Qutb Shah (Persian: قطب شاه) was the ruler of Herat and a general in the army of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi. Qutub Shah was a Hashemite descendant of Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, son of Hazart Ali, and Imam of the Kaysanites Shia[1] , who was the son of Ali, who in turn was the cousin and son-in-law of the prophet Muhammad.[2]
Historical sources attest that Herat was under the rule of King Nuh III of Samanids[3] the seventh of the Samanid line—at the time of Sebük Tigin and his older son, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi.
The governor of Herāt was a noble by the name of Faik,[3] who governed on behalf of King Nuh III. Faik was a powerful, but insubordinate governor of Nuh III; and had been punished by Nuh III. Faik made overtures to Bogra Khan and Ughar Khan of Khorasan. Bogra Khan answered Faik's call, came to Herāt and became its master.[4]
In 994, Nuh III invited Alp Tigin to come to his aid. Alp Tigin, along with Mahmud of Ghazni, defeated Faik and annexed Herāt, Nishapur and Tous.[5]
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Qutb Shah and nine of his sons accompanied and assisted Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi in his early eleventh century conquests of what today forms parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northern India, who, according to tribal traditions, settled primarily in the Salt Range.
Tribal history holds that Qutb Shah and his sons married local women who converted to Islam from Hinduism. Qutb Shah’s sons are said to have settled in different regions of the Punjab and to a lesser extent, what now constitutes parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Gauhar Shah or Gorrara, settled near Sakesar, Kalan Shah or Kalgan, settled in Kalabagh, Chauhan colonized the hills close to the Jehlum, Mohammad Shah, settled by the Kahar, and Tori and Jhajh settled in Padhrar. All these regions collectively less Kalabagh and Sakesar are referred to as "Wanhar" today. Their descendants not only came to heavily populate these regions.[6]
| “ | Qutb Shah is considered to be the main ally of Mahmud Ghaznavi who proved pivotal in conquering what stands today as Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northern India. Qutb Shah's sons proved to be the most deadly warriors who held sway over the armies beyond human capabilities. The descendants of Qutb Shah i.e. the Qutb Shahi Awans are regarded as the martial race of sub continent. Areas belonging to the tribe are referred to as the martial areas of present Pakistan i.e Jehlum and Cakwal and talagang. History bears testimony to the fact that this tribe has proved to be the most reliable and potent force as warriors in sub continent.[7][8] | ” |
However, most of these claims can be traced to the works of H. A. Rose in the book 'Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province'[9][10][11] and confirms his findings to H M Eliot and Dowson's book The History of India, as told by its own Historians.
H. A. Rose then, in the same book, goes on to accept the Awan to be of Arab origin.
| “ | But in the best available account of the tribes, the Awan are indeed said to be of Arabian origin and descendants of Qutb Shah, but he is said to have ruled Herat and to have joined Mahmud of Ghazni when he invaded India.[2][12] | ” |