Abdālī was the name of a famous Afghan tribe (later known as the ‘Durrānī’), which founded an independent regime in Herat, and proceeded to extend its rule over what became known as Afghanistan. The descendants of this tribe governed the country for over two centuries.

The Abdālīs derived their name from their ancestor, Abdāl b. Tarīn b. Sharakhbūn (Sharaf al-Dīn) b. Sarahban b. Qays (Abdāl being pronounced by Afghans as Awdāl or Awdal) (al-Harawī, 548–556). There are no definite facts about this Abdāl and the period in which he lived. Wakīlī considers Abdāl a title which was given by Kh^wāja …