves being bought and used for domestic work. When the British took over, they prohibited the buying and selling of slaves, leading many to desert their masters and form a new class of freemen. Today, these persons and their descendants work as farmers or laborers, identified by groups such as Gada, Khaskheli, Gudara, Kambrani, Muradani, and Shabrani, which have become part of their identity.

This work is a great treasure of knowledge and informative piece especially the history of races (castes), their meanings, traditions, and rituals. It mixes facts, traditions, and history. It shows how different Muslim communities lived and thought at that time. This makes the book an important record of cultural history in South Asia.

___________

Published under International Cooperation with "Sindh Courier"