Khagga
The Khagga are tribe of Qureshi origin and are said to belong to the Quraish community. They are mostly found in south-west Punjab, Pakistan and mainly speak Seraiki.
History and origin
Khaggas claim their ancestry from Hazrat Jaffer Tayyar and are descendants of Shah Jalal-ud-Din, who was the disciple of Hazrat Awais Kerni, a saint of Awaisi chain of Sufis. He is believed to have arrived in Multan during the times of Hazrat Sadar-ud-din (son of famous Sufi Hazrat Baha-ud-Din Zakariya) and died in the year 700AH/1300AD. Hazrat Rukn-i-Alam is said to have led his funeral prayers. He was buried in the graveyard of Basti Daira, south of city railway station of Multan which was then known as Basti Shah Jalal. It has also been reported [1] that the foundation stone of this tomb was laid by Hazrat Rukn-i-Alam (grandson of Hazrat Baha-ud-Din Zakariya). In the era of Hazrat Shah Rukn-i-Alam Islam was spread rapidly and huge number of local Jatt and Rajputs were accepted Islam including (????????????). Khagga is said to mean a particular kind of fish also; the kind of fish who survives in tough conditions. The name or 'laqab' Khagga was given (by whome?) when their (Whose?) Spiritual master Shah Jalal-ud-Din rescued his boat overtaken by a storm.[2] They are Hashmi Qureshi al Awaisi by caste (How can we be AL-AWAISI by cast? Is there any tribe or clan whose name is AL-AWAISI? For God's Sake!!!!!! We are called Owaisi with the reference that Shah Jala-ud-Din was Spiritual Descendant of Hazrat Owais Qarni. This is our "Laq). According to traditions, during the period of Sikh rule, if anyone was distressed they could take refuge in the home of any Khagga. Some books also refer to a tradition that if a thief gets immediately blind who enters in the house of any Khagga for thieving.
Distribution
They are distributed throughout South Punjab, with concentrations in Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Vehari, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Khanewal, Sahiwal and Pakpattan districts. The Khaggas of Sahiwal and Pakpattan Districts are said to have come from Multan in the 18th century after the invasion of Ranjit Singh.Famous People Includes Pir Bhuddhan Shah Khagga (MLA Khanewal), Pir Qamar Uz Zaman Shah Khagga (Minister For Finance & MNA Khanewal), Pir Masab Haider Shah Khagga (MPA & Ex MNA Khanewal), Pir Abid Mehmood Shah Khagga (MNA Khanewal), Pir Ahmad Shah Khagga (MPA Sahiwal), Pir Wallayat Shah Khagga (MPA), Pir Khizar Hayat Shah Khagga (MPA), Pir Muhammad Shah Khagga (MNA Pakpattan), Pir Ahmad Shah Khagga (MPA Pakpattan), [3]
References
- ↑ Huq, 153; Gilani, Aulia-i-Multan, 237-238; Wasti, 426
- ↑ A Glossary of the tribes & castes of Punjab by H. A. Rose
- ↑ H. A. Rose (1 January 1997). A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West frontier province: A.-K. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. pp. 5–. ISBN 978-81-85297-69-9. Retrieved 1 November 2011.