Khushal Khan Khattak: the Bannerer of Islamic Sharia

Abstract

Pashtun soil has the potential to give birth to eminent Pashto heroes who remained to be the identical symbol of this soil. The Great Khaushal Khan Khattak is one of them who remained to be a very good fighter, poet, hunter, physician, historian, politician at the same time. Khushal Khan was born in 1613 at Akora Khattak at the house of Shehbaz Khan who was the son in law of Malik Akori remained the fourth chief of Akori tribe. Khushal Khan Khattak was a true Islamic Lover. Pashtuns are Islamic minded by birth, their values, norms called Pakhtunwali reflect the Islamic principles and teachings, had already been in practice by them even before the advent of Islam. Hujra, Jumat, Jarga are the three dimensional pillars of Pakhtunwali remained to play a vital role in Pashtuns life, is also Islamic one in origin. Such values and norms have not only being practiced by the ordinary Pashtuns but are transmitted from one generation to other with regards and respect. Khushal Khan Khattak can be called the pioneer for introducing such norms, principles in his poetry, reflect not only Pashtunwali but also represent Islamic values. In this paper the norms and values being described by the Great Khushal replicates the Islamic Sharia in the context of Sharam, Haya, Shegara, wafa, izzat, pat, nang, ghairat etc will be analyzed in depth.