Gujarati Muslim
Encyclopedia
The term Gujarati Muslims is usually used to signify an Indian Muslim
from the State of Gujarat in west India
, who speaks the Gujarati Language
as a mother-tongue ( first language ) and follows certain customs different from the rest of Indian Muslims. Gujarati Muslims are very prominent in Industry
and medium-sized businesses, and there is a very large Gujarati Muslim community in Mumbai
. Many members of this community migrated to Pakistan
in 1947 and have settled in Karachi
and Sindh
. There are also Gujarati Muslim communities settled in the United Kingdom
, particularly in the towns of Leicester
, Blackburn and Preston. According to the 2001 Census of India, the Gujarati Muslim population was 4,592,854, which is 9.064% of the total population of the state. Most Gujarati Muslims have Gujarati
as their mother tongue, but some communities such as the Ansari
have Urdu
as their mother tongue.
The Gujarati Muslims are further sub-divided into groups, such as the Chhipa
and Memon, each with their own customs and traditions. Famous Gujarati Muslims include Badruddin Tyabji, a Congress president and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan
.
, Gujarat includes the region of Kutch, Saurashtra, and the territories between the rivers Banas
and Damanganga
. Islam
came early to Gujarat, with immigrant communities of Arab
trading communities settling on the western seacoast of India
as early as the 8th Century A.D. They were later joinded by Persian
traders. Many of these early merchants were Ismaili
, both Mustaali
and Nizari
. They laid the foundation of the Bohra
and Khoja
communities. Gujarat at this time was ruled by the Valabhi dynasty. In the thirteenth century, the last Hindu
ruler Karna, was defeated by Alauddin Khilji
, the Turkic
Sultan of Dehli
. This ushered a period of five centuries of Muslim
Turkic and Mughal
ruler. This led to a conversion of a number of Hindu Gujarati people to Islam
, and led to the creation of new communities such as the Molesalam
and Miyana
communities.
In the sixteenth century, the Memon community immigrated from Sindh
and settled in Kutch and Kathiawar
. While in Bharuch
and Surat
, a schism
occurred among the Bohras, and new community of Sunni Bohra
s was created. Another Muslim
sect, the Mahdawi also settled in Gujarat, and led to the creation of the Tai
community. In 1593, the Mughal Emperor Akbar conquered Gujarat, and incorporated Gujarat in the Mughal Empire
. This period led to the settlement of the Mughal
community. A good many Sayyid
and Shaikh
families also are said to arrived during the period of Mughal
rule. After the death of the Mughal
Emperor Aurangzeb
, in 1707, Mughal rule began weaken after ruling for a century. Most of Gujarat fell to the Maratha
s, and this period saw the dispersal of further Pathan and Baluch, who came as mercenaries and were destroyed or defeated by the Marathas. Gujarat fell to British
in the late 19th Century.
, Ghanchi
, Khoja
, Bohra and Sunni Bohra
have caste
associations, known as jamats. Social organization at the Jamat Bandi level varies from community to community. In some communities, the Jamat simply runs a mosque and attached rest house, and a madrasah
. Some larger communities, such as the Bohra and Khoja
have developed elaborate and highly formalized systems with written and registered constitutions. Their organizations own large properties, undertake housing projects and schools, dispensaries and weekly newspapers. Perhaps the Memon have most formalized jamats, with census of community members, and distinct residential colonies.
communities are endogamous. The communities practice both cross-cousin and parallel cousin marriages. Recent studies of Gujarati Muslims in the United Kingdom
have shown that endogamy remains important. There are approximately 130 communities, with membership ranging from 65,000 to as low as 100 individuals. Among the largest Muslim communities are the Shaikhs
, Sunni Bohra
s, Ghanchi
, Pathans
, Memon and Daudi Bohras. Each of these communities were traditionally associated with particular occupations. Important trading communities include the Alavi Bohra
, Daudi Bohra, Khoja
, Memon, Sulaymani Bohra and Vyapari
. Other communities are associated with particular trade, and are similar to guilds in medieval Europe
. For example the Chundrigar
were silk printers, the Ghanchi
were oil pressers, the Ansari
were weavers. The greater mechanization of the Indian economy has seen as a decline in their traditional occupation, and these communities have suffered an economic decline. However the majority of Gujarati Muslim are small and medium sized farmers, and larger communities such as the Sunni Bohra
, Molesalam
, Pathan
and Shaikh
are all traditionally farmers.
