Brief history of Garsoogude Sultanate in Somalia and beyond

Contents No Title Page

#

1 Opening Statements: by Qur'anic verse & Sayings of our Prophet (Salla Aleihi wa Sallam)

2

2 Introduction 3

3 Brief History of Garsoogude Sultanate 5

a) The tribal origin and movements of the Sultanate ……………. b) The reason of its Movements ……………………………………. c) Brief history of Lugh-aw-Maadow ……………………………... d) Land & People governed by the Sultanate …………………….. e) The role of Sultanate in Spreading of Islam in Somalia …......... f) Tribes related to the Garsoogude tribe by blood in Somalia … g) Other tribes related to Garsoogude by serving the Sultanate .. h) The system of Governance & Leadership of Garsoogude

Sultanate …………………………………………………………... i) Famous sayings reflecting the governance & leadership ……..

5 6 7 7 8 8 9

9 10

4 The history of Garaad Kalafow (Khalaf) a) Brief history of his life & rule …………………………………… b) The number and names of his children ………………………... c) His genealogy …………………………………………………….. d) The heirs of his dynasty in Lugh-aw-Maadow ……………….. e) His tribal offspring ………………………………………………. f) Graphic chart of Garaad Kalafow offspring in 1st and 2nd

levels ……………………………………………………………….

11 11 11 12 12 12

14

5 Sample of Complete genealogy of Garsoogude tribe (Example taken is the author's lineage)

15

6 Appedix i. The Reewin (Rahanweyn) political Alliance & Structure ……. ii. Very important Arabic articles on Nasabs (genealogy) ……… iii. Some Ruling by fatwa on some issues related to the Nasabs ... iv. Some copes of Original references on Garsoogude Sultanate .. v. Maps and Pictures ………………………………………………... vi. References ………………………………………………………….

16 16-17 18-27 28-31 32-36 37-41

42

2

2

BRIEF HISTORY OF GARSOOGUDE SULTANATE IN SOMALIA AND BEYOND Prepared by: Sheikh Abdisalam bin Haaji Ahmed bin Garaad Hussein Malla

Date: May 27, 2010

1. Opening Statements: by Qur'anic verse and the Sayings of our Prophet (Salla Aleihi wa Sallam)

بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم

ادعوھم -بائھم ھو أقسط عند هللا فإن لم تعلموا آباءھم فإخوانكم في الدين ومواليكم وليس عليكم جناح فيما أخطأتم به ولكن ما () غفورا رحيما تعمدت قلوبكم وكان هللا

Al-Qur'an, 33:05 (Al-Ahzab)

"Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah . But if you do not know their fathers - then they are [still] your brothers in religion and those entrusted to you. And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful."

: رسول هللا صلى هللا وسلمقال

)اثنان في الناس ھما بھم كفر، الطعن في النسب والنياحة على الميت(

صحيح: ؛ خKصة حكم المحدث67: صحيح مسلم؛ الصفحه أو الرقم: مسلم؛ المصدر: ريره؛ المحدثأبو ھ: الراوي (Two things that crosses people over the line of Eman to the Kufr (disbelieving) are: to undermine people's genealogy (the Nasab) and to do bawling and wailing on dead person).

)شق الجيب، والنياحة، والطعن في النسب: الكفرھيثKثة ( صحيح : ؛ خKصة حكم المحدث3525: الصفحه أو الرقم؛الترغيبصحيح : ؛ المصدراPلباني: أبو ھريره؛ المحدث: الراوي

(Three are but the disbelieving (Kufr) action: Tearing the cloth, and wailing (during calamities), and undermining or injuring people's genealogy)

)من انتسب الى غير أبيه فعليه لعنة هللا والمKئكة والناس أجمعين ) 6104 وھو في صحيح الجامع 2599رواه ابن ماجه

(Anyone who traces his genealogy to a father other than his real father, on him will be the curse of Allah, the Malaa'ikah, and all the people.)

