Mashwani is Arab origin Pakhtun tribe mainly settled in different South Asian countries. They are Afghans by adoption and Arabs by descent. They use Mashwani, Banuri, Ludin, Kazmi, Roghani, Mousavi as their surnames. Mashwanis played a vital role in fighting against Sikh Khalsa army and are known as heroes of their time.
In Afghanistan they live in Konar and Ghazni provinces.
In Pakistan they are settled in different cities of all provinces. Majority of them live in Swabi, Mardan, Peshawar, Sirikot, Dir, Kohat, Gadwalian, D I Khan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province; Panjpai, Panjgur, Chaman and Quetta cities of Baluchistan province; Shakargarh, Faisalabad and Sarghodahh cities of Punjab; and in the Karachi city of Sindh province.
Mashwanis are very friendly and are famous for hospitality. The majority of Mashwanis are Pashto speakers, hence follow Pakhtun culture and adhere to the Pakhtunwali codes. They wear pashtun traditional dressshalwar kameez. Women cover their head with a shawl while males usually wear kufi, Peshawari cap, turban, Sindhi cap or pakul as traditional headgear and Peshawari Chappal as footwear. They are Muslims and follow Islam as their religion.
Progenitor of the Mashwani Tribe
Syed Muhammad Kalan also known as Gesudaraz I was born in village Kollan of Dalgan, Sistan and Baluchistan province of Iran. He was the Prince of Persia or "Governor of Persia". He sided from Iran to Sulayman Mountain and settled among the Afghans, and fixed his residence between the Kakar, Shirani and Karlani . These three tribes enjoyed his blessed presence, and, learning from him the fundamental truths of Islam. The commanders of these Pashtuns tribes had presented their daughters to him in respect of his family and mysticism. He married women from each tribe and had sons, who were known as progenitors of these tribes. The Arab tribes descended from Gesudaraz I sons are using his sons titles as there "surnames". Mashwani was the son of Gesudaraz I from his Kakar wife Sher Bano. Syed Muhammad Kalan was performing Fajr prayer when his maid came and gave him news about the birth of his son, Syed titled him "Mashwani" which means light of education or "Feather and Inkpot". Mashwani had nine sons, Tukuz, Lodin, Matakati, Suleiman, Roghani, Kazbuli, Ghareb, Khar bari, and Diaz.
Mashwanis played an active role in resistance against the Sikh invasion and occupation of the Hazara region during the 19th century. Hari Singh Nalwa, who was the was Commander-in-chief of the Sikh Khalsa Army, marched towards Srikot in1824. Where the battle between Sikh Khalasa Army and Mashwani took place. At Nara which stands at the mouth of a path leading up to Srikot, the Mashwanis and Saidkhani Utmanzais made a gallant stand, repulsed the Sikh force, which was 8,000 strong and sent it back to Haripur with a loss of 500 men. A white pillar, erected at later date by Major Abbot, and conspicuous from afar, commemorates the scene of their victory. Hari Singh himself was struck down by a stone hurled from the walls of the village and rolled into the ravine below, where he lay for a long time senseless and undiscovered. It was reported, indeed, that he was dead, but in a short time, having recovered from his wounds.
Notable Mashwanis
Sheikh Syed Adam Banuri was a famous Sufi scholar in the 16th century, who was one of the forefathers Benuri tribe. Sheikh Adam Banoori wrote a book on the teaching of the Mujadddid and the Naqshbandiyya entitled Kalimatul Ma Arif, two of his other works, the Khulasatu Ma Arif and the Nikatul Asrar, were among other well-known works on Sufi teachings and on the importance of the Naqshbandiyya order. Sayed Adam Banoori was the first to spread the Mujaddid teachings in the Hijaz. He traces back his own roots to Mashwani in his own book titled "Nikatul Asrar". Muhammad Yousuf Banuri was one of his grandchildren, was also a famous Islamic scholar, founder of Jamia Uloom-ul-Islamia and former President of Wifaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia, Pakistan. A town in Karachi city was renamed as Allama Banuri town in honor of the known hadith scholar Muhammad Yousuf Banuri.
