Ayyar and Ayyari: From Genealogy to Historical Background

Abstract

The present study, entitled “Ayyar and Ayyari: From Genealogy to Historical Background,” examines one of the most influential cultural–social movements in the history of Afghanistan. Rooted in the pre-Islamic tradition of futuwwa and chivalry, Ayyari gradually merged with Islamic teachings and Sufism, embodying values such as magnanimity, self-sacrifice, loyalty, generosity, courage, discretion, and independence. The primary aim of this research is to analyze the structure, principles, and linguistic as well as cultural features of the Ayyars, while its secondary objective is to explore the historical and geographical development of the Ayyari movement and its regional variations. The study employs a descriptive–analytical methodology based on an inductive approach, integrating data from library research, field observations, and interviews. Historical and geographical sources, along with previous scholarly studies, were first reviewed, followed by an analysis of literary texts to identify concrete evidence of the relationship between the rituals, customs, and social practices of the Ayyars. The findings reveal that the Ayyars maintained a coherent social organization under the leadership of a designated master or spiritual guide. Their distinctive attire—such as two-colored garments, shortened footwear, staffs, travel bags, and symbolic sashes—served as markers of identity and reflected their independence from formal political authorities. Ethical principles, including initiating greetings, fidelity to promises, and support for the disadvantaged, were directly evident in their social conduct and indirectly reflected in literary expression. Linguistically, specialized Ayyari terminology entered everyday speech and later became part of formal literature, contributing to the formation of a popular and oral layer within the literary tradition. In Afghanistan, Ayyari preserved its local characteristics over centuries and, during critical socio-political periods, functioned as a voice for the marginalized and a critique of power. The study concludes that Ayyari should be understood not merely as a historical phenomenon but as a living cultural heritage that continues to inspire contemporary literature, highlighting the need for further comparative, linguistic, and field-based research.