Huwala

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The Huwala (also spelled howala, howila, huwalah) (Arabic: الهولة) meaning "those that have changed" are the descendants of Sunni Arabs that originally migrated from the eastern shore of the Gulf to the "Persian Empire", and since the eighteenth century have migrated back to the Arabian peninsular and now make up a substantial proportion of the middle class populations of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Defining themselves as Arabs, the Hawala see this reverse migration over the last three centuries as a return to their original homeland, although some retain extensive cultural links with Persia depending on the level of "Persianization" that happened over the years of their residing in Persia.

During the Safavid Empire, the Huwala were originally nominal vassals of the state, but for all intents and purposes they were independent of the then weak Government at Isfahan. Many Huwala later allied themselves with tribal Arab rulers "Bin-Ijluwis" rulers of the Eatern Province. There are still substantial Arab populations in southern Persia comprised of Huwala populations.

Jabbara of Tahiri, Nasir Al Madhkur and Nasr Al Madhkur of Bushire were some of the chiefs of the Huwala, and therefore vassals of the Safavids in Bahrain, in the 18th century. Nasr Al Madhkur was expelled from Bahrain by the Al Khalifa in 1783 (see History of Bahrain).

In "Howlie" culture, it is those of "Bastag" that are considered blue bloods, known as Sheikhs and form families such as the "Sayeds" "Aghas" "Khans" and "Abbassis" who are direct descendants of Muhummad but fled to Persia during the Ommayed era to hide from the possible homicide of his family.

The Huwala generally followed the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence, whereas the ruling Al Khalifa and its supporting tribes adhered to the Maliki school.

In Bahrain, the Huwala originally settled in the cities of Manama and Muharraq, and their skills in trade and administration have meant that today they now comprise a large portion of the country's well-educated higher middle class. Many of the richest business families in Bahrain are of Huwala extraction, as are many of the country's intellectuals, professionals and artists.

Unlike the Ajam immigrants in Bahrain, the Huwala have for the most part adopted Arab ways and customs, and few of them still speak their original form Persian dialect. The Huwala generally followed the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence, whereas in Bahrain the ruling Al Khalifa and its supporting tribes adhered to the Maliki school.

Huwala

See also