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The Ghilzai is a super-tribe of Batani ] of ] whose origin is somewhat controversal. Etymologically the word ''Ghilzai'' is derived from ''Gharzai'' ('''غلزې'''), meaning "son of mountain"<ref>{{cite encyclopedia| last=Morgenstierne |first=G.|title = AF<u>GH</u>ĀN| encyclopedia = ]| edition = CD-ROM Edition v. 1.0| publisher = Koninklijke Brill NV| location = Leiden, The Netherlands| year = 1999}}</ref> or "swordsman".<ref>Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province, H.A. Rose, pg. 241</ref> Some oriental scholars hold that the Ghilzais are the descendants of a mixed race of Hephthalite and Pakhtas who have been living in Afghanistan since the ].<ref name="Khaljies are Afghan">{{cite web |url=http://www.alamahabibi.com/English%20Articles/Khaljies_are_Afghan.htm |title=Khaljies are Afghan |work=]|publisher=alamahabibi.com|accessdate=19 August 2012}}</ref> The first and the most plausible theory however suggests that they descended at least in part from the ]:
The Ghilzai is a super-tribe of Batani ] of ] whose origin is somewhat controversal. Etymologically the word ''Ghilzai'' is derived from ''Gharzai'' ('''غلزې'''), meaning "son of mountain"<ref>{{cite encyclopedia| last=Morgenstierne |first=G.|title = AF<u>GH</u>ĀN| encyclopedia = ]| edition = CD-ROM Edition v. 1.0| publisher = Koninklijke Brill NV| location = Leiden, The Netherlands| year = 1999}}</ref> or "swordsman",<ref>Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province, H.A. Rose, pg. 241</ref> perhaps via Turkic Wanderwort ''kir'' ("mountain, hill")<ref>Eker, Süer: ISSN 1226-4490.</ref> and Turkic ] ("ancestry, descent, kin, tribe, progeny").<ref>"" in ''Nisanyan Etymological Turkish Dictionary''</ref> Some oriental scholars hold that the Ghilzais are the descendants of a mixed race of Hephthalite and Pakhtas who have been living in Afghanistan since the ].<ref name="Khaljies are Afghan">{{cite web |url=http://www.alamahabibi.com/English%20Articles/Khaljies_are_Afghan.htm |title=Khaljies are Afghan |work=]|publisher=alamahabibi.com|accessdate=19 August 2012}}</ref> The first and the most plausible theory however suggests that they descended at least in part from the ]:
<Blockquote> " Ghalzaī tribal genealogies in general trace their early descent from the union of either Shah Ḥosayn, a ] (q.v.) prince and, Bībī Mātō , a granddaughter of ], the putative ancestor of all Pashtuns, or Mokarram Shah, a Pashtun prince from ], and the daughter of a Persian notable...".<ref></ref><ref>M.J. Hanifi, in ]{{M. Jamil Hanifi}}], second ] of the ]|alt=Drawing of bearded man in medieval Arabic clothing.]]</ref></blockquote>
<Blockquote> " Ghalzaī tribal genealogies in general trace their early descent from the union of either Shah Ḥosayn, a ] (q.v.) prince and, Bībī Mātō , a granddaughter of ], the putative ancestor of all Pashtuns, or Mokarram Shah, a Pashtun prince from ], and the daughter of a Persian notable...".<ref></ref><ref>M.J. Hanifi, in ]{{M. Jamil Hanifi}}], second ] of the ]|alt=Drawing of bearded man in medieval Arabic clothing.]]</ref></blockquote>
This theory of decent from Bibi Mato, daughter of Batani, is also supported by one of the oldest books on Pashtuns ''Makhzen-e-Afghani''.<ref name="ReferenceA">citation|last=Dorn|first=Bernhard|title=History of the Afghans: translated from the persian of Niamat Ullah|year=1836|location=London|publisher=Oriental Translation Fund for Great-Britain and Ireland, page-49</ref> The book narrates that Ghilzai, son of Mato, was blessed with three sons: Ibrahim, Toor (Tuan) and Poor (Buran). Ibrahim had two sons; Haijub and Sahbak. Haijub was further blessed with thirteen sons; ] (Tanokhel), ], ], Omerkhel, Karikhel, Hameerkhel, Varaki, Chani, Donver and Paroki.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> As such, the tribes comprising decendents of Bibi Mato collectively constitute the Ghilzai confideration of Pakhtuns.
