Brief history of Garsoogude Sultanate in Somalia and beyond
Contents No Title Page
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1 Opening Statements: by Qur'anic verse & Sayings of our Prophet (Salla Aleihi wa Sallam)
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2 Introduction 3
3 Brief History of Garsoogude Sultanate 5
a) The tribal origin and movements of the Sultanate ……………. b) The reason of its Movements ……………………………………. c) Brief history of Lugh-aw-Maadow ……………………………... d) Land & People governed by the Sultanate …………………….. e) The role of Sultanate in Spreading of Islam in Somalia …......... f) Tribes related to the Garsoogude tribe by blood in Somalia … g) Other tribes related to Garsoogude by serving the Sultanate .. h) The system of Governance & Leadership of Garsoogude
Sultanate …………………………………………………………... i) Famous sayings reflecting the governance & leadership ……..
5 6 7 7 8 8 9
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4 The history of Garaad Kalafow (Khalaf) a) Brief history of his life & rule …………………………………… b) The number and names of his children ………………………... c) His genealogy …………………………………………………….. d) The heirs of his dynasty in Lugh-aw-Maadow ……………….. e) His tribal offspring ………………………………………………. f) Graphic chart of Garaad Kalafow offspring in 1st and 2nd
levels ……………………………………………………………….
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5 Sample of Complete genealogy of Garsoogude tribe (Example taken is the author's lineage)
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6 Appedix i. The Reewin (Rahanweyn) political Alliance & Structure ……. ii. Very important Arabic articles on Nasabs (genealogy) ……… iii. Some Ruling by fatwa on some issues related to the Nasabs ... iv. Some copes of Original references on Garsoogude Sultanate .. v. Maps and Pictures ………………………………………………... vi. References ………………………………………………………….
16 16-17 18-27 28-31 32-36 37-41
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BRIEF HISTORY OF GARSOOGUDE SULTANATE IN SOMALIA AND BEYOND Prepared by: Sheikh Abdisalam bin Haaji Ahmed bin Garaad Hussein Malla
Date: May 27, 2010
1. Opening Statements: by Qur'anic verse and the Sayings of our Prophet (Salla Aleihi wa Sallam)
بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم
ادعوھم -بائھم ھو أقسط عند هللا فإن لم تعلموا آباءھم فإخوانكم في الدين ومواليكم وليس عليكم جناح فيما أخطأتم به ولكن ما () غفورا رحيما تعمدت قلوبكم وكان هللا
Al-Qur'an, 33:05 (Al-Ahzab)
"Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah . But if you do not know their fathers - then they are [still] your brothers in religion and those entrusted to you. And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful."
: رسول هللا صلى هللا وسلمقال
)اثنان في الناس ھما بھم كفر، الطعن في النسب والنياحة على الميت(
صحيح: ؛ خKصة حكم المحدث67: صحيح مسلم؛ الصفحه أو الرقم: مسلم؛ المصدر: ريره؛ المحدثأبو ھ: الراوي (Two things that crosses people over the line of Eman to the Kufr (disbelieving) are: to undermine people's genealogy (the Nasab) and to do bawling and wailing on dead person).
)شق الجيب، والنياحة، والطعن في النسب: الكفرھيثKثة ( صحيح : ؛ خKصة حكم المحدث3525: الصفحه أو الرقم؛الترغيبصحيح : ؛ المصدراPلباني: أبو ھريره؛ المحدث: الراوي
(Three are but the disbelieving (Kufr) action: Tearing the cloth, and wailing (during calamities), and undermining or injuring people's genealogy)
)من انتسب الى غير أبيه فعليه لعنة هللا والمKئكة والناس أجمعين ) 6104 وھو في صحيح الجامع 2599رواه ابن ماجه
(Anyone who traces his genealogy to a father other than his real father, on him will be the curse of Allah, the Malaa'ikah, and all the people.)
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2. Introduction
We are living in the age of information and technology where everyone is trying
to write and post some information on the pages of forums and internet websites. I
have seen a lot of people writing very bias information and lies about the realities of
Somalis in terms of tribal history, culture, politics, social and religion.
