Qidwai

The Qidwai or Kidwai (Urdu: قدوائی, Arabic: قدوائی) are a community of MuslimSheikhs in South Asia, who migrated from present day Israel and Palestine. They belong to the Israelites tribe of the regions. Their lineage which traces back to Isaac, is different to the rest of the Muslims whose lineage comes from the other son of Abraham, Ishmael. Due to the fact, that their lineage is from actual wife of Abraham (Sarah) and not through (Hagar), Kidwais were always monotheist, unlike rest of the Arabs. They are mostly now settled in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India and Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. They are also settled in areas of the Middle East specifically, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Qatar.

The Qidwai, together with the Khan, Milki, Malik and Chaudhary form a community of substantial landowners.