Yusufzai (Pashtun tribe)

Flag of the Afghan Yusufzai Tribe. Made from historical Texts & references.

The Yūsufzai (also Youssofzay, Yousefzai, Yousafzai, Esapzey, Yousufi, or Yūsufi) (Pashto: يوسفزی, Persian and Urdu: یوسف زئی) is one of the largest Pashtun (Afghans) tribes. The majority of the Yusufzai tribe reside in parts of Western Afghanistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas near the Afghan-Pakistan border.

They are the predominant population in the districts of Konar, Ningarhar, Mardan District, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Swabi, Buner, Shangla, Haripur District [Khalabat Town Ship and Tarbela] and in Mansehra and Battagram. There is also a Yusufzai clan of Dehwar tribe in the Mastung district of Balochistan who speak Persian with some mixture of Birahvi words.

The descendants of Yusuf inhabit Konar, Jalalabad, Swat, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Malakand Swabi and Mardan. The begotten tribe of Yusufzai's are the Utmanzai having 3 major subdivions Alizai, Akazai and Kanazai, of Tarbela (now live in Khalabat Town Ship, District Haripur and Nawanshehr District Abbottabad).

Most Yusafzai speak the northern variant of "Pukhtu" with the hard "kh" replacing the softer "sh" of southern Afghan or Pashtun tribes

History

Tribal Symbolism on Coat of Arms- Crown: The Yousufzais have always been considered among the Pathans as elders. This is because they descend from Hazrat Yousuf A.S. (Prophet Joseph). and his Bani Israel lineage from the Ancient Royal House of Israel. The flag of the Yusufzai's show the tribes history and lineage- The White circle: Unified, unbroken & Islam 4 stars: 4 sons of Qis/Kesh/Qais Abdur Rashid Lion with Flag: The Lion of Judah/The Bravery of the Yousufzai Pathans & the emblem of many Pathan Kingdoms Olive Tree: Descent from the House of Israel/Bani Israel Black Background: The world in troment, pain & ignorance, showing the messianic dedication of Pathans that spread Islam.

Demographics

Three sections of the tribe, the Hassanzai, Akazai and Chagharzai, inhabit the west slopes of the Black Mountain, and the Yusufzai country stretches to the Utman Khel territory. The population demographics of Yusufzais is unknown but there are more than 3 million Pashtu speaking Yusufzais. The main districts of Yousafzais are Mardan, Swat,Shangla, Malakand, Swabi, Haripur, Battagram, Mansehra and Dargai. Yousafzai lives in Multan who speak Urdu and Siraeki.

Sub-Tribes

• Baboo Khel . Taju Khel . Swati • Basi khail (Tor gar,Battagram) . Musa Khel . MoghalKhel(Bannu) • Amazai • Ahmed khel • Akazai • Azikhel • Babozai • Shamozai • Chagharzai • Hassanzai • Isazai • Kamalzai • Niamatkhel • Maddakhel • Malizai • Maturizai • Ranizai • Razarh • Utmanzai • Rohilla • Jalozai izai • Nikpikhel • Suleman Khel • Mahabat Khel • Meta Khel • AkhunKhail (Oghi, battagram) . Bara Khel . Bhabi Khel (Mardan, Swabi & Juna Garh,India) . Malizai (DIR)= (1)Painda Khel(2)Sultan Khel (3)Usa Khel (4) Nasir din Khel (Malizai is Also in Aghanistan) Malizai: The Malizai division of the Yusufzai occupy the lower portion of the Buner valley.

kakazai bara khan khel (mandanr yousafzai) hamza khel (mandanr yousafzai) sadi khel(mandanr yousafzai Hafeez Khel (Nowshera) Nokhaar Asadkhel/Sadukhel( Ghourghushti, Attock)

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

External links

• Pashtun Tribes at Khyber.org
• Northwest Frontier Province at gov.pk
• History of Swat at Swatian.com