This article is about the Somali clan. For the semi-legendary forefather of this clan (also called Darod), see Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti.
Darod
دارود
Somalis
The Darod (
Somali clan. The forefather of this clan was Sheikh Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti, more commonly known as Darod.[1][2] The clan primarily settles the apex of the Horn of Africa and its peripheries, the Somali hinterlands adjacent to Oromia (Ogaden), and both sides of the Kenya–Somalia border.[3] The Darod clan is the largest Somali clan family in the Horn of Africa.[4][1][2][5]
According to early Islamic books and Somali tradition,
Qadiriyyah order, fled his homeland in the Arabian Peninsula after an argument with his uncle.[6][7] During the 10th or 11th century CE,[8] Abdirahman is believed to have then settled in modern-day Sanaag just across the Red Sea and married Dobira, the daughter of the Dir clan chief. This union is said to have given rise to the Darod clan family.[9] Thus, it established matrilateral ties with the Samaale main stem.[10]
According to the British anthropologist and
Somali Studies veteran Ioan Lewis, the traditions of descent from noble Arab families related to the Prophet are most probably figurative expressions of the importance of Islam in Somali society.[11][12]
However, "there is a strong historically valid component in these legends which, in the case of the Darod, is confirmed in the current practice of a Dir representative officiating at the ceremony of installation of the chief of the Darod family."
There are also numerous existing hagiologies in Arabic which describe Sheikh Darod's travels, works and overall life in northern Somalia, as well as his movements in Arabia before his arrival.[13] Besides historical sources such as Al-Masudi's Aqeeliyoon,[7] a modern manaaqib (a collection of glorious deeds) printed in Cairo in 1945 by Sheikh Ahmad bin Hussen bin Mahammad titled Manaaqib as-Sheikh Ismaa'iil bin Ibraahiim al-Jabarti also discusses Sheikh Darod and his proposed father Isma'il al-Jabarti, the latter of whom is reportedly buried in Bab Siham in the Zabid District of western Yemen.[14]
Sheikh Darod's own tomb is in
Qa’ableh
.
Sheikh Darod's mawlid (birthday) is also celebrated every Friday with a public reading of his manaaqib.[14]
16th century manuscript showing Ahmed Girri Bin Hussein leading Yabarray division of Habar Maqdi The text underlined in red translates to '' The tribe of Yabirray with their leader Ahmed Girri." As the only primary source on the Ahmed Girri Bin Hussein and the Futuh Wars, this definitevly illustrates the identity of Ahmed Girri as not only Somali, but also of Jidwaaq Absame of the Darod clan.
after that the Muslims stood their ground. The tribe of the Somali said it was the tribe of Harla that gave us away while the tribe of Harla said it was the Somali tribe that gave us away The imam split his forces into three divisions: all the Somalis were in one division whose command he entrusted to Mattan[18]
Shihāb al-Dīn notes that Harti soldiers took part in Imam Ahmad's Adal Sultanate army Hamaza Al Jufi one of the most bravest adalites for the imam was the infantry leader during the battle of shimbara kura. the writer Arab Faqih attributes him as brave character. in the battle of shimbara kura Hamza al Jufi couldn't contain himself from battle until the adalites had to hold him back telling him to ' be patient ', Arab faqih goes on to describe the Harti just like Hamaza al jufi recognizing the bravery of the Somalis.. He describes them as "famous among the infantry as stolid swordsmen" and "a people not given to yielding".[20]
The Marehan clan are recorded as having played a significant role in
Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi's campaigns against Ethiopia during the 16th century. ImamAhmad alongside his successor Emir Nur ibn Al-MujahidGarad Ahmed bin Hirabu all hailed from the Marehan clan. The Marehan along with the Habar Maqdi of the Jidwaaq;[21][22][23] helped push westward the enemies into the plains of Harar and farther, helping destabilize the highland Christian empire. Evident in these battles were the Somali archers, namely the Marehan[24]
Lineage
Majerteen
Darod lineage.
Darod is believed to be the son of the famous Arabian Sheikh, Ismail bin Ibrahim Al-Jabarti, who is buried in the Zabid District of Yemen who is believed to have descendant of
Abdullahi Yusuf visited the grave of Ismail bin Ibrahim Al-Jabarti in Yemen[26]
According to many
medieval and modern Islamic historians, Darod is descended from Aqeel ibn Abi Talib, the cousin of Muhammad and brother of Ali ibn Abi Talib. An ancient Islamic history book, called Aqeeliyoon by Al-Masudi, talks in detail about the descendants of Aqeel ibn Abi Talib, wherein Darod is also mentioned.[7]
The book gives Sheikh Darod's lineage as Abdirahmaan Bin Ismaa'iil Bin Ibraahim Bin Abdirahmaan Bin Muhammed Bin Abdi Samad Bin Hanbal Bin Mahdi Bin Ahmed Bin Abdalle Bin Muhammed Bin Aqail Bin Abu-Talib Bin Abdul-Mutalib Bin Hashim Bin Qusaya.
According to Allaa'i Alsuniyah Fi Al-Aqab Al-Aqeeliyah (2006) by Ahmed bin Ali Al-Rajihi Al-Aqeeli, the lineage of Sheikh Darod/Da'ud is: "Da'ud ibn Ismail ibn Ibrahim ibn Abdulsamad ibn Ahmed ibn Abdallah ibn Ahmed Ibn Ismail ibn Ibrahim ibn Abdallah ibn Isma'il ibn Ali ibn Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn Hamid ibn Abdallah ibn Ibrahim ibn Ali ibn Ahmed ibn Abdallah ibn Muslim ibn Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn Aqeel ibn Abi-Talib Al-Hashimi Al-Qurashi". Al-Aqeeli adds that Sheikh Isma'il's sons include Abi-Bakar, Da'ud, Ahmad and Abdulsamad, whose other offspring inhabit the
The Darod clan has produced numerous noble Somali men and women over the centuries, including many Sultans. Traditionally, the Darod population was mostly concentrated in the northern and northeastern cities on the Gulf of Aden and upper Indian Ocean coast in the Horn of Africa. Darod noble men ruled these settlement pockets until the European colonial powers changed the political dynamics of Somalia during the late 19th century. Before many Darods began pushing southward in the mid-1850s, the Majeerteen Sultanate and Sultanate of Hobyo held steadfast in solidly established posts from Alula to Hobyo.
