Muslim Horner Nisba’s

[Emir of Zayla]

In Arabia and the wider Muslim world, 3 nisbas are specifically associated with the Horner Muslims.

1. Al-Habashî,
2. Al-Zayla‘î,
3. Al-Jabartî

1. Meaning a Abyssinian from the Highlands
2. Meaning a person from any of the Muslim Sultanates of the Horn (think of, Ifat, Shewa, Adal, Bale, Dawaro, Fatagar)
3. Meaning anyone from the Guban coast.

**The name Abyssinia is used as a general name for the Horn African region.
The frequency of migrations from the Horn to Yemen/Arabia was large enough that in the eighth/fourteenth century the laqab al-Zayla'is eventually expanded to be used to designate any Muslim from the Horn of Africa


For those who don’t know where the name “Jabarti” comes from, it originates in Arabic and means “the burning land.” It was what Arabs called Horner Muslims living on the northern coast.

This correspondences with this area of the Horn of Africa that is extremely hot (Image below). Which could also explain why Eritrean Muslims are also called "Jabarti” by generalization.

The rapid success of some of these migrants and their descendants are measured in a highly symbolic way in veneration, several tombs of saints, such as those of ʿAlī al-Zaylaʿī (circa 13th century), or from Isma'il al-Jabarti (m 875/1471) (Darood's Father), whose mausoleum gave its name to one of the cemeteries most famous of Tihama, north of the city of Zabid.

 

[mohammdov]

I used to think that Guban was the area around
Berbera because it is the one that bears that name until now

 

[Emir of Zayla]

I used to think that Guban was the area around
Berbera because it is the one that bears that name until now

It’s the land between Zeila and Berbera.

 

[Aurelian]

جبرت
probably means something else than Burned land

 

[Emir of Zayla]

This is just a theory I have but it’s possible that Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti was an immigrant who’s ethnic origin was from the North but studied Islam in Arabia and migrated back to spread it to Somalis rather than a Sheikh who ethnically originates from Arabia, as the nisba Jabarti was only for people who came from the Guban plains/coast, tho it was spread later on to designate the people who lived in the eastern Muslim sultanates like Ifat.

 

[mohammdov]

It’s the land between Zeila and Berbera.

But Jabarti has another meaning in Amharic. They call all Muslims Jabarti, which means an ascetic person in their language. That's why Muslims there are called Jabarti.
When Haile Selassie wanted to become a Muslim, they got angry at him and said, “You want to become a Jabarti.”
Muslims there are minorities, which is why they despise them

 

[Emir of Zayla]

But Jabarti has another meaning in Amharic. They call all Muslims Jabarti, which means an ascetic person in their language. That's why Muslims there are called Jabarti.

Because the Horner Muslims were called Jabartis both by themselves and others.

When Haile Selassie wanted to become a Muslim, they got angry at him and said, “You want to become a Jabarti.”
Muslims there are minorities, which is why they despise them

Halie Selassie never wanted to become Muslim.

 

[mohammdov]

Because the Horner Muslims were called Jabartis both by themselves and others.

But even the Amharic Muslim is called Jabarti

Halie Selassie never wanted to become Muslim.

Maybe Melek , it was one of their kings. I was reading this in some of the translations

 

[Emir of Zayla]

But even the Amharic Muslim is called Jabarti

So?

Maybe Melek , it was one of their kings. I was reading this in some of the translations

Idk what you’re talking about

 

[Thegoodshepherd]

So?

Idk what you’re talking about

He probably means Lij Iyasu.

 

[Emir of Zayla]

He probably means Lij Iyasu.

Sure but what was his point about Amhara Muslims being called Jabartis?

 

[Thegoodshepherd]

Sure but what was his point about Amhara Muslims being called Jabartis?

Jabarti is a word Amhara & Tigray in Ethiopia and Eritrea use to refer to Muslims that live among them as traders and craftsmen. They are thought to be descended from Amhara and Tigray that converted during the wars of Ahmed Gurey.

 

[Emir of Zayla]

Jabarti is a word Amhara & Tigray in Ethiopia and Eritrea use to refer to Muslims that live among them as traders and craftsmen. They are thought to be descended from Amhara and Tigray that converted during the wars of Ahmed Gurey.

So basically a term that was originally used for Somali Muslims eventually came to be extended to Habesha Muslims through the conquests of Ahmad Ibrahim.

 

[Thegoodshepherd]

So basically a term that was originally used for Somali Muslims eventually came to be extended to Habesha Muslims through the conquests of Ahmad Ibrahim.

It was never used for Somali Muslims. It strictly refers to Amhara and Tigray speaking Muslims who lived as merchants in areas where Christian Amhara and Tigray were a majority. For example: An Amhara Muslim in Gojjam would be a Jabarti, but an Amhara Muslim in Wollo (where Muslims are the majority) would not be a Jabarti.

