The Darod (Somali: Daarood, Arabic: دارود) is a Somali clan. The forefather of this clan is Sheikh Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti, more commonly known as Darod. The clan primarily settles the apex of the Horn of Africa and its peripheries, the Somali hinterlands adjacent to Oromia (Ogaden), and both sides of the Kenya–Somalia border. The Darod clan is the largest Somali clan family in the Horn of Africa.
According to early Islamic books and Somali tradition, AqeelAbu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib Al-Qurashi descendant Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti (Darod), a son of the Sufi Sheikh Isma'il al-Jabarti of the Qadiriyyah order, fled his homeland in the Arabian Peninsula after an argument with his uncle. During the 10th or 11th century CE, Abdirahman is believed to have then settled in modern-day Sanaag just across the Red Sea and married Dobira, the daughter of the Dir clan chief. This union is said to have given rise to the Darod clan family. Thus, it established matrilateral ties with the Samaale main stem.
According to the British anthropologist and Somali Studies veteran Ioan Lewis, the traditions of descent from noble Arab families related to the Prophet are most probably figurative expressions of the importance of Islam in Somali society. However, "there is a strong historically valid component in these legends which, in the case of the Darod, is confirmed in the current practice of a Dir representative officiating at the ceremony of installation of the chief of the Darod family."
There are also numerous existing hagiologies in Arabic which describe Sheikh Darod's travels, works and overall life in northern Somalia, as well as his movements in Arabia before his arrival. Besides historical sources such as Al-Masudi's Aqeeliyoon, a modern manaaqib (a collection of glorious deeds) printed in Cairo in 1945 by Sheikh Ahmad bin Hussen bin Mahammad titled Manaaqib as-Sheikh Ismaa'iil bin Ibraahiim al-Jabarti also discusses Sheikh Darod and his proposed father Isma'il al-Jabarti, the latter of whom is reportedly buried in Bab Siham in the Zabid District of western Yemen.
Sheikh Darod's own tomb is in Haylaan, situated in the Sanaag region of Somaliland, and is the scene of frequent pilgrimages. Sheikh Isaaq is buried nearby in Maydh, as is Sheikh Harti, a descendant of Sheikh Darod and the progenitor of the Harti Darod sub-clan, whose tomb lies in the ancient town of Qa’ableh.
Sheikh Darod's mawlid (birthday) is also celebrated every Friday with a public reading of his manaaqib.
The Darod were supporters of ImamAhmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi during his 16th century conquest of Abyssinia; especially the Geri Koombe who were in-laws with Imam Ahmed. Garad Matan married Imam Ahmed's sister who her name was Fardawsa. Garad Matan being the chieftain of Geri Koombe fully supported the Jihad and served as an Adalite general, second in command to Imam Ahmed.
He also sent a messenger to the tribe of Girri which was the tribe whose leader and chieftain was Mattan bin 'Utman bin Kaled, the Somali, his brother-in-law who was one of the heroic and gracious knights who died as a martyr in the battle for the Amba as will be recalled at some length later on. The storyteller, may God have mercy upon him, says: On the left was the Somali tribe of Harti, from the people of Mait; a people not given to yielding. There were three-hundred of them, famous among the infantry as stolid swordsmen. In the same way there was the tribe of Yibberi, around four-hundred infantrymen, archers. So the imam attached them to the five-hundred who held the centre, saying to them, 'Hold your positions; don't budge, anyone of you.' The tribe of Girri were all horsemen, renowned as riders.
The Geri Koombe tribe played a pivotal role in leadership, Garad Matan ibn Uthman Al Somali was described by chronicler Shihāb al-Dīn as one of the most bravest and courageous military commanders in the Adal Sultanate. The Imam had gathered all the Somali tribes and entrusted them to his brother in law Garad Matan ibn Uthman Al Somali.
After that the Muslims stood their ground. The tribe of the Somali said it was the tribe of Harla that gave us away while the tribe of Harla said it was the Somali tribe that gave us away The imam split his forces into three divisions: all the Somalis were in one division whose command he entrusted to Mattan.
Shihāb al-Dīn notes that Harti soldiers took part in the Adal Sultanate army. Hamza al Jufi was an infantry leader during the Battle of Shimbra Kure. The writer Arab Faqih attributes him with bravery and courage. Hamza al Jufi was described as eager and could not contain himself until the Adalites had to hold him back, telling him to "be patient". Arab Faqih goes on to describe the Harti just like Hamza al Jufi, recognising the bravery of the Somalis. He describes them as “famous among the infantry as solid swordsmen, and a people not given to yielding.”
16th century manuscript showing Ahmed Girri Bin Hussein leading the Yabarray division of Habr Maqdi. The text underlined in red translates to “The tribe of Yabirray with their leader Ahmed Girri". As the only primary source on Ahmed Girri Bin Hussein and the Futuh Wars, this definitely illustrates the identity of Ahmed Girri as not only Somali, but also of Jidwaaq Absame of the Darod clan.
