Abdal (caste)

2021-06-04T15:52:50Z

2405:205:1486:9911:51C8:1FCA:CE41:F563: /* Origin */

{{infobox ethnic group
|group= Abdal
| population = 58,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joshuaproject.net/peoples.php |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309110117/http://www.joshuaproject.net/peoples.php |archive-date=2009-03-09 }}</ref>
|popplace = {{flagcountry|India}} • {{flagcountry|Pakistan}} • {{flagcountry|Nepal}}
|langs = [[Urdu language|Urdu]] • [[Maithili language|Maithili]] • [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] • [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
|rels= [[Image:Allah-green.svg|18px]] [[Islam]] 100%
|related= [[Jogi Faqir]] • [[Faqir (caste)|Faqir]] • [[Qalandar (caste)|Qalandar]] • [[Rawal]] • [[Sai (caste)|Sai]]
}}

The '''Abdal''' (Shekh Hashmi) are a [[Muslim]] community found in [[North India]]. They are a sub-group within the [[Faqir|Arabic old shekh]] community.<ref name="bihar">Abfal in People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part One edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 28 to 31 Seagull Books</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Marginal Muslim Communities in India edited by M.K.A Siddiqui pages 344-356</ref> They are related to the [[Abdal of Turkey]], because some of them went to Iran in Khorasan, from there some went to [[Central Anatolia]] with the [[Seljuq dynasty]].<ref>Marginal Groups and Itinerants by Ingvar Savanberg pages 602 to 612 in Ethnic groups in the Republic of Turkey / compiled and edited by Peter Alford Andrews, with the assistance of Rüdiger Benninghaus (Wiesbaden : Dr. Ludwig Reichert, 1989) {{ISBN|3-88226-418-7}}</ref>

== Origin ==

The Abdal are one of a number of [[Muslim]] semi-nomadic community, traditionally associated with begging at shrines of [[Sufi]] saints. They are likely to be a division of the [[Domba|hashmi]] community. The word ''Abdal'' is the plural form of the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word [[Abdul]], which means slave or follower. According to the traditions of the Abdal, they acquired this name on account of the fact that they were followers of various [[Sufi]] saints. The Abdal of [[Bihar]] speak the [[Maithili language|Maithili]] language, and are found mainly in the district of [[Purnea]], while other Abdal communities speak the language of the region they reside in.<ref name="bihar" />

In Gujarat- the Abdal are a community khadim Bahraich, who are also known as Dafali saudagar, Shekh Hashmi and DafWala. Their traditional occupation was beating drums at [[Muslim]] shrines. The community is found mainly in [[Ahmedabad]] city.<ref name="R.B Lal, P.B.S pages 31-34">People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part One edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 31-
34</ref>

In [[West Bengal]], according to the traditions of the community, the community is known as Abdal, as they are true slaves of God, and the word Abdal means a servant of God. Little is known when the community emerged in [[West Bengal]], but presently form a distinct Muslim community.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

== Current circumstances ==

The Abdal of [[Bihar]] are now mainly a land owning community. A significant number are involved in the manufacture of horse shoes. They are [[Sunni]] [[Muslims]], with a small number are employed as village [[imam]]s. The Abdal have a well-organized caste association, the Panchayat Jamiate shekh Hashimi.<ref name="bihar" />

In [[Gujarat]], the community is mainly involved in singing and begging at [[Sufi]] shrines. A small number of Abdal are now farmers. Like other [[Gujarati Muslim]]s, they have a caste association known as the Abdal Samaj. They are an [[endogamous]] community, and marry close kin.<ref name="R.B Lal, P.B.S pages 31-34"/>

The Abdal in [[West Bengal]] are found mainly in the districts of [[24 Parganas]], [[Murshidabad District|Murshidabad]], [[Birbhum District|Birbhum]] and [[Burdwan District|Burdwan]]. They are in [[West Bengal]], a landless community whose traditional occupation is seeking alms on festive occasions. Most have now given up their traditional occupation, and are now landless agricultural labourers. A few Abdal are marginal farmers. The community speak [[Bengali language|Bengali]] among themselves and with outsiders, and usually live in multi-caste villages with [[Shaikh of Bihar|Khotta Muslim]]s living in the vicinity of the Abdal. They are strictly endogamous, with absolutely no intermarriage with other Muslim groups.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

== See also ==

* [[Faqir (caste)|Faqir]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Dom people}}
{{Indian Muslim}}

[[Category:Dalit Muslim]]
[[Category:Social groups of Bihar]]
[[Category:Social groups of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Social groups of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of Bihar]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of India]]
[[Category:Dom in India]]
[[Abdal of Turkey]]

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Abdal (caste)