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'''Hussaini Brahmin'''  is a [[Mohyal]] community with links to both [[Hinduism]] and [[Islam]]. The Mohyal community is Hindu by identity, however, as consistent with the [[Hindus|Hindu]] tradition, they have adopted non-[[Indian religions|Indic]] traditions. This has led to a small sub-set of the Moyhal community paying reverence to Islam, most notably to the third [[Shia Islam|Shi'a]] Imam [[Husayn ibn Ali|al-Husayn ibn 'Ali ibn Abi Talib]].<ref>{{cite web | author= Nonica Datta | url= https://thewire.in/religion/the-forgotten-history-of-hussaini-brahmins-and-muharram-in-amritsar | title= The Forgotten History of Hussaini Brahmins and Muharram in Amritsar | publisher= The Wire (Indian News and Opinion Website) | date= September 30, 2019 | accessdate=17 December 2020 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201101130440if_/https://thewire.in/religion/the-forgotten-history-of-hussaini-brahmins-and-muharram-in-amritsar | archive-date=17 December 2020 | url-status= live }}</ref> Citing source from history of the Muhiyals, published in 1911 CE., it is disclosed that about 1,400 Brahmins had been living in [[Baghdad]] when the [[Battle of Karbala|event of Karbala]] took place. About 125 families of Hussaini Brahmins are settled in [[Pune]].A few families are settled in Delhi also and they observe Muharram every year.
{{short description|Mohyal Brahmin community of the Punjab-region}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}


There are various opinions regarding the origins of the community, but as background history, following information is valuable;
'''Hussaini Brahmin'''  is a [[Mohyal Brahmin]] community of the [[Punjab]]-region.


Shah Khosrow-II also known as Khosrow Parviz(570-628) was one of the last Persian Sasanian King of Iran. His son was prince Shahriyar, whose son Yazdegerd-III (624-651) was his grandson. One of Yazdegerd-III's  wife persian names was Mah Talat (Hindi name Chandra lekha, she was princess daughter of Rajput king of Sindhi Rai dynasty (489–632). On her name a city maatli still exists near badin in Sindh. Maatli is actually impaired form of mah talat. From that sindhi princess, Yazdegerd had three daughters, namely Shahrbanu,mahrbanu and Ghayan Banu.
The Mohyal community comprises seven sub-clans named [[Bali clan|Bali]], [[Bhimwal]], [[Chhibber]], [[Datt]], [[Lau clan|Lau]], [[Mohan (clan)|Mohan]] and [[Vaid (surname)|Vaid]].
Shahrbanu  later became one of the wives of Hz imam Husayn ibn Ali as.
Mahrbanu  later became one of the wives of Muhammad bin abu-bakr siddiq ra.
Ghayan Banu was married to a local sindhi rajput king.
When the event of Karbala happened, Ghayan Banu's husband sent a small contingent of soldiers(mainly brahmins) to welcome Hz imam Hussain's arrival in Kufa. But unfortunately, Hz imam was martyred in karbala and those soldiers returned back to india. But when Ameer mukhtar took revenge of shuhadaa e Karbala, then some of these brahmins/Hindus participated in battle against umayyids in 685.
The Leader of that contingent was Rahab-dutt, a mohiyal brahmin; from that line of soldiers, hussaini brahmins still exist.
Later one of wives of Hz imam  zein ul abedin  was also from Sindhi Rajput stock, she was mother of imam Zaid shaheed.
<ref>{{cite web | author= Shafaqna | url= http://en.shafaqna.com/news/38333 | title= Who are the Hussaini Brahmins? What part did they play in the Battle of Karbala | publisher= Shafaqna (Shia International News Association) | date= October 15, 2016 | accessdate= October 18, 2016 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161017234420/http://en.shafaqna.com/news/38333 | archive-date= October 17, 2016 | url-status= live }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite news|last1=NADEEM INAMDAR|first1=RIZWAN KHAN|title=Brahmins who went to war for the Imam|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/MIRRORNEW/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=MIRRORNEW&BaseHref=PMIR/2010/12/19&ViewMode=HTML&EntityId=Ar00700&AppName=1|accessdate=22 January 2016|agency=The Times of India|publisher=Times group, India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127211246/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/MIRRORNEW/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=MIRRORNEW&BaseHref=PMIR%2F2010%2F12%2F19&ViewMode=HTML&EntityId=Ar00700&AppName=1|archive-date=27 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news|last1=Akram|first1=Maria|title=For Hussaini brahmans, it's Muharram as usual|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/For-Hussaini-brahmans-its-Muharram-as-usual/articleshow/45039950.cms|accessdate=22 January 2016|agency=The Times of India|publisher=Times group, India|date=5 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122165217/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/For-Hussaini-brahmans-its-Muharram-as-usual/articleshow/45039950.cms|archive-date=22 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>