It is the duty of the Scholars of Somali people to clarify and sort out the right
information from the wrong one and the bias from the objective. If we don't correct
those wrong and bias information presented today, it will be too late to stop or change
it tomorrow and we will be sinners.
Everyone will be responsible and questioned, tomorrow in the court of Allah
Almighty, about what he writes or says today in this temporary world; Allah Ta'ala
said:
:قال تعالى
)مع والبصر والفؤاد كل أولئك كان عنه مسئو] الس ان‘ به علم لكو] تقف ما ليس(
Al- Qur'an: 17:35 Surah al-Isra
( And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and
the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned.)
He also said:
)يا أي ھا الذين آمنوا ان جاءكم فاسق بنبإ فتبي نوا ان تصيبوا قوما بجھالة فتصبحوا على فعلتم نادمين(
(O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information,
investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done,
regretful.)
If you read carefully and understand the opening verse and the followed
ahaadiith( sayings of Prophet – (S.A.W.)) in the first page before the introduction, you
can conclude that it is a big sin and a kufr in nature to undermine and injure peoples
genealogy on purpose or out of ignorance in negligence. Allah Almighty advises
people in His Qur'an, If you don't know, please ask people of knowledge.
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Please don't get me wrong on writing about this issue, I am not a person who
believe tribalism in the wrong way that Somalis use it for corruptions and oppressions;
but surely I believe the existence of tribes and the importance of Nasab in Islam. The
major reason on writing about this is to correct the wrong information published,
about Reewin people and their history, day and night, honestly or mischievously in
everywhere; even forget about Reewin as a general tribe, I have seen people giving
misinformation about my own tribe and Nasab in the Internet. Therefore, I felt as a
must and a duty on me to standup and correct those wrong information for the sake of
Allah Almighty as I would do that for every other issue in Islam beside history &
Nasb.
The objective of this paper is to educate our Somali people and others about the
history of Reewin (Rahanweyn) people, their nasab (Genealogy) and the culture.
Specially, this paper has emphasized on Reewin sultanates and their Nasabs.
I hope I have contributed an important information and the correct knowledge to
you about Reewin Sultanates (OmarDeen Families) out of sincerity and respect.
All information I have submitted in this paper is as a result of field research
where I have met with the Elders of OmarDeen Families in 1980s in Somalia or from
reading some books of history (see the list in the reference section). I would like to
thank Dr. Muhammad H. Mukhtar about his writings in the Reewin History
throughout his academic life where he has discussed about general and specific issues
including the Reewin Sultanates.
If anyone wants to contribute and comment, please welcome and do so; my
email address is [email protected].
Sh. Abdisalam Haaji Ahmed Garaad Hussein Malla
PhD. Student at INCEIF University, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia.
