Saif

The Arabic word saif (سيف) and variations "Saif, Sayf, Seif" generally means sword. It is also a common name in the Middle East.

Description

As such it does not in and of itself denote anything more specific than "saber" or "back-sword" in its parent land. However, westerners have a tendency to categorize the various types of blades encountered abroad (and across history) by the local name for "sword". As such the post 16th century Arabian swords are normally referred to as "saif" among sword collectors.Fact|date=February 2007

These swords, evolved from the early medieval era arabian swords, which were straight and double edged, much like European Oakeshott type X swords. The change from straight swords to saber in the Levant and Arabian peninsula occurred after the Turkish Seljuk migration from eastern central Europe to Anatolia, bringing with them the saber design, which influenced the entire region. Generally these blades are single-handed swords, sporting a single edged, variably curved blade, with a false edge at the tip. Many suyuff sport blades from Persia, also, many bear European trade blades, or even military issue patterns, but most sport locally made blades. Some blades from the 18th century have only a very shallow curve, and look very like the 13th century Turko-Mongol saber which birthed the entire saber design. Like the other swords of the region, saifs can have a variety of hilts and fittings; some have an end "cap" (really just the bend in the handle creating the "pistol grip") which are more acutely angled back than those of Persia and Eurasia. Some even sport the squared off wooden handle style of the north African nimcha. The crossguard is usually two small straight quillions, though some later examples may have a thin, chain knuckle guard running down to the pommel.

The misnomer scimitar normally refers to either a saif or a shamshir. For more information on specific types see:
*Shamshir (Persian)
*Kilij (Turkish)
*Tulwar (Urdu/Hindi)
*Nimcha (African)
*Pulwar (Afghanistan)
*Scimitar
*Dao (sword) (Turko-Mongolian)

Illustrated examples

* [http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=1208 Typical Hadhrami, Yemeni Saif]
* [http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=397 Typical Nejdi, Northern Arabian Saif]
* [http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=755 Typical Shami/Damascene, Syrian-Arab Saif]
* [http://forums.swordforum.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=637653 Typical Baghdadi Saif]

ymbolism

The sword (or saif) is an important symbol in Arab cultures, and is used as a synonym in many phrases in the Arabic language.

The word occurs also in various symbolic and status titles in Arabic (and adopted in other languages) used in Islamic states, notably:
*in the Yemenite independent imamate
** Saif al-Haq, meaning 'Sword of Rights'.
** Saif al-Islam, "Sword of faith or (literally)of the submitted to the will of Allah(G-d)", was a subsidiary title borne (after their name and patronym) by male members of the al-Qasimi dynasty (whose primary title, before the name, was Amir), especially sons of the ruling Imam.
* Saif ud-Daula and variations mean 'Sword of the State'
* "Saif Ullah Al-masloul" 'the drawn sword of God' was conferred by the Prophet Muhammed, uniquely, to the recent convert and military commander Khalid Ibin Al-Walid
*Saif ul-Mulk 'sword of the realm' was an honorary title awarded by the Mughal Padshahs of Hind (India), e.g. as one of the personal titles (including Nawab "bahadur", one rank above his dynasty's) conferred in 1658 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (whose life he is said to have saved by slaying a charging tiger with a single blow) to Nawab Muhammad Bayazid Khan Bahadur, a high mansabdar, whose jagir of Malerkotla was by sanad raised to Imperial riyasat, thus becoming an independent ruler.

*"Saif Ali" "Sword of Ali" referring to arguably most famous sword in Islamic history, belonging to both the Prophet, and later, Imam/Khalifa Ali, Zulfikar, and with which Ali slew a Makkan foot soldier, cleaving both his helmet and head, at the Battle of Uhud, to which Prophet Muhammed remarked ""La fatà illa Ali, la saif illa Zulfikar" لا فتى إلا علي لا سيف إلا ذو) الفقار ) 'There is no hero except Ali, and there is no sword except Zulfikar and with which he slew Amr, a ferocious and devastating Makkan soldier at the Battle of the Trench at Madinah.

Saif and "Saif al Din" 'Sword of the faith' are also common masculine (and manly) Islamic names.

ee also

*Dao

ources and references

* [http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=1208 Oriental-Arms - illustrated]
* [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/index.html RoyalArk- see each present country]