A comprehensive introduction to Abul Farah Wasti - 2
The Y-DNA of Abul Farah Wasti and his descendants
Continuing from the previous blog, which can be found here: Part 1, I would like to introduce the Y-DNA genetic research involving the descendants of Abul Farah Wasti.
Through Y-DNA testing, multiple discoveries have been made, and many theories arise from the variety of results received. The current most likely haplogroup to have belonged to the Banu Hashim, the tribe of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), is J-L859, a haplogroup with origins in the Arabian Peninsula, within the past few thousand years. As per the research of Dr. Sayed Hadi al-Amili, of the Banu Hashem Project, haplogroup J-FGC54257, a descendant of J-L859, belongs to Zaid al-Shaheed. Six men with oral histories linking back to Abul Farah Wasti have received this result and belong to other mutations below it. Above J-FGC54257 are three significant mutations, which can attach to the three forefathers of Zaid al-Shaheed. J-Y353009, although a homologous SNP, most likely belongs to Imam Ali ibn Hussein (as), J-FGC30416 most likely belongs to Imam Hussein ibn Ali (as), and J-FGC10500 most likely belongs to Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as). The TMRCAs for each of these SNPs is within a good range of the true birthdates of each of these blessed men, and with each man under these clades claiming Sayyid from these Imams, there is substantial evidence for these clades being used for identifying if one is a true Sayyid or not. (Amili, 2022) There is not enough certainty, however, for this to be taken from an Islamic perspective for verifying one’s lineage.
Below J-FGC54257, the branch attached to Zaid al-Shaheed, are a few mutations which give clues towards the true ancestry of Abul Farah Wasti. These six men seem to all carry an additional insertion, labelled as J-YFS4252908, which has been attributed to Hussein ibn Zaid al-Shaheed (Amili, 2022), due to prominent families such as the al-Afandi family (caretakers of the shrine of Sayyida Zaynab (as), the sister of Imam Hussein (as), in Damascus). This labelling of the Zaidi Wasti under Hussein, rather than Isa, creates the first disagreement with the agreed-upon genealogy of Abul Farah.
Below this disagreement, there is not yet substantial evidence for more disagreements in the genealogy of Abul Farah. Below YFS4252908 are two mutations, FT404533, and FT406499, with a TMRCA of approximately 950CE. This mutation is shared by the Ale Dhabhawi of Iraq, as well as a collection of various South Asian Sayyids, including the four men who claim descent from Abul Farah Wasti. Followed by these two mutations, are two more significant mutations, FT405468, and FT405482, with a TMRCA at around 1100CE. These two mutations fall closest to the time of Abul Farah Wasti himself and could possibly belong to him. The families which currently fall under this branch include four Bihari Jajneri Zaidi’s (Ilyas, the Naim family, and two men from the Sher family), one Khairthali Zaidi, one Jansath Zaidi, and the Kararvi Rizvi sadaat. Before we discuss the anomaly of the Kararvi Rizvi, let us explore the mutations and branches between these six men who claim from the lineage of Abul Farah Wasti.
The first branch-off occurs with one of the Jajneri Zaidi’s from Bihar, Ilyas, who although does not have a complete oral history, claims to be from Sayyid Ahmad Jajneri. Following two T2T mutations discovered and named by Dr. Sayed Hadi al-Amili, namely A31781, and A31782, Ilyas does not share any mutations with the other Jajneri’s, suggesting that either Ilyas belongs to another son of Ahmad Jajneri than the other Jajneri Zaidi’s who claim from the lineage of Ahmad Jajneri, making this branch (consisting of A31781 and A31782) belong to Ahmad Jajneri, or his father; or, Ilyas does not belong to the lineage of Ahmad Jajneri.