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3. Brief History of Garsoogude Sultanate
a) The tribal Origin and Movements of the Sultanate
One of the noblest tribes in the Greater Somalia, specially in the south of
Somalia and the north east of Ethiopia, is the OmarDeen tribe. The omarDeen
tribe had established two Sultanates in the present day of Somalia. One of them
is the oldest Sultanate in the land of Somalia known as Garsoogude Sultanate
which was originated from the Islamic Sultanates that existed in Zaila and Harar
from the 9th century of Miladi. Garsoogude Sultanate moved into different cities
in Ethiopia, specially Qabri Dahre, Imey, Hirrow and Hamarre etc. for centures,
until finally it moved into different locations in the Reewin Land to ultimately
rest into the city of Lugh in 1410 Miladi. The other Sultanate is the Geledi
Sultanate of Afgoye which is the cousins of Garsoogude tribe. For the Geledi
Sultanate, it is reported that, at first, they became guests of their cousin tribe in
Lugh in the early of eighteen century; then the leaders of Geledi tribe decided to
move to the area of Afgoye and took over the area of Afgoye from Ajuran
Sultanate and established there the Geledi Sultunate. Garsoogude tribe is the
Children of Qarsan OmarDeen while the Geledi tribe is the children of Dab
OmarDeen. Both Sultanates trace their roots back to the early 9th Century
dynasties in Zeila and Harar. It had started from the Muslim immigrants of
Arabia who married and intermingled with the local Somali tribes. First, the base
of this kingdom was in Zeila and then moved into Harar for political and
strategic reasons. Garsoogude tribe is the offspring of these dynasties and
belongs to the families of the famous ruler and Mujahid of Harar known as
Garaad Imam Ahmed Gurey bin al-Ghazi of Harar Sultanate. Garsoogude tribe
was known as the 'OmarDeen tribe' before coming into Somalia because their
first ancestor had immigrated to Zaila & Harar from Arabia and his name was
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OmarDeen Geladi who was died and buried in Harar. Later, when OmarDeen
tribe became the Sultans of Reewins (known as Rahanweyn) in Somalia, the tribe
was nicknamed as Garsoogude because of, the first time in Reewin history, the
Reewin people could able to defeat their enemies of Galla tribes under
Garsoogude leadership. So Garsoogude (also spelled like Gassar Gudda) means
literally the judge or the authority that gave back the rights of the reewin people
in that Era by their leadership with God Almighty's help. The word Garsoogude
has been pronounced as gasaargude for saying it easily. The original name of the
tribe as 'OmarDeen' has disappeared and replaced by the nickname Garsoogude.
b) The Reason of its Movements Because of the wars between the Muslim Sultanates and the Abyssinian
Christian kingdom in Harar area, the founders of Garsoogude sultanate
immigrate from Harar to Qabri Dahre, Emey, Hirrow, and then to Hamarre in
the present day of Ethiopia. Some of the families moved into Qabri Dahri city
which is in fact named after the Dahr aw Amiin Sultan who belonged to
OmarDeen Families. After living in those area for so many years, the Sultunate
had moved into inside Somalia and finally established a secure and commercial
city in the south west of Somalia; this city was named as Luuq (Lugh); Luuq
means loop in English. The city is surrounded by the Jubba river almost all the
sides excepted one exit which is connected to the main land (see the attached
map in the appendix). Later the city was nicknamed as Lugh-aw-madow by the
name of the great Sultan known as Garaad aw-Maadow who was in power in the
first half of 19 century. By the way, this Graad is the one who gave the settlement
opportunity to the Mareehaan tribe in Gedo region as immigrants from central
Somalia at the end of his rule before death. Most of his subjects refused the
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Marehan Settlement in Reiwin Land but the Sultan used by his power through
humanitarian grounds in accordance with the Shari'ah.
c) Brief History of Lugh-aw-Maañow
Lugh aw Maadow (also known as luuq Ganane or luuq Ferrandi) was
founded by Graad Kalafow (khalaf) in the year of 1410 A.D. - at that time, a
barbaric atheist tribe known as by the name of “Boran” was living in that fertile
area. The head of the monarchy then was Garad Kalafow from the lineage of Hajj
Mohamed Diridle who was nicknamed as Garsoogude (Haji Mohamed Diridle
was the first king of Garsoogude kingdom in greater Somalia and his kingdom
was the first in Somalia. His lineage goes back to the family of Omardeen Geladi
who died and was buried in Harar). Lugh is surrounded by a wall and has only
one gate for access; probably this idea is copied from Harar city where the city is
surrounded by walls and has six or seven gates for access. Ugu Ferrandi has
given a detailed account about Lugh in his book published in 1903: Lugh –
Emporio Commerciale Sul Giuba; so I refer you to that.
d) Land and People Governed by the Sultanate
Many regions and Reewin tribes were under the control of that kingdom before
Ajuran and Geledi sultanates shared the power in some areas; the following regions
were under the control of the kingdom: Gedo, Bakool, Bay, Lower Shabelle, Central
Juba and lower Juba. Before President Siad Barre had divided the Rewin-land into
different regions as above for political, economical and tribal reasons, the rewin land
was only three regions: Jubbada Sare, Jubbada Hoose and Banadir. Some other tribes
were shared in Benadir and Lower Jubba but the Majority were Digil-Mirifle tribes and
their alliances. Even Garsoogude control was extended to the area of South East
Ethiopia where the Boran tribes were living.