3

3

2. Introduction

We are living in the age of information and technology where everyone is trying

to write and post some information on the pages of forums and internet websites. I

have seen a lot of people writing very bias information and lies about the realities of

Somalis in terms of tribal history, culture, politics, social and religion.

It is the duty of the Scholars of Somali people to clarify and sort out the right

information from the wrong one and the bias from the objective. If we don't correct

those wrong and bias information presented today, it will be too late to stop or change

it tomorrow and we will be sinners.

Everyone will be responsible and questioned, tomorrow in the court of Allah

Almighty, about what he writes or says today in this temporary world; Allah Ta'ala

said:

:قال تعالى

)مع والبصر والفؤاد كل أولئك كان عنه مسئو] الس ان‘ به علم لكو] تقف ما ليس(

Al- Qur'an: 17:35 Surah al-Isra

( And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and

the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned.)

He also said:

)يا أي ھا الذين آمنوا ان جاءكم فاسق بنبإ فتبي نوا ان تصيبوا قوما بجھالة فتصبحوا على فعلتم نادمين(

(O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information,

investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done,

regretful.)

If you read carefully and understand the opening verse and the followed

ahaadiith( sayings of Prophet – (S.A.W.)) in the first page before the introduction, you

can conclude that it is a big sin and a kufr in nature to undermine and injure peoples

genealogy on purpose or out of ignorance in negligence. Allah Almighty advises

people in His Qur'an, If you don't know, please ask people of knowledge.

4

4

Please don't get me wrong on writing about this issue, I am not a person who

believe tribalism in the wrong way that Somalis use it for corruptions and oppressions;

but surely I believe the existence of tribes and the importance of Nasab in Islam. The

major reason on writing about this is to correct the wrong information published,

about Reewin people and their history, day and night, honestly or mischievously in

everywhere; even forget about Reewin as a general tribe, I have seen people giving

misinformation about my own tribe and Nasab in the Internet. Therefore, I felt as a

must and a duty on me to standup and correct those wrong information for the sake of

Allah Almighty as I would do that for every other issue in Islam beside history &

Nasb.

The objective of this paper is to educate our Somali people and others about the

history of Reewin (Rahanweyn) people, their nasab (Genealogy) and the culture.

Specially, this paper has emphasized on Reewin sultanates and their Nasabs.

I hope I have contributed an important information and the correct knowledge to

you about Reewin Sultanates (OmarDeen Families) out of sincerity and respect.

All information I have submitted in this paper is as a result of field research

where I have met with the Elders of OmarDeen Families in 1980s in Somalia or from

reading some books of history (see the list in the reference section). I would like to

thank Dr. Muhammad H. Mukhtar about his writings in the Reewin History

throughout his academic life where he has discussed about general and specific issues

including the Reewin Sultanates.

If anyone wants to contribute and comment, please welcome and do so; my

email address is lughiano@gmail.com.

Sh. Abdisalam Haaji Ahmed Garaad Hussein Malla

PhD. Student at INCEIF University, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia.

5

5

3. Brief History of Garsoogude Sultanate

a) The tribal Origin and Movements of the Sultanate

One of the noblest tribes in the Greater Somalia, specially in the south of

Somalia and the north east of Ethiopia, is the OmarDeen tribe. The omarDeen

tribe had established two Sultanates in the present day of Somalia. One of them

is the oldest Sultanate in the land of Somalia known as Garsoogude Sultanate

which was originated from the Islamic Sultanates that existed in Zaila and Harar

from the 9th century of Miladi. Garsoogude Sultanate moved into different cities

in Ethiopia, specially Qabri Dahre, Imey, Hirrow and Hamarre etc. for centures,

until finally it moved into different locations in the Reewin Land to ultimately

rest into the city of Lugh in 1410 Miladi. The other Sultanate is the Geledi

Sultanate of Afgoye which is the cousins of Garsoogude tribe. For the Geledi

Sultanate, it is reported that, at first, they became guests of their cousin tribe in

