Ali Yamani

Ali Yamani is considered to be the progenitor of the Paracha tribe of Pakistan. Ali Yamani was a man of Yemeni descent and lived in Medina, at that time known as Yathrib. Some assume that he belonged to the tribe of Al-Ansar, which was very helpful to the Islamic prophet Muhammad when he arrived at Medina with the rest of his followers.

Ali Yamani, was responsible for the preparation of Muhammad's seating area. Later, after his extended family began to participate in this task, they became known as Ferashas. His family promised to travel wherever the descendants of Mohammad went, hence they migrated into Iran, Afghanistan, and spread throughout South Asia.

Prachya are generally devout Muslims today. An Arab connection is sacred to them. According to this theory, they are the descendents of Aziz Yemeni, a companion of Muhammad. Hazrat Aziz used to act as “Farash” to Muhammad. Farash in Arabic means “one who spreads a carpet, an attendant, a valet etc. etc.” Hazrat Aziz Yemeni’s descendents were known as “Farasha” after him. During the Arab conquest of Persia (640-644 AD), Abul Aas, the son of Hazrat Aziz Yemeni, was commanding the Yemeni contingent. After the conquest, he settled down in Persia and married a Persian Princess. The Persians transcribed his surname “Farasha” into “Paracha” according to the usage of their own language. His successors were, thereafter, known as “Paracha” in Persia and later in Afghanistan and the Indus Valley after the Arabs conquered these areas.

Today, the descendants of Ali Yamani are referred to as Paracha (sometimes Piracha, Peracha, or Pracha). Parts of the tribe migrated into present day Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India. Today, Parachas tend to be businessmen, however there have been several prominent writers, engineers, doctors, journalists, politicians and scientists, etc.