Al-Lawatis
Encyclopedia
Al-Lawatia or Lawati
The Al-Lawati or Lawati tribes people are commonly known as Khoja
among themselves (not to be confused with Khawaja or Khoja of Pakistan) , In Oman, they are largely referred to as Lawatis
, the capital of Oman, but some live on the coast of Al-Batina. Some Lawati families reside elsewhere in the Persian Gulf
region such as Dubai
, Qatar
, Bahrain
and Kuwait
.
Traditionally, Al-Lawatia have been known as prominent merchants on the coasts of Mutrah (Matrah) which lies 2 km of Muscat. They worked in the incense (Bukhoor), Jewelry and clothes business. The community occupies a gated quarter of Matrah
known as Sur al-Lawatia. The quarter still boasts attractive houses with a unique Islamic architectural view and a large mosque known as Al-Rasul Al-Aadam Mosque or The Greatest Prophets Mosque in reference to Prophet Mohammed. The Sur has seen a major exodus in recent decades as Lawatis have moved to more modern neighborhoods as a result of increasing development, the availability of facilities and growing wealth and business of the community. Another great historic monument built by the tribe is Al-Zahra Mosque in the UAE, which was built nearly 300 years ago
records as existing in Oman since the 1700's.
The Al-Muscati surname of some families in Iraq
, Kuwait
and Bahrain
suggests that they were Muscati immigrants, and are believed to be of Lawati origin. One of the Al Muscati families lives in Oman today. They are Lawatis who obtained their surname during the period when they immigrated and lived in Iraq, before they went back to Oman in the late seventies.
Many others were also known by titles added to their names by the Muttrah Lawatis as a family clan, physical, social or habitual character or from the part of Oman they had settled; some Lawatis took up these as surnames/family names/clans. Thus we see: Al-Saleh, Al-Abdulateef, Al-Moosa, Al-Khabori, Al-Wardy, Al-Kokar, Al-Sajwani, Dara, Al-Habib ...etc. In the UAE Al-Lawatia families include: Al-Issa, Al-Shalwani, Al-Yousef, Al-Aboodi, AL-Kashwani
Shia Ismailis (who had been called once: Aga Khani/Khanawara). The story claims that later on they were converted into Shia Twelvers/Jaafari
. Consequently, the new adopted doctrine grew in power and the Khanawaras were not tolerated anymore. Hence, some retracted while others detached from the community. However, Most current Lawatis are known to be Twelver Shia Muslims. And with the process of mingling with the other groups, few Lawatis brought up through mixed marriages either following mixed Shia/Sunni or Shia/Ibadhi traditions.
) is Al-Lawati language which is called in their own tongue as (Khojki
). This idiom is genetically and morphologically related to the Sindhi
language; a branch of the Indo-European
tree. As it also shares common similarities with other spoken languages of the other ethnic groups in Oman (presumed ethnically to be of the same origin) e.g. Zadjali (Jadgali), Maimani and Al Saigh. Elderlies were fluent in both the written and the spoken Khojki
.
Arabic as a first language of Oman and all Arabia, is also held tightly by Al-Lawaties in parallel with their mother tongue language Khojki
. However, the trend now within this community is to abandon their own native language and more people of the young generation are found not to know how to write nor speak it.
The Al-Lawati or Lawati tribes people are commonly known as Khoja
Khoja
The Khojas are ethnic group of Shia Muslims. The word Khoja derives from Khwaja, a Persian title .In Pakistan, many Khojas migrated to and settled in the province of Sindh and especially in the city of Karachi. While in India, most Khojas live in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and...
among themselves (not to be confused with Khawaja or Khoja of Pakistan) , In Oman, they are largely referred to as Lawatis
Demographics and Role in the Persian Gulf
The size of the Al-Lawati population cannot be determined precisely, but is estimated to be approximately 50,000. Most reside in MuscatMuscat, Oman
Muscat is the capital of Oman. It is also the seat of government and largest city in the Governorate of Muscat. As of 2008, the population of the Muscat metropolitan area was 1,090,797. The metropolitan area spans approximately and includes six provinces called wilayats...
, the capital of Oman, but some live on the coast of Al-Batina. Some Lawati families reside elsewhere in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
region such as Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
, 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...
and Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
.
Traditionally, Al-Lawatia have been known as prominent merchants on the coasts of Mutrah (Matrah) which lies 2 km of Muscat. They worked in the incense (Bukhoor), Jewelry and clothes business. The community occupies a gated quarter of Matrah
Matrah
Muttrah, population 150,000 , is a city located in the Muscat province of Oman. Before the discovery of oil, Muttrah was the center of commerce in Oman. It is still a center of commerce as one of largest sea ports of the region is located there...
known as Sur al-Lawatia. The quarter still boasts attractive houses with a unique Islamic architectural view and a large mosque known as Al-Rasul Al-Aadam Mosque or The Greatest Prophets Mosque in reference to Prophet Mohammed. The Sur has seen a major exodus in recent decades as Lawatis have moved to more modern neighborhoods as a result of increasing development, the availability of facilities and growing wealth and business of the community. Another great historic monument built by the tribe is Al-Zahra Mosque in the UAE, which was built nearly 300 years ago
History and Origins
At least one Lawati family can be documented through BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
records as existing in Oman since the 1700's.
