History of Pashtun Race

[Levanaye Zalmaye]

I have a few objections to the Arab connection.

Firstly, post and pre-Islam Arabs thrived on slavery. The concept of slavery vague at best to Pashtuns especially within our tribal system.

Secondly, most Pashtuns converted to or were converted to Islam after the arrival of Sabuktigin and his successors (Mahmud of Ghazni being the most popular of them), which was around two hundred years after the prophet Mohammad sent his emissaries to far-away places.

Lastly, the tribal structure described in the article can be made to fit any tribal society. All tribes of all societies discussed their issues in gatherings of the common men and the elders, even the Sioux and the Cherokee used to do this, all tribes lived in similar fashions, the law of vendetta existed even amongst Germanic tribes, the Gauls (a Celtic tribal people) even had their tribal councils, etc, etc.

All of these similarities exist because one of the first ways humans organized themselves was through tribes. After tribes came kingdoms, empires and then finally, nation-states. Therefore, tribal customs, whether from ancient Europe, Arabia, the Americas, Central Asia or Afghanistan are very similar to one another especially because the tribal system originated in an era when raw martial strength was the only decisive factor between life or death.

I'd rather be compared to the brave Cherokees of North America than the desert-dwellers of Arabia.



Kind Marhabas

[BLS_1919v2.0]

I have a few objections to the Arab connection.

Firstly, post and pre-Islam Arabs thrived on slavery. The concept of slavery vague at best to Pashtuns especially within our tribal system.

Secondly, most Pashtuns converted to or were converted to Islam after the arrival of Sabuktigin and his successors (Mahmud of Ghazni being the most popular of them), which was around two hundred years after the prophet Mohammad sent his emissaries to far-away places.

Lastly, the tribal structure described in the article can be made to fit any tribal society. All tribes of all societies discussed their issues in gatherings of the common men and the elders, even the Sioux and the Cherokee used to do this, all tribes lived in similar fashions, the law of vendetta existed even amongst Germanic tribes, the Gauls (a Celtic tribal people) even had their tribal councils, etc, etc.

All of these similarities exist because one of the first ways humans organized themselves was through tribes. After tribes came kingdoms, empires and then finally, nation-states. Therefore, tribal customs, whether from ancient Europe, Arabia, the Americas, Central Asia or Afghanistan are very similar to one another especially because the tribal system originated in an era when raw martial strength was the only decisive factor between life or death.

I'd rather be compared to the brave Cherokees of North America than the desert-dwellers of Arabia.



Kind Marhabas

We might as well be compared to albanians, somalians, Chechens, Highlanders, etc on the criteria of the article. It was nonetheless interesting.

[ijaz yousafzai]

Thank u shlombay for sharing.
The Semitic theory regarding the Pakhtun origin is among the popular theories, supported my many renowned scholars and histiographers. Khwaja Niamatullah Harvee was engaged by Khan Jehan Lodhi to compile the History of The Pashtuns. This compilation was prompted and deemed necessary due to the foul on-slaught on Pashtun origin perpetuated by the Moghals with the connivance of the Persians. The court of Jehangir was a hot stage for invinting the so- called historians from Persia with fabricated story-telling to ridicule the Pashtuns. Khan Jehan Lodhi, a distinguished courtier in the court of Jehangir, therefore asked Niamatullah Harvee to do the task. The Jewish connection to the origin of the Pakhtuns, has also been supported by the hearsay in the Pashtun society. However, some people feel that the Jewish connection was simply aimed to relate the Pashtuns with a powerful nation ( the Jews), to rebut the Pakhtuns' adversaries who used to propagate fairy tales regarding the origin of the Pashtuns. On the other hand, The Arian connection also lead to the same argument.

[pukhtana]

I have a few objections to the Arab connection.

Firstly, post and pre-Islam Arabs thrived on slavery. The concept of slavery vague at best to Pashtuns especially within our tribal system.

Secondly, most Pashtuns converted to or were converted to Islam after the arrival of Sabuktigin and his successors (Mahmud of Ghazni being the most popular of them), which was around two hundred years after the prophet Mohammad sent his emissaries to far-away places.

Lastly, the tribal structure described in the article can be made to fit any tribal society. All tribes of all societies discussed their issues in gatherings of the common men and the elders, even the Sioux and the Cherokee used to do this, all tribes lived in similar fashions, the law of vendetta existed even amongst Germanic tribes, the Gauls (a Celtic tribal people) even had their tribal councils, etc, etc.

