Sayed Kayan

Sayed Kayan or Sayed of Kayan is a ruling title in northern areas of Afghanistan. Ismaili community in Afghanistan is led by this family of Syeds hailing from the historical valley of Kayan Baghlan.

Historical Background
Kayan is a valley in Dushi district of Baghlan province, situated in northern Afghanistan, having 27000 sq. km Ismaili fiefdom. The forefathers of these Sayeds mostly resided in this valley, making them known as the Kayani Sayeds. Nothing is known about their origin except that Sayed Nadir Khan writes in "Tarikh-i Gharib" (Bombay, 1938) that his forefather, Shah Salih came from Iran to Herat and Kandahar. He then proceeded towards Hazarajat and settled at last in the province of Baghalan. Granted that this tradition is genuine, it means that it was most probably the period of Imam Gharib Mirza (d. 1496).

When these Sayeds settled in Afghanistan, the Safavids had captured whole Iran in 1500 A.D. and proclaimed Shiism as state religion. This despotic and bigoted dynasty ordered the merciless slaughter of the Sunnis and Sufis in Iran. Most of them migrated towards Afghanistan including this noble family of Sayeds. They never collected religious dues in Afghanistan nor imposed their headships on religious ground during the early period of their settlement. There was a minor group of Hindu residing in Kabul, who professed Ismailism secretly. They however practiced taqiya and hid themselves in the mantles of the Hindus. The local Ismailis in Afghanistan were the only people to know their faith and link with the Imam. The Afghan Ismailis collected the tithe and delivered to them, who remitted it to the Imam in Iran. According to the narration of Sayed Nadir Khan, "About 120 years ago, our forefathers were under Bairam Diyal and his fathers and they were the Hindus living in Kabul. Their descendants also are in Kabul and our ancestors delivered their oblations to them in Kabul."

At a later stage, Imam Hasan Ali Shah Aga Khan I sent special message through Mukhi Aziz to the descendants of the above Ismailis in Kabul to wear Muslim costumes and adopt Islamic names. Their Mukhi Fakir Chand responded the call of the Imam at first. He exposed publicly and assumed the name of Faqir Muhammad. But his people embodied very small group, missed a chance to divulge their Islamic identity as the Ismailis. On the other hand, at that time there was not a single Ismaili center in Afghanistan to perform their rites and ceremonies freely even within the walls, therefore, the above small group kept aloof from the Ismaili tradition and assimilated in Hindu community. Some old persons among them however remained firm in their belief and continued to send their tithe in Kabul Jamatkhana.

The Sayeds of Kayan led the Afghan Jamats as local rulers for a long period. The first among them was Sayed Abdul Hadi, who in his advanced age had made a trip of Mahallat Iran from Kabul. Imam Hasan Ali Shah Aga Khan I appointed him as the mukhi of Central and Northern parts of Afghanistan during the reign of Dost Muhammad Khan (1826-1863). He was considered an influential lord in the royal court of Dost Muhammad Khan. He was the first mukhi in Afghanistan, who administered the offices of Dai and Khalifa. His son Shah Hussain succeeded him. Nothing is known about the early life of Shah Hussain or his services as a mukhi. Sayed Nadir Khan is also silent in his "Tarikh-i Gharib" on the subject. He was however the first among the Afghan jamat to see Imam Hasan Ali Shah Aga Khan I at Kandahar in 1842 when he was on his journey to relocate from Iran to India. He died in 1854 and left behind seven sons, two of them were appointed as the mukhi, viz. Sayed Jafar Khan and Sayed Gawhar Khan.

The next who followed was Sayed Jafar Khan, who served as a mukhi for 40 years. He was an influential figure during the regime of Sher Ali Khan (1863-1886). The tradition has it that once Imam Hasan Ali Shah Aga Khan I sent four Arabian horses as a gift to Sher Ali Khan, Emir of Aghanistan through Sayed Jafar Khan and Mirza Ahmed. Sher Ali Khan kept the horses in Kataghan for breeding. The people of Kataghan still remember the race of the horses as Barnaj and Barata. He died in 1894 and his younger brother, Sayed Gawhar Khan succeeded him.

Gawhar Khan is related to have been appointed by Imam Agha Ali Shah Aga Khan II. His followers delivered him the tithe in Kulab, Bukhara. The tenure of his office lasted for four to five years, and died in 1898. His son, Fridun Khan, succeeded him.