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e) The Role of Sultanate in spreading of Islam in Somalia
This kingdom helped spread the religion of Islam and the Islamic Culture for the
first time in many areas in the South of Somalia. It had established, with the help
Ajuran and Geledi Sultanates later, three prominent centers of Islamic studies in the
South of Somalia namely: Lugh, Bardhere, and Merca which were also known as
important trade centers. Ugu ferrandi has been in Lugh from 1895 to 1897. He has
written a lot of information about the Sultanate and the city of Lugh in any possible
aspect of their life including Faith and Practice of Islam. No tribe in Somalia has been
ever written about their story like that in Somalia as Ferrandi has done with
Garsoogude Sultanate. His book, which was more than 360 pages, was published in
Italian language in 1903 in Rome. I.M. Lewis said in his famous book about Somali,
Saho, and Anfar people: "The best documented tribe in Somalia is Garsoogude tribe".
f) Tribes related to Garsoogude Tribe by blood in Somalia
Five tribes beyond Rewin people are related to the Garsoogude tribe in Somalia
namely: Waaq Dhowr of Alta Jubba, Geledi of Afgoye, Ajuran of Qalafe, FakhruDeen
of Banadir, and GudiBersi of Boorame. Waaq Dhowr tribe was the Sultan before Haaji
Muhammad Deridle (Garsoogude) had taken over the power of dynasty from them.
Ajuran had followed the Shabeele river from Harar and settled in Qalaafe city, the
headquarter of the Sultanate, and controlled many areas of the central of Somalia
down to some areas in the south. FakhruDeen tribe had settled in Banadir and became
the Sultan of that area. I think, when Ibn Batuta visited Hamar in the 1331 A.D., the
FakhruDeen tribe was in Power. Also some other tribes in the Rewin land are the
offspring of these five major tribes. Many other tribes related to the OmarDeen
Families are still remained and lived in Somali Galbeed, Harar and Anfar Area in the
present day of Ethiopia.
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g) Other tribes related to Garsoogude tribe by serving the Sultanate
There are three other tribes related to the Garsoogude tribe not in blood
relationship but in Service exclusively to the Royal Family during their reign. These
tribes are: Gaboywein as general servants, Reer Aawow as special servants and Eyli as
service agents.
h) The system of Governance and Leadership
There was a yearly conference in Lugh that the Graad calls for in every year. All
the Reewin tribes were used to come to the conference by the leadership of their
Malaks. Most of the time, the focus of the conference was, as reported to me by the
traditional elders, to renew the subjects their allegiance to the Grand Garaad of
Garsoogude & his leadership, to defend the Sultanate, and to formulate the annual
plans of actions for the people of Reewin socially, economically and military in their
capacity at that era and to review the plan every year. Then, the leadership closes the
conference with a dua and a devotion of worship to Allah Almighty to help and
protect them. Note that there was only one Garaad for all Reewin people and that was
the Garsoogude Garaad, and a Malaq for each tribe of Reewin people. The Malaq is
used to be the representative of the Garaad of Garsoogude in his tribe and the chief of
commander for his tribe during the war time. The case is different with Geledi
Sultanate in Afgoyo, the title for their leader is Sultan and as Said before Geledi tribe in
Afgoye is the cousin of Garsoogude tribe.