== The legend of Rahab Sidh Dutt (The Seven Sons of Datt) ==
However, as consistent with their [[Hindu]] tradition, they have adopted non-[[Indian religions|Indic]] traditions. This has led to a small sub-set of the Moyhal community paying reverence to Islam, most notably to the third [[Husayn ibn Ali|Imam Hussain]].<ref>{{cite web | author= Nonica Datta | url= https://thewire.in/religion/the-forgotten-history-of-hussaini-brahmins-and-muharram-in-amritsar | title= The Forgotten History of Hussaini Brahmins and Muharram in Amritsar | publisher= The Wire (Indian News and Opinion Website) | date= 30 September 2019 | accessdate=17 December 2020 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201101130440if_/https://thewire.in/religion/the-forgotten-history-of-hussaini-brahmins-and-muharram-in-amritsar | archive-date=17 December 2020 | url-status= live }}</ref> Citing source from history of the Mohyals, published in 1911 CE., it is disclosed that about 1,400 Brahmins had been living in [[Baghdad]] capital of Iraq when the [[Battle of Karbala]] took place in 680 AD.<ref>{{cite web | author= Shafaqna | url= http://en.shafaqna.com/news/38333 | title= Who are the Hussaini Brahmins? What part did they play in the Battle of Karbala | publisher= Shafaqna (Shia International News Association) | date= 15 October 2016 | accessdate= 18 October 2016 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161017234420/http://en.shafaqna.com/news/38333 | archive-date= 17 October 2016 | url-status= live }}</ref>
Among various legends about Hussaini Brahmins, it is also described that a childless Dutt personally visited Imam al-Husayn ibn 'Ali ibn Abi Talib and submitted his wish to have a child. As a response to his desire, he was informed that he had no child in his fate. Datt was upset by this, so the Imam prayed so that Datt could have a child.  Suddenly someone observing the event questioned him, stating that he had challenged the will of Allah. Upon hearing this the Imam told Dutt he will have one more child. This continued till Imam gave him good news of seven children.<ref name="Zeba T Hashmi, Daily Times">{{cite web|author=Zeba T Hashmi |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/opinion/17-Mar-2015/ashura-and-pluralism |title=Ashura and pluralism |publisher=Daily Times, Pakistan |date=March 17, 2015 |accessdate=November 4, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023612/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/opinion/17-Mar-2015/ashura-and-pluralism |archivedate=November 17, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="Abul Fazl in Kashmir Observer">{{cite web|author=Abul Fazl|url=http://www.kashmirobserver.net/news/features/brahmins-who-fought-imam-hussain-karbala|title=The Brahmins Who Fought For Imam Hussain At Karbala|publisher=Kashmir Observer Online|date=November 5, 2014|accessdate=November 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020020150/http://www.kashmirobserver.net/news/features/brahmins-who-fought-imam-hussain-karbala|archive-date=October 20, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>  


