History of Arabs in Afghanistan

The History of Arabs in Afghanistan span several centuries from ethnic Arab fighters who battled or migrated to the area now known as Afghanistan during conflicts dating back from the 7th century [Arabic As a Minority Language By Jonathan Owens, pg. 181] till the recent Soviet-Afghan War when they assisted fellow Muslims in fighting the Soviets and pro-Soviet Afghans. After the war the majority returned to their homeland.

First Wave of Arabs into Afghanistan

At the end of the 7th century, the Ummayad Arabs entered into the area now known as Afghanistan after decisively defeating the Sassanians in Nihawand. The route the Arabs selected to enter the area was from north-eastern Iran [Arabic As a Minority Language By Jonathan Owens, pg. 181] and thereafter into Herat where they stationed a large portion of their army before advancing toward eastern Afghanistan. Other groups and contingents who elected not to settle gradually pushed eastwards but encoutered fierce resistance in areas surrounding Bamiyan. [Culture and Customs of Afghanistan By Hafizullah Emadi, pg.27] When ultimately arriving at Kabul, the Arabs confronted the Kabul Shahan who built a defensive wall, part of which still remains today. The historical details of this battle remains largely unknown, though the Arabs were nonetheless victorious. Despite the lack of written accounts, another famous archaeological legacy of this battle remains standing in Kabul, notably the tomb of the Shah-e Do Shamshira (translated into, "The leader with the Two Swords" in Persian) next to the Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque. The site, located near Kabul's market district, was built near the area where an Arab commander died. According to local account, the warrior fought the Kabul Shahan with two swords in his hands until each of his arms were severed as he continued to battle. [ [http://www.kabulguide.net/kbl-tosee.htm The Survival Guide to Kabul - What to see ] ]

Following the confrontation, the Arabs partially relinquished some of their territorial control though reasserted its authority approximately 50 years later in 750 A.D when the Abbasid caliphs replaced the Ummayads. [Afghanistan In A Nutshell By Amanda Roraback, pg. 9] . The Umayyid rulers as well as major scholars of jurisprudence did not allow the mixing of Arab and non-Arab people for many reasons, amongst them the preservation of Arab culture and language.

econd Wave of Arabs into Afghanistan

After the Bolshevik Revolution, many Arabs residing in Bukhara and other areas of Central Asia migrated to Afghanistan where they were more able to practice their religion. The Arabs who entered into Afghanistan during this time eventually went back to their homeland.

Third Wave of Arabs into Afghanistan

During the Soviet-Afghan War, many Muslims, most of them Arabs, came to Afghanistan to help Afghans fight the Marxist regime and Soviet military. After the soviet collapse in 1991, the Arab fighters went back to their homeland with the exception of a few such as Osama bin Laden. Kandahar is home to a sizeable Arab Cemetery that has become a frequently visited area of contemplation amongst locals who believe that touching the graves of Arab fighters and their families will cure them of illnesses, including paralysis. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7193579.stm BBC NEWS | South Asia | Kandahar's cemetery of 'miracles' ] ]

ee also

* Central Asian Arabic
* Iranian Arabs
* Tajiki Arabic
* Uzbeki Arabic
* Huwala
* Sayyid
* Siddiqui
* Farooqi
* Osmani

References