The Mashwani (also Moshwani, Mishwani, Miswani) are a Syed tribe living predominantly in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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The Mashwani tribe is a Syed tribe descent from the Islamic Prophet Muhammad through his daughter Syedah Fatimah and Babul Ilm Hazrat Ali Ibne Abu Talib. The lineage transcends from Hazrat Imam Hussain and Hazrat Imam Jafer Sadiq through his son Syed Muhammad Ismail. The progenitor of the Mashwanis migrated from what is now Hiraat and then to India (Delhi).Prince or governor of then Persia(Iran) Syed kalan Gesu Daraz around 800C.E the fifth generation from imam Jafare Sadiq son of syed Qaf had a change of heart here followed by a beautiful love story.It is worth mentioning that the first Bande Nawaz|Hazrat Syed Muhammad Hussaini commonly known as Banda Nawaz Gaisu Daraz who married a Pashtun woman of the Kakar tribe and had two sons, Stouryani(Ustarana) and Mashwani. In Pashto language Inkpot is called Mashwani, so the "Mashwani" is the title of Syed Masood Ali Shah Hussaini. Banda Nawaz Syed Muhammad Gaisu Daraaz was famous saint mystic of chishti order and preacher of Islam due to his long hair he was called Gaisu Daraaz, The Title of Gesu Daraz given by His Teacher Syed Naseer-du-deen Chiragh Delvi reh. Gesudaraz died in Gul Barga-India. Later Mashwani tribe migrated to different parts of Sub-Continent of Asia.[1]
Mashwanis are related to Gandapurs or Afghanpurs. They cite Gandapur, Mashwani, Wardak, and Ustrana as being brothers and the sons of Syed Muhammad Husyni.After the migration from Afghanistan, the Gandapurs settled in the Daman Vally of present District Dera Ismail Khan. The Ustrana tribe also resided over the mountains of Koh-e-Suleman, and the Wardaks are found in District Mardan.
The Ustrana tribe are situated near the border of Baluchistan and it is inside NWFP this tribe is belong to Hazrat Gaisu Daraz and the name of the two major villages belong to this tribe is kohi bahara and kohi pewar coming in the jurisdiction of Fr DIKhan .
The Mashwanis migrated to India and settled in different areas in Pakistan, such as the North-West Frontier Province, Balochistan and some in Sindh in Pakistan. Mashwanis can be mainly found in Sirikot, village Ismaila in district Swabi, Village Kamalpur Musa (District Attock), Gudwalian,Umar khana,sherawal Kundi in District Haripur, and Tehsil Ghazi. Some are settled in Tor Dheri in District Swabi, a respectable number are settled in District Dir and Swat (mainly in the village of Totano Bandai and Dardyal), some are settled in Mohmand Agency and majority in Baluchistan Province live in Punjpai, Quetta, some in Loralai and Mastung, and some in Mandagi near Shikarpur area in Sindh province. But still a huge number of them live in Afghanistan,such as Punjwai, Argandau in Kandhar province, in Wardag province and some in Kunner.[3]
Syed Umer Khetab Shah of the District Haripur Gallai has researched for the last 30 to 35 years on how the Mashwani tribe came to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India,and Syed Shafi Shah and Syed Abdullah Shah from Punjpai and Quetta have published their books on Mashwani tribe.
The Mashwanis played an active role against the Sikhs and the British alongside other Pashtun tribes of the region, including the Swatis, Tareens, Tanoli, Shalmani, and Jadoon People like Salim Shah Mashwani, who was martyred by Sikhs, are heroes of the Frontier.
Mashwani have been taking part in the armies from the past. The soldiership of Mashwanis continued after the birth of Pakistan. Many famous personalities from Mashwani tribe scattered in Pakistani provinces of Frontier and Baluchistan have rose to fame levels in various fields.
Some of the more famous khels and sub-sections of the Mashwani include:
Mani Khail, Baji Khel ,Gulezai(kunr and dir) , Dura Khail, Bhatal, Sahib Khail, Haseen Khail, Wares khail, Wahdet khail, Mughalkhaili, Taharkhaili, Lodin, Matkani, Roghani, Kazyooni, Ghareeb, Yousafkhel, Moosakhel, Adamkhel, Sakhar, Hasankhel (Sindh), Azadkhel, Hussainkhel, Ganjiyan, Murjankhel, Janikhel, Rahatkhel, Senkhel, Jalalkhel(Quetta and Panjpai) and Duarakhhel, Rustam khel, shoony khel, [SurkoZai and Mian Khanzia(Quetta Tehsil"Panjpai")].
Some Mashwanis inhabit the mountainous areas, such as a remote and beautiful village called Sirikot in District Haripur and District Dir, and Totanobandai village and Dardyal in District Swat, of the KHAYBER PUKTOON KHWA. Some live in the suburbs of the mountainous valley Sirikot Gudwalian (Goodvalley). Others live in Tor Dheri in District Swabi and District Mardan, and others in Mohmand Agency. There are great numbers of Mashwanis in the cities of Peshawar and Quetta. Many of them proved to be good soldiers in the British army. After the birth of Pakistan, many still continued to join this profession. Many of the Mashwani who are living in Haripur are Pashto speaking. Another Mashwani-populated area is (Good Valley) Gudwalian, 14 km from Haripur and 25 km from Hasan Abdal. They are also founded in the areas of Attock. Gudwalian is behind Sirikot and in the bottom of high hills towards Haripur. Other important areas of the Mashwani are Basu Mera, Kotkey Bugnian, Narian, Mochi Mera, panait, Choo, Bacca, Gallai, Boketar, Botigram, Ramdara, Tangdara, Sangar, Chinarkot, Shaypattay, Sawgound, Bagoona, Pallososar, Serai, Bilaha,Shanie, Tattaroo, Chontrai, Darra, KURCHAHA, SHERAWAL, KUNDI,Noor o Khak, UMARKHANA, GARHI MAIRA, SOBRA OF UNION COUNCIL KUNDI, Sobra Sector of HAMLET COLONY IN TEHSIL GHAZI. And in Balochistan, Punjpai, Loralai, Hurnai, Mastung, Quetta, Chaghi, in Sindh Madagi, Shikarpur and Karachi. There are still numbers of Mashwanis around Kabul, Kandhar, Kunner and more than one hundred families in Gandghar Kabul.