 Mohsin-ul-Mulk, a member of the Sadaat-e-Bara | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| • India • Pakistan | |
| Languages | |
| •Urdu •Hindi •Awadhi | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| •Sayyid •Urdu-speaking people •Arab •Sayyid of Uttar Pradesh•Sadaat Amroha•Gardezi Sadaat • Sadaat-e-Sirsi *Sadaat-e-Bilgram • Sadaat-e-Saithal • Hyderabadi Saadatiyon (Asaf Jahi, Salarjung, Paigah intermixing * ) |
Sadat e-Bara sometimes pronounced Sadaat-e-Bahara, are a tribe ofIndian MuslimSayyids, originally elite or noble Sayyid families situated in the present-dayMuzaffarnagar district ofUttar Pradesh in India.[1]
This community had considerable influence during the early 18th centuryMughal Empire. Its members were also found inHyderabad,Karnal District andHaryana,Gujarat &Karnataka,Maharashtra state in India. Some of the members of this community have migrated to Pakistan after independence and have settled inKarachi,Khairpur State in Sind andLahore.[citation needed]
According to one version, The ancestor of the Sadaat-e-Bara, Sayyid Abu Farah al-Husayni al-Wasiti, left his original home in Wasit, Iraq, with his twelve sons at the end of the 10th or beginning of the 11th century CE and migrated to India, where he acquired four estates in the Punjab.[2] The obtained four estates were located inSirhind-Fategarh. By the 16th century Abu Farah's descendants had taken over Bārha villages inMuzaffarnagar.[3][2]
Another version said the family were IndianMuslims clan, whose claim asSayyids, descendants of the ProphetMuhammad, were disputed by som Modern historians.[4][5] American historianRichard M. Eaton, who claimed their clan was "as native to India as wereJats,Rajputs orMarathas."[6] Also, Dutch historian and indologistDirk H. A. Kolff argues that the ancestors of the Barhas moved at an uncertain date from their homeland inPunjab to a barren region in theMuzaffarnagar district ofUttar Pradesh.[7]
The Barha Sayyid tribe was famous throughout the country for its obstinate valour and love of fight, as well as religious fervour.[8][page needed] The tribe traditionally composed the vanguard of the imperial army, which they alone held the hereditary right to lead in every battle.[9][full citation needed]
Akbar’s conquest of Gujarat targeted the weakenedGujarat Sultanate underMuzaffar Shah III to secure its ports and agricultural wealth. The Akbarnama highlights Sayyid Mahmud Khan Barha, a Barha Sayyid, who served as a commander during the siege of Surat in 1573. He led Mughal forces against the rebellious Mirzas (Muhammad Husain Mirza and Shah Mirza), securing a decisive victory.[10] Sayyid Ahmad Barha also played a key role in the siege of Patan (January 1573), supporting Khan A‘zam against the Mirzas and Sher Khan Fuladi, repelling the besiegers and consolidating Mughal control.[11][12]
The conquest ofMalwa aimed to defeat the Afghan rulerBaz Bahadur. The Akbarnama records Sayyid Mahmud Khan Barha’s participation under Adham Khan in the Battle of Sarangpur (1561), where Baz Bahadur was routed.[13] The campaign was marred by Adham Khan’s slaughter of Muslim theologians and Sayyids, highlighting their dual role as commanders and victims.[14][15]
Akbar’s campaigns againstRajput rulers, notably inChittor andRanthambore, were central to his Rajput policy. Sayyid Muhammad Khan aided in breaching Chittor’s defenses againstJaimal Rathore andPatta Singh Sisodia.[16] Sayyid Qasim Barha supported the Ranthambore siege, facilitating Rao Surjan Hada’s surrender.[17][18] The Akbarnama notes Sayyid Muhammad Khan’s role in the siege of Chittor (1567–1568), where he served as a commander under Akbar, contributing to the defeat of Jaimal Rathore.[19] Sayyid Qasim Barha participated in the Ranthambore campaign (1569), aiding the siege against Rao Surjan Hada, which led to the fort’s surrender.[20][21]
Afghan rebellions in eastern India challenged Akbar’s authority. The Akbarnama records Sayyid Ahmad Khan’s efforts inJaunpur andBihar during the 1560s, suppressing rebels like Khan Zaman (Ali Quli Khan).[22] Sayyid Abdullah Khan fought againstDaud Khan Karrani inBengal, contributing to his defeat in 1576.[23][24]
By the time of EmperorAurangzeb in the 17th century, the dynasty was firmly regarded as "Old Nobility" and held prestigious Subahs (provinces) such asAjmer and theDeccan (Dakhin).[25] They formed aHindustani faction of Mughal nobility as opposed to the Turko-PersianTurani in the late Mughal period.[26]
Aurangzeb's warning to his sons to be cautious in dealing with the Sayyids of Barha, "...because a strong partner in government soon wants to seize the kingship for himself", would eventually become true.[28][29][30]
Six years after the death of Aurangzeb, the Barhas became kingmakers in the Mughal empire underQutub-ul-Mulk andIhtisham-ul-Mulk, creating and deposing Mughal emperors at will.[31]
The Barha Sayyids regained many of their estates from the Marathas and regained their status in the parganah by the time of British arrival.[32]
On one side were the Saiyid brothers, whose Baraha clan of Indian Muslims was as native to India as were Jats, Rajputs or Marathas.