ABSTRACT
The third imām was born in the year 1212 ah (ad 1796/7). His father, Dengaw Muhammad, was an uzden while his mother belonged to a side branch of the ruling family of Ghāzī-Ghumuq, living in Ashilta. 1 At his birth the future imām was given the name Alī. But as he was sickly, his name was changed to Shamū-yil 2 (pronounced Shamīl in the Caucasus 3 ) in accordance with the widespread belief that a change of name is followed by a turn in a person’s luck.