The region of Kutch has always been historically distinct, with the Muslim
s their accounting for about twenty percent of the population. This region is characterised by salt desserts, such as the Rann of Kutch
. Because of this landscape, the Kutch Muslims are Maldhari pastoral nomads found in the Banni
region of Kutch. Most of them are said to have originated in Sindh
, and speak a dialect of Kutchi
which has many Sindhi
loanwords. Major Maldhari communities include the Jath
, Halaypotra
, Hingora
, Hingorja
, Juneja
and Samma tribes.
, with large Sindhi
loanwords. All the Maldhari are Sunnis. Here is a list of the larger communities.
. However, meat is incorporated in their cuisines, which is rarely eaten in vegetarian Gujarat. Meat is eaten by Gujarati Muslims primarily in their own respective households. Such examples are chicken, fish, eggs, goat, and lamb are consumed, especially the last two for Eid al-Adha which involves sacrificing an animal of that kind for the recognition on how the Prophet Ibrahim
(Abraham) sacrificed his son, Ismail
(Ishmael) to Allah
. Beef seems to be a rarity of being eaten, although they happen to consume it as well.
TwoCircles.net series on Gujarat's Muslims
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
from the State of Gujarat in west India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, who speaks the Gujarati Language
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
as a mother-tongue ( first language ) and follows certain customs different from the rest of Indian Muslims. Gujarati Muslims are very prominent in Industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
and medium-sized businesses, and there is a very large Gujarati Muslim community in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. Many members of this community migrated to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in 1947 and have settled in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
and Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
. There are also Gujarati Muslim communities settled in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, particularly in the towns of Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, Blackburn and Preston. According to the 2001 Census of India, the Gujarati Muslim population was 4,592,854, which is 9.064% of the total population of the state. Most Gujarati Muslims have Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
as their mother tongue, but some communities such as the Ansari
Momin Ansari
The Momin Ansari or Ansari, are a Muslim community, found mainly in West and North India, and the province of Sindh in Pakistan. A small number of Ansaris are also found in the Terai region of Nepal. The community were once known as al ansar, although the term is now obsolete. In North India, the...
have Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
as their mother tongue.
The Gujarati Muslims are further sub-divided into groups, such as the Chhipa
Chhipa
The Chhipa are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. A few Chhipa are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan.-History and origin:Chhipa is also hindu community which belives in Sant Namdev...
and Memon, each with their own customs and traditions. Famous Gujarati Muslims include Badruddin Tyabji, a Congress president and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
History
Located in the westermost portion of central IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Gujarat includes the region of Kutch, Saurashtra, and the territories between the rivers Banas
Banas River
The Banas is a river of Rajasthan state in western India. It is a tributary of the Chambal River, which in turn flows into the Yamuna, a tributary of the Ganges. The Banas is approximately 512 kilometres in length. It is also known as 'Van Ki Asha' .The Banas originates in the Khamnor Hills of the...
and Damanganga
Daman Ganga River
The Daman Ganga is a river in western India. The river's headwaters are on the western slope of the Western Ghats range, and it flows west into the Arabian Sea. The river flows through Maharashtra and Gujarat states, as well as the Union territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli...
. Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
came early to Gujarat, with immigrant communities of Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
trading communities settling on the western seacoast of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as early as the 8th Century A.D. They were later joinded by Persian
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
traders. Many of these early merchants were Ismaili
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
, both Mustaali
Mustaali
The Musta‘lī Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept Al-Musta'li as the nineteenth Fatimid caliph and legitimate successor to his father, al-Mustansir...
and Nizari
Nizari
'The Shī‘a Imami Ismā‘īlī Tariqah also referred to as the Ismā‘īlī or Nizārī , is a path of Shī‘a Islām, emphasizing social justice, pluralism, and human reason within the framework of the mystical tradition of Islam. The Nizari are the second largest branch of Shia Islam and form the majority...
. They laid the foundation of the Bohra
Mustaali
The Musta‘lī Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept Al-Musta'li as the nineteenth Fatimid caliph and legitimate successor to his father, al-Mustansir...
and Khoja
Khoja
The Khojas are ethnic group of Shia Muslims. The word Khoja derives from Khwaja, a Persian title .In Pakistan, many Khojas migrated to and settled in the province of Sindh and especially in the city of Karachi. While in India, most Khojas live in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and...
communities. Gujarat at this time was ruled by the Valabhi dynasty. In the thirteenth century, the last Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
ruler Karna, was defeated by Alauddin Khilji
Alauddin Khilji
Ali Gurshap Khan better known by his titular name as Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji was the second ruler of the Turko-Afghan Khilji dynasty in India.He was a well and capable ruler. He belonged to the Afghanized Turkic tribe of the Khiljis...
