What is "ikhwan"

The Ikhwan (, (The) Brethren), also Akhwan, was a Wahhabi religious militia made up of traditionally nomadic tribesmen which formed a significant military force of the ruler Ibn Saud and played an important role in establishing him as ruler of most of the Arabian Peninsula in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Ikhwan first appeared around 1913. They were the product of clergy who aimed to break up the Bedu tribes and settle them around the wells and oases, on the grounds that nomadic life was incompatible with strict conformity with Islam. The newly Islamicized Bedouin would be converted from nomad raiders to soldiers for Islam. The cleric/teachers of the Ikhwan were dedicated to their idea of the purification and the unification of Islam, and some of the newly converted Ikhwan rebelled against their emir Ibn Saud, accusing him of religious laxity. After the conquest of the Hejaz in 1924 brought all of the current Saudi state under Ibn Saud's control, the monarch found himself in conflict with elements of the Ikhwan. He crushed their power at the Battle of Sabilla in 1929, following which the militia was reorganised into the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

Ikhwan force, popularly referred to as the Ikhwan and locally known as "naabedh", is a pro-government militia in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, composed of surrendered Kashmiri militants. They have been paid and supported by Indian security agencies to counter the militant groups operating in the state for the separation of Jammu & Kashmir from India. In 1995, many people quit militia organizations like Hizbul mujahideen because of mindless bloodshed prevailing across the region. Ex militias were also offered lucrative rehabilitation packages by the Indian government but only little has been fulfilled till now.security of Ikhwan militias is also questionable because of attacks on their family members and houses. many ikhwanians have been killed by terrorists.

Ikhwan is Islamic militia which played an important role in Saudi Arabia's history.

Ikhwan is an Arabic word meaning "brothers". It may refer to:

• Ikhwan (Kashmir), pro-Indian government militia in Kashmir
• Muslim Brotherhood (Al-Ikhwān al-Muslimūn), political opposition movement in many Arab states
• Yihewani, Islamic sect in China (the name is a Chinese transcription of "Ikhwan")
• Global Ikhwan, a group of companies associated with the Malaysian Al-Arqam sect

Ikhwan , sometimes spelled Ikwhan, is also a Korean male given name:

• Ik-Hwan Bae (1956–2014), South Korean violinist
• Moon Ik-hwan (1918–1994), South Korean pastor