The Saadat-e-Bilgram are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. Despite this, many have migrated to Pakistan. They also known as the Bilgrami Sayyid (or Syed), and Bilgrami is often used as a surname.
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Origin
The Sadaat Bilgram are a group of Sayyid families who inhabit the historic town of Bilgram in Hardoi District. Saadat-e-Bilgram literally means the Sayyid of the town of Bilgram. These Hussaini Sayyids first migrated from Wasit, Iraq in the thirteenth century. Their ancestor, Syed Mohammad Sughra AlHussaini, a Zaidi Sayyid of Iraq arrived in India during the rule of Sultan Iltutmish. In 1217-18 the family conquered and settled in Bilgram. The Sayyid commanded a Muslim army that overcame the Bhars, who were the traditional rulers of the Hardoi region, and was granted an estate centred on the town of Bilgram, where the Sayyid settled down. died in 1247, his tomb was constructed by Syed Mohammad Muhsin AlHussaini son of Syed Mohammad Saeed AlHussaini in 1738-39. Sixth in descent from Syed Mohammad Sughra was Syed Abdul Farah AlHussaini of Wasit (from him are descendants of most renowned Sayyid families in Northern India, the Barhah and Bilgram Sayyids; and in Khairabad, Fatehpur Haswa and at many other places branches of same stem are found.), who was the ancestor of the Saadat-e-Bara, another community of Sayyids. The Bilgrami Sayyid were important power brokers in southern part of Awadh, and remained an important and influential clan, throughout the Middle Ages. They provided several taluqdar families, and were substantial landowners.
Present Circumstances
The abolishment of the zamindar system by the newly independent India in 1949 had a major impact on the Bilgrami Sayyid community. The larger estates were broken, and land given to the tillers. This led to some emigration of the Bilgrami to Pakistan, as well to major urban centres in India, such as Mumbai and Delhi. Many members of the community now cultivate their own land, and grow wheat, paddy, maize, pulses and vegetables. They are largely Shia, although a few families are Sunni. The Bilgrami remain associated with the town of Bilgram, while others are found in twenty one villages near the town.