The Shah Fakir are a Muslim community in South Asia. They are included in the Other Backward Caste list of the Indian states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.[1][2]
History and origin
The word fakir or faqir (Arabic: فقیر (noun of faqr)) is derived from the word faqr (Arabic: فقر, "poverty"). They are claimed[by whom?] to be the descendants of Sufi saints belonging to Syeds lineage traced to Ali. Faqirs were wandering Dervishes teaching Islam in South Asia.[3]
Shah Faqir of West Bengal
The Faqir of West Bengal are also known as Shahji. The majority of the West Bengal Faqir are now cultivators, living in multi-caste villages, in their own quarters known as Faqir paras. They cultivate paddy, jute, mustard and tilli seeds. A small number are also landless agricultural labourers. The Faqir speak Bengali and follow the Sunni sect of Islam. But they practice a number of folk beliefs, collectively referred to as faqirmat. This involves paying special reverence to a number of Sufi saints. A significant number of Faqir are also involved in the production of cooking oil, an activity traditionally associated with the Teli caste in other parts of India.[4]They claim to be descendants of the Sayyids, descendants of Ali. Fakirs were wandering dervishes who taught Islam in South Asia. [ 3 ]
References
- ↑ "List of Backward Classes | Directorate of Welfare of Scheduled Caste & Backward Classes, Government of Haryana". haryanascbc.gov.in. Archived from the original on 24 April 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ "National Commission for Backward Classes: Himachal Pradesh" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
- ↑ Meher Baba (1973) [First published 1955]. God Speaks: The Theme of Creation and its Purpose (2nd ed.). Dodd Meade. p. 305. OCLC 1005612295.
- ↑ M.K.A. Siddiqui, ed. (2004). Marginal Muslim Communities in India. New Delhi: Institute of Objective Studies. pp. 399–413. ISBN 978-81-85205-81-6.