| Gerash گراش |
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| — city — | |
| The road leading to the head of Nezeh. | |
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Gerash
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Iran |
| Province | Fars |
| County | Gerash |
| Bakhsh | Central |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Sheikh Ahmad |
| Elevation | 912 m (2,992 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 27,574 |
| Time zone | IRST (UTC+3:30) |
| • Summer (DST) | IRDT (UTC+4:30) |
| Website | City of Gerash |
Gerash (Persian: گراش, also Romanized as Gerāsh and Girāsh)[1] is a city in and the capital of Gerash County, Fars Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 27,574, in 6,261 families.[2]
People of Gerash speak Gerashi, a language with 2 main branches: Nassagi (ناساگی) and Barqe-Roozi (برق روزی, commonly known as Belalizi). Despite the high volatility in the population due to seasonal migration, the population is estimated to be at around 50,000 Gerashis.
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The people of Gerash were converted to Shia Muslims in the 5th century after Hijrah (the immigration of prophet Muhammad (PBUHAHP) to Medina from Mecca) by Amir Mohyeddin Ibn Afeef-Addeen Al Musawi, a direct descendent of the Prophet of Islam, and the son of Afeef-Addeen Al Musawi, to whom the conquest of certain areas in the South of Iran by Arab Muslim warriors is attributed. It is known that Afeef-Addeen left Hijaz (in present-day Saudi Arabia) along with warriors from two tribes from Medina, namely Hawazin Bani Al-Muntafiq and Banu Tamim, and set for the conquest of the Persian South; areas that, due to their dry conditions and mountainous array, had remained immune to the Islamic conquests during the second Caliphate's time. Prior to its conversion to Islam, Gerash was ruled by a Zoroastrian warrior by the name of Sarem Ibn Khoora (a Persian).
Descendants of Amir Mohyeddin today include the Saadat family of Gerash, who are commonly known by the prefix "Mir", which is a short-form for the word "Amir" (Arabic for either "Prince" or "Commander"; commander in this case). This prefix is set in recognition of the family's ancestry, which, as outlined above, includes Muslim warriors who contributed to the Islamic conquests of Southern Persia. Younger members of the family have generally lost this prefix.
Many Gerashis have emigrated to the UAE and other Persian Gulf countries, such as Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, working in micro structural variety stores, manual commodity movements, confidential-exports by motorboats, and other similar professions. Recently, migrating locations have changed to include the United Kingdom, USA, and in some rare cases Canada. Foreign passport acquirement remains the primary reason for many of these migrations. The cost-effectiveness of Eastern Europe makes it a favorite destination for those students who have a passion for learning English.[3]
The most notable monument in the city is Kalat. Being located in the center of the city, this hill has now come to shape the very architecture of Gerash, having residential areas built all around it. Historically, Kalat has been home to fierce warriors who've sought refuge in the now demolished "Kalaa" or fort that was built at some point in the city's history to protect it from offenders. Of the influential artefacts, Berka has had a special place in Gerashis' hearts. Numerous Berkas have been created by philanthropists to save people from dehydration. Such practice still continues in spite of the creation of modern water-pipe capabilities.[4]
Gerashis refer to themselves as Khodmooni, a term literally meaning "part of ourselves" but figuratively used to refer to people from Gerash, Lar, Evaz, Khonj and other neighboring cities that share a common language known as "Achomi".
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