ABSTRACT
Every Qaryah has a mosque or a Takiyakhana, sometimes built in the same building, acting as the religious and social centre of Hazara life. A study of the social structure of the Hazaras offers significant and revealing features of their culture, particularly regarding the relationship between social relations and social structure. The highest unit in the social hierarchy of the Hazaras is the Qaum, made up of a conglomeration of several Tayefas. The genealogical structure of Hazara society can also be seen in the names of Hazara areas. The place-origin of Hazara names does not automatically reduce the importance of genealogies in Hazara society, but is indicative of the extent of genealogical breaks and links among the Hazaras. Genealogies are nevertheless important even among Hazara communities which have been named after their localities. The significance of genealogy in Hazara society is reflected in the physical structure of Hazara communities.