Lugh in the early of eighteen century; then the leaders of Geledi tribe decided to

move to the area of Afgoye and took over the area of Afgoye from Ajuran

Sultanate and established there the Geledi Sultunate. Garsoogude tribe is the

Children of Qarsan OmarDeen while the Geledi tribe is the children of Dab

OmarDeen. Both Sultanates trace their roots back to the early 9th Century

dynasties in Zeila and Harar. It had started from the Muslim immigrants of

Arabia who married and intermingled with the local Somali tribes. First, the base

of this kingdom was in Zeila and then moved into Harar for political and

strategic reasons. Garsoogude tribe is the offspring of these dynasties and

belongs to the families of the famous ruler and Mujahid of Harar known as

Garaad Imam Ahmed Gurey bin al-Ghazi of Harar Sultanate. Garsoogude tribe

was known as the 'OmarDeen tribe' before coming into Somalia because their

first ancestor had immigrated to Zaila & Harar from Arabia and his name was

6

6

OmarDeen Geladi who was died and buried in Harar. Later, when OmarDeen

tribe became the Sultans of Reewins (known as Rahanweyn) in Somalia, the tribe

was nicknamed as Garsoogude because of, the first time in Reewin history, the

Reewin people could able to defeat their enemies of Galla tribes under

Garsoogude leadership. So Garsoogude (also spelled like Gassar Gudda) means

literally the judge or the authority that gave back the rights of the reewin people

in that Era by their leadership with God Almighty's help. The word Garsoogude

has been pronounced as gasaargude for saying it easily. The original name of the

tribe as 'OmarDeen' has disappeared and replaced by the nickname Garsoogude.

b) The Reason of its Movements Because of the wars between the Muslim Sultanates and the Abyssinian

Christian kingdom in Harar area, the founders of Garsoogude sultanate

immigrate from Harar to Qabri Dahre, Emey, Hirrow, and then to Hamarre in

the present day of Ethiopia. Some of the families moved into Qabri Dahri city

which is in fact named after the Dahr aw Amiin Sultan who belonged to

OmarDeen Families. After living in those area for so many years, the Sultunate

had moved into inside Somalia and finally established a secure and commercial

city in the south west of Somalia; this city was named as Luuq (Lugh); Luuq

means loop in English. The city is surrounded by the Jubba river almost all the

sides excepted one exit which is connected to the main land (see the attached

map in the appendix). Later the city was nicknamed as Lugh-aw-madow by the

name of the great Sultan known as Garaad aw-Maadow who was in power in the

first half of 19 century. By the way, this Graad is the one who gave the settlement

opportunity to the Mareehaan tribe in Gedo region as immigrants from central

Somalia at the end of his rule before death. Most of his subjects refused the

7

7

Marehan Settlement in Reiwin Land but the Sultan used by his power through

humanitarian grounds in accordance with the Shari'ah.

c) Brief History of Lugh-aw-Maañow

Lugh aw Maadow (also known as luuq Ganane or luuq Ferrandi) was

founded by Graad Kalafow (khalaf) in the year of 1410 A.D. - at that time, a

barbaric atheist tribe known as by the name of “Boran” was living in that fertile

area. The head of the monarchy then was Garad Kalafow from the lineage of Hajj

Mohamed Diridle who was nicknamed as Garsoogude (Haji Mohamed Diridle

was the first king of Garsoogude kingdom in greater Somalia and his kingdom

was the first in Somalia. His lineage goes back to the family of Omardeen Geladi

who died and was buried in Harar). Lugh is surrounded by a wall and has only

one gate for access; probably this idea is copied from Harar city where the city is

surrounded by walls and has six or seven gates for access. Ugu Ferrandi has

given a detailed account about Lugh in his book published in 1903: Lugh –

Emporio Commerciale Sul Giuba; so I refer you to that.

d) Land and People Governed by the Sultanate

Many regions and Reewin tribes were under the control of that kingdom before

Ajuran and Geledi sultanates shared the power in some areas; the following regions

were under the control of the kingdom: Gedo, Bakool, Bay, Lower Shabelle, Central

Juba and lower Juba. Before President Siad Barre had divided the Rewin-land into

different regions as above for political, economical and tribal reasons, the rewin land

was only three regions: Jubbada Sare, Jubbada Hoose and Banadir. Some other tribes

were shared in Benadir and Lower Jubba but the Majority were Digil-Mirifle tribes and

their alliances. Even Garsoogude control was extended to the area of South East

Ethiopia where the Boran tribes were living.