There is no clear agreement on the clan and sub-clan structures and many lineages are omitted. The following listing is based upon the World Bank's Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics from 2005 and the United Kingdom's Home Office publication, Somalia Assessment 2001.[31][32]
One tradition maintains that Darod had one daughter .[39]
Darod's tomb
Darod is buried in an old town called
Abdullahi Yusuf
.
Darod is believed to be the son of the famous Arabian Sheikh, Ismail bin Ibrahim Al-Jabarti, who is buried in the Zabid District of Yemen. Tradition holds that he is descended from the Banu Hashim.
In 2009, former
Abdullahi Yusuf visited the grave of Ismail bin Ibrahim Al-Jabarti in Yemen[26]
Sheikh Darod's mawlid (birthday) is celebrated every Friday with a public reading of his manaqib and passages in the Quran.
Mohamud Ali Magan, Marehan, Somali Foreign Affairs, Consul General to United States Of America and Canada
Aar Maanta, Somali-British singer-songwriter, actor, composer, instrumentalist and music producerAmina Mohamed, Dhulbahante, former Chairman of the International Organization for Migration and the World Trade Organisation's General Council
Yusuf Mohamed Ismail, Majeerteen, former Ambassador of Somalia to the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva
Writers and musicians
Aadan Carab, Dhulbahante, poet who narrated the Dhulbahante genocide at the hands of European colonialists in the Darawiish era
Ahmed Rasta, Marehan, singer. nicknamed Boqorka Codka (King of Voice.)
Saado Ali Warsame, singer-songwriter and former MP in the Federal Parliament of SomaliaAar Maanta, Ogaden, Somali-British singer-songwriter, actor, composer, instrumentalist and music producer.
Ahmed Biif, Dishiishe, former singer whom turned into a preacher[40]
Asli Hassan Abade, first and only female Somali pilotMohamed Aden Sheikh, Marean premier Somali intellectual and former head of Somali Technological Development, Minister of Information, Minister of Education, Head of the Ideology Bureau SRRC
Omar Haji Massale
, Marehan, Former minister of defence of Somalia
Abdiweli Gaas, Majeerteen Current President of Puntland
Abdi Shire Warsame, Marehan, former Somali Ambassador to Kenya and China and Former Foreign Affairs State minister in Transitional National Government
Ahmed Mohamed Islam(Axmed Madoobe), Ogaden, President of Jubbaland State of Somalia
Abdiwahid Gonjeh, Marehan, Former Prime minister of Somalia, member of upper house
Ahmed Elmi Osman (Karaash), Dhulbahante, Minister of Interior of Puntland and former President of Khatumo State
Fatimo Isaak Bihi, Marehan, first Somali female ambassador, Ambassador to Geneva, Director of the African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Abdiasis Nur Hersi, Awrtable, the former Minister of Labor and Sports from 1970 to 1977[46]
Abdirizak Haji Hussein, Majeerteen, former Prime Minister of Somalia, and former Secretary General of the Somali Youth League.
Abdirizak Jurile, Dishiishe, Veteran politician, Diplomat & Professor. Former TFG minister of planning & International Cooperation, Former MP, former executive director of numerous UN and International organisations, Senator
, Majeerteen, scholar and one of the leaders of the Somalian revolution
Nathif Jama Adam, Ogaden, Governor of Garissa County and former Head of the Sharjah Islamic Bank's Investments & International Banking Division
Abdirahman Nur Hersi, Awrtable, The former Minister of Finance in Somalia and founding member and executive Vice President of the Islamic Development Bank[48]
^Ethnic Groups (Map). Somalia Summary Map. Central Intelligence Agency. 2002. Retrieved 2012-07-30. Perry–Castañeda Library Map Collection – N.B. Various authorities indicate that the Darod is one of the largest Somali clans [1], whereas others suggest that the Hawiye is the largest Somali clan within Somalia, nevertheless, there is an available census that was conducted along the lines of clan affiliates [2].
^Grant, Peter (2018). Somalia. Darood is the largest clan among all Somalis across borders.
^Lewis, IM (2019). A Modern History Of Somalia. the Dulbahante and Warsangeli divisions of the Darod who, with a strength of perhaps one and a half million, are the largest and most widely distributed of all the Somali clan-families.
^Rima Berns McGown, Muslims in the diaspora, (University of Toronto Press: 1999), pp.27–28
^I.M. Lewis, A pastoral democracy: a study of pastoralism and politics among the Northern Somali of the Horn of Africa, (LIT Verlag Münster: 1999), pp.128–129
Hunt, John A. (1951). "Chapter IX: Tribes and Their Stock". A General Survey of the Somaliland Protectorate 1944–1950. London: Crown Agent for the Colonies. Accessed on October 7, 2005 (from Civic Webs Virtual Library archive).
Lewis, I.M. (1955). Peoples of the Horn of Africa: Somali, Afar, and Saho, Part 1, London: International African Institute.
Lewis, I. M. (1961). A pastoral democracy: a study of pastoralism and politics among the Northern Somali of the Horn of Africa, reed. Münster: LIT Verlag, 1999.
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