The Arain (}}), are a Muslim agricultural caste settled mainly in the Punjab, with significant numbers also in Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming, traditionally being small landowners or zamindars.
Origin
In the
Punjab Census Report (1911), Pandit Harikishan Kaul points out that members of the Arain tribe are “mostly Muhammadans,” (in the
Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province, Denzil Ibbetson also refers to the Arains as, “Almost to a man Muhammadans”),
and as a corollary, reference is also made to Hindu and Sikh sections of the tribe which make up 3% of Arains, with 97% comprimising of Sunni Muslims.
Kaul also states that the term ‘Arain’ is, “derived probably from Rain or Rahin, equivalent to Rahak (tiller of soil).” This is consistent with the Arains traditionally being chiefly associated with market-gardening.
The census reports of 1883 and 1892 record their Hindu origins and kinship with the Kamboh and Saini caste groups.
Most Arain however propose descent from Arabs belonging to Muhammad bin Qasim's expeditionary force to India. Such claims are given credance by how nearly all Arain are, and have been, Sunni Muslim, much like the early Arabs accompanying Muhammad bin Qasim. This assertion is supported by numerous references made in several Urdu language texts; Tareekh-e-Arain, Sham Ta Multan, Tareekh Frishta, Tohfa Tul Ikram and Aina-e-Haqeekat Numa, that reliably trace the lineage of many notable Arain including Zia Ul-Haq and the famous Mian Family of Bhaghbanpura. According to these sources, word Arain is derived from Areeha which is Arabic name for the city of Jericho in West Bank, Palestinian Territory, the place from where they allegedly came.
The Arain during the British Raj
The Arain land holders should not be confused with the more gentrified
zamindars such as the feudal
Rajput landlords of vast holdings. Polo, partridge shoots and tea parties were therefore not associated attributes. Neither were the more negative and profligate practises such as "...dancing girls, drunken evenings listening to poetry, or numerous marriages..". When the British wanted land developed in the Punjab after its annexation, Arain were brought in to cultivate lands around the cities, forming irrigated colonies. Arain were the largest Muslim land holders in Punjab during British rules. The British considered Arian the best cultivators among all the castes. During British Raj in the Ráví valley industrious Arains were predominate
The Arain were so favoured for their "hard work, frugality and sense of discipline". and the Arain came to dominate the legal profession amongst urban Punjabi Muslims. Many used law to enter politics.
The Arain were classified as a "non-martial race" by the British, a classification deemed arbitrary and based on prejudices prevalent at the time. (see Martial Race).
It is important to note however Arain contributions to military service predating and during British rule in India. Lt. Col. J. M. Wikely acknowledged Arain presence in the military; "They (Arains) may be designated as a fighting race which has produced many Civil and Military officers who have rendered good services to the nation." Their lack of classification as a martial race was most probably a consequence of rebellions against British rule. One Arain rebellion in particular occurred in Ludhiana led by the Arain, Shah Abdul Qadir Ludhianvi in 1857 against the English East India Company.
Related communities in North India
There are a number of communities in
North India, that claim kinship with the Arain of
Punjab. The
Arain of
Delhi claim to be descended from Arains, who settled in
Delhi during the rule of the
Mughal Emperor
Akbar.
Another community that claims a connection with the Arain are the Rayeen are Muslim tribe found in Bareilly, Pilibhit, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, Rampur and Saharanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh, India.
Famous Arain
Pir Shah Inayat Qadiri Shattari, a Sufi saint and the spiritual guide of Baba Bulleh Shah.
Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, Prime Minster from 1955 to 1956.
Mian Sir Muhammad Shah Nawaz, an influential politician of the Punjab in the 1920s.
Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday, a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Sir Fazli Husain, an eminent British Indian politician and a founder of the Unionist Party.
Mian Iftikharuddin, a politician and landlord who played an important role in turning the Muslim community of urban Punjab towards favouring an independent Pakistan.
Sir Muhammad Shafi, president of the All India Muslim League.
Mohammed Sarwar, the first British Muslim member of the UK Parliament.
Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali, a renowned politician and painter belonging to district Kasur.
Sir Abdul Rashid, first Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Qudrat Ullah Shahab, a bureaaucrat, scholar and mystic.
General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, president of Pakistan from July 1977 to 1988.
Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, Pakistan's Chief of Naval Staff.
Justice Mian Shah Din, the first Muslim judge in British India.
Lieutenant Karam ud Din, Tamgha-i-Khidmat(M), ex Pakistan Navy officer
Muhammad Farooq, journalist, Qari and Naat Khawan.
Mian Tufail Mohammad, lawyer and politician, former Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami.
See also
Arain of Delhi
Rayeen
Bibliography
Punjab Census Report, 1911, Pandit Harikishan Kaul
A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province, H. A. Rose
Kinship and Continuity: Pakistani Families in Britain, Alison Shaw
Tareekh-e-Arain, Asghar Ali Chaudhry
Sham Ta Multan, Muhammad Idrees Advocate
References
Category:Arain
Category:Punjabi tribes
Category:Seraiki tribes
Category:Social groups of Pakistan
Category:Social groups of Punjab (Pakistan)
Category:Muslim communities