8

8

e) The Role of Sultanate in spreading of Islam in Somalia

This kingdom helped spread the religion of Islam and the Islamic Culture for the

first time in many areas in the South of Somalia. It had established, with the help

Ajuran and Geledi Sultanates later, three prominent centers of Islamic studies in the

South of Somalia namely: Lugh, Bardhere, and Merca which were also known as

important trade centers. Ugu ferrandi has been in Lugh from 1895 to 1897. He has

written a lot of information about the Sultanate and the city of Lugh in any possible

aspect of their life including Faith and Practice of Islam. No tribe in Somalia has been

ever written about their story like that in Somalia as Ferrandi has done with

Garsoogude Sultanate. His book, which was more than 360 pages, was published in

Italian language in 1903 in Rome. I.M. Lewis said in his famous book about Somali,

Saho, and Anfar people: "The best documented tribe in Somalia is Garsoogude tribe".

f) Tribes related to Garsoogude Tribe by blood in Somalia

Five tribes beyond Rewin people are related to the Garsoogude tribe in Somalia

namely: Waaq Dhowr of Alta Jubba, Geledi of Afgoye, Ajuran of Qalafe, FakhruDeen

of Banadir, and GudiBersi of Boorame. Waaq Dhowr tribe was the Sultan before Haaji

Muhammad Deridle (Garsoogude) had taken over the power of dynasty from them.

Ajuran had followed the Shabeele river from Harar and settled in Qalaafe city, the

headquarter of the Sultanate, and controlled many areas of the central of Somalia

down to some areas in the south. FakhruDeen tribe had settled in Banadir and became

the Sultan of that area. I think, when Ibn Batuta visited Hamar in the 1331 A.D., the

FakhruDeen tribe was in Power. Also some other tribes in the Rewin land are the

offspring of these five major tribes. Many other tribes related to the OmarDeen

Families are still remained and lived in Somali Galbeed, Harar and Anfar Area in the

present day of Ethiopia.

9

9

g) Other tribes related to Garsoogude tribe by serving the Sultanate

There are three other tribes related to the Garsoogude tribe not in blood

relationship but in Service exclusively to the Royal Family during their reign. These

tribes are: Gaboywein as general servants, Reer Aawow as special servants and Eyli as

service agents.

h) The system of Governance and Leadership

There was a yearly conference in Lugh that the Graad calls for in every year. All

the Reewin tribes were used to come to the conference by the leadership of their

Malaks. Most of the time, the focus of the conference was, as reported to me by the

traditional elders, to renew the subjects their allegiance to the Grand Garaad of

Garsoogude & his leadership, to defend the Sultanate, and to formulate the annual

plans of actions for the people of Reewin socially, economically and military in their

capacity at that era and to review the plan every year. Then, the leadership closes the

conference with a dua and a devotion of worship to Allah Almighty to help and

protect them. Note that there was only one Garaad for all Reewin people and that was

the Garsoogude Garaad, and a Malaq for each tribe of Reewin people. The Malaq is

used to be the representative of the Garaad of Garsoogude in his tribe and the chief of

commander for his tribe during the war time. The case is different with Geledi

Sultanate in Afgoyo, the title for their leader is Sultan and as Said before Geledi tribe in

Afgoye is the cousin of Garsoogude tribe.

