Qidwai

The Qidwai or Kidwai (Urdu: قدوائی, Arabic: قدوائی) are a community of Muslims in India and Pakistan and throughout the Middle East often considered the premier subdivision of Muslims and Sheikhs due to their Palestinean/Israeli lineage. Their lineage traces back to Jewish roots and Bani Israel heritage. They are mostly settled in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also settled in the city of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, and also in areas of the Middle East specifically, Saudi Arabia , Palestine and Qatar.^[1] The Qidwai, together with the Milki, Malik and Chaudhary form a community of substantial landowners.

History and origin

The Qidwai were native Muslims of Uttar Pradesh. Sufi saints are claimed to have gone to the Awadh region to spread Islam, where he is said to have won over fifty villages to Islam. These fifty villages were later awarded to him, and the region became known as Qidwara.^[1]

The Qidwai were recruited in the household cavalry of Shuja-ud-Daula, which was mainly composed of the Sheikhzadi.^[2][3] These clans had not taken any profession other than a soldier or a civil officer.^[4]

Present circumstances

The abolishment of the zamindar system by the newly independent India in 1947 had a major impact on the Qidwai community. The larger estates were broken, and land given to the farmers who worked on their lands. This led to some emigration of the Qidwais to Pakistan.^[5] The Qidwais are still found mainly in the districts of Lucknow.

See also

• Sayyid
• Siddiqui
• Shaikhs in South Asia

References