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i) Famous sayings reflecting the Governance & Leadership
Now we must mention Some of the famous saying in the Reewin People
regarding the Sultanate and its reign:
a) "Dow leedaa luuq seew:" meaning "If you don't agree the ruling, go to
Luuq for an appeal in you case." When a case is ruled by a local court
and the accused is not happy with the ruling, he/she should go to Lugh
for an Appeal, the captal city for Reewin People.
b) "Gasaargude waa Gob Reewin (Rahanweyn)": meaning "Gasaargude are
the nobles or chiefs of Reewin people".
c) "Heejow mad deridle inta uu ku kooyow unnu hanti lee haadaan":
means "Haji Muhammad Deridle until he assumes the power we will be
slaves for others". The reewin people believed at the time of Haaji
Muhammad Diridle (Garsoogude) if they did not select him as their
garaad and Sultan, they will not succeed in maintaining their liberty.
d) "Gasaargudigeen garteen gudee": means "our Gasaargude leadership
will give us back our rights" in courts or in wars.
e) "Eyla eitaa, asmoog cabiidaa, affarey min reewin col dhowkaa, ula
waranwu, canaantaa jeedalwu": meaning "The tribe of Eila is your
service agents, the tribe of Asamoog (Gaboywein) is your general
servants, all Reewin people are your ready soldiers, your beating by
stick is like hitting by spear, and you verbal blame is like whipping by
the lash" This statement is used to say by people during the greeting of
the Garaad in a conference of all tribes or in any other occasion wherever
he is in an official settings.
Some Important other titles:
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f) Islow is a title of respect for the members of royal family. I have heard
people calling members of the royal family by that title in the early of
1980 when I was in Lugh-aw-Maañow for a visit. It was an offensive if
someone call a member of the royal family by name without the title
"Islow".
g) The assistant of the Grand garaad for the government and public affairs
is given the title of 'Ugaas'. Ugu Ferrandi calls the Ugas title by the name
'Dafflan' and listed in his book on page 263 the 8 appointed Dafflans by
the Garaads from 1856 to 1886.
h) The elders of council that helps the Grand Garaad in the decision
making process is called council of Akhyar.
4. The History of Garaad Kalafow (i.e. Khalaf):
a) Brief history of his life and rule
Garad Kalafow was born in the city of Harar. He became the ruler of Hamarre
after the death of his father Keyrow who was buried in the same city of Hamarre.
G. Kalafow Reign lasted for 25 years until his death in Lugh in the year 1435
Miladi. He transferred the center of his rule from Hamarre to Lugh-Aw-Mañaw
where he was died and buried. His tomb which is located in Lugh is well known
to all; It is in the center of the City beside a Masjid built by his families. The tomb
is built and tagged for history by the Italian Government during the colonization
period.
b) The number and names of his children:
1. Garaad Liban, the eldest, born in Hamarre;
2. Garaad Amin, born in Hamarre;
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3. Garaad Hilowle, born in Hamarre;
4. Garaad Maañow, born in Lugh;
5. Garaad Omarow, born in Lugh;
6. Garaad Keyrow, born in Lugh
c) His genealogy:
Garaad Kalafow bin Keyrow bin Roble bin Renle bin Mohamed bin Barkhadle
bin Qais bin Hassan bin Haji Mohamed (who was known as Garsoogude) bin
Dirdle bin Mohamed bin Omar bin Hassan bin Sharif bin Dalwaq bin Qarsan bin
OmarDeen (who was also called Geladi), Mohamed bin Abdul muttalib bin
Hassan bin Mustafa bin Hamed bin Faqih bin Yahia bin Haroun bin Thabet bin
Ibrahim bin Musleh bin Abd-Allah bin Zubair bin Awwam bin Khuwailed from
Bani Asad Al-Qurashi.
d) The heirs of his dynasty in Lugh-aw-Maañow: Upon the death of Garad Kalafow, the rule had moved to the hands of his eldest son Garaad Liban, and then from him on to Garaad Hilowle, Garaad Keyrow, Garaad Soubaw, Garaad Dhurrow, Garaad Hafaw, Garaad Kurmaw, Garaad Aiden, Garaad Maadow, Garaad Aba Mala, Garaad AbdulHay, Garaad Mohamed Amin, Garaad Maleylow, Garaad Hussein Malla, and Garaad Ahmed Aliyow, Garaad Aiden Nuurow and currently Garaad AhmedDeen.
