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Syed Shah Muhammad Sadiq Sarmast Hussaini

badi dargah sharif, nasik

Pirzadas are a class of Syeds found in Nasik only. They are said to be descended from Syed Shah Muhammad Sadiq Sarmast Hussaini who about the close of the tenth century of the Hijra (A. D. 1568) came from Medina and having travelled over the greater part of western India settled in Nasik. He is said to have been one of the most successful of Muslim missionaries. Some of the converted classes show a special belief in his power as a saint and a warm and respectful descendant. After settling at Nasik, he married the daughter of Hussaini Syed who was in charge of the province of Bidar. Tall, strong and muscular, with black or brown eyes and hair, the Pirzadas are mostly fair; the eyes are rather large with long full eye­lashes. The nose is often rather flat and puggish, marring faces whose other features are usually handsome. The expression is firm and intelligent. Most old men and some of the young shave their heads, others wear the hair long enough to reach the ear lobes and have their beards the moustaches worn in large tufts at the corners of the mouth cut short on the lip. Jovial and fond of amusement, they are sober, steady, thrifty and generally well-to-do. Many among them are land­holders, holding lands in gift from the Moghal emperors and the Maratha rulers in consideration of the sanctity of their forefathers or of their services as soldiers. Some deal in grain, hay, fuel and some are contractors. Some used to be money-lenders also. Very few enter into money dealings with their own people as among Musalmans money-lending is against the injunctions of the Koran. They are Sunnis in faith and careful to say their daily five prayers. They do not form a separate community but in matters of marriage and social civilities, they are closely connected with Nasik Syeds. Though they generally enter into marital alliances with these Syeds, they have no objection to marry daughters of Shaikhs or Pathans of good family. Except that the oldest and most honoured among them manage the lands of shrines in whose revenues most of them have some share, there is no acknowledged head of the community. Most of their children learn some Arabic, Persian, Hindustani and Marathi and of late they take English education also.