Sayed Faridun Khan (1875-1908) executed the office of the mukhi for 10 years and died at the age of 33 years in 1908 at Kulab. He had no male issue. He is noted to have composed some poems and painted few pictures. His younger brother, Sayed Timor Khan, succeeded him.

Sayed Timor Khan was born in 1884 in Kulab, Bukhara. He was about 24 years old during the death of his brother. It was the period of Habibullah Khan (1901-1919), the son of Abdur Rahman Khan (d. 1901) when Sayed Timor Khan succeeded. He presented a petition to the ruler that he could not live in exile, therefore, the amir allowed him to return to his homeland. He however settled with his relatives in Kabul, where his followers flocked and delivered tithe. He was however marked by the government and was exiled to Kandahar, where he remained for two years. Habibullah Khan was killed in 1919 and was succeeded by his son, Amanullah Khan (1919-1929), who issued orders that all the exiled people of his father and grandfather could freely return to their homeland, and also issued a decree of delivery of the properties that had been seized from them. Sayed Timor Khan returned to his native place, Kayan and appointed his younger brother, Sayed Nadir Khan as a mediator between himself and the government for the protection of his dynasty and followers.

In his advanced age, Sayed Timor Khan came in Kabul, but later returned to Kayan, where he died in 1924. He had not nominated his successor from among his three sons, Shuja Khan, Hasan Khan and Manuchehr Khan. He had some poetical talents. His Diwan lithographed in Bombay in 1932 by his friends.

Sayed Nadir Khan (1897-1971) had a wide and intensive struggle against his brother’s son, Shuja Khan, who claimed that he was a true heir of his father. Mohammad Hasan from Torkman Hazarajat and some other people from northern areas also supported him. With the support of loyal followers, Sayed Nadir Khan finally inflicted a defeat to Shuja Khan and became an absolute leader of the Ismailis of Afghanistan. His nominations as Syed of Kayan was endorsed by Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III.

Meanwhile General Mohammad Nadir Shah (1929-1933) had also captured Kabul and proclaimed as a king of Afghanistan. Sayed Nadir Khan seized an opportunity and declared his loyalty to General Mohammad Nadir Shah. He also mobilized his 10,000 warriors and sent in the front of civil war in Aibak and defeated Arozu Qul. He also sent his troop in Kunduz against Ibrahim Beg Laqai. In sum, his men played a key role in favour of the ruling government. Sayed Nadir Khan thus gained full authority to subdue the opponents, both Ismailis and non-Ismailis and consolidated his influence in whole northern part of Afghanistan.

Sayed Nadir Khan was on very intimate terms with the ruling government of General Mohammad Nadir Shah and his son Mohammad Zahir Shah (1933-1973) and also other ruling classes. His elder son, Sayed Shah Naser Naderi, secured seats during the two parliamentary elections. He was also elected in the parliament in 1969 as a deputy of parliament. In order to boost his influence, he married to the daughter of a Looy Khan, a very influential Sunni Pushtun chief.



Syed Shah Naser Naderi succeeded his father Sayed Nadir Khan. He had a poetic approach and was not able to lead effectively the huge Ismaili Jamat of Afghanistan comprising almost 2 Million individuals. In this vulnerable situation, his younger brother Sayed Mansoor Naderi was placed on the noble seat of Sayed of Kayan by the elders of Ismaili Jamat Afghansitan. His status as Incumbent Sayed of Kayan has been endorsed by Shah Karim al-Husayni Aga Khan IV.

Sayed Kayan Association International
The Afghan diaspora in Toronto of Canada have established a cultural and social association under the name of Sayed Kayan Association, the name comes from Sayed Nadir Shah Al-Hussaini Kayani born in 1897, a prominent religious and cultural figure in Afghanistan. The organization aims to foster and promote education and social inclusivity among the Afghans in Canada and around the world. According to the information published on the official website of Sayed Kayan Association, the organization's press section focuses to publish contents about Ismaili studies which includes information about Ismaili history, well-known Ismaili figures through the history and the Ismaili books.

Family history and leadership
For over two centuries, the Sayed Kayan family has played a major role in Afghanistan, as representatives of the Ismailia Imam and participating actively in the country's political landscape. This period, spanning approximately 250 years, has seen the family deeply involved in both religious and political activities within Afghanistan.