10

10

i) Famous sayings reflecting the Governance & Leadership

Now we must mention Some of the famous saying in the Reewin People

regarding the Sultanate and its reign:

a) "Dow leedaa luuq seew:" meaning "If you don't agree the ruling, go to

Luuq for an appeal in you case." When a case is ruled by a local court

and the accused is not happy with the ruling, he/she should go to Lugh

for an Appeal, the captal city for Reewin People.

b) "Gasaargude waa Gob Reewin (Rahanweyn)": meaning "Gasaargude are

the nobles or chiefs of Reewin people".

c) "Heejow mad deridle inta uu ku kooyow unnu hanti lee haadaan":

means "Haji Muhammad Deridle until he assumes the power we will be

slaves for others". The reewin people believed at the time of Haaji

Muhammad Diridle (Garsoogude) if they did not select him as their

garaad and Sultan, they will not succeed in maintaining their liberty.

d) "Gasaargudigeen garteen gudee": means "our Gasaargude leadership

will give us back our rights" in courts or in wars.

e) "Eyla eitaa, asmoog cabiidaa, affarey min reewin col dhowkaa, ula

waranwu, canaantaa jeedalwu": meaning "The tribe of Eila is your

service agents, the tribe of Asamoog (Gaboywein) is your general

servants, all Reewin people are your ready soldiers, your beating by

stick is like hitting by spear, and you verbal blame is like whipping by

the lash" This statement is used to say by people during the greeting of

the Garaad in a conference of all tribes or in any other occasion wherever

he is in an official settings.

Some Important other titles:

11

11

f) Islow is a title of respect for the members of royal family. I have heard

people calling members of the royal family by that title in the early of

1980 when I was in Lugh-aw-Maañow for a visit. It was an offensive if

someone call a member of the royal family by name without the title

"Islow".

g) The assistant of the Grand garaad for the government and public affairs

is given the title of 'Ugaas'. Ugu Ferrandi calls the Ugas title by the name

'Dafflan' and listed in his book on page 263 the 8 appointed Dafflans by

the Garaads from 1856 to 1886.

h) The elders of council that helps the Grand Garaad in the decision

making process is called council of Akhyar.

4. The History of Garaad Kalafow (i.e. Khalaf):

a) Brief history of his life and rule

Garad Kalafow was born in the city of Harar. He became the ruler of Hamarre

after the death of his father Keyrow who was buried in the same city of Hamarre.

G. Kalafow Reign lasted for 25 years until his death in Lugh in the year 1435

Miladi. He transferred the center of his rule from Hamarre to Lugh-Aw-Mañaw

where he was died and buried. His tomb which is located in Lugh is well known

to all; It is in the center of the City beside a Masjid built by his families. The tomb

is built and tagged for history by the Italian Government during the colonization

period.

b) The number and names of his children:

1. Garaad Liban, the eldest, born in Hamarre;

2. Garaad Amin, born in Hamarre;

12

12

3. Garaad Hilowle, born in Hamarre;

4. Garaad Maañow, born in Lugh;

5. Garaad Omarow, born in Lugh;

6. Garaad Keyrow, born in Lugh

c) His genealogy:

Garaad Kalafow bin Keyrow bin Roble bin Renle bin Mohamed bin Barkhadle

bin Qais bin Hassan bin Haji Mohamed (who was known as Garsoogude) bin

Dirdle bin Mohamed bin Omar bin Hassan bin Sharif bin Dalwaq bin Qarsan bin

OmarDeen (who was also called Geladi), Mohamed bin Abdul muttalib bin

Hassan bin Mustafa bin Hamed bin Faqih bin Yahia bin Haroun bin Thabet bin

Ibrahim bin Musleh bin Abd-Allah bin Zubair bin Awwam bin Khuwailed from

Bani Asad Al-Qurashi.

d) The heirs of his dynasty in Lugh-aw-Maañow: Upon the death of Garad Kalafow, the rule had moved to the hands of his eldest son Garaad Liban, and then from him on to Garaad Hilowle, Garaad Keyrow, Garaad Soubaw, Garaad Dhurrow, Garaad Hafaw, Garaad Kurmaw, Garaad Aiden, Garaad Maadow, Garaad Aba Mala, Garaad AbdulHay, Garaad Mohamed Amin, Garaad Maleylow, Garaad Hussein Malla, and Garaad Ahmed Aliyow, Garaad Aiden Nuurow and currently Garaad AhmedDeen.

