Faqir (clan)

The Shah Fakir are a Muslim community in South Asia. They are also known as Shah, Alvi and Dewan Baba,Miya.

History and origin

The word fakir or faqir (Arabic: فقیر (noun of faqr)) is derived from the word faqr (Arabic: فقر, "poverty").They are claim to the descendants of Sufi saints belonging to Syeds lineage, that traced to Ali. Faqirs were wandering Dervishes teaching Islam in South Asia.

There is a theory that this community was formed by Badi' Al-Din an Arab muslim Sufi saint and he came to India from Syria.

His followers start using title Shah

Shahji Faqir of West Bengal

The Faqir of West Bengal are also known as Shahji. They are said to have acquired the name Shahji because they were followers of Sher Ali Shahji, a well known Bengali Sufi saint. Most Faqir consider the famous Sufi Abdul Qadir Jillani as their mentor, and most Faqir in Bengal thus belong to the Qadriyah Sufi order. A smaller number belong to the Chishti, Madariya, Mojadidi, and Naqshbandia orders. Like in other parts of India, the Faqir have evolved from what was originally a community of Sufi mendicants into an endogamous caste grouping. They live mainly in the districts of Nadia, Howrah, Murshidabad, Malda, Bankura, Birbhum and Purulia. The majority of the West Bengal Faqir are now cultivators, living in multi-caste villages, in their own quarters known as Faqir paras. They cultivate paddy, jute, mustard and tilli seeds. A small number are also landless agricultural labourers. The Faqir speak Bengali and follow the Sunni sect of Islam. But they practice a number of folk beliefs, collectively referred to as faqirmat. This involves paying special reverence to a number of Sufi saints. A significant number of Faqir are also involved in the production of cooking oil, an activity traditionally associated with the Teli caste in other parts of India.