Sherani Subdistrict - Harifal Chapter

Harifal Chapter

Harifal tribe, is the second (numerically) indigenous tribe in the district and is divided into three main branches that is Hassan Khail, Naqeeb khail and Ibrahim Khail. Interestingly Ibrahimkhial has no further off- shoots. while Hassan khail is the largest clan, comprising Malli zai, Dirzai, Habibzai, Landawar, Umerzai,Nakunderzai, Babakarzai, etc.

And Naqeebkhail is further subdivided into Draykhanzai, Nikan, Watozai, Bababtaizai.Lalakzai. khiderzai, etc. Their progenitor "ARIF" ( Harif) "NEEKA" from whom the eponym Harifal is derived was a man with supernatural powers, able to work miracle. He was credited with the power to render an enemy's bullet harmless.

Word Harifal is etymologically corrupted word due to Pushto's particular accent,in diametrically phonological contrast to Arabic accent. Pushto is not a kindred language to Arabic. It has no equivalent of Arabic word "AIN" { ع } to be exactly articulated. Just like English has no equivalent for this Arabic word. So indigenous Pashto speaking people always convert Arabic glottal word "AIN" into palatal fricative hay. {Soft Hay} The phonemes /q/, /f/ tend to be replaced by &{P}, Thus in view of such barriers/limitations; Arif is invariably pronounced as Harif or Harip.So invariably in Phonological context Arif-Aal, Haripal,Hurreepaul and Harifal,all these words are Homophone but simultaneously Heterograph & with last one more correct and commonly used in Urdu script.

Harifal genealogically is of Syed descent but over a period of time, through social assimilation; has been so much subsumed in sherani that they are indistinguishable from them to an outsider and are presumed as collateral of Sherani. The tribe as a whole is held in high esteem by all Sheranis for their high descent. Tribal norms kept them in a pledge of reciprocal assistance, and bound them to a common participation of weal and woe. This gave birth to a homogeneous tribal set up. This homogeneity accelerated the process of assimilation to the extent that Sherani (not Marani) has almost become a common denominator in terms of geographical nomenclature. If worst ever come to worse, and should any tribe be attacked by any third one, they both would stand together. On social side of equation, a curious love and hate relationship is organically linked in roots.

Harifal like other minor Syed tribes e.g. Khosti, Taran, Garshin, Lodhin, Mishwani, Ustrani, peechi, Shadezai,Huramzai,Gangalzai; though direct descendant from the line of the prophet, but bear a distinct tribal name rather to be recognized by a generic name "Syed." Thus generic name was replaced by surname. The generic name is mostly assumed by microscopic syed communities in tribal set up not by those having distinct population. Being syed; Harifal are conscious of their noble birth. They were exempted from taxes during British era.

Fanaticism cannot be assigned to them as a fault. as their religious obligations are perfunctory.They make the five times prayer every day, observe the fast of Ramazan, and everything is comprised in the most rigorous observance of external forms.They are religious more from habit than conviction.Their major preoccupation is with external conformity to Islam. They do not adhere to the militant brand of Islam.

Religion.like any other human activity,is often abused,but at its best it helps human being to cultivate a sense of the sacred inviolability of each individual,thus to mitigate the murderous violence to which our species is tragically prone.

Started from the nucleus, it gradually continued to grow.Over grown bulk of the tribe has been divided into clans,the clan into sections and sections into subsection, the vernacular equivalent of which is kahool. Harifal country geo strategically has served as a buffer zone between warring Sherani and border tribe,like Suliemankhail, wazir and Dottani.