The Al-Muscati surname of some families in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
and 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...
suggests that they were Muscati immigrants, and are believed to be of Lawati origin. One of the Al Muscati families lives in Oman today. They are Lawatis who obtained their surname during the period when they immigrated and lived in Iraq, before they went back to Oman in the late seventies.
Many others were also known by titles added to their names by the Muttrah Lawatis as a family clan, physical, social or habitual character or from the part of Oman they had settled; some Lawatis took up these as surnames/family names/clans. Thus we see: Al-Saleh, Al-Abdulateef, Al-Moosa, Al-Khabori, Al-Wardy, Al-Kokar, Al-Sajwani, Dara, Al-Habib ...etc. In the UAE Al-Lawatia families include: Al-Issa, Al-Shalwani, Al-Yousef, Al-Aboodi, AL-Kashwani
Religion
Verbal history indicates that at one point they were MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Shia Ismailis (who had been called once: Aga Khani/Khanawara). The story claims that later on they were converted into Shia Twelvers/Jaafari
Jaafari
Jaafari may refer to:* Jaafari, adherent of Twelver Shi`ism* Ali Jafari, Head of Iranian Revolutionary Guards* Ibrahim al-Jaafari , Iraqi politician* Basshar Jaafari, Syrian Diplomat- Name :...
. Consequently, the new adopted doctrine grew in power and the Khanawaras were not tolerated anymore. Hence, some retracted while others detached from the community. However, Most current Lawatis are known to be Twelver Shia Muslims. And with the process of mingling with the other groups, few Lawatis brought up through mixed marriages either following mixed Shia/Sunni or Shia/Ibadhi traditions.
Language
The native mother language of Al-Lawaties (Sn.Khojo, Pl.KhojaKhoja
The Khojas are ethnic group of Shia Muslims. The word Khoja derives from Khwaja, a Persian title .In Pakistan, many Khojas migrated to and settled in the province of Sindh and especially in the city of Karachi. While in India, most Khojas live in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and...
) is Al-Lawati language which is called in their own tongue as (Khojki
Khojki
Khojki or Khojiki was a script used almost exclusively by the Khoja community of parts of South Asia such as Sindh. It was employed primarily to record Muslim Shia Ismaili religious literature, as well as literature for a few secret Shia Muslim sects....
). This idiom is genetically and morphologically related to the Sindhi
Sindhi language
Sindhi is the language of the Sindh region of Pakistan that is spoken by the Sindhi people. In India, it is among 22 constitutionally recognized languages, where Sindhis are a sizeable minority. It is spoken by 53,410,910 people in Pakistan, according to the national government's Statistics Division...
language; a branch of the Indo-European
Indo-European
Indo-European may refer to:* Indo-European languages** Aryan race, a 19th century and early 20th century term for those peoples who are the native speakers of Indo-European languages...
tree. As it also shares common similarities with other spoken languages of the other ethnic groups in Oman (presumed ethnically to be of the same origin) e.g. Zadjali (Jadgali), Maimani and Al Saigh. Elderlies were fluent in both the written and the spoken Khojki
Khojki
Khojki or Khojiki was a script used almost exclusively by the Khoja community of parts of South Asia such as Sindh. It was employed primarily to record Muslim Shia Ismaili religious literature, as well as literature for a few secret Shia Muslim sects....
.
Arabic as a first language of Oman and all Arabia, is also held tightly by Al-Lawaties in parallel with their mother tongue language Khojki
Khojki
Khojki or Khojiki was a script used almost exclusively by the Khoja community of parts of South Asia such as Sindh. It was employed primarily to record Muslim Shia Ismaili religious literature, as well as literature for a few secret Shia Muslim sects....
. However, the trend now within this community is to abandon their own native language and more people of the young generation are found not to know how to write nor speak it.
Important Lawati Figures
- Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Oman
- Dr Rajha bint Abdulameer bin Ali, Minister of Tourism, Oman (Deceased)
- Khadija bint Hassan bin Salman al Lawati, Ambassador of Oman to the Netherlands
- Dr Suad bint Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al Lawati, Associate Professor, Counseling Psychology Dept of Psychology–College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University
- Hussain SajwaniHussain SajwaniHussain Ali Sajwani, born in Dubai in 1956, is a UAE national and Chairman and Founder of Damac Holding, a multi-billion dollar conglomerate based in Dubai.Mr...
, Chairman, Damac Holding, Dubai, UAE
- Habib Kokar, General Manager, Oman Bank, Dubai, UAE (Deceased)
- Mohammed Hassan Ali al Abduwani, Undersecretary of Planning- Ministry of Health
- Mohammad Jawad Darwish Al Lawati, Inspector of Police and Boarding Inspector 1939-1946
- Dr. Fuaad Al Sajwani, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries
- Maqbool Hameed Al Saleh, Chairman, OHI Group of Companies