, the Turkic
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
Sultan of Dehli
Delhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived, Delhi based kingdoms or sultanates, of Turkic origin in medieval India. The sultanates ruled from Delhi between 1206 and 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty...
. This ushered a period of five centuries of Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Turkic and Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
ruler. This led to a conversion of a number of Hindu Gujarati people to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, and led to the creation of new communities such as the Molesalam
Molesalam Rajput
The Molesalam are a Muslim Rajput community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They also refer to themselves as Molesalam Thakur and sometimes Molesalam Girasia.-History and origin:...
and Miyana
Miyana
The Miyana are a Muslim Rajput community found in the state of Gujarat in India.- History and origin :The Miyana are Rajputs who were converted to Islam during the rule of Allauddin Khilji in the thirteenth century...
communities.
In the sixteenth century, the Memon community immigrated from Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
and settled in Kutch and Kathiawar
Kathiawar
Kathiawar or Kathiawad is a peninsula in western India, which is part of the Saurashtra region on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat state. It is bounded on the north by the great wetland of the Rann of Kutch, on the northwest by the Gulf of Kutch, on the west and south by the Arabian Sea, and on...
. While in Bharuch
Bharuch
Bharuch , also known as Broach, is the oldest city in Gujarat, situated at the mouth of the holy river Narmada. Bharuch is the administrative headquarters of Bharuch District and a municipality of more than 1,50,000 inhabitants. As Bharuch is a major seaport city, a number of trade activities have...
and Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
, a schism
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
occurred among the Bohras, and new community of Sunni Bohra
Sunni Bohra
Sunni Bohras or Sunni Vohras, are a Sunni Muslim community found in the province of Sindh in Pakistan and the state of Gujarat in India. Sharing a large number of cultural similarities with the Dawoodi Bohras, they are often confused with that community. However, they are different in the fact...
s was created. Another Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
sect, the Mahdawi also settled in Gujarat, and led to the creation of the Tai
Tai (caste)
The Tai are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. There is also a large diaspora in the city of Karachi in Pakistan.- History and origin :...
community. In 1593, the Mughal Emperor Akbar conquered Gujarat, and incorporated Gujarat in the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
. This period led to the settlement of the Mughal
Mughal (tribe)
The term Mughal is simply a Turkic word and many groups in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh use the term Mughal to describe themselves...
community. A good many Sayyid
Sayyid of Gujarat
The Sayyid of Gujarat are members of the wider Sayyid community of South Asia. They are also known as Mir and Pirzada.-History and origin:...
and Shaikh
Gujarati Shaikh
The Shaikh are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are part of the larger Shaikh community of South Asia. Included within the Shaikh community are the Shaikhda of Bharuch district and the Sodagar of Patan.-History and origin:...
families also are said to arrived during the period of Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
rule. After the death of the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
, in 1707, Mughal rule began weaken after ruling for a century. Most of Gujarat fell to the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
s, and this period saw the dispersal of further Pathan and Baluch, who came as mercenaries and were destroyed or defeated by the Marathas. Gujarat fell to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the late 19th Century.
