Ajam (Bahrain)
Encyclopedia
The Iranians in Bahrain or Ajam are a community of Persians
in Bahrain
. They have traditionally been merchants living in a specific quarters of Manama
and Muharraq
. They mostly adhere to the Shia sect of Islam, while a very small minority follow the Bahai faith. In the Manama Souq
many Ajamis clustered in the neighbourhoods of Mushbir and Fareeq el-Makharqa
.
, Fars,and Kerman
hormozgan. They came as laborers, artisans and merchants. They maintain a distinct culture and language, and do not tend to assimilate into the surrounding Arabic culture. There are Ajams in Muharraq island . They have their own neighborhood of Kareemi ( Fareej Kareemi) after a rich man Ali Abdalla Kareemi. The Ajams in Muharraq are mostly from a small town in south of iran called Beyram. There are more people from Beyram living in Muharraq than in Bayram itself .
Some are Iranian citizens
. http://www.elaph.com/ElaphWeb/AkhbarKhasa/2009/6/451412.htm
dialects distinctive to the cities they have originated from, e.g.: Lari, tajiki kalani, lori kalani, etc. For example:
In addition to this, many names of ancient villages in Bahrain are in Persian. It is said that these names were influenced during the Safavid rule of Bahrain (1501–1722). i.e. Karbabad, Salmabad, Karzakan, Duraz, Barbar, etc., which indicates that the history of the Ajams is much older. The local Arabic dialects of Bahrain had also borrowed many words from the Persian language
in the past, examples are chandal (woods used in constructing the roof of old buildings), baadgeer (towers with single or two, three or four sided openings above dwellings in order to let wind air into the building to create a current and hence cool the air inside the lower floor rooms), noghida [never heard this word, perhaps meant to be Naakhodaa, meaning the captain of a sea vessel (head of a pearl diving crew).
in Bahrain is "Mahyaveh" , consumed in Southern Iran as well , is a watery earth brick coloured sauce made from sardines and consumed with bread or other food. Persians are known and are famous in bahrain for bread-making . Another local delicacy is "Pishoo" made from rose water (Golab) and agar agar . Other food items consumed are similar to Persian cuisine.
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
in Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
. They have traditionally been merchants living in a specific quarters of Manama
Manama
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 155,000 people.Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population...
and Muharraq
Muharraq
Muharraq , is Bahrain's third largest city, and served as its capital until 1923. The city is located on Muharraq Island and has long been a centre of religiosity...
. They mostly adhere to the Shia sect of Islam, while a very small minority follow the Bahai faith. In the Manama Souq
Manama Souq
Manama Souq is the old bazaar of Bahrain's capital, Manama. It lies in the north of Manama Peninsula, in-between the old parts of the city and the Central Business District, to the east of Noaim and west of Ras Rumman. The area also is home to Bahrain's only synagogue.It is a bustling...
many Ajamis clustered in the neighbourhoods of Mushbir and Fareeq el-Makharqa
Fareeq el-Makharqa
Al-Makharga or Fareeq el-makharga is a district in the Manama Souq, the heart of Manama, the capital of Bahrain. It neighbours the adjacent districts of Fareeq el-Hammam, Fareeq el-Hatab, Fareeg el-Fadhel, Gudaibiya, and the original city of Manama....
.
Migration history
The Shia Persians of Bahrain arrived in Bahrain in the last 60–100 years from the southern Iranian provinces of Khuzestan, BushehrBushehr
Bushehr Bushehr lies in a vast plain running along the coastal region on the Persian Gulf coast of southwestern Iran. It is the chief seaport of the country and the administrative centre of its province. Its location is about south of Tehran. The local climate is hot and humid.The city...
, Fars,and Kerman
Kerman
- Geological characteristics :For the Iranian paleontologists, Kerman has always been considered a fossil paradise. Finding new dinosaur footprints in 2005 has now revealed new hopes for paleontologists to better understand the history of this area.- Economy :...
hormozgan. They came as laborers, artisans and merchants. They maintain a distinct culture and language, and do not tend to assimilate into the surrounding Arabic culture. There are Ajams in Muharraq island . They have their own neighborhood of Kareemi ( Fareej Kareemi) after a rich man Ali Abdalla Kareemi. The Ajams in Muharraq are mostly from a small town in south of iran called Beyram. There are more people from Beyram living in Muharraq than in Bayram itself .
Some are Iranian citizens
Iranian nationality law
Iranian nationality law contains principles of both jus sanguinis and jus soli. Children acquire nationality of Iran through their fathers, but not their mothers...
. http://www.elaph.com/ElaphWeb/AkhbarKhasa/2009/6/451412.htm
Language
They speak southern PersianPersian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
dialects distinctive to the cities they have originated from, e.g.: Lari, tajiki kalani, lori kalani, etc. For example:
- "Why" in official Persian dialect is "baráye che" while in southern Persian dialect is "seche"
- "Money" in official Persian dialect is "Púl" while in southern Persian dialect is "payse"
- "Do you want water?" in official Persian dialect is "áb mikháhi" while in southern Persian dialect is "ow mikhay"
In addition to this, many names of ancient villages in Bahrain are in Persian. It is said that these names were influenced during the Safavid rule of Bahrain (1501–1722). i.e. Karbabad, Salmabad, Karzakan, Duraz, Barbar, etc., which indicates that the history of the Ajams is much older. The local Arabic dialects of Bahrain had also borrowed many words from the Persian language
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
in the past, examples are chandal (woods used in constructing the roof of old buildings), baadgeer (towers with single or two, three or four sided openings above dwellings in order to let wind air into the building to create a current and hence cool the air inside the lower floor rooms), noghida [never heard this word, perhaps meant to be Naakhodaa, meaning the captain of a sea vessel (head of a pearl diving crew).
Food
One of the notable local delicacies of the PersiansPersian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
in Bahrain is "Mahyaveh" , consumed in Southern Iran as well , is a watery earth brick coloured sauce made from sardines and consumed with bread or other food. Persians are known and are famous in bahrain for bread-making . Another local delicacy is "Pishoo" made from rose water (Golab) and agar agar . Other food items consumed are similar to Persian cuisine.
Notable people
- Ghada JamshirGhada JamshirGhada Jamshir is a Bahraini women's rights activist and an ardent campaigner for the reform of Sharia courts in Bahrain and the Arab Gulf states...
- Zainab Askari
- Lulwa Awadhi
- Majeed Karimi is a member of Al Wefaq Islamic Action.
