Abdal (caste)
Encyclopedia
The Abdal are Muslim
community found in North India
. They are a sub-group within the Faqir community.
semi-nomadic community, traditionally associated with begging at shrines of Sufi saints. They are likely to be a division of the Domba
community. The word Abdal is the plural form of the Arabic
word Abdul, which means slave or follower. According to the traditions of the Abdal, they acquired this name on account of the fact that they were followers of various Sufi saints. The Abdal of Bihar
speak the Maithili
language, and are found mainly in the district of Purnea, while other Abdal communities speak the language of the region they reside in.
In Gujarat, the Abdal are a community of beggars, who are also known as Dafalis and Nagarchis. Their traditional occupation was beating drums at Muslim
shrines. The community is found mainly in Ahmedabad
city.
In West Bengal
, according to the traditions of the community, the community is known as Abdal, as they are true slaves of God, and the word Abdal means a servant of God. Little is known when the community emerged in West Bengal
, but preseently form a distinct Muslim community.
are now mainly a land owning community. A significant number are involved in the manufacture of horse shoes. They are Sunni Muslims, with a small number are employed as village imam
s. The Abdal have a well organized caste association, the Panchayat Jamiate Hashima.
In Gujarat, the community is mainly involved in singing and begging at Sufi shrines. A small number of Abdal are now farmers. Like other Gujarati Muslim
s, they have a caste association known as the Abdal Samaj. They are an endogamous community, and marry close kin.
The Abdal in West Bengal
are found mainly in the districts of 24 Parganas
, Murshidabad
, Birbhum
and Burdwan. They are in West Bengal
, a landless community whose traditional occupation is seeking alms on festive occassiona. Most have now given up their traditional occupation, and are now landless agricultural labourers. A few Abdal are marginal farmers.The community speak Bengali
among themselves and with outsiders, and usually live in multi-caste villages with Khotta Muslim
s living in the vicinity of the Abdal. They are stricly endogamous, with absolutely no intermarriage with other Muslim groupz.
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
community found in North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
. They are a sub-group within the Faqir community.
Origin
The Abdal are one of a number of MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
semi-nomadic community, traditionally associated with begging at shrines of Sufi saints. They are likely to be a division of the Domba
Domba
The Domba or Dom are an ethnic or social group, or groups, scattered across India. They are usually segregated from the mainstream community as outcastes.The Domba are sometimes also called "Chandala". Both terms also came to be used in the sense of "outcaste" in general...
community. The word Abdal is the plural form of the Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
word Abdul, which means slave or follower. According to the traditions of the Abdal, they acquired this name on account of the fact that they were followers of various Sufi saints. The Abdal of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
speak the Maithili
Maithili language
Maithili language is spoken in the eastern region of India and South-eastern region of Nepal. The native speakers of Maithili reside in Bihar, Jharkhand,parts of West Bengal and South-east Nepal...
language, and are found mainly in the district of Purnea, while other Abdal communities speak the language of the region they reside in.
In Gujarat, the Abdal are a community of beggars, who are also known as Dafalis and Nagarchis. Their traditional occupation was beating drums at Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
shrines. The community is found mainly in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
city.
In West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, according to the traditions of the community, the community is known as Abdal, as they are true slaves of God, and the word Abdal means a servant of God. Little is known when the community emerged in West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, but preseently form a distinct Muslim community.
Present Circumstances
The Abdal of BiharBihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
are now mainly a land owning community. A significant number are involved in the manufacture of horse shoes. They are Sunni Muslims, with a small number are employed as village imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
s. The Abdal have a well organized caste association, the Panchayat Jamiate Hashima.
In Gujarat, the community is mainly involved in singing and begging at Sufi shrines. A small number of Abdal are now farmers. Like other Gujarati Muslim
Gujarati Muslim
The term Gujarati Muslims is usually used to signify an Indian Muslim from the State of Gujarat in west India, who speaks the Gujarati Language as a mother-tongue and follows certain customs different from the rest of Indian Muslims...
s, they have a caste association known as the Abdal Samaj. They are an endogamous community, and marry close kin.
The Abdal in West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
are found mainly in the districts of 24 Parganas
24 Parganas
24 Parganas district is a former district of the Indian state of West Bengal. The district was split into two districts — North 24 Parganas district and South 24 Parganas district, with effect from 1 March 1986....
, Murshidabad
Murshidabad district
Murshidabad district is a district of West Bengal in eastern India. Situated on the left bank of the river Ganges, the district is very fertile. Covering an area of 5,341 km² and having a population 5.863m it is a densely populated district and the ninth most populous in India...
, Birbhum
Birbhum District
Birbhum district is an administrative unit in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the northernmost district of Burdwan division—one of the three administrative divisions of West Bengal. The district headquarters is located at Suri...
and Burdwan. They are in West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, a landless community whose traditional occupation is seeking alms on festive occassiona. Most have now given up their traditional occupation, and are now landless agricultural labourers. A few Abdal are marginal farmers.The community speak Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
among themselves and with outsiders, and usually live in multi-caste villages with Khotta Muslim
Shaikh of Bihar
The Shaikh are a Muslim community commonly found in the state of Bihar in India.The community are converts from the Ahir caste. They are part of the larger Shaikh community of South Asia. A number of Bihari Shaikh families are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan. Common surnames used by...
s living in the vicinity of the Abdal. They are stricly endogamous, with absolutely no intermarriage with other Muslim groupz.