Mirwais Hotak - ميرويس هوتک

Mirwais Khan Hotak, (1673–1715) Ghilzai Pashtoon, founder of the  Hotak Dynasty and Emir of Greater Kandahar* is widely celebrated amongst the Pashtoons for ending the repressive rule of Gorgin Khan, (King George of Kartli, Georgia) when the latter was posted to Kandahar as Viceroy (Beglarbeg) by the Safavid ruler, Soltan Hussein. 

Mirwais Hotak, was at first taken prisoner by Gorgin Khan and sent  to Isfahan, but then was later granted the right to perform Hajj by the Shah. He returned to Kandahar to challenge the Gorgin where he raised a rebellion and took this to into Persia, ending the 200 year rule of the Safavids and establishing Afghan rule over Isfahan. 

MIrwais refused the title of King, despite his liberation of Afghan lands and his conquest of Persia, but instead accepted the tile of Mashar (elder). To the Pashtoons, Haji Mirwais Hotak remains Mirwais Neeka حاجي ميرويس نيکه (Grandfather Mirwais) a unifier of the Pashtoon people and a national hero. 

Tor_Khan تور خان

  
*today this would be much of southern Afghanistan and Sistan-Balochistan

For a short film on Afghan History, click here.

Mashar - مشر

 إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون

An elder dies, (a Mashar in our community) and he leaves behind his worldly suffering and the body that had imprisoned him of late. He moves on. Our Creator calls. Here, in this world, people  mourn the loss and the space left behind by the Mashar. This is a prescribed plan in Allah's design for us all -  the people who have lived and died before us have already taken this path - and so the Mashar is not alone. We have yet to follow, be released from our own bonds and shackles and make that journey. Allah has already written this for us all.

May Allah  guide us all and grant the Mashar*, the Kashar**, the Shaheed*** and all their loved ones faith and peace.

Ameen.

Tor_Khan تور خان 

*an elder, **a younger one, ***a martyr