Jump to content

Alavi (surname)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 14.140.227.67 (talk) at 10:16, 30 January 2014 (References). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The surname Alavi (often spelled as Alvi and can be also seen spelled as Alaoui or Alawi) (Arabic: علوي) signifies ancestry from Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (Arabic: علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب), the fourth Caliph of Sunni Islam and the first Imam in Shia Islam. Ali was the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad and titled Amir al-Mu'minin (Arabic: أمیر المؤمنین) (Commander of the Faithful) by his followers.

Distribution

The Alavi family can be found in the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia,North America, and South Asia. Alavis are scattered in Pakistani cities of Khushab, Chakwal, Mianwali, Rawalpindi, and Attock and also in Bahawalnagar and Gilgit-Baltistan in addition to Northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh with main concentrations in Kakori near Lucknow and around 10 families of alavi's are present in HASWA in FATEHPUR district

The Alavi of Kakori

The Alavi of Kakori are sometimes referred to as Moulvizadigan (Moulvis) or Makhdoomzadigan (Makhdooms), indicating whether they are descendants of Mullah Abu Bakr Jami Alavi, who settled in Kakori in 1461 or descendants of Qari Amir Saifuddin Alavi, who settled in Kakori in 1512. The spelling of (Arabic: علوي) varied greatly. Although, the Alavi spelling is most prevalent in Iran and Indian sub-Continent, but Alvi, Alawi, and Alwi spellings are frequently found in India and some Middle Eastern Countries.They form part of the Kakori Shaikh community.

Nowadays, there is a debate, whether, Alvis are in Schedule Class or in General class of Indian Constitution. Because, the original Alvis are the descendents of Hazrat Ali(R.A), should be in General category, but, in India Alvis are registered as beggers by Muslim Jogis in Backwards or Schedule Class section.

Notable people with the surname Alvi

  • Abass Alavi, is Professor of Radiology and Neurology
  • Abrar Alvi, was an Indian film writer, director and actor
  • Ameer Faisal Alvi Awan, was the first General Officer Commanding of the elite Special Service Group of Pakistan Army
  • Arif Alvi, is a Pakistani politician
  • Bozorg Alavi, was an influential Iranian writer, novelist, and political intellectual
  • Hakim ‘Alavi, was a royal Persian physician of the 18th century
  • Hasan Jamil Alvi, is a former Pakistani cricketer

References

Mohammad Azhar Alvi