Saif 1441761 220615361 2008-06-20T18:43:48Z Eubot 231599 Hatnote formatting, see [[User:Eubot/Hatnote formatting]] {{for|other uses of "saif" and similar words|Saif (disambiguation)}} {{Nofootnotes|date=February 2008}} [[Image:Ph-0.jpg|right|thumb|195px|A well-used, typical 19th century CE Saif.]] The Arabic word '''saif''' (سيف) and variations ''Saif, Sayf, Seif'' generally means [[sword]]. It is also a common name in the [[Middle East]]. ==Description== As such it does not in and of itself denote anything more specific than "saber" or "back-sword" in its parent land. However, westerners have a tendency to categorize the various types of blades encountered abroad (and across history) by the local name for "sword". As such the post 16th century Arabian swords are normally referred to as "saif" among sword collectors.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} These swords, evolved from the early medieval era arabian swords, which were straight and double edged, much like European Oakeshott type X swords. The change from straight swords to saber in the Levant and Arabian peninsula occurred after the Turkish [[Seljuk]] migration from eastern central Europe to Anatolia, bringing with them the saber design, which influenced the entire region. Generally these blades are single-handed swords, sporting a single edged, variably curved blade, with a false edge at the tip. Many suyuff sport blades from Persia, also, many bear European trade blades, or even military issue patterns, but most sport locally made blades. Some blades from the 18th century have only a very shallow curve, and look very like the 13th century [[Dao (sword)|Turko-Mongol saber]] which birthed the entire saber design. Like the other swords of the region, saifs can have a variety of hilts and fittings; some have an end "cap" (really just the bend in the handle creating the "pistol grip") which are more acutely angled back than those of Persia and Eurasia. Some even sport the squared off wooden handle style of the north African [[nimcha]]. The crossguard is usually two small straight [[Hilt#Guard|quillions]], though some later examples may have a thin, chain knuckle guard running down to the pommel. The misnomer [[scimitar]] normally refers to either a saif or a shamshir. For more information on specific types see: *[[Shamshir]] (Persian) *[[Kilij]] (Turkish) *[[Tulwar]] (Urdu/Hindi) *[[Nimcha]] (African) *[[Pulwar]] (Afghanistan) *[[Scimitar]] *[[Dao (sword)]] (Turko-Mongolian) ===Illustrated examples=== *[http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=1208 Typical Hadhrami, Yemeni Saif] *[http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=397 Typical Nejdi, Northern Arabian Saif] *[http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=755 Typical Shami/Damascene, Syrian-Arab Saif] *[http://forums.swordforum.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=637653 Typical Baghdadi Saif] ==Symbolism== The sword (or saif) is an important symbol in Arab cultures, and is used as a synonym in many phrases in the Arabic language. The word occurs also in various symbolic and status titles in Arabic (and adopted in other languages) used in Islamic states, notably: *in the Yemenite independent imamate ** '''Saif al-Haq''', meaning 'Sword of Rights'. ** '''Saif al-Islam''', ''Sword of religion'', was a subsidiary title borne (after their name and patronym) by male members of the al-Qasimi dynasty (whose primary title, before the name, was [[Amir]]), especially sons of the ruling Imam. * '''Saif [[ud-Daula]]''' and variations mean 'Sword of the State' * ''[[Saifullah|Saif Ullah Al-masloul]]'' 'the drawn sword of God' was conferred by the Prophet Mohammed, uniquely, to the recent convert and military commander Khalid Ibin Al-Walid *'''[[Saif ul-Mulk]]''' 'sword of the realm' was an honorary title awarded by the Mughal Padshahs of Hind (India), e.g. as one of the personal titles (including Nawab ''bahadur'', one rank above his dynasty's) conferred in 1658 by the Mughal emperor [[Aurangzeb]] (whose life he is said to have saved by slaying a charging tiger with a single blow) to [[Nawab]] Muhammad Bayazid Khan Bahadur, a high [[mansabdar]], whose [[jagir]] of [[Malerkotla]] was by [[sanad]] raised to Imperial [[riyasat]], thus becoming an independent ruler. *''Saif Ali'' ''Sword of Ali'' referring to arguably most famous sword in Islamic history, belonging to both the Prophet, and later, Imam/Khalifa Ali, Zulfikar, and with which Ali slew a Makkan foot soldier, cleaving both his helmet and head, at the Battle of Uhud, to which Prophet Muhammad remarked ""La fatà illa Ali, la saif illa Zulfikar" لا فتى إلا علي لا سيف إلا ذو) الفقار ) 'There is no hero except Ali, and there is no sword except Zulfikar and with which he slew Amr, a ferocious and devastating Makkan soldier at the Battle of the Trench at Madinah. Saif and ''Saif al Din'' 'Sword of the faith' are also common masculine (and manly) Islamic names. ==See also== *[[Dao (sword)|Dao]] ==Sources and references== *[http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=1208 Oriental-Arms - illustrated] *[http://www.4dw.net/royalark/index.html RoyalArk- see each present country] [[Category:Middle Eastern swords]] [[Category:Titles]] [[Category:Medieval weapons]]