| Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah Tirmizi | |
|---|---|
 Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah Tirmizi the Prime Minister of Amb and former Ruler of Swat (seated third from left), Governor of Mecca (Saudi Arabia) (seated fourth from left) and Governor of Madinah (Saudi Arabia) (seated second from left), photograph taken in Darband, State of Amb 1923 (photograph courtesy of Nawabzada Salahudin Seed). Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah (1887–1959): Scholar, Statesman, and Ruler of Swat A Political and Intellectual Biography of the Sethana Dynasty Abstract Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah was a distinguished Pashtun historian, Islamic scholar, political leader, and ruler of Swat (1914–1918). Descended from the renowned Sethana Syed family, whose influence dominated Yousafzai politics for over two centuries, he combined religious scholarship with political leadership and resistance against colonial domination. Recognized by Sir Olaf Caroe as an authority on Pashtun history, his works remain among the most important historical records of the Pakhtoon tribes. 1. Introduction The political and religious history of the North-West Frontier is inseparable from the legacy of the Sethana Syed family. For nearly two hundred years, this family stood at the forefront of resistance against Sikh and British imperial expansion, while simultaneously serving as religious leaders, scholars, and rulers of Swat and surrounding regions. Among its most illustrious figures stands Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah—a ruler, historian, Hafiz-e-Qur’an, and statesman whose life represents a unique synthesis of Islamic leadership, Pashtun nationalism, and anti-colonial resistance. 2. Origins of the Sethana Dynasty The Sethana family traces its spiritual and political authority to Hazrat Pir Baba Syed Ali Tirmizi, whose arrival in Swat established the family as religious leaders of the region. By 1820, Sethana had emerged as a major center of resistance against Sikh expansion. For twenty-six years (1820–1846), the family led armed resistance against Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s forces. In 1824, Sethana itself was attacked by an army of nearly 100,000 Sikh troops. Despite repeated destruction, the family maintained dominance over the Yousafzai political landscape for nearly two centuries. Their ancestral migration began with Syed Zaman Shah, who moved from Buner to Sethana, from where the family spread across Buner, Malka, Hazara, and Swat. 3. Syed Akbar Shah: Architect of the Sethana State Born in 1793, Syed Akbar Shah emerged as the most powerful ruler of the family. He ruled Swat and Hazara for twelve years, with his capital at Ghalegai in the Abakhel region. He led military campaigns against: Sikh forces British expeditions at Malakand (1852) Nawab of Dir (1856) He granted sanctuary to Syed Ahmed Shaheed Barelvi and his Mujahideen, making Sethana a center of Islamic resistance. He died on 11 May 1857—the very day of the Indian Mutiny. British records famously noted: “Today we have received bad news of mutiny, but the good news is that Syed Akbar Shah has died; otherwise, the shape of the mutiny would have been different.” 4. The Sethana Tragedy and Survival of Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah was born into a family under siege. His father, Syed Mehmood Shah, was killed by Hassanzai tribes. In 1878, when Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah was only six months old, his cousin Feroz Shah attacked Sethana and massacred all male members of the family. He survived only due to the bravery of a loyal female servant who secretly carried him to the village of Kia, where he was sheltered by the Ghulam Khel tribe. This event marked the near destruction of one of the most powerful dynasties of the Frontier. 5. Education and Intellectual Formation Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah was raised in India under the care of his stepbrother in Lucknow. His scholarly education included: Persian studies under Maulvi Qamaruddin (Azamgarh) Arabic and Islamic sciences under Maulvi Naziruddin and Maulvi Kabirullah (Banaras) He memorized the Quran (Hafiz) and developed a photographic memory. In 1905, he traveled on foot to Qundoz (Northern Afghanistan) to verify his ancestral lineage. Sir Olaf Caroe later wrote: “He was an authority on the history of the Pathans.” — The Pathans, Sir Olaf Caroe 6. Political Career and Rule of Swat (1914–1918) In 1899, Nawab Akram Khan of Amb appointed him Minister. In 1907, he married the Nawab’s daughter. In 1908, with the support of the Nawab of Amb, he recaptured Sethana and rebuilt the family fort. On 28 April 1914, he ascended the throne of Swat with his capital at Niphikhel (Bandi Bala). His reforms included: Establishment of a salaried standing army Islamic taxation system Enforcement of Sharia law Administrative judiciary In 1916, Mian Gul Abdul Wadud mutinied but was captured and pardoned on oath upon the Qur’an. He later betrayed Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah with British support and seized power. 7. Exile and Service in Hyderabad Deccan In 1939, the British exiled him to Hyderabad Deccan. The Nizam appointed him Defense Minister, a post he held until 1945. He twice secured major donations for Islamia College Peshawar: Rs. 100,000 (1912) Rs. 150,000 (1939) 8. Literary Contributions His major works include: Al-Hibrat Bani Israel Mun‘ameen-i-Bani Israel Four Hundred Years’ History of the Frontier These remain foundational texts for Pashtun genealogy and political history. 9. Legacy Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah represents the final sovereign ruler of an independent Swat before British domination. His life embodies the transition from Islamic monarchy to colonial subjugation. He remains: A symbol of Pashtun sovereignty A pioneer historian of Pakhtoon origins A defender of Islamic governance References Caroe, Olaf. The Pathans: 550 B.C.–A.D. 1957. Oxford University Press. Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah. Mun‘ameen-i-Bani Israel. Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah. Al-Hibrat. Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah. Four Hundred Years’ History of the Frontier. British India Records, Frontier Administration Reports (1850–1939). Amb State Archives. Political Correspondence (1899–1918). Islamia College Peshawar Archives. Donation Registers (1912, 1939). Hyderabad Deccan State Records. Council of Ministers Proceedings (1939–1945). Author’s Note This biography is based on family records, oral tradition, British colonial documentation, and the published works of Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah himself. It preserves the historical legacy of one of the most influential political and scholarly dynasties of the North-West Frontier. | |
| Successor | Wadud of Swat |
| Born | Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah Tirmizi Around 1870 Swat |
| Died | Buner District |
| Burial | Bacha Killay Buner District |
Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah was a prime minister of State of Amb and later from 1919-1926 he was selected as the monarch of Kingdom of Swat. [1] He was a descendant of Syed Ali Tirmzi from Termez, Uzbekistan from the linage of Syed Baraka Tirmizi. Syed Baraka Tirmizi who was the Spiritual Teacher of Timur of Timurid Empire. [2] He was living in Sethana, Palace of State of Amb he peacefully died in Sethana locally knows as Ghari, Sethana submerged under Tarbela Dam.
His elders migrations traced back with Tanoli Tribe historically refers as Timurid Descendants when they migrated from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan around 15-16th century and then in present day Tanawal.