This theory of decent from Bibi Mato, daughter of Batani, is also supported by one of the oldest books on Pashtuns ''Makhzen-e-Afghani''.<ref name="ReferenceA">citation|last=Dorn|first=Bernhard|title=History of the Afghans: translated from the persian of Niamat Ullah|year=1836|location=London|publisher=Oriental Translation Fund for Great-Britain and Ireland, page-49</ref> The book narrates that Ghilzai, son of Mato, was blessed with three sons: Ibrahim, Toor (Tuan) and Poor (Buran). Ibrahim had two sons; Haijub and Sahbak. Haijub was further blessed with thirteen sons; ] (Tanokhel), ], ], Omerkhel, Karikhel, Hameerkhel, Varaki, Chani, Donver and Paroki.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> As such, the tribes comprising decendents of Bibi Mato collectively constitute the Ghilzai confideration of Pakhtuns.
The Ghilzai is a super-tribe of Batani confederation of Pashtun tribes whose origin is somewhat controversal. Etymologically the word Ghilzai is derived from Gharzai (غلزې), meaning "son of mountain" or "swordsman", perhaps via Turkic Wanderwort kir ("mountain, hill") and Turkic soy ("ancestry, descent, kin, tribe, progeny"). Some oriental scholars hold that the Ghilzais are the descendants of a mixed race of Hephthalite and Pakhtas who have been living in Afghanistan since the Vedic period. The first and the most plausible theory however suggests that they descended at least in part from the Ghurids:
" Ghalzaī tribal genealogies in general trace their early descent from the union of either Shah Ḥosayn, a Ghurid (q.v.) prince and, Bībī Mātō , a granddaughter of Qays ʿAbd al-Rašīd, the putative ancestor of all Pashtuns, or Mokarram Shah, a Pashtun prince from ḠGhūr, and the daughter of a Persian notable...".
This theory of decent from Bibi Mato, daughter of Batani, is also supported by one of the oldest books on Pashtuns Makhzen-e-Afghani. The book narrates that Ghilzai, son of Mato, was blessed with three sons: Ibrahim, Toor (Tuan) and Poor (Buran). Ibrahim had two sons; Haijub and Sahbak. Haijub was further blessed with thirteen sons; Tanoli (Tanokhel), Sulaimankhel, Ali Khel, Omerkhel, Karikhel, Hameerkhel, Varaki, Chani, Donver and Paroki. As such, the tribes comprising decendents of Bibi Mato collectively constitute the Ghilzai confideration of Pakhtuns.
However, the other theory suggest that they descended from the Khalaj or Khilji dynasty, who entered Afghanistan in the 10th century. According to Elphinstone, the Khilji:
"though Turks (Turco-Mongols) by descent...had so long settled among the Afghans that they had almost identified with that people."
Ghilzai Dynasties, Ruling Entities and Personalities
According to Minhaj al-Siraj Juzjani, a 13th-century historian, "there were over 15 great Khalji personalities who ruled from 1203 A.D. onwards over India and were spreading Khorasanian and Islamic culture all over northern India and the highlands of North Bengal.". A brief description of these dynasties and ruling entities is as under :
When the Hotak tribe, under the leadership of Mir Wais Hotak revolted against the Safavids in 1709, the Ghilzai came into conflicts with their western neighbors. Mir Wais, an influential Afghan tribal leader and founder of the Hotaki dynasty, had visited the Persian court and studied their military weaknesses. The Afghan tribes rankled under the ruling Shia Safavids because of their continued attempts to convert the Pashtuns from Sunni to Shiaism Spawning Afghan nationalism, Mir Wais succeeded in expelling the Safavids from Kandahar. His eldest son, Mahmud, effected a successful invasion of Persia (now Iran) which culminated in the conquest of Isfahan and the deposition of the Safavid Shah Sultan Husayn. Mahmud was then crowned Shah and ruled for a brief period before being deposed by his own clansmen. His cousin and successor (Ashraf Hotaki) reigned for nearly five years before being killed by Baloch tribes while fleeing towards Kandahar. Their rule ended after the Siege of Kandahar in 1738.