As per Mohyal oral history, a Mohyal of the Dutt clan had fought on behalf of Imam al-Husayn in the [[Battle of Karbala]] (680 C.E.), more specifically in the storming of Kufa—sacrificing his seven sons in the process.<ref>Mohyals, Muslims and Mustafabad". ''The Tribune'', Chandigarh. 8 August 1993</ref> According to legend, Rahab Sidh Dutt (also mentioned as Rahib Sidh or Sidh Viyog Datt in some versions) was the leader of a small band of career-soldiers living near Baghdad around the time of the battle of Karbala.<ref name=":1">Mahdi Nazmi (1984). Reg-i-Surkh: Dut Brahman Imam Husain se Rabt o Zabt. Abu Talib Academy, New Delhi. pp. 63–71.</ref> The legend mentions the place where he stayed as Dair-al-Hindiya, meaning "The Indian Quarter", which matches an [[Hindiya|Al-Hindiya]] in existence today.<ref name=":1" />
Few families can still be found in parts of [[Iraq]] but most families of Hussaini Brahmins are now settled in [[Pune]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=NADEEM INAMDAR|first1=RIZWAN KHAN|title=Brahmins who went to war for the Imam|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/MIRRORNEW/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=MIRRORNEW&BaseHref=PMIR/2010/12/19&ViewMode=HTML&EntityId=Ar00700&AppName=1|accessdate=22 January 2016|agency=The Times of India|publisher=Times group, India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127211246/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/MIRRORNEW/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=MIRRORNEW&BaseHref=PMIR%2F2010%2F12%2F19&ViewMode=HTML&EntityId=Ar00700&AppName=1|archive-date=27 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Delhi]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Akram|first1=Maria|title=For Hussaini brahmans, it's Muharram as usual|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/For-Hussaini-brahmans-its-Muharram-as-usual/articleshow/45039950.cms|accessdate=22 January 2016|agency=The Times of India|publisher=Times group, India|date=5 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122165217/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/For-Hussaini-brahmans-its-Muharram-as-usual/articleshow/45039950.cms|archive-date=22 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Chandigarh]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and [[Jammu region]] in India. [[Sindh]], [[Chakwal District|Chakwal]] and [[Lahore]] in Pakistan and [[Kabul]] and South Afghanistan in [[Afghanistan]]. Some of them also observe Muharram every year.
 
A sect of [[Bhumihar|Bhumihar Brahmins]] in the Muzzafarpur district of Bihar also claim ancestry from Hussaini Brahmins and take part in Muharram each year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/bihar/where-hindus-join-shias-to-mourn-imam-hussain_812803.html|title = Where Hindus join Shias to mourn Imam Hussain|date = 25 November 2012}}</ref>
 
Muhiyals have been rulers of territories in the present day [[Afghanistan]], [[Pakistan]] and [[India]].
 
==Story of Mohyal Brahmin<ref name="Zeba T Hashmi, Daily Times">{{cite web|author=Zeba T Hashmi |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/opinion/17-Mar-2015/ashura-and-pluralism |title=Ashura and pluralism |publisher=Daily Times, Pakistan |date=17 March 2015 |accessdate=4 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023612/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/opinion/17-Mar-2015/ashura-and-pluralism |archivedate=17 November 2015 }}</ref><ref name="Abul Fazl in Kashmir Observer">{{cite web|author=Abul Fazl|url=http://www.kashmirobserver.net/news/features/brahmins-who-fought-imam-hussain-karbala|title=The Brahmins Who Fought For Imam Hussain At Karbala|publisher=Kashmir Observer Online|date=5 November 2014|accessdate=4 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020020150/http://www.kashmirobserver.net/news/features/brahmins-who-fought-imam-hussain-karbala|archive-date=20 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>==
 
As per Mohyal oral history, a Mohyal Brahmin of the Dutt clan had fought on behalf of Imam al-Husayn in the [[Battle of Karbala]] (680 C.E.), more specifically in the storming of Kufa—sacrificing his seven sons in the process.<ref>Mohyals, Muslims and Mustafabad". ''The Tribune'', Chandigarh. 8 August 1993</ref> According to legend, Rahab Sidh Dutt (also mentioned as Rahib Sidh or Sidh Viyog Datt in some versions) was the leader of a small band of career-soldiers living near Baghdad around the time of the battle of Karbala.<ref name=":1">Mahdi Nazmi (1984). Reg-i-Surkh: Dut Brahman Imam Husain se Rabt o Zabt. Abu Talib Academy, New Delhi. pp. 63–71.</ref> The legend mentions the place where he stayed as Dair-al-Hindiya, meaning "The Indian Quarter", which matches an [[Hindiya|Al-Hindiya]] in existence today.<ref name=":1" />


