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The Arain (آرائین‎) are a Muslim agricultural caste settled mainly in the Punjab and Sindh. They are generally associated with farming, traditionally being landlords or zamindars. There is no unanimous agreement about the origin of Arains . The following is the most prevalent information about their origin.

Country of origin

The original nationality of Arain may be complicated to determine in cases where regional boundaries change over time.It is generally claimed that they were rulers of Arab descent, doubtless based upon the fact that nearly all Arain are, and have been, Sunni Muslim, as were the early Arabs of Muhammad bin Qasim's expedition. Arain came from Areeha (Jericho, Syria) with Muhammad Bin Qasim in 92 Hijri. Muhammad Hayaat Madni was a Commander in Muhammad Bin Qasim's Army - 711 AD as held in the family tree of famous Arain Mian Family Baghbanpura. Reference to their lineage is made by the famous Indian Historian of Islam, Akbar Shah Khan Najeebabadi, who declared that they entered India through Debal, Sindh with Muhammad Bin Qasim. He declared them Areehai from Arreha (Jericho) which was Punjabized with a nasal sound to Arain.

Muhammad Sharif, a UK based Indian historian, writes in "Destiny of the Tribe Raeen" that Arain started coming to Sindh (Iraq-i-Ajam) in 46 Hijri (666 AD) at the end of Orthodox Caliphate. They belonged to the Banu Sama (Saama or Samma) sub-tribe of Banu 'Amir (Aamir or Amer) tribe of the larger clan Aal-i-Adnan (The House of Adnan) through Hawazin.

A study by the Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences on blood types of the major ethnicities in the Punjab showed that O is the most common blood group (among all ethnicities), except among the Arain where B is most common, the difference being statistically significant. Whilst not proof of non-local ancestry, it does illustrate a difference between the Arain and the other castes living in Punjab.


Arains living in different parts of pakistan speak different languages, including but not limited to Urdu, Punjabi, Pothohari, Seraiki, Sindhi, Hindko, Pushto and Pahari depending on their place of residence.


Arains mostly use the following family names (titles) :

Chaudhry, Mian, Mehar, Malik, Ramay, Bhutta, Sappal, Mari Put, Ghurki, Ramday, Bhutto, Shami, Munda,Hansi, Gill, Daulay, Chachar, Gaellin, Mulanay, Qutab, Shahi, Rattay, Goheer, Ghalar, Gahgeer, Gatku, Kavali, Basroo, Rahi, Bhati, Multani, Sayal, Baga, Peer and Alrai.

Famous Families of Arains:

Mian Family of Bagwanpura Lahore
Ghorki Famili of Lahore
Mahar Family of Ghotki
Bhutto Family of Larkana
Kasuri Family of Kasure
Mian Family of Faisalabad
Kohastani Family of Faisalabad
Sardar Family of Kasure
Ratta Family of Sadiqabad
Nawab Family
Choudhri Family of Khanpure
Zardari family

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