The Aimaq ( fa, ایماق, Aimāq) or Chahar Aimaq (), also transliterated as Aimagh, Aimak and Aymaq, are a collection of

Sunni Sunni Islam () is the largest branch of Islam, followed by 85–90% of the world's Muslims. Its name comes from the word '' Sunnah'', referring to the tradition of Muhammad. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagr ...

and mostly Persian-speaking nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes. They live mostly in the central and western highlands of Afghanistan, especially in Ghor, Badghis. Aimaqs were originally known as ''chahar'' ("four") Aymaqs: the '' Taymani'' (the main element in the population of Ghor), the '' Firozkohi'' (mostly in Badghis), the ''

Jamshidi Jamshidi ( fa, جمشیدی) is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: People *Alireza Jamshidi, Iranian Islamist *Khosrow Jamshidi, Iranian hematologist who invented the Jamshidi needle *Pejman Jamshidi, Iranian footballer Other uses ...

'' and the ''

Timuri The Timuri, or Taimuri ( fa, تیموری), are a sub-tribe of the Aimaq people of Afghanistan and Iran, one of the four major Aimaq tribes, which also include the Firozkohi, Taymani, and Jamshidi. The Timuri originated in western Badghis Provin ...

''. Other sources state that the Aimaq Hazara are one of the ''Chahar'', with the Timuri instead being of the "lesser Aimaqs" or ''Aimaq-e digar'' ("other Aimaqs"). The Aimaq speak several subdialects of the

Aimaq dialect Aimaq or Aimaqi ( fa, ایماقی, Aimāqi) is the dominant eastern Persian ethnolect spoken by the Aimaq people in central northwest Afghanistan (west of the Hazarajat) and eastern Iran. It is close to the Dari varieties of Persian. The Aimaq pe ...

of the Persian language, but some southern groups of Taymani, Firozkohi, and northeastern Timuri Aimaqs have adopted the Pashto language.

Origin and culture

The Aimaqs claim different origins based on their tribal background. Some claim to be descended from the troops of

Genghis Khan ''Chinggis Khaan'' ͡ʃʰiŋɡɪs xaːŋbr />Mongol script: ''Chinggis Qa(gh)an/ Chinggis Khagan'' , birth_name = Temüjin , successor = Tolui (as regent)Ögedei Khan , spouse = , issue = , house = Borjigin , ...

. Other tribes such as the Taymani and Firozkohi claim descent from other Pashtun tribes. Aimaq is a Mongolic word that means "tribe" or "grazing territory". Of all Aimaqs, Aimaq Hazara and

are closest to the Turco-Mongol tradition since they are semi-nomadic tribes and some of them live in yurts, whereas other Aimaqs live in traditional Afghan black tents. The Aimaq are largely nomadic to semi-nomadic goat and sheep herders. They also trade with villages and farmers during migrations for pastures for their livestock. The material culture and foodstuffs of the Aimaq include skins, carpets, milk, dairy products and more. They trade these products to settled peoples in return for vegetables, grains, fruits, nuts, and other types of foods and goods.

Classification of tribes

Aimaq tribes

Demographics

Estimates of the Aimaq population vary between 250,000 and 500,000. They are largely

Sunni Muslims Sunni Islam () is the largest branch of Islam, followed by 85–90% of the world's Muslims. Its name comes from the word '' Sunnah'', referring to the tradition of Muhammad. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagr ...

except for the Jamshidi who are mainly

Ismaili Isma'ilism ( ar, الإسماعيلية, al-ʾIsmāʿīlīyah) is a branch or sub-sect of Shia Islam. The Isma'ili () get their name from their acceptance of Imam Isma'il ibn Jafar as the appointed spiritual successor (imām) to Ja'far al-Sa ...

Shia in the main and in contrast to the Hazaras, who are mostly Shia Muslims."Afghanistan". Encyclopædia Britannica. Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2008.

Notes

References

External links

Aimaq Man with Children, Pal-Kotal-I-Guk, Ghor Province

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aimaq Aymaq Ethnic groups in Afghanistan Modern nomads