Kabir (teacher)

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Wikipedia

Kabir (Harari: ከቢር) (sometimes spelled kabeer) is an honorific title in the Harari language.[1] It commonly designates a Muslim scholar or a teacher.[2] Enrico Cerulli states the term is of Ethiopian Semitic origin.[3]

History

In the early sixteenth century texts, the companions of the leaders of Adal Sultanate; Abun Adashe and Ahmed ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi were stated to be Kabirs.[4] During Adal's invasion of Abyssinia, an individual described as the pious scholar Kabir Abūn b. Aḥmad al-Ǧanāsirī was responsible for the Adalite treasury.[5] The Adalite Kabirs were actively engaged in proselytization efforts throughout the conflicts against Abyssinia. Sixteenth century writer Arab Faqīh describes an occurrence related to the conversion of the Abyssinian province of Šuğara, wherein the Kabir requests for a segment of the army to return due to concerns that the new converts may forsake their faith:[6]

Immediately, Kabir Muhammad, the muezzin of the imam, stood up and addressed the Muslims, ‘You have put your best effort into marching against Bet Amhara. But the people of this region of Sajara that we have left behind us have already become Muslims. There is no need for all of us to march away, leaving Sajara without anybody. We came to you. I and Samsu, without leaving anybody remaining in the region. At least one of us should now return to it, for if it is left in a vacuum, its people will apostatise.'

A son of a Kabir named Abbas briefly ruled the Imamate of Aussa in 1585.[7] According to the Afar locals in Afambo, a Harari Muslim scholar by the name of Kabir Hamza arrived in the region and introduced the Hanafi legal school to Aussa. His descendants today are known as "Kabirtu" and identify as Harla.[8][9] Kabirtu in Afar trace their lineage to the Walasma dynasty.[10] Kabir Hamza Mahmud al-Awsiyyi a Harla clan affiliate was known as the scholar of Aussa.[11]

During the mid-1600s, the Yemeni ambassador al-Ḥaymī, traveling in Abyssinia encountered religious scholars known as Kabirs in eastern Tigray, who asserted their descent from Kabir Salih. The nisba al-Kabiri has persisted to the present day, linked to notable religious families within the Tigre and Saho communities.[12]

Early 19th century Emirate of Harar records indicate that the Kabir households of Harar were also known as traders who dedicated a portion of their time to locations such as Ifat in Abyssinia.[13] British explorer Richard Burton, who sojourned in Harar around the mid-19th century, references Kabirs Khalil and Yonis, recognized as the prominent religious leaders in the Emirate of Harar.[14] As stated by philologist Muna Abubeker, the educational institution for aspiring scholars in Harar was known as the Kabir Gar (house of Kabir).[15]

Notables

People with the title include:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Nieuwazny, Adam. Civil Status Documents from Harar under Egyptian Administration (PDF). University of Warsaw. p. 45.
  2. ↑ Wagner, Ewald (1974). "Three Arabic Documents on the History of Harar". Journal of Ethiopian Studies. 12 (1). Institute of Ethiopian Studies: 216. JSTOR 44324707.
  3. ↑ Cerulli, Enrico. Islam Yesterday And Today translated by Emran Waber. p. 389.
  4. ↑ Kabir Encyclopaedia Aethiopica.
  5. ↑ Chekroun, Amelie. Le Futūḥ al-Ḥabaša : Écriture de l’histoire, guerre et société dans le Bar Sa’ad ad-dīn (Éthiopie, XVIe siècle) (PDF). p. 426.
  6. ↑ Faqih, Arab; Pankhurst, Richard. The Conquest of Abyssinia 16th Century. Tsehai Publishers & Distributors. p. 227.
  7. ↑ Wazir. Encyclopedia Aethiopica.
  8. ↑ Hanafism. Encyclopedia Aethiopica.
  9. ↑ History of Harar and the Hararis (PDF). Harar tourism bureau. p. 29.
  10. ↑ Alwan, Daoud (2000). Historical dictionary of Djibouti. Scarecrow press. p. 19. ISBN 9780810838734.
  11. ↑ II. La légende d'Awdaḥis et la dynastie des Aydâḥisso. Corne de l'Afrique contemporaine / Contemporary Horn of Africa. Centre français des études éthiopiennes. 12 January 2018. pp. 11–18. ISBN 9782821872332.
  12. ↑ Szombathy, Zoltán. WHAT IS A NOMINAL MUSLIM? AN ARAB TRAVELLER’S ENCOUNTERS WITH MUSLIM COMMUNITIES IN 17TH-CENTURY ETHIOPIA. Eötvös Loránd University. pp. 219–220.
  13. ↑ Garad, Abdurahman. Harar Wirtschaftsgeschichte eines Emirats im Horn von Afrika (1825-75). P. Lang. pp. 195, 210.
  14. ↑ Burton, Richard. First footsteps in East Africa (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2021-02-22. "The chief Ulema are the Kabir Khalil, the Kabir Yunis, and the Shaykh Jami, the Berteri of Somali (the b: the two former scarcely ever quit their houses, devoting all their time to study and tuition: the latter is a Somali who takes an active part in politics. These professors teach Moslem literature through the medium of Harari, a peculiar dialect confined within the walls"
  15. ↑ Abubeker, Muna. Gender Issues in the Diwan (Court) and Sijil (Register) of the City of Harar During the 19th C (PDF). Addis Ababa University. p. 48.
  16. ↑ Chekroun, Amélie (2018). "Conquête(s) et conversions religieuses dans l'Éthiopie du xvie siècle". Archives de sciences sociales des religions. 63 (182). EHESS: 156. JSTOR 26612860.
  17. ↑ Kabir Encyclopaedia Aethiopica.
  18. ↑ Braukamper, Ulrich (2002). Islamic History and Culture in Southern Ethiopia. Lit. p. 119. ISBN 978-3-8258-5671-7.