Jabarti=Muslim Habesha merchant class living as a minority among Christian Habesha majority.
However, I think they converted to Islam before Ahmed Gurey's wars.

The Beginnings of Minority Segregation
The Red Sea And Adjacent Countries At The Close Of The Seventeenth Century
The Oromo and the historical process of Islamisation in Ethiopia

 

[Emir of Zayla]

It was never used for Somali Muslims. It strictly refers to Amhara and Tigray speaking Muslims who lived as merchants in areas where Christian Amhara and Tigray were a majority. For example: An Amhara Muslim in Gojjam would be a Jabarti, but an Amhara Muslim in Wollo (where Muslims are the majority) would not be a Jabarti.

Jabarti=Muslim Habesha merchant class living as a minority among Christian Habesha majority.
However, I think they converted to Islam before Ahmed Gurey's wars.
View attachment 302530

The Beginnings of Minority Segregation
The Red Sea And Adjacent Countries At The Close Of The Seventeenth Century
The Oromo and the historical process of Islamisation in Ethiopia

It’s more plausible that the term was originally for the people living on the northern coast but was eventually extended to include highland muslims too. Jabarti was first used as a term for Somalis and eventually generalized for horner muslims altogether. If you read the part of my post that said that you would know

For those who don’t know where the name “Jabarti” comes from, it originates in Arabic and means “the burning land.” It was what Arabs called Horner Muslims living on the northern coast.

This correspondences with this area of the Horn of Africa that is extremely hot (Image below). Which could also explain why Eritrean Muslims are also called "Jabarti” by generalization.

 

[Khaemwaset]

It’s more plausible that the term was originally for the people living on the northern coast but was eventually extended to include highland muslims too. Jabarti was first used as a term for Somalis and eventually generalized for horner muslims altogether. If you read the part of my post that said that you would know

Djibouti is on the coast, it's burning asf, and we are Somali.

So ana Al Jabarti?

 

[Emir of Zayla]

Djibouti is on the coast, it's burning asf, and we are Somali.

So ana Al Jabarti?

Yup

 

[Yami]

This is just a theory I have but it’s possible that Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti was an immigrant who’s ethnic origin was from the North but studied Islam in Arabia and migrated back to spread it to Somalis rather than a Sheikh who ethnically originates from Arabia, as the nisba Jabarti was only for people who came from the Guban plains/coast, tho it was spread later on to designate the people who lived in the eastern Muslim sultanates like Ifat.

Your theory is probably right. I’ll give an example from the Dir.

Mujahid Cali Siciid (Sheekh Samaroon) was a local Somali who studied in Arabia & who was described as the only Muslim leader fighting on the western flank in the armies of Sacad Ad Diin ruler of Ifat. He heroically defended Saylac from a Xabeshi invasion attempt.

It’s very possible that overtime Sheikh Cabdiraxman lineage was arabized so Somalis could larp as Banu Hashim.

You can even see traces of arabization of Somali lineages know that weren’t a thing a century ago. Everybody 100 years ago knew Dir & Hawiye were of local stock laakin when you go on Wikipedia & search Samaale you’ll see niggas claiming he was Banu Hashim

 

[Emir of Zayla]

Your theory is probably right. I’ll give an example from the Dir.

Mujahid Cali Siciid (Sheekh Samaroon) was a local Somali who studied in Arabia & who was described as the only Muslim leader fighting on the western flank in the armies of Sacad Ad Diin ruler of Ifat. He heroically defended Saylac from a Xabeshi invasion attempt.

It’s very possible that overtime Sheikh Cabdiraxman lineage was arabized so Somalis could larp as Banu Hashim.

You can even see traces of arabization of Somali lineages know that weren’t a thing a century ago. Everybody 100 years ago knew Dir & Hawiye were of local stock laakin when you go on Wikipedia & search Samaale you’ll see niggas claiming he was Banu Hashim

I have a feeling things went awry down the line because these lineages up to Samaale and other big clan founders were recorded in oral history. So it went from a Somali sheikh who studied in Mecca to a man who descends from the Prophet. The fault lies in us for not recording our lineages down when they first happened.

 

[awsaleban667]

It was never used for Somali Muslims. It strictly refers to Amhara and Tigray speaking Muslims who lived as merchants in areas where Christian Amhara and Tigray were a majority. For example: An Amhara Muslim in Gojjam would be a Jabarti, but an Amhara Muslim in Wollo (where Muslims are the majority) would not be a Jabarti.

Jabarti=Muslim Habesha merchant class living as a minority among Christian Habesha majority.
However, I think they converted to Islam before Ahmed Gurey's wars.

That’s a lie Zara Yaqob said the people of Adal are Jabarti even Muhammad ibn Badlay was called the prince of the Jabarti