e) His tribal Offspring:
Seven offsprings branched off from the tribe of Garsoogude:
1- Garaad Liban, known also as Qabowbe which was also divided
into four sub tribes namely: Qabowbe, Dhurrow, Kalley, and Hassanow;
2- Garaad Amin, later branched off into: Nurow, Aleyaw, Mohamed, and
Soubow;
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3- Garaad Khair, later branched off into: Heydiley, Aiden, Barkhadle, and
Mamun;
4- Garaad Maañow, later branched off into: Hafow and Aiden;
5- Garaad Hilowli, later branched off into: Mamun, and Hayyu;
6- Garaad Omarow, later became the tribe of Abubakar;
7- Reer Dulkaa Madow – This family is one of the branches of the Garsoogude
tribe, not directly from Garad Khalafow, but off from one of his six children.
This family had exclusively special responsibility for the Sultanate and that
was maintaining the Judicial office and religious affairs. They had never
assumed the Garaadship power in the executive branch.
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f) Graphic Chart of Garaad Kalafow OffSpring in 1st and 2nd level
Here is the chart shows Garsoogude Tribe and its branches from Graad
Khalafow who died in 1435 AD at Lugh-aw-Mañow; His tomb is well known to
everyone in Lugh. He is buried in the center of the city.
Aw Graad Kalafow The founder of Lugh City in 1410 A.D.
G. Hilowle G. Khair G.Amin
G. Maañow G. Liban G. Omarow
Qabowbe Dhurrow Kaalley Hassanow
Nurow Aleyaw Mohamed Soubow
Heydiley Aiden Barkhadle Mamun
Mamun Hayyu Hafow Aiden Abubakar
Figure 1: Garsoogude Tribal chart. G = Garaad
Note: It would be better if we would call this chart the "Graad Kalafow (Khalaf)
tribal chart because the Garsoogude tribal chart will be bigger than this; it starts
from Haji Muhammad Diredly who was nicknamed as Garsoogude; as such,
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many other tribes would be included in the chart. So the Graad Kalafow family
had continued to use the bigger name 'Garsoogude' as the tribal name for them
instead of Garaad Kalafow tribe.
g) Sample of Complete genealogy of Garsoogude tribe (example taken is the author's lineage)
In closing, I would like to give here the whole family tree of Garsoogude tribe
from my name to the grand-grand father - aw Garad Kalaf, the founder of Lugh
City, to the grand-grand Garaad - Haaji Muhammad Dridle, the Father of
Garsoogude and other tribes in the Rewin people, to the great-great ancestor - al-
Haaji Garaad, sheikh OmarDeen Geladi, and Finally to the Greatest ancestor, the
Sahabi Jaleel Abdu-Allahi Zuber bin Awam bin Khuweilid (May Allah be
pleased with them) of Bani Asad Qureishi Tribe. Here is the family tree as
reported to us by our ancestors from one generation to the other generation
throughout our history:
Sheikh Abdisalam bin Haj Ahmed bin Garaad Hussein Malla bin Garaad
Mohamed bin Garaad Aiden bin Garaad Nour bin Garaad Aliyow bin Garad
Amin bin Garad Kalafow bin Keyrow bin Roble bin Renle bin Mohamed bin
Barkhadle bin Qais bin Hassan bin Haji Mohamed (who was known as
Garsoogude) bin Dirdle bin Mohamed bin Omar bin Hassan bin Sharif bin
Dalwaq bin Qarsan bin OmarDeen (who was also called Geladi), Mohamed bin
Abdul muttalib bin Hassan bin Mustafa bin Hamed bin Faqih bin Yahya bin
Haroun bin Thabet bin Ibrahim bin Musleh bin Abd-Allah bin Zubair bin
Awwam bin Khuwailed from Bani Asad Al-Qurashi. (from here the genealogy
is the same as the Sahabi Abdu-Allah ibn Zuber (RA); it is available in the
Sahabi's profile in the history or genealogy books; I refer you there.)