==Other==
==Other==
In [[Ajmer]], [[Rajasthan]], a place of [[Sufism in India|Sufi]] pilgrimage, where [[Moinuddin Chishti]] lived and passed his last days, there is even today a class of people who call themselves Hussaini Brahmins, who are neither 'orthodox Hindus' nor orthodox Muslims. Hussaini Brahmins practiced a mixed blend of [[Vedas|orthodox Vedic]] and Islamic traditions. A saying in Hindi/Urdu language refers to the Hussaini Brahmans thus: "Wah Datt Sultan, Hindu ka dharm, Musalman ka Iman, Adha Hindu adha Musalman (Well Datt Sultan, declaring [[Hindu dharma|Hindu Dharma]] and following Muslim practice, Half Hindu and Half Muslim.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mitra |first1= Sisir Kumar |title=The Vision of India |publisher= Jaico Publishing House |location=Bombay, India |pages=229–230 (First Print 1949) }}</ref><ref name="Virag Pachpore">{{cite news
In [[Ajmer]], [[Rajasthan]], a place of [[Sufism in India|Sufi]] pilgrimage, where [[Moinuddin Chishti]] lived and passed his last days, there is even today a class of people who call themselves Hussaini Brahmins, who are neither 'orthodox Hindus' nor orthodox Muslims. Hussaini Brahmins practiced a mixed blend of [[Vedas|orthodox Vedic]] and Islamic traditions. A saying in Hindi/Urdu language refers to the Hussaini Brahmans thus: "Wah Datt Sultan, Hindu ka dharm, Musalman ka Iman, Adha Hindu adha Musalman" (Well Datt Sultan, declaring [[Hindu dharma|Hindu Dharma]] and following Muslim practice, Half Hindu and Half Muslim.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mitra |first1= Sisir Kumar |title=The Vision of India |publisher= Jaico Publishing House |location=Bombay, India |pages=229–230 (First Print 1949) }}</ref>
| url = http://en.newsbharati.com/Encyc/2013/8/9/Hussaini-Brahmans-A-historic-bondage-between-Hindus-and-Shias#.VjslXtIrLct
| title = Hussaini Brahmans: A historic bondage between Hindus and Shias
| publisher = News Bharati English
| date = 9 August 2013
| accessdate = 5 November 2015
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112559/http://en.newsbharati.com/Encyc/2013/8/9/Hussaini-Brahmans-A-historic-bondage-between-Hindus-and-Shias#.VjslXtIrLct
| archive-date = 4 March 2016
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> Hussaini Brahmins used to live in [[Lahore]] until [[Partition of India|India's partition]] 1947, when they were forced to leave.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/766877/karbala-and-how-lahore-was-involved|title=Karbala and how Lahore was involved|last1=Sheik|first1=Majid|date=26 November 2012|accessdate=22 January 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127202545/http://www.dawn.com/news/766877/karbala-and-how-lahore-was-involved|archive-date=27 January 2016|publisher=Dawn|agency=Dawn News Paper, Lahore}}</ref>


==Famous==
==See also ==
Famous Hussaini Brahmin are Dutt family. [[Sunil Dutt]] and [[Sanjay Dutt]] .Urdu writers such as [[Kashmiri Lal Zakir]], [[Sabir Dutt]] and [[Nand Kishor Vikram]] are some of the better known Hussaini Brahmins<ref>https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/hussaini-brahmins-hindus-muslims-muharram-mohyal-brahmins-5367234/#:~:text=Film%20star%20Sunil%20Dutt%20and,the%20Sindh%20and%20Lahore%20regions.</ref>
 
* [[Punjabi Hindus]]
* [[Mohyal Brahmins]]
* [[Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb]]
* [[Hindu–Islamic relations]]
* [[Hindu–Muslim unity]]
* [[Religious syncretism]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}
{{India topics}}
{{Demographics of India}}
{{Hinduism in Pakistan}}
{{Ethnic groups, tribes and clans of the Punjab}}
{{The seven Mohyal clans}}
{{Hinduism in India}}


[[Category:Indian surnames]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mohyal (Jati)}}
[[Category:Pakistani names]]
[[Category:Indian castes]]
[[Category:Urdu-language surnames]]
[[Category:Mohyal]]
[[Category:Social groups of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Hindu communities]]
[[Category:Hinduism in India]]
[[Category:Hinduism in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Hindu communities of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Hinduism and Islam]]
[[Category:Secularism in India]]
[[Category:Punjabi Brahmins]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities of India]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities across India]]
[[Category:Punjabi tribes]]
[[Category:Social groups of Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Social groups of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Social groups of India]]
[[Category:Social groups of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Cultural anthropology]]
[[Category:Cultural anthropology]]
{{cultural-anthropology-stub}}
{{Hindu-stub}}
{{Islam-stub}}

Revision as of 20:31, 23 July 2023


Hussaini Brahmin is a Mohyal Brahmin community of the Punjab-region.

