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Somali clan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sheekhaal (var. Sheikhaal, Arabic: شيخال), also known as Fiqi Cumar is a clan that inhabits Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and with considerable numbers also found in the Northern Frontier District (NFD) in Kenya.
Sheekhal traces its ancestry to Sheikh Abadir Umar Ar-Rida, also known as Fiqi Umar, who in turn traced his lineage to the first caliph, Abu Bakr (Sayid Abubakar Al-Sadiq).[1]
According to the explorer Richard F. Burton, in his book First Footsteps in East Africa, the Sheekhaal are described as the only Somalis who maintain a tradition of genealogy not derived from Dir and Darood. They claim descent from "Caliph Abu Bakr" and asserted that their ancestor Khutab bin Fakih Umar crossed over from Al-Hijaz to the Horn of Africa.[2] Fiqi Umar crossed over with his six sons: Umar the Greater, Umar the Lesser, the two Abdillahs, Ahmad and Siddik.[3] Sheikh Ar-Rida is also regarded the patron saint of Harar.[4] The lineage goes back to Banu Taym, through the first Caliph Abu Bakr.[5]
Some clans of Sheekhaal would argue that while they are politically aligned with the larger Hawiye clan, this does not mean that they are Hawiye.[6] This view is shared by the Aw-Qutub, one of the Sheekhaal subclans; they too totally reject the notion that the Sheekhal clan are part of Hawiye. Lobogay (Loboge) are considered part of (Hiraab, Aw Qudub and Gendershe and Ali).[7]
Lewis (1982) mentions that the largest clan of the Sheikhal is the Reer Fiqi Omar, whose most important lineage, the Reer Aw Qutub, inhabit the Somali Region of Ethiopia.[8] The Sheekhal clans were reportedly considered as part of the Hawiye politically until after the civil war.[9]
General Mohamed Ibrahim Liiqliqato, who was a Sheikhal, described in his book how the Sheikhal became associated with the Hawiye and added as ‘Martileh Hiraab’ (literally meaning guests of Hiraab).[10] The Sheekhaal are also mentioned to be one of the religious groups of Somalia along with the Asharaf.[11]
[12] 11 Reer Abiib (Martiile Hiraab) 12 Reer Cali Cafiif (Martiile Hiraab)
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