Throughout Afghanistan's turbulent history, members of the Sayed Kayan family have been instrumental in peace and reconciliation efforts at different times. Sayed Nadir Shah Al-Hussaini Kayan, also known as Sayed Kayan, was notably involved in traditional peacebuilding initiatives aimed at resolving nationwide conflicts during his era. His efforts were followed by those of his son, Sayed Mansoor Naderi, who played a significant role during the civil war of the 1990s. During the Mujahideen conflicts, Kayan, a location in northern Afghanistan, became a focal point for meetings and political negotiations.

In more recent times, Sayed Kayan's grandson, Sadat Mansoor Naderi, has continued this legacy by being appointed as State Minister for Peace. In this role, he has been responsible for managing the reconciliation process between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Doha.

Among the notable figures to hold the title of Sayed Kayan: After his death, the title was passed on to his eldest son, Sayed Shah Naser Naderi. His descendants also chose Naderi as a Family Title while honoring Nader Shah.
 * Sayed Nader Shah Kayani (1897–1971): Sayed Nader Shah Kayani was a well-known tribal elder in northern Afghanistan. According to some supporters, he has written over 50 religious books, only few of them has officially been published and distributed including Payam-e-Shamal and Andarz Haye Payambar.
 * Sayed Shah Naser Naderi (1925–1987): He was first appointed by his father to lead the Afghanistan Ismailis after the death of his father Sayed Kayan. After few months or years, he was forced out of his position by his younger brother and he left Afghanistan and his younger brother Sayed Mansoor Naderi claimed to lead the Ismailis in Afghanistan.
 * Sayed Mansoor Naderi (1936-present): He played a significant role in leading Afghan Ismaili after his father Sayed Nader Shah Kayani, known as Sayed Kayan. At the height of his power, he is said to have over 12,000 - 18,000 armed forces in 1990s that was controlling several Northeastern provinces including Baghlan, Samangan, Kunduz and Parts of Balkh province of Afghanistan.
 * Rawnaq Naderi (1940–1979), also known as Sayed Nooruddin Rawnaq Naderi (born 1940 in the valley of Kayan, Dushi district, Baghlan Province, Afghanistan) was a distinguished Afghan poet whose works have contributed significantly to Persian literature. As the son of Sayed Kayan, a prominent religious leader of the Afghanistan Ismailis, Naderi's upbringing was deeply influenced by a rich cultural and religious environment. Rawnaq was executed by the totalitarian regime of Hafizullah Amin in 1979 when he was only 39.
 * Sayed Jafar Naderi (1965-present): He is the eldest son of Sayed Mansoor Naderi who is also known as the Warlord of Kayan. He was the leading Ismaili commander during Soviet-Afghan war and controlled Baghlan Province of Afghanistan in 1990s as Governor of the Region.
 * Sadat Mansoor Naderi (1977-present): He is the younger son of Sayed Mansoor Naderi who has been educated in the west. He has lived and studied in the United Kingdom. In 2015, he was appointed as the Minister of Urban Development and Housing of Afghanistan by Ashraf Ghani and in 2020 he was selected as the State Minister of Peace by both leaders in Afghanistan, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani to lead State Ministry for Peace.
 * Farkhunda Zahra Naderi (1981-present): She is the daughter of Sayed Mansoor Naderi who played a role during the democracy era in Afghanistan. She was elected as member of parliament from Kabul in 2010 and then served as a senior advisor to Ashraf Ghani in 2015. She received the N-Peace award in 2012 which was organized by the United Nations.

The Ismailis mostly live in different provinces of Afghanistan including Kabul, Parwan, Maidan Wardak, Bamyan, Baghlan, and Samangan, Balkh, Kunduz, Takhar, and Badakhshan.

List of Sayed of Kayan
The hereditary rulers, the "Sayed of Kayan" were assisted by a council of Wazirs. Details of early rulers are uncertain, with the first definite dates from 1820 onwards.

Publications
Kayan Nader Shah Kayani is said to have 56 published and unpublished books, mainly claiming to be in the areas of Islamic studies and Islamic philosophy. Among his books, Tarikh-e-Gharib is a history book that mainly covers the last 100 years of Afghanistan history from his point of view and primarily focuses on Afghan kings Habibullah Khan and his son King Amanullah Khan.