The Races of Afghanistan, being a Brief Account of the Principal Nations Inhabiting that Country, by Surgeon- Major H. W. Bellew, C.S.I. (Thacker, Spink & Co. Calcutta, (1880) MDCCCLXXX)
Page15. ‘The traditions of this people refer them to Syria as the country of their residence at the time they were carried away into captivity by Bukhtunasar (Nebuchadnezzar), and planted as colonists in different parts of Persia and Media. From these positions they, at some subsequent period, emigrated eastward into the mountainous country of Ghor, where they were called by the neighbouring peoples “Bani Afghan” and “Bani Israíl,” or children of Afghan, and children of Israel. In corroboration of this we have the testimony of the prophet Esdras to the effect that the ten tribes of Israel, who were carried into captivity, subsequently escaped and found refuge in the country of Arsareth, which is supposed to be identical with the Hazarah country of the present day, and of which Ghor forms a part. It is also stated in the Tabacati Nasiri — a historical work which contains, among other information, a detailed account of the conquest of this country by Changhiz Khan — that in the time of the native Shansabi dynasty there was a people called Bani Israíl living in that country, and that some of them were extensively engaged in trade with the countries around.
This people was settled in the Ghor country, to the east of Herat, at the time that Muhammad announced his mission as the Prophet of God — about 622 A.D. And it was there that Khalid-bin-Walíd, a chief of the Curesh tribe of Arabs, came to them with the tidings of the new faith, and an invitation to join the Prophet’s standard.’
Page 16. ‘...... the mission of Khalid was not without success, for he returned to the Prophet, accompanied by a deputation of six or seven representative men of the Afghan people and their followers amounting in all to seventy-six persons. The chief or leader of this party was named Kais or Kish.
The traditions of the people go on to the effect that this Kais and his companions fought so well and successfully in the cause of the Prophet, that Muhammad, on dismissing them to their homes, presented them with handsome gifts, complimented them on their bravery, and giving them his blessing foretold a glorious career for their nation, and promised that the title of Malik (or king) should distinguish their chiefs for ever…. At the same time the Prophet, as a mark of special favour and distinction, was pleased to change the Hebrew name of Kais to the Arab one of Abdur Rashíd — “the servant of the true guide” — and, exhorting him to strive in the conversion of his people, conferred on him the title of “Pahtán,” — a term which the Afghan book-makers explain to be a Syrian word signifying the rudder of a ship, as the new proselyte was henceforth to be the guide of his people in the way they should go.’
Page 17. ‘At what period the Afghans of Ghor moved forward and settled in the Kandahar country, which is now their home, is not known. It appears, however, from the writings of the early Muhammadan historians, that in the first century of their era….’
Page 19. ‘Kais, they say, married a daughter of that Khalid-bin-Walíd who brought his people the first tidings of the Prophet and his doctrine, and by her he had three sons, whom he named respectively, Saraban, Batan, and Ghurghusht….
The Afghans Proper — the Bani Israíl, as they call themselves in special distinction to all other divisions of the nation — class themselves as the descendants of Saraban through his two sons, Sharjyún and Khrishyún.’
Page 24. ‘By Muhammadans of Asia Minor and the Western countries the Afghan is usually called Sulemáni.’