e) His tribal Offspring:

Seven offsprings branched off from the tribe of Garsoogude:

1- Garaad Liban, known also as Qabowbe which was also divided

into four sub tribes namely: Qabowbe, Dhurrow, Kalley, and Hassanow;

2- Garaad Amin, later branched off into: Nurow, Aleyaw, Mohamed, and

Soubow;

13

13

3- Garaad Khair, later branched off into: Heydiley, Aiden, Barkhadle, and

Mamun;

4- Garaad Maañow, later branched off into: Hafow and Aiden;

5- Garaad Hilowli, later branched off into: Mamun, and Hayyu;

6- Garaad Omarow, later became the tribe of Abubakar;

7- Reer Dulkaa Madow – This family is one of the branches of the Garsoogude

tribe, not directly from Garad Khalafow, but off from one of his six children.

This family had exclusively special responsibility for the Sultanate and that

was maintaining the Judicial office and religious affairs. They had never

assumed the Garaadship power in the executive branch.

14

14

f) Graphic Chart of Garaad Kalafow OffSpring in 1st and 2nd level

Here is the chart shows Garsoogude Tribe and its branches from Graad

Khalafow who died in 1435 AD at Lugh-aw-Mañow; His tomb is well known to

everyone in Lugh. He is buried in the center of the city.

Aw Graad Kalafow The founder of Lugh City in 1410 A.D.

G. Hilowle G. Khair G.Amin

G. Maañow G. Liban G. Omarow

Qabowbe Dhurrow Kaalley Hassanow

Nurow Aleyaw Mohamed Soubow

Heydiley Aiden Barkhadle Mamun

Mamun Hayyu Hafow Aiden Abubakar

Figure 1: Garsoogude Tribal chart. G = Garaad

Note: It would be better if we would call this chart the "Graad Kalafow (Khalaf)

tribal chart because the Garsoogude tribal chart will be bigger than this; it starts

from Haji Muhammad Diredly who was nicknamed as Garsoogude; as such,

15

15

many other tribes would be included in the chart. So the Graad Kalafow family

had continued to use the bigger name 'Garsoogude' as the tribal name for them

instead of Garaad Kalafow tribe.

g) Sample of Complete genealogy of Garsoogude tribe (example taken is the author's lineage)

In closing, I would like to give here the whole family tree of Garsoogude tribe

from my name to the grand-grand father - aw Garad Kalaf, the founder of Lugh

City, to the grand-grand Garaad - Haaji Muhammad Dridle, the Father of

Garsoogude and other tribes in the Rewin people, to the great-great ancestor - al-

Haaji Garaad, sheikh OmarDeen Geladi, and Finally to the Greatest ancestor, the

Sahabi Jaleel Abdu-Allahi Zuber bin Awam bin Khuweilid (May Allah be

pleased with them) of Bani Asad Qureishi Tribe. Here is the family tree as

reported to us by our ancestors from one generation to the other generation

throughout our history:

Sheikh Abdisalam bin Haj Ahmed bin Garaad Hussein Malla bin Garaad

Mohamed bin Garaad Aiden bin Garaad Nour bin Garaad Aliyow bin Garad

Amin bin Garad Kalafow bin Keyrow bin Roble bin Renle bin Mohamed bin

Barkhadle bin Qais bin Hassan bin Haji Mohamed (who was known as

Garsoogude) bin Dirdle bin Mohamed bin Omar bin Hassan bin Sharif bin

Dalwaq bin Qarsan bin OmarDeen (who was also called Geladi), Mohamed bin

Abdul muttalib bin Hassan bin Mustafa bin Hamed bin Faqih bin Yahya bin

Haroun bin Thabet bin Ibrahim bin Musleh bin Abd-Allah bin Zubair bin

Awwam bin Khuwailed from Bani Asad Al-Qurashi. (from here the genealogy

is the same as the Sahabi Abdu-Allah ibn Zuber (RA); it is available in the

Sahabi's profile in the history or genealogy books; I refer you there.)