Muhammadzai Tribe

The Muhammadzai are a prominent and powerful branch of the Durrani Empire confederacy.^[1]^[2]EnglishThe Muhammadzai are a prominent and powerful branch of the Durrani Empire confederacy.پښتومحمدي د دراني امپراتورۍ کنفدراسیون یوه مهمه او پیاوړې څانګه ده.دریمحمدی ها شاخه ای برجسته و قدرتمند از کنفدراسیون امپراطوری دورانی هستند. They are primarily centered in Kandahar but are also distributed throughout other provinces of Afghanistan.^[1]^[2]EnglishThey are primarily centered in Kandahar but are also distributed throughout other provinces of Afghanistan.پښتودوی په عمده توګه په کندهار کې متمرکز دي مګر د افغانستان په نورو ولایتونو کې هم ویشل شوي دي.دریآنها عمدتاً در قندهار متمرکز شده اند اما در سراسر سایر ولایت های افغانستان نیز توزیع شده اند. The tribe is a major sub-branch of the Barakzai Dynasty.^[9]^[10]EnglishThe tribe is a major sub-branch of the Barakzai Dynasty.پښتوقبیله د بارکزي سلسله یوه لویه فرعي څانګه ده.دریاین قبیله یکی از شاخه های اصلی گروه سلسله بارکزی است.

Origins and Ancestry

The Muhammadzai are identified as a sub-branch of the Barakzai Dynasty within the Durrani Empire.^[1]EnglishThe Muhammadzai are identified as a sub-branch of the Barakzai Dynasty within the Durrani Empire.پښتومحمدي د دراني امپراتورۍ په دننه کې د بارکزي سلسله فرعي څانګې په توګه پیژندل شوي.دریمحمدی ها به عنوان یک شاخه فرعی از گروه سلسله بارکزی در گروه امپراطوری دورانی شناخته شده اند. Their lineage can be traced back to Sultan Muhammad Khan, who was the older brother of Dost Muhammad Khan.^[1]EnglishTheir lineage can be traced back to Sultan Muhammad Khan, who was the older brother of Dost Muhammad Khan.پښتود دوی نسب د سلطان محمد خان پورې اړه لري، څوک چې د دوست محمد خان مشر ورور و.دریسلسله نسب آن ها را می توان به سلطان محمد خان که برادر بزرگتر دوست محمد خان بود، رسید. Historical records describe Sultan Muhammad Khan as a notable figure, sometimes referred to by the title "The Golden" in Dari.^[1]EnglishHistorical records describe Sultan Muhammad Khan as a notable figure, sometimes referred to by the title "The Golden" in Dari.پښتوتاریخي ریکارډونه سلطان محمد خان د پام وړ شخصیت په توګه تشریح کوي، ځینې وختونه په ډاري کې د "زرین" لقب سره راجع کیږي.دریسوابق تاریخی سلطان محمد خان را به عنوان یک شخصیت قابل توجه توصیف می کند، که بعضی اوقات با عنوان "طلای" در سال دریایی ها یاد می شود. While Pashto is their primary tongue, they also utilize Dari for official documents and correspondence.^[1]EnglishWhile Pashto is their primary tongue, they also utilize Dari for official documents and correspondence.پښتوپداسې حال کې چې پښتو ژبه د دوی لومړنۍ ژبه ده، دوی د رسمي سندونو او اړیکو لپاره ډاري هم کاروي.دریدر حالیکه زبان پشتو زبان اصلی آنها است، آنها همچنین از دریایی ها برای اسناد رسمی و مکاتبات استفاده می کنند.

Role in the Durrani Confederacy

The Durrani Empire itself is named after Ahmad Shah Durrani, who established the confederacy following a Loya Jirga in Kandahar in 1747.^[3]^[4]EnglishThe Durrani Empire itself is named after Ahmad Shah Durrani, who established the confederacy following a Loya Jirga in Kandahar in 1747.پښتودراني امپراتورۍ پخپله د احمد شاه دراني په نوم نومول شوی، چا چې په ۱۷۴۷ کې په کندهار کې د جرگې په تعقیب کنفدراسیون رامینځته کړ.دریخود امپراطوری دورانی به نام احمد شاه درانی نامگذاری شده است، که کنفدراسیون را پس از جرگا ها در قندهار در سال ۱۷۴۷ تاسیس کرد.

Geographic Distribution

The primary center of the Muhammadzai population is Kandahar.^[1]^[2]EnglishThe primary center of the Muhammadzai population is Kandahar.پښتود محمدزايي نفوس اصلي مرکز کندهار دی.دریمرکز اصلی جمعیت محمدی ها قندهار است. Members of the tribe also reside in Kabul and Ghazni.^[1]EnglishMembers of the tribe also reside in Kabul and Ghazni.پښتود قبیلې غړي په کابل او غزني کې هم اوسېږي.دریاعضای قبیله همچنان در کابل و غزنی زندگی می کنند. The tribe's presence extends across the border into Pakistan, including the city of Charsadda.^[1]EnglishThe tribe's presence extends across the border into Pakistan, including the city of Charsadda.پښتود قبیلې شتون د پاکستان پولې ته غزیدلی، پشمول د چارسدا ښار.دریحضور این قبیله از مرز به داخل پاکستان، از جمله شهر چارساده، گسترش یافته است.

Political and Social Influence

The Muhammadzai have dominated Afghan politics for a significant period, ruling the country from 1823 to 1978.^[1] During this 155-year period of rule, several prominent leaders from the Muhammadzai branch held the throne.^[1] These rulers included:

Amir Sultan Muhammad Khan, the first Muhammadzai ruler.^[1]
Amir Dost Muhammad Khan.^[1]^[6]
Amir Sher Ali Khan.^[1]^[11]
Amir Muhammad Yaqub Khan, who signed the Treaty of Gandamak.^[1]
Amir Abdur Rahman Khan (1879–1901).^[1]
Amir Habibullah Khan (1901–1919).^[1]^[7]
Amir Amanullah Khan (1919–1926).^[1]^[12]
Shah Amanullah Khan (1926–1929).^[1]^[12]
Shah Enayatullah Khan (January 14–17, 1929).^[1]
Shah Muhammad Nadir Shah (1929–1933).^[1]
Shah Muhammad Zahir Shah (1933–1973).^[1]^[8]

The rule of the Muhammadzai ended following a coup led by Muhammad Daud Khan with Soviet support.^[1] Following this transition, power was transferred to the communists.^[1]

Relationship with the Barakzai Dynasty

The Muhammadzai are a sub-lineage of the Barakzai Dynasty and a part of the Durrani tribal confederation.^[1] The lineage of the Muhammadzai stems from the children of Muhammad Khan, who held high-ranking positions within the Barakzai Dynasty.^[5] The Barakzai Dynasty was established as a major political force in the south of the country, particularly near the Helmand River.^[5]