Darod is the son of the famous Arabian Sheikh, Ismail bin Ibrahim Al-Jabarti, who is buried in the Zabid District of Yemen. He is believed to have been a descendant of Aqeel ibn Abi Talib who in turn hailed from the Quraysh, a historically significant Arab tribe that the final prophet of Islam Muhammed was from.
In 2009, former President of Somalia, Abdullahi Yusuf visited the grave of Ismail bin Ibrahim Al-Jabarti in Yemen.
According to many medieval and modern Islamic historians, Darod is descended from Aqeel ibn Abi Talib, the cousin of Muhammad and brother of Ali ibn Abi Talib. An ancient Islamic history book, called Aqeeliyoon by Al-Masudi, talks in detail about the descendants of Aqeel ibn Abi Talib, wherein Darod is also mentioned. The book gives Sheikh Darod's lineage as Abdirahmaan Bin Ismaa'iil Bin Ibraahim Bin Abdirahmaan Bin Muhammed Bin Abdi Samad Bin Hanbal Bin Mahdi Bin Ahmed Bin Abdalle Bin Muhammed Bin Aqail Bin Abu-Talib Bin Abdul-Mutalib Bin Hashim Bin Qusaya.
According to Allaa'i Alsuniyah Fi Al-Aqab Al-Aqeeliyah (2006) by Ahmed bin Ali Al-Rajihi Al-Aqeeli, the lineage of Sheikh Darod/Da'ud is: "Da'ud ibn Ismail ibn Ibrahim ibn Abdulsamad ibn Ahmed ibn Abdallah ibn Ahmed Ibn Ismail ibn Ibrahim ibn Abdallah ibn Isma'il ibn Ali ibn Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn Hamid ibn Abdallah ibn Ibrahim ibn Ali ibn Ahmed ibn Abdallah ibn Muslim ibn Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn Aqeel ibn Abi-Talib Al-Hashimi Al-Qurashi". Al-Aqeeli adds that Sheikh Isma'il's sons include Abi-Bakar, Da'ud, Ahmad and Abdulsamad, whose other offspring inhabit the Hadhramaut and Mahra regions in Southern Arabia.
Distribution
Traditional territory inhabited by the various Somali clans shownTraditional Somali tribes' territories 1977
The Darod are believed to be a large Somali clan both in terms of population size and land inhabitation. The Darod constitute a big presence in the Somali Region of Ethiopia and are also one of the largest Somali clan in North Eastern Province of Kenya. Within Somalia, the Darod are also one of the largest clans, with traditional strongholds in the north, modern day Puntland state which is dominated by the Harti subclan of Darod. In addition, the Marehan, Ogaden, Jidwaaq, and Harti Darod members are also settled further down south in the Gedo region as well as the Middle Jubba and Lower Jubba regions of Somalia. The Darod in Somalia, roughly corresponds to the Darod's settled within the Jubbaland and Puntland states. In Somaliland the Darod settle the eastern Sool, Sanaag regions and the Buhoodle district of Togdheer
The Darod clan has produced numerous noble Somali men and women over the centuries, including many Sultans. Traditionally, the Darod population was mostly concentrated in the northern and northeastern cities on the Gulf of Aden and upper Indian Ocean coast in the Horn of Africa. Darod noble men ruled these settlement pockets until the European colonial powers changed the political dynamics of Somalia during the late 19th century. Before many Darods began pushing southward in the mid-1850s, the Majeerteen Sultanate and Sultanate of Hobyo held steadfast in solidly established posts from Alula to Hobyo.
There is no clear agreement on the clan and sub-clan structures and many lineages are omitted. The following listing is based upon the World Bank's Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics from 2005 and the United Kingdom's Home Office publication, Somalia Assessment 2001.
In the south central part of Somalia the World Bank shows the following clan tree:
Darod
Kablalah
Kombe
Kumade
Cisse (Isse)
Sade
Marehan
Facaye
Awrtable
Leelkase (Lelkase)
One tradition maintains that Darod had one daughter.
Darod's tomb
Darod is buried in an old town called Haylaan near Badhan in the north-eastern Sanaag region of Somalia. His wife Dobira is buried just outside the town. The surrounding buildings and the mosque near the tomb was built by the former president of Somalia Abdullahi Yusuf.
Darod is believed to be the son of the famous Arabian Sheikh, Ismail bin Ibrahim Al-Jabarti, who is buried in the Zabid District of Yemen. Tradition holds that he is descended from the Banu Hashim.
Mohamud Ali Magan, Marehan, Somali Foreign Affairs, Consul General to United States Of America and Canada
Aar Maanta, Somali-British singer-songwriter, actor, composer, instrumentalist and music producerAmina Mohamed, Dhulbahante, former chairman of the International Organization for Migration and the World Trade Organisation's General Council
Yusuf Mohamed Ismail, Majeerteen, former ambassador of Somalia to the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva
Writers and musicians
Aadan Carab, Dhulbahante, poet who narrated the Dhulbahante genocide at the hands of European colonialists in the Darawiish era
Ahmed Rasta, Marehan, singer. nicknamed Boqorka Codka (King of Voice.)
