Neamet Ullah’s History of the Afghans

The historical curiosity attaching to the Afghans in terms of their origin, multitude and number of their tribes and clans, their transmigration to the mountainous region and conversion to Islam, remained quite unknown and unnoticed until the present work was made available during the British rule in India. It is the first Afghan history translated from an oriental language, and in compiling and writing this authoritative account, the author provides a full insight into all the mysteries related to the Afghans and their origin. In fact, the materials of the original work were collected by Hybet Khan of Samana but composed into a history by Neamet Ullah, the historiographer at the court of the Mughal emperor Jehangir. The early history of the Afghans rests on traditions. From the time of King Talut, (from whom the genealogy of the Afghans descends and whose sovereignity over Israelites was thought to be the divine arrangement) to Khaled ben Valled’s conversion to Islam and then as late as up to the Sultan Bahol Lodi’s accession to the throne of Delhi Sultanate, many developments took place in the history of the Afghans. The Afghans, at different periods, played a conspicuous part in history ever since they appeared in the seventh century A.D. from their mountainous habitations and caused desolation and destruction in the contiguous countries. Their military services were eagerly sought after and they themselves were much honoured by the kings of Ghaznavids. It was in the year 1186 A.D. that Sultan Khosru, the last king of the Ghaznavids was compelled to surrender to the Afghan chief Shahabuddin Ghori. During his final campaign against India Sultan Shahabuddin Ghori took with him 12, 000 Afghans from Ghor and won the battle. Towards the middle of the 16 century, another Afghan Sher Shah Sur raised himself to the throne of Delhi by successfully defeating the Mughal emperor Humayun. The book details the history of the Afghans from Adam to the 16 century. In order to understand the subject properly it has been arranged in three chapters, three books and conclusion. While the first two chapters deal with the history of Yacoob Israel and King Talut; and of the transmigration of the Afghans to the mountainous region of Ghor and from thence to Koh Suleiman and Roh, chapter three covers the events that took place during the period of Khaled ben Valeed and his conversion to Islam, till the end of the Khelafat of Omar. The first book describes exclusively the history of Lodis during their rules at the Delhi Sultanate. The history of Sur dynasty and other Afghans such as Adeli, Baz Bahadur, the Kerranians and Lohanians has been given in the second book. The lives of 68 Afghans saints commonly known as Sheikhs comprising those from Sarbanni, Batani and Gurghust race have been dealt with in the third book. The concluding part of this work provides an insight to the numerous Afghan tribes which according to historians, amount to three hundred and ninety-five.