Belonging to these two T2T mutations, however, is one Jansath Zaidi, from Najm al-Din ibn Abul Farah Wasti, which leads to the most likely conclusion that these mutations occurred before the branch FT405468, or between FT405468 and FT405482, rather than after. The next mutation which could signify another branch is the mutation present at 8,800,819 on the T2T v2 genome (8,799,510 on T2T v1) (Amili, 2022). This mutation is present within 1 of the Jajneri men, and the Khairthali Zaidi, and although there is no coverage for the other two Jajneri men, they most likely also belong to this mutation. Ilyas, however, does not belong to this mutation, suggesting he branches off from these men earlier than expected. Due to the low coverage of the others, a set conclusion cannot be made, however it is likely that this mutation represents Abul Faras ibn Abul Farah Wasti, or a close descendant of his, based on the lineages of the two men clearly positive for the SNP.
Theoretically, as there are 3 different lines of men descending from Ali ibn Mas’ood, the father of the Jajneri brothers, there should be some mutations representing him and the 4 generations between him and Abul Faras, however it is mostly unclear, as Ilyas seems to be slightly separated from the Na’im and Sher families, despite Sher and Ilyas both descending from Ahmad Jajneri. With Ilyas not belonging to the previously mentioned mutation, 8,800,819, this brings the possibility of Ilyas belonging to another son of Abul Farah Wasti, most prominently, Abul Fazl, due to there being some historical mention of his descendants migrating to Bihar. There is however no substantial evidence to support this claim yet. A more accurate conclusion would require the testing of more descendants from other sons of Abul Farah Wasti.
The next possible branch-off consists of 7 mutations, within a close proximity to each other. These 7 mutations are present in the Yq11.21 region, which although is usually unreliable on a large scale of comparison due to its abundance of mutation, leaving it a very noisy area, it can suffice for smaller comparison within closely related lines. The seven mutations, namely CTS1587-CTS1594 are present in three of the men: the two from the Sher family, and unexpectedly, the Jansath Zaidi. This suggests that the Sher family is not as close to the Naim family as previously thought, and rather, the Jansath Zaidis have a closer connection. This could be disregarded, of course, due to the unreliability of the Yq11.21 region, however, if these mutations are taken as valid, it brings abnormal possibilities within the phylogenetic tree of the Zaidi Wastis. Seven mutations could have occurred over possibly 7-10 generations, or even more. With the mutations being in such a close proximity, however, it is certainly possible for all these mutations to have appeared within a shorter period of time, and perhaps there are only 1-3 generations between the previous branch and this one (consisting of all 7 mutations), which is much more likely to have happened. Due to how unlikely it would be for these two separate lineages to split-off so recently though, it is best these mutations are disregarded.
As well as these mutations, there are other mutations in more reliable positions, however, none of them lead to substantial discoveries. One prominent SNP, found on the T2T v2 genome only is 9,056,307, which is present with the Sher, Naim, and Khairthali families. This makes the mutation most likely to belong to Abul Faras. More discoveries with set conclusions will be subject to the increase in testers who belong to the lineage of Abul Farah Wasti, especially those from his other two sons, and lines which have a clear genealogical split with those who have already tested.
Now, we may come to the anomaly – the Kararvi Rizvi sadaat. On a predominantly Zaidi branch, belongs the famous Taqvi Rizvi sadaat of the village of Karari, who claim descent from the Zaidpuri Rizvi sadaat, from Ahmad Naqeeb Qommi, a descendant of Musa al-Mubarraqa’ ibn Imam Muhammad al-Taqi al-Jawad (as). Based on all prior evidence, it is quite certain that they truly belong to a Zaidi lineage, and quite possibly, the lineage of Abul Farah Wasti. Although substantial genealogical and historical evidence has not been discovered yet indicating such a theory, the increase in testers from the Zaidpuri sadaat, and other Zaidi Wasti sadaat could allow for a better conclusion to be made, as to if the Zaidpuri sadaat descend from Abul Farah Wasti, and where their genealogy may break from the Taqvi lineage, and link to a Zaidi one.
In conclusion, the lineage of Abul Farah Wasti, perhaps one of the most prominent ancestors in South Asian Shi’a history, is certainly a fascinating one, which is yet to receive more discoveries as our research continues.
All credit is due to Dr. Sayed Hadi al-Amili, who had put his utmost efforts into researching the J-L859 haplogroup. His project can be found here: Banu Hashem Project
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