Ghafiri

Ghafiri people

غفيري
Languages
Mehri, Yemeni Arabic and Omani Arabic
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Other Semitic-speaking peoples Especially Soqotri, Harasis, Bedouins, Hinawi, Mehri and other Modern South Arabian-speaking peoples

The Ghafiri (also Ghafiri or al-Ghafiriyah) are one of two major tribal confederations of Oman and the Trucial States (today the United Arab Emirates), the other being the Hinawi. ^{[1] [2]} Both confederations claim their origin to the Bedouin tribe and the Ghafiri also trace their roots to the Nizari or Adnani tribes. ^[3]

Both groups provided support to the ruling sultans to further their own interests. ^[4] The Ghafiri are a mixture of Ibadhi and Sunni Muslims.

History

The Ghafiri confederation of the Ibadi Imamate was established in the mid 8th century. In the election of a new imam (leader) who functioned as ”both temporal and religious leader of the community”, the leaders of both confederations played an important role in governance. ^[5] The confederations played a role in the political history of Oman, with Omani tribes being affiliated with one or the other confederation. ^[6] Because of the Ghafiri's support of Saif ibn Sultan II, a clash occurred between the two confederations in 1748 in which leaders of both tribes died. ^[7]

In the late 19th century, Ghafiri, numbering approximately 20,000 people, lived in the areas of Buraimi and Su'areb. Ghafiri tribes of that time were the Na'im, the Beni Ka'ib, the Beni Kattab and Daramikeh. ^[8] A constant feature of the rivalry of the two groups was also witnessed in the support they provided to the ruling sultans to further their own interests. ^[4] During the conflicts between the two groups and the rivalry of the imam and the sultan, the British eventually played an intermediary role, and this resulted in a stable Sultanate in Oman which lasted between 1920 and 1954. ^[9]

Culture

Many of the Ghafiri's religious affiliation is Sunni Muslim, abiding by the Wahhabi tenets , ^[10] whislt others such as the Banu Riyam, are Ibadhi. ^[11] The Na'im are Ghafiri by political affiliation. ^[12] Although rivalry continues in the modern day between Ghafiri and Hinawis, it is generally limited to their opposing football teams. ^[11]

References

1. Court of Arbitration at the Hague 1905, p. 80.
2. Said Zahlan, Rosemarie (1978). The origins of the United Arab Emirates: a political and social history of the Trucial States. Macmillan. p. 2. ISBN   9781349039517.
3. Chatty 2006, p. 505.
4. Valeri 2009, p. 26.
5. "The Omani tribal system". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
6. Davies 1997, p. 52.
7. "A Country Study: Oman, chapter 6 Oman – Government and Politics, section: Historical Patterns of Governance". US Library of Congress. 1993. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
8. Asiatic Society 1877, pp. 52–53.
9. Stöckli 2011, p. 37.
10. Wellsted 1838, p. 125.
11. Darke 2010, p. 24.
12. Hawley 1970, p. 294.

Bibliography

• Asiatic Society (1877). Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (Public domain ed.). Asiatic Society. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
• Chatty, Dawn (2006). Nomadic Societies in the Middle East And North Africa: Entering the 21st Century. BRILL. ISBN   978-90-04-14792-8.
• Court of Arbitration at the Hague (1905). In the Permanent court of arbitration at The Hague: Grant of the French flag to Muscat Dhows. The case on behalf of the government of his Britannic majesty and of his highness the sultan of Muscat (Public domain ed.). London.
• Darke, Diana (2010). Oman: The Bradt Travel Guide. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN   978-1-84162-332-0.
• Davies, Charles E. (1 January 1997). The Blood-red Arab Flag: An Investigation Into Qasimi Piracy, 1797-1820. University of Exeter Press. ISBN   978-0-85989-509-5.
• Hawley, Donald (1 January 1970). The Trucial States. Ardent Media. ISBN   978-0-04-953005-8 . Retrieved 22 September 2013.
• Stöckli, Sigrid (13 October 2011). National Entity - Tribal Diversity. GRIN Verlag. ISBN   978-3-656-02799-7.
• Valeri, Marc (2009). Oman: Politics and Society in the Qaboos State. Hurst Publishers. ISBN   978-1-85065-933-4.
• Wellsted, James Raymond (1838). Travels in Arabia (Public domain ed.). J. Murray. p.  125.