Saado Ali Warsame, singer-songwriter and former MP in the Federal Parliament of SomaliaAar Maanta, Ogaden, Somali-British singer-songwriter, actor, composer, instrumentalist and music producer.
Ahmed Biif, Dishiishe, former singer whom turned into a preacher
Haji Yusuf Barre, Dhulbahante, commander of the biggest battle in Darawiish history, i.e. Jidbali; made the last stand at Taleh
Yusuf Agararan, Dhulbahante, led most successful Darawiish raid since Dul Madoba
Ibraahin Xoorane, Dhulbahante, Darawiish commander who killed Richard CorfieldJama Ali Korshel, Somali Army General, former Head of Somali Police and one of the leaders of 1969 coup d'état of Somalia
Asli Hassan Abade, first and only female Somali pilotMohamed Aden Sheikh, Marean premier Somali intellectual and former head of Somali Technological Development, Minister of Information, Minister of Education, Head of the Ideology Bureau SRRC
Abdiweli Gaas, Majeerteen current president of Puntland
Abdi Shire Warsame, Marehan, former Somali ambassador to Kenya and China and former Foreign Affairs State minister in Transitional National Government
Ahmed Mohamed Islam(Axmed Madoobe), Ogaden, President of Jubbaland State of Somalia
Abdiwahid Gonjeh, Marehan, former prime minister of Somalia, member of upper house
Ahmed Elmi Osman (Karaash), Dhulbahante, Minister of Interior of Puntland and former president of Khatumo State
Fatimo Isaak Bihi, Marehan, first Somali female ambassador, Ambassador to Geneva, Director of the African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Abdiasis Nur Hersi, Awrtable, the former Minister of Labor and Sports from 1970 to 1977
Abdirizak Haji Hussein, Majeerteen, former prime minister of Somalia, and former secretary general of the Somali Youth League.
Abdirizak Jurile, Dishiishe, veteran politician, diplomat and professor. Former TFG minister of planning & International Cooperation, Former MP, former executive director of numerous UN and International organisations, Senator
Hirsi Magan Isse, Majeerteen, scholar and one of the leaders of the Somalian revolution
Nathif Jama Adam, Ogaden, Governor of Garissa County and former Head of the Sharjah Islamic Bank's Investments & International Banking Division
Abdirahman Nur Hersi, Awrtable, The former Minister of Finance in Somalia and founding member and executive Vice President of the Islamic Development Bank
^Grant, Peter (2018). Somalia. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2019-09-18. Darood is the largest clan among all Somalis across borders.
^Lewis, IM (2019). A Modern History Of Somalia. the Dulbahante and Warsangeli divisions of the Darod who, with a strength of perhaps one and a half million, are the largest and most widely distributed of all the Somali clan-families.
^Rima Berns McGown, Muslims in the diaspora, (University of Toronto Press: 1999), pp.27–28
^I.M. Lewis, A pastoral democracy: a study of pastoralism and politics among the Northern Somali of the Horn of Africa, (LIT Verlag Münster: 1999), pp.128–129
^Al-Din, Sihab (July 2003). Conquest of Abyssinia. Tsehai Publishers & Distributors. p. 76. ISBN9780972317252.
^Shihāb al-Dīn Aḥmad ibn ʻAbd al-Qādir ʻArabfaqīh, Translated by Paul Stenhouse, Richard Pankhurst (2003). The conquest of Abyssinia: 16th century. Tsehai Publishers & Distributors. p. 77. ISBN9780972317269. Archived from the original on 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2016-09-27.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Cahiers d'études africaines". Cahiers d'études africaines. 2: 30. 1961. Archived from the original on 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2023-07-17 – via Google books.
^Shihāb al-Dīn, ibn ʻAbd al-Qādir ʻArabfaqīh (2003). The Conquest of Abyssinia 16th Century. Tsehai Publishers & Distributors. p. 141. ISBN9780972317252.
^al-Dīn, Shihāb (2003). The Conquest of Abyssinia. Tsehai Publishers & Distributors. p. 125. ISBN0972317260.
^Richard Pankhurst, An Introduction to the Economic History of Ethiopia, from Early Times to 1800
Hunt, John A. (1951). "Chapter IX: Tribes and Their Stock". A General Survey of the Somaliland Protectorate 1944–1950. London: Crown Agent for the Colonies. Accessed on October 7, 2005 (from Civic Webs Virtual Library archive).
Lewis, I.M. (1955). Peoples of the Horn of Africa: Somali, Afar, and Saho, Part 1, London: International African Institute.
Lewis, I. M. (1961). A pastoral democracy: a study of pastoralism and politics among the Northern Somali of the Horn of Africa, reed. Münster: LIT Verlag, 1999.
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