Faqir (caste)
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 286,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
•  India •  Pakistan •  Nepal
|
|
| Languages | |
| • Urdu • Hindi • Bengali | |
| Religion | |
•  Islam 100% • |
|
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Jogi Faqir • Jogi • Qalandar • Abdal • Sai • Shaikh • |
The Faqir (/fəˈkɪər/; Hindi: फ़क़ीर, Urdu: فقیر) are a Muslim ethnic group in India. They are also known as Shah Alvi ,Sain (Pir,Diwan Saheb,Miya Shah) in North India, Shah or Alvi is now their preferred self-designation and in West Bengal they are called as Shahjiya.Since the people of this community are the descendants of Sufi or saints belonging to Syeds of Arab,their lineage is traced to Hazrat Ali.So they are called as Syed,Shah,Mir,Alvi and by other different surnames.They are also venerated as pir or peer saheb. Some Muslims also visit the holy shrines (majar or dargah ) of peer fakir). They are respected as Muslim Brahmins. Some live in the Terai region of Nepal.
The word fakir or faqir (Arabic: فقیر (noun of faqr)) is derived from the word faqr (Arabic: فقر, "poverty") It is a Muslim Sufi ascetic in Middle East and South Asia and the Faqirs were wandering Dervishes teaching Islam and living on alms. In India, they are a community of religious mendicants who belonged to a number of Sufi orders. Over time their descendents have formed a distinct endogamous community. In Uttar Pradesh, the Faqir have eight divisions, of which the Sain and Jogi Faqir now form distinct communities. The six remaining divisions are as follows; the Jalalia, Zinda Shahi,known as Shah Madari Syed, Chishti, Qalandari, Pakhiya and Rifai. Among the Faqir of Uttar Pradesh, there is an hierarchy of sorts, with the Jalali claiming precedence, on account of the fact the order started in Iran, and then arrived in India. While the Zinda Shahi are followers of a Sufi known as Zinda Shah Madar,and the progeny of this group. The Real name is 'Syed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar' (Madar means pole of the Universe) who's shrine is located in Makanpur, district Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He was a great Sufi Legend and lived a life of 596 years. He was among the first Sufi's to arrive in India & is the largest Sufi following in India & Asia . The word zinda in Urdu means alive, on account of the Zinda Shahi belief that spiritual guide is still alive. The Shrine attracts thousands of pilgrims and during annual fairs both in Basant Panchmi & Islamic month of jamadil Awal the numbers rose to millions. He was a great Sufi saints and his contemperies were Mir Ashraf Jahangir Simnani of Kichowcha, UP, Abdul Qadir Jilani of Baghdad, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti of Ajmer & many great Sufis of his time.
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