Hussaini Brahmin is a Mohyal community with links to both Hinduism and Islam. The Mohyal community is Hindu by identity, however, as consistent with the Hindu tradition, they have adopted none-Indic traditions. This has led to a small sub-set of the Moyhal community paying reverence to Shia Islam, in particular, to some Sufi saints. Citing source from history of the Muhiyals, published in 1911 CE., it is disclosed that about 1,400 Brahmins had been living in Baghdad when the event of Karbala took place. There are various opinions regarding the origins of the community. About 125 families of Hussaini Brahmins are settled in Pune. A few families are settled in Delhi also and they observe Muharram every year.
Among various legends about Hussaini Brahmins, it is also described that a childless Dutt personally visited Hussain Ibn Ali and submitted his wish to have a child. As a response to his desire, he was informed that he had no child in his fate. Datt was upset by this, so the Imam prayed so that Datt could have a child. Suddenly someone observing the event questioned Hussain stating that he had challenged the will of Allah. Upon hearing this Imam told Dutt he will have one more child. This continued till Imam gave him good news of seven children. As per Mohyal oral history, a Mohyal of the Dutta clan had fought on behalf of Imam Hussain in the Battle of Karbala, more specifically in the storming of Kufa- sacrificing his seven sons in the process. According to legend, Rahab Sidh Dutta was the leader of a small band of career-soldiers living near Baghdad around the time of the battle of Karbala. The legend mentions the place where he stayed as Dair-al-Hindiya, meaning "The Indian Quarter", which matches an Al-Hindiya in existence today.
Other
In Ajmer, Rajasthan, a place of Sufi pilgrimage, where Moinuddin Chishti lived and passed his last days, there is even today a class of people who call themselves Hussaini Brahmins, who are neither 'orthodox Hindus' nor orthodox Muslims. Hussaini Brahmins practiced a mixed blend of orthodox Vedic and Islamic traditions. A saying in Hindi/Urdu language refers to the Hussaini Brahmans thus: "Wah Datt Sultan, Hindu ka dharm, Musalman ka Iman, Adha Hindu adha Musalman. Hussaini Brahmins used to live in Lahore until India's partition 1947, when they were forced to leave.