All of these similarities exist because one of the first ways humans organized themselves was through tribes. After tribes came kingdoms, empires and then finally, nation-states. Therefore, tribal customs, whether from ancient Europe, Arabia, the Americas, Central Asia or Afghanistan are very similar to one another especially because the tribal system originated in an era when raw martial strength was the only decisive factor between life or death.

I'd rather be compared to the brave Cherokees of North America than the desert-dwellers of Arabia.



Kind Marhabas

this is exactly what nationalism does it makes you racist. What is wrong with Arab? Cherokees and Arabs are both human. This article is based on theories that could possibly be true.

[PFgulalai]

The jewish connection could be true, for example , in pashtun society , if a girl is married or engaged to a man and that man dies the girl will go to his brother whose almost similar in age.

Its a jewish tradition , which still exists among us.

I am pretty convinced that we could be lost cousins. As my Jewish friends would point out few things such as:"ritual circumcision at eight days, cities of refuge for accidental killers, four-cornered garments, ritual immersion for women,practicing levirate marriage -not according to Muslim custom, which allows for various relatives of the deceased to marry a widow, whether or not she has children, but rather closer to Jewish custom, in that only brothers can marry only childless-widows, etc". They also think that I am different than other Pakistani-Arab people. There is presently one big genetic study going on in the labs of Israel who are working on Pashtun DNA. They are going to include my DNA soon..lol.

Although my Pashtun pride would never allow me to beg to Arabs or Jews to take me as one of their lost cousin, yet if a choice has to be made, I will definitely go for Jews.They are super intelligent and hardworking.They have made HUGE contributions to Science and Technology.Approximately, 220 people amongst the Nobel prize winners are Jews compared to ONLY 2 from Arab ( Dr.Abdus Salam--Pakistani origin, and Ahmad Zewail--Egyptian-American).I would prefer to die the day I come to know that I have an Arab descent!

[Saifullah]

We are bani adam...how silly that people fight over petty things

I am not that free to try to find out if pashtuns came from jew or timbuktu for that matter, watever is clear cut u acknowledge that otherwise wat is the use of arguing over theories/assumptions/rumours

[Saifullah]

Lets just assume pashtuns came from jews, that wont mean im gonna start hugging jews and tell them oh we came from you guys lets celebrate and become unified. Or if we came from aryan or watever, its not gonna make any difference...

Lets focus more on the future and present, than to dwell in past which we have no record of

[Saifullah]

ok lets agree wid u sher khan...then wat happens?

[ayub]

sher khan: measure your nose it's a good indication if you have any Jewish connections.

[amna.]

Davids stars really?

You can still find the david star in lots of pashtun houses and shops , even in peshawar.
Lots of pashtuns here would deny it due to their islamic hate for jews , but this theory is more credible than any other.

[BLS_1919v2.0]

this is exactly what nationalism does it makes you racist. What is wrong with Arab? Cherokees and Arabs are both human. This article is based on theories that could possibly be true.

This has nothing to do with racism or nationalism. Basically the things that author used to describe similarities can be extended to mean any tribal society especially highlander folks like Albanians, arabs, chechens, etc. All cultures have their unique beauty, one isn't better than the other.

[Saifullah]

Rascism and nationalism go hand in hand....its just a waste of energy

[BLS_1919v2.0]

Saying you hate Arabs or you wish not to be Arab is not racism in your opinion?

How do you define Nationalism?

Who hates arabs? I don't. I was talking about the general theme of what LZ said....now if he hates them, by all means ask him.

[PFgulalai]

Saying you hate Arabs or you wish not to be Arab is not racism in your opinion?
How do you define Nationalism?

Well it is as simple as you don't want to have your house with a particular neighbor anymore since that neighbor disturbs you every night by playing loud music which is painful to your ears and destroys your peace of mind which can further result in lack of sleep, anxiety, depression,etc. These effects can further worsen your physiological and mental health. Hence you decide not to live close to that neighbor due to fear of death! Does your choice of not being with a particular neighbor make you a racist?
In simple words, Racism is the belief that your race/ethnicity is superior to all humans and on the basis of that rights, justice, or benefits are denied to other racial groups.Nationalism seeks the unity of a certain ethnic group under one heritage and language. It does focus on one ethnic group but does not discriminate the rights of other ethnicites.

[PFgulalai]

GULALAI khor why? Whats with the Arabic hate?

Saying that you don't want to be declared as Jew or Arab is a personal matter and I guess there is no harm in that. It is just making another choice. I just don't want to be declared Arab as much as I don't want to be declared Punjabi.I don't deny them basic human rights and hence will never support another genocide. I love being Pashtun (thankfully) and will die as one too. Yes I am inclined to Jews more than Arabs (as I mentioned in my previous post) since I think they are rendering tremendous services to mankind.
Peace.