Muqdisho = Seat of the Shah?

[James Dahl]

I disagree with the explanation of the origin of the name Muqdisho

The fact of the matter is that there are two big problems regarding the explanation. One is that no Persian dynasty ever ruled Mogadishu, the "Shirazi" dynasty was Arab, and in any case none of them used the term Shah. If it's the seat of the Shah, who is this Shah that it's the seat of?

Also, Muqdi does not readily translate as "seat of" in Arabic or Farsi, or Somali, nor is Sho even close to Shah, plus in arabic it would be Maq-dhu-al-shah, wouldn't you end up with Maqdulsho, not Muqdisho?

What DOES translate incredibly well is the word for "sanctified" or "holyness": Muqdis

"The Sanctified" or al-Muqdis, becomes Muqdisow in Somali, which became Muqdisho

[FBISOMALIA]

you have point there

in arabic Muqdis its something un Touch like mosque etc

in Parisian its mean seat of shah

but somalis in old history didnt been under Persian

weird really

[Twist]

I heard the 'Maqcad Shah' but the translation was different to the one you described above.

Instead of the "Shah" as the Persian 'shah', I heard it was the common drink shah, aka tea.

Long time ago there used to be Arab business men that used to travel from the Arab peninsula to East & North East African countries to do business and Mogadishu was the sea-port they used to stop and rest, have tea etc and sail again, hence how the name 'Maqcad-Shah', which later changed into Muqdisho came to existence (that's also how the Arab Somalis came & settled in Mogadishu and those areas).

It kinda sounds a made-up name but that was the version I read from a book a while ago.

[FBISOMALIA]

I heard the 'Maqcad Shah' but the translation was different to the one you described above.

Instead of the "Shah" as the Persian 'shah', I heard it was the common drink shah, aka tea.

if its arabic word it will written shahii not shah

[Twist]

I heard the 'Maqcad Shah' but the translation was different to the one you described above.

Instead of the "Shah" as the Persian 'shah', I heard it was the common drink shah, aka tea.

if its arabic word it will written shahii not shah

Not exactly 'shahii' or 'shah' but 'chai'. As I said, it sounds made-up as all the other names are.

Since we didn't have a written language before early 70's (apart from few trials of writing Somali in other alphabets by few learned people) it's no surprise much of our history is unknown.

[Abdihaliim]

The word "Muqdisho" is pure somali word!

It is compound word

Muuq= view
Disho=breathtaking

"breathtaking view""

You know in somali language, adjective comes directly after the direct object . beautiful girl = gabadh gurxoon!


Magaalada muuqeeda ayaa i dilay! Micnaha "waa ay qurux badantahay!.

Dadka xoolaha ku dhaqan jiray agagaarka magaalada muqdisho, ayaa magacaas bixiyay!

[Twist]

^^ If by 'disho' you mean it in the Somali word for 'killing' then it must be 'Muuq-disho, The view killer' because to use the word 'dilid' in its urban meaning as 'breath-taking' is very current and new whereas the name Muqdisho is at least few centuries old.

[FBISOMALIA]

I heard the 'Maqcad Shah' but the translation was different to the one you described above.

Instead of the "Shah" as the Persian 'shah', I heard it was the common drink shah, aka tea.

if its arabic word it will written shahii not shah

Not exactly 'shahii' or 'shah' but 'chai'. As I said, it sounds made-up as all the other names are.

Since we didn't have a written language before early 70's (apart from few trials of writing Somali in other alphabets by few learned people) it's no surprise much of our history is unknown.

you have good point

[TheLoFather]

The fact of the matter is that there are two big problems regarding the explanation. One is that no Persian dynasty ever ruled Mogadishu, the "Shirazi" dynasty was Arab, and in any case none of them used the term Shah. If it's the seat of the Shah, who is this Shah that it's the seat of?

Hargeisa is an Oromo word which I think means cactus tree. this was never under the rule of oromos or had never been settled by oromos in any significant number, yet it has an oromo name. Care to explain?

[mcali]

The fact of the matter is that there are two big problems regarding the explanation. One is that no Persian dynasty ever ruled Mogadishu, the "Shirazi" dynasty was Arab, and in any case none of them used the term Shah. If it's the seat of the Shah, who is this Shah that it's the seat of?

Hargeisa is an Oromo word which I think means cactus tree. this was never under the rule of oromos or had never been settled by oromos in any significant number, yet it has an oromo name. Care to explain?

actually Hargeisa used to be part of oromo land.As well as borama all the way to galkacyo. Oromo's are really an embarrassing people. They lose to everyone.

[globetrotter2]

An interesting observation!

What about the name Xamar?

Or Benadir?
Or Merca?
Kismayo?
Barawe?

I am not sure but I get the feeling that these names have alot to do with the TURKS? Persians? Indians and Portuguese?

Anyone who can feed us about what IBN Batuta wrote? He travelled along that coast.

[FBISOMALIA]

Anyone who can feed us about what IBN Batuta wrote? He travelled along that coast.

i read some book ibn batuta visiting somalia he went to one city and it was moqdhiso , and he said the name as it is not adding something else

[globetrotter2]

FBI,
OK. My theory is that coastal towns have non somali names; perhaps settled by arabs, persians, indians, egyptians and other seafarers.

Towns in the hinterland have mainly somali names.

[gurey25]

not a theory but fact..

the shirazi barzangi tribe ruled from xamar down to kilwa.
this is where zanzibar comes from barzangi-bar
coast of the barzangis.

there is evidence for himyarat rule, possible followed by persian rule after himyar fell to the persians and then control of the bani ummya followed by more arab immigration..

somalis did not make an impact in the region untill the ajuran, and then after the ajuran collapse their hawiye subjects came down to the city in the 1600's.

there might be a signifigant gelledi or raxanwien influence before the ajuraan , i do not know..

[globetrotter2]

not a theory but fact..

the shirazi barzangi tribe ruled from xamar down to kilwa.
this is where zanzibar comes from barzangi-bar
coast of the barzangis.

there is evidence for himyarat rule, possible followed by persian rule after himyar fell to the persians and then control of the bani ummya followed by more arab immigration..

somalis did not make an impact in the region untill the ajuran, and then after the ajuran collapse their hawiye subjects came down to the city in the 1600's.

there might be a signifigant gelledi or raxanwien influence before the ajuraan , i do not know..

Dear Gurey,
So what timeline are we talking about? the 11th century?