- published: 26 Mar 2012
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The surname Alavi (often spelled as Alvi) (Arabic: علوي) signifies ancestry from Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (Arabic: علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب), the fourth Caliph of Sunni Islam and the first Imam in Shia Islam. Ali was the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad and titled Amir al-Mu'minin (Arabic: أمیر المؤمنین) (Commander of the Faithful) by his followers.
The Alavi family can be found in the Middle East and South Asia. Alavis are scattered in Pakistani cities of Chakwal and Attock and also in Bahawalnagar in addition to Northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh with main concentrations in Kakori near Lucknow.(AZAM ALVI)
The Alavi of Kakori are sometimes referred to as Moulvizadigan (Moulvis) or Makhdoomzadigan (Makhdooms), indicating whether they are descendants of Mullah Abu Bakr Jami Alavi, who settled in Kakori in 1461 or descendants of Qari Amir Saifuddin Alavi, who settled in Kakori in 1512. The spelling of (Arabic: علوي) varied greatly. Although, the Alavi spelling is most prevalent in Iran and Indian sub-Continent, but Alvi, Alawi, and Alwi spellings are frequently found in India and some Middle Eastern Countries.They form part of the Kakori Shaikh community.