The Tanoli Princely State of Amb
Amb (1772-1972), Amb was a princely state of the former British Indian Empire ruled by the Pashtun Tanoli tribe of Ghilzai Super-Tribe. In 1947 by the Indian Independence Act 1947, the British abandoned their supremacy, and following the Partition of India Amb's Tanoli Nawab decided to give up his state's independence by acceding to the new country of Pakistan. However, Amb continued as a distinct state within Pakistan until 1969, when it was incorporated into the North West Frontier Province (now Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa). In 1972, the royal status of the Nawab was abolished by the Government of Pakistan.
Tents of Afghan nomads in Badghis Province who are known in Pashto language as Kuchans. They migrate from region to region depending on the season. Early peasant farming villages came into existence in Afghanistan about 7,000 years ago.
In Afghanistan the Ghilzai are scattered all over the country but mainly settled around the regions between Zabul and Kabul provinces.The Afghan province of Paktika is considered to be a heartland of the Ghalzai tribe. Ghilzai sub-tribes in Paktika include the Kharoti, especially in the Sar Hawza and Urgon districts, the Andar and the largest single Ghilzai sub-tribe, the Suleimankhel, who are the majority in northern and western areas of Paktika such as; Katawaz. Many members of the Ghilzai tribe, such as; the Kharoti sub-tribe and particularly the Nasher clan were exiled from Loya Paktia (Paktia, Paktika and Khost) to Kunduz in the north by AmirAbdur Rahman Khan due to political reasons. They are predominantly a nomadic group unlike the Durranis who are usually found in permanent settlements.The Ghilzai mostly work as herdsmen as well as construction workers and in other jobs that allow them to travel. Often possessing great mechanical aptitude, the Ghilzai nonetheless have an extremely low literacy rate hovering below 10% in Afghanistan. The Ghilzai regularly cross over between Afghanistan and Pakistan often being exempted from customs due to the acceptance of their nomadic traditions by officials from both countries. Population estimates vary, but they are most likely around 20% to 25% of the population of Afghanistan and probably number over 9 million in Afghanistan alone with 4 million or more found in neighboring Pakistan mostly in Quetta.
Ghilzai in Pakistan
The Ghilzai super-tribe in Pakistan is usually recognized by its tribes and sub-tribes located in various parts of the country.In Quetta many members of Ghilzai tribe such as Kharoti, Suleimankhel, Andar are mainly concentrated in Northern and City Central Areas. Whereas in Khyber Pakhtunkwa, Ghilzai Sub-tribes like Niazi and Tanoli dwell both in plain and hilly areas. The Niazi are mostly settled in Bannu District Of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Mianwali district of The Punjab. Whereas, The Tanoli dwell mostly in Hazara Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; primarily in the Tanawal region which is named after their tribe.
Ghilzai Religion and Customs
The Ghilzais are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school, often devout to their faith and intensely follow the Pashtun code of honor known as Pashtunwali.
The tribesmen own several, tightly bound carpet and fabric businesses in the Middle East and Pakistan, especially in the major city of Karachi. The Ghilzai remain a somewhat divided family, with the Kharoti and the Suleimankhel being traditional rivals.
^ citation|last=Dorn|first=Bernhard|title=History of the Afghans: translated from the persian of Niamat Ullah|year=1836|location=London|publisher=Oriental Translation Fund for Great-Britain and Ireland, page-49
Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province, H. A. Rose, p. 241
At the Court of Amîr: A Narrative, by John Alfred Gray, p. 203.
A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases: Hobson-Jobson, by C. Burnell, Henry Yule, p. 371
Ewans, Martin (2002) Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and Politics HarperCollins, New York, P.30 ISBN 0-06-050507-9
citation|last=Lethbridge|first=Roper|title=The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled or Decorated, of the Indian Empire|year=1893|location=London|publisher=Macmillan, page-328
Dupree, Nancy Hatch (1970). An Historical Guide to Afghanistan. Vol. First Edition. Kabul: Afghan Air Authority, Afghan Tourist Organization. p. 492. Retrieved 2012-06-17. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
