Mawaali and Molaa'ee

[Dr_Sufi]

Re: Mawaali and Molaa’ee

Referred above, in the thread Hussaini Brahmins, there was an old post by my humble self dated 11 May, 2007. For ease, the same is pasted below;

@Dr_Sufi

Dear GSians.
It has been a long period of absence on my part. Here I am once again with my humble and meagre knowlegde on the subjcet.
Before the word Hussaini can be explained, there are two more words which if understood can help in understanding the term Hussaini Brahmins. They are Jaafari and Maulai.
Jaafari is used for those Syeds who are from the line of Hazrat Imam Jaafar-al-Sadiq (AS). This term is also used by some of those Shias who are not Syed but on account of their following of Fiqa-e-Jaafaria, use this post-fix in their names.
Second is the term Maulai which is used in some areas by certain people, who are neither Shia, nor Syed but consider Hazrat Ali (KAW) to be Maula (i.e., Master). They can be from any sectarian or religious denomination. They can be Muslims, Sikhs or even Hindus. A few people consider some Sikhs like Baba Guru Nanak as one of them. Mr G. Singh Dara, a pre-partition Sikh advocate, was also considered by some to be a Maulai. He also wrote a marvellous book on Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SA) by the name "Rasool-e-Arabi’. In the recent times, the Sikh Singer Daler Mehndi after his song “Nabi Booba Nabi Booba” was also labelled to be a Maulai by some. In this song he even used the words “Shah-e-Madina” and “Maula Ali” to whcih he faced a lot of criticism by Indian circles. After that, he clarified in Media that it was his own feelings and that is exactly how he thought. Afterwards he had to change his song from “Nabi Booba Nabi Booba” to “Mehbooba Mehbooba”. It is worth mentioning that none of these claimed themselves to be Maulai, but others considered or labelled them as such.
In the same way the word Hussaini has two connotations. Firstly it is strictly applied to those Syeds who are from the direct lineage and family of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS). Secondly, it is loosely applied to any one who bears allegience, sympathies or claims to have a love for Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS). The term Hussaini Brahmin probably appeared in the court of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula or Nizam of Deccan. Most probably, it appeard in the time of Nizams who are said to be Shias of Iranian origin. Probably that was the reason, it was renamed “Hyderabad Deccan”. During the time of Nizam, 10th of Moharram was regularly comomemorated which was attended by people from all walks of life. During that time, some Hindu Pandits and Brahmins recited eulogies of the great Sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Husaain (AS). They were given the honourific title called “Hussaini Brahmin”. It was in their eulogies, that hypothetical mention of Hindus fighting for the cause of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) was made. This over a period of time, might have changed from a myth to a fact as pointed out in the mentioned websites.
Rest the truth is known to Allah.
Wassalam.