An Ancestry
rooted in Politics
and Governance
An Ancestry rooted in Politics and Governance
For centuries, the Farooqui family has a deep-rooted legacy of leadership and governance, shaped by generations of contribution to public affairs. Known for their commitment to justice and administration, they have played a crucial role in political and judicial matters across different eras. Their influence has extended through various historical periods, adapting to changing times while upholding the principles of integrity, responsibility, and public leadership. This tradition continues today, with the family remaining actively engaged in politics and policymaking, carrying forward a heritage of authority and governance.
The Farooqui family has held esteemed noble ranks across different eras, contributing significantly to governance and legal affairs. Since the establishment of the State of Hyderabad in 1724, they were entrusted with the titles of Qadi (Qazi in Urdu) and Inamdar (equivalent to Baron or Count in European titles), overseeing 22 territories under the Nizams. The last to hold these titles was Qadi Inamdar Badiuddin ibn Sharafuddin Farooqui, the grandfather of Kamaal Farooqui, who also bore the Islamic title of Khatib. The family played a key role in the Nizam’s legal and administrative affairs, maintaining close ties with the Asaf Jah dynasty.
Their lineage traces back over 1,700 years to the Quraysh clan, descending from Fihr ibn Malik of the Kinana tribe, whose ancestry is linked to Adnan the Ishmaelite—forefather of the Northern Arabs. Within the Quraysh family, the Al Farooqui sub-clan belongs to Banu Adi.
The maternal ancestry of Kamaal Farooqui, the current head of the Al Farooqui family, originates from Hadhramaut, Yemen, specifically Wadi bin Ali. His mother, Fatima, was the daughter of Abdullah bin Salem bin Siddiq, who married into an ethnic Rohilla Pashtun family.
Following India’s independence and the dissolution of the Hyderabad State, the family no longer holds formal titles. However, in 1978, Kamaal Farooqui entered Republican politics, beginning his career with the National Students’ Union of India before progressing to the Youth Congress and various wings of the Indian National Congress. Rising through the grassroots, he was later appointed to a Cabinet Ministerial rank in the Maharashtra State Government by the Nationalist Congress Party. His son, Barrister Umar Farooqui, followed in his footsteps, joining student politics and holding key organisational and governmental roles, while Ali Farooqui is currently pursuing International Relations in London.