Ancestry of Pashtuns

Pashtuns

Many of us have heard of Pashtuns, people living in Afghanistan, North-West Pakistan(Khyber Pakhtun Khwa) some of them living in Iran. There population around the world is over-all 49 Million. These people are known for their strength. They rebelled against Britishers in 1839 after they were invaded from them and it took them 2 years to make Britishers withdraw. It is said that the British sent 4000 men army against them, and only 1 of them survived to report what have happened with them. Pashtuns had also defended themselves with great invaders such as Kushans, Mongols, and other empires.

Geographical location of Pashtuns

Pashtuns have an legendary ancestry which most of us do not know. They are the descendants of Qais Abdur Rashid(Kysh/Kish). Qais was born in 575 A.D. in modern-day Ghor province. Upon hearing the message of Islam, his tribe sent him to Madina to check about the message. He went to Prophet(SAW) and embraced Islam. The Prophet(SAW) gave him a new name Abdur Rashid. He then introduced Islam to his tribe. According to Mountstuart Elphinstone, it was Khalid bin Waleed who introduced Prophet to him. Some historians relates Afghans of Ghor to be Jews, and they knew the concept of One God, and the coming of the last Prophet, Prophet Muhammad(SAW).
Qais was then buried on the same place where his legendary ancestor Afghana was buried in Takh e Sulaiman according to his wish. He died in 661 A.D. The famous ancestry of Qais Abdur Rashid:

Lineage of Qais Abdur Rashid

Thus, Qais Abdur Rashid was the 37th descendant of king Saul(Talut/Malak). 'Afghana'(Avagana) is also the part of the lineage. He was a legendary person and belonged to the Davidic line. It is said that the name 'Afghanistan' or 'Afghan' is derived from his name. And according to the Pashtun historians, he was the son of Irmia(Jeremiah), who was the son of Saul. Saul was the son of Kish, and grandson of Abiel. Abiel belonged to the 12th Jewish tribe, the tribe of Binyameen(Benjamin). Binyameen was the son of Prophet Yaqub(AS),so, alternatively, the Pashtuns have the same origin as of Jews. Saul(Talut in Qur'an) was the predecessor of Prophet David. He was born in 1079 BC and died in 1012 BC. The Afghans historians believe that Saul had 5 sons, the fifth was Irmia(Jeremiah)(not to be confused with Jeremiah, the weeping Prophet, who was born in 655 BC, almost 400 years after Saul). Irmia's son was Malak Afghana, who is mentioned by Sassanians and other historians. Afghana became an orphan at an early age, and was brought up by Prophet Dawood(AS). In the reign of Prophet Sulaiman(AS), he was made the commander in chief of the army. Afghana is also credited for the building of the Temple Mount or Haram Al Sharif. 

Ideology indicating that Malak Afghana was the grandson of Saul. The Sons of Qais Abdur Rashid will be discussed later

Afghana migrated to Takh e Sulaiman, died there, and is buried there.

After the Qais Abdur Rashid, his sons became the fathers of Pashtuns. Sarban, Baitan, and Ghourghusht were the sons of Qais while Karlan Ormur Baraki was adopted. Sarbani is the largest tribe of Pashtuns, located in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Sarban is the father of Tareen, Durrani(Abdali), Barakzai, Arakozai, Achakzai, Gigyani, Popalzai, Yusufzai, Momand, Shilmani, Khalil, Goryakhel, Shinwari, Kasi, and Muhammadzai(Hashtnagar).
Battani are found in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and a few numbers in India. The Bettani confederacy includes the supertribes of Lohani, Ghilji, Lodi, and Shirani.
Ghourghushti are famous for Chapli Kabab. Its subtribes are Babai, Daavi, Jadoon, Safi, Gandapur/Kochi people, Kakar, Khudadi, Ludin, Mandokhel, Wadikhel, Mashwanis, Naghar, Panni(Balailzai), Mandokhel, Musakhel.
Karlani was adopted by Ormur tribe and Ghourghust tribe. Its sub-tribes are Afridi, Khattak, and Orakzai.