The Mohyal community comprises seven sub-clans named Bali, Bhimwal, Chhibber, Datt, Lau, Mohan and Vaid.

However, as consistent with their Hindu tradition, they have adopted non-Indic traditions. This has led to a small sub-set of the Moyhal community paying reverence to Islam, most notably to the third Imam Hussain.[1] Citing source from history of the Mohyals, published in 1911 CE., it is disclosed that about 1,400 Brahmins had been living in Baghdad capital of Iraq when the Battle of Karbala took place in 680 AD.[2]

Few families can still be found in parts of Iraq but most families of Hussaini Brahmins are now settled in Pune,[3] Delhi,[4] Chandigarh, Punjab and Jammu region in India. Sindh, Chakwal and Lahore in Pakistan and Kabul and South Afghanistan in Afghanistan. Some of them also observe Muharram every year.

A sect of Bhumihar Brahmins in the Muzzafarpur district of Bihar also claim ancestry from Hussaini Brahmins and take part in Muharram each year.[5]

Muhiyals have been rulers of territories in the present day Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

Story of Mohyal Brahmin[6][7]

As per Mohyal oral history, a Mohyal Brahmin of the Dutt clan had fought on behalf of Imam al-Husayn in the Battle of Karbala (680 C.E.), more specifically in the storming of Kufa—sacrificing his seven sons in the process.[8] According to legend, Rahab Sidh Dutt (also mentioned as Rahib Sidh or Sidh Viyog Datt in some versions) was the leader of a small band of career-soldiers living near Baghdad around the time of the battle of Karbala.[9] The legend mentions the place where he stayed as Dair-al-Hindiya, meaning "The Indian Quarter", which matches an Al-Hindiya in existence today.[9]

Other

In Ajmer, Rajasthan, a place of Sufi pilgrimage, where Moinuddin Chishti lived and passed his last days, there is even today a class of people who call themselves Hussaini Brahmins, who are neither 'orthodox Hindus' nor orthodox Muslims. Hussaini Brahmins practiced a mixed blend of orthodox Vedic and Islamic traditions. A saying in Hindi/Urdu language refers to the Hussaini Brahmans thus: "Wah Datt Sultan, Hindu ka dharm, Musalman ka Iman, Adha Hindu adha Musalman" (Well Datt Sultan, declaring Hindu Dharma and following Muslim practice, Half Hindu and Half Muslim.[10]

See also

References

  1. Nonica Datta (30 September 2019). "The Forgotten History of Hussaini Brahmins and Muharram in Amritsar". The Wire (Indian News and Opinion Website). Archived from the original on 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 1 November 2020 suggested (help)
  2. Shafaqna (15 October 2016). "Who are the Hussaini Brahmins? What part did they play in the Battle of Karbala". Shafaqna (Shia International News Association). Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  3. NADEEM INAMDAR, RIZWAN KHAN. "Brahmins who went to war for the Imam". Times group, India. The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  4. Akram, Maria (5 November 2014). "For Hussaini brahmans, it's Muharram as usual". Times group, India. The Times of India. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  5. "Where Hindus join Shias to mourn Imam Hussain". 25 November 2012.
  6. Zeba T Hashmi (17 March 2015). "Ashura and pluralism". Daily Times, Pakistan. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  7. Abul Fazl (5 November 2014). "The Brahmins Who Fought For Imam Hussain At Karbala". Kashmir Observer Online. Archived from the original on 20 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  8. Mohyals, Muslims and Mustafabad". The Tribune, Chandigarh. 8 August 1993
  9. 9.0 9.1 Mahdi Nazmi (1984). Reg-i-Surkh: Dut Brahman Imam Husain se Rabt o Zabt. Abu Talib Academy, New Delhi. pp. 63–71.
  10. Mitra, Sisir Kumar. The Vision of India. Bombay, India: Jaico Publishing House. pp. 229–230 (First Print 1949).

Template:Demographics of India Template:Hinduism in Pakistan Template:Ethnic groups, tribes and clans of the Punjab Template:The seven Mohyal clans Template:Hinduism in India