Muslim Population by District
| District Name | Headquarter (City) | Population (2001) | Muslim Population (2001) | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bharuch Bharuch district Bharuch in India, is a district in the southern part of the Gujarat peninsula on the west coast of state of Gujarat with a size and population comparable to that of Greater Boston... |
Bharuch Bharuch Bharuch , also known as Broach, is the oldest city in Gujarat, situated at the mouth of the holy river Narmada. Bharuch is the administrative headquarters of Bharuch District and a municipality of more than 1,50,000 inhabitants. As Bharuch is a major seaport city, a number of trade activities have... |
1,370,656 | 293,459 | 21% |
| Kutch | Bhuj Bhuj Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th... |
1,583,225 | 329,254 | 21% |
| Jamnagar Jamnagar district Jamnagar District is located in state of Gujarat, India on the southern coast of the Gulf of Kutch. The headquarters is in Jamnagar. The famous city of Dwarka is situated in this district. The district had a population of 1,904,278 of which 43.91% were urban as of 2001.Jamnagar is a very beautiful... |
Jamnagar Jamnagar Jamnagar is a city and a municipal corporation in Jamnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city was built up substantially by Maharaja Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji in the 1920s, when the district was known as Nawanagar. The district lies just to the south of the Gulf of Kutch and is... |
1,904,278 | 270,223 | 14% |
| Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad Ahmedabad Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad... |
5,816,519 | 662,799 | 11% |
| Anand Anand district Anand District is an administrative district of Gujarat state in western India. It was carved out of the Kheda district in 1997. Anand is the administrative headquarters of the district. It is bounded by Kheda District to the north, Vadodara District to the east, Ahmedabad District to the west,... |
Anand Anand, Gujarat ]]Anand is the administrative centre of Anand District in the state of Gujarat, India. It is administered by Anand Municipality. It is part of the region known as Charotar, consisting of Anand and Kheda Districts.... |
1,856,872 | 199,263 | 11% |
| Junagadh Junagadh district Junagadh District is a district of the Indian state of Gujarat. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Junagadh.-Geography:The district is located on the Kathiawar peninsula in western Gujarat. It is surrounded by Rajkot District , Porbandar District , Amreli District... |
Junagadh Junagadh Junagadh is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is the 7th largest in Gujarat. The city is located at the foot of the Girnar hills, 355 km south west of state capital Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. The city is in western India. Literally translated,... |
2,448,173 | 274,481 | 11% |
| Kheda Kheda district Kheda district is one of the 26 districts of Gujarat state in western India. Kheda city is the administrative headquarters of the district.-History:... |
Kheda Kheda Kheda is a town and a municipality in Kheda district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Kheda, also known as Kaira, is 35 km from Ahmedabad. The National Highway no. 8 connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai passes through Kheda... |
2,024,216 | 218,660 | 11% |
| Patan Patan district Patan district is one of the 26 districts of Gujarat state in western India. This district is located in northern Gujarat and bounded by Banaskantha district in the north and northeast, Mehsana district in the east and southeast, Surendranagar district in the south and Kutch District and the Kutch... |
Patan Patan, Gujarat Patan was a capital of Gujarat in medieval times. It is the administrative seat of Patan District in the Indian state of Gujarat and administered by municipality. The city contains many Hindu and Jain temples as well as few mosques, dargahs and rojas... |
1,182,709 | 119,748 | 10% |
| Rajkot Rajkot district Rajkot district is one of the 26 districts of the Indian state of Gujarat. Rajkot city is the administrative headquarters of the district. It is the third-most advanced district in Gujarat.... |
Rajkot | 3,169,881 | 292,676 | 9 % |
| Surat Surat district Surat is a district in the state of Gujarat India with Surat city as the administrative headquarters of this district. It is surrounded by Bharuch, Narmada , Navsari and Dang districts. To the west is the Gulf of Cambay. It is the second-most advanced district in Gujarat... |
Surat Surat Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper... |
4,995,174 | 447,951 | 9% |
| Vadodara Vadodara district Vadodara District is a district in the eastern part of the state of Gujarat in western India. The city of Vadodara , in the western part of the district, is the administrative headquarters. Vadodara District covers an area of 7,794 km². It had a population of 3,641,802 of which 45.20% were... |
Vadodara Vadodara Vadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million... |
3, 641,802 | 317,194 | 9% |
| Banaskantha Banaskantha district Banaskantha is one among the twenty-six districts of the Gujarat state of India. The administrative headquarters of the district is at Palanpur which is also its largest city... |
Palanpur Palanpur Palanpur is a city and a municipality of Banaskantha district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Palanpur is the largest city and the administrative headquarters of the district.... |
2,504,244 | 170,142 | 7% |
| Bhavnagar Bhavnagar district Bhavnagar is a peninsular district of South-Eastern Gujarat. Bhavnagar city is the administrative headquarters of the district. It had a population of 2,469,630 of which 37.86% were urban as of 2001. It covers an area of over 9940 km²... |
Bhavnagar Bhavnagar -Topography:Bhavnagar is a coastal city in the eastern coast of Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar, located at . It has an average elevation of 24 metres . It occupies area of 53.30 km². General slope dips in the northeasterly direction at the apex of Gulf of Khambhat... |
2,469,630 | 172,740 | 7% |
| Surendranagar Surendranagar district Surendranagar is an administrative district in the state of Gujarat in India. It has a population of approximately 1.7 million people. Surendranagar is also known as Zalawad, as the city of Surendranagar was ruled by Zala Rajputs... |
Surendranagar | 1,515,148 | 97,846 | 7% |
| Amreli District Amreli District Amreli district is one of the 26 administrative districts of the state of Gujarat in western India. The district headquarters are located at Amreli. The district occupies an area of 6,760 km² and has a population of 1,393,918 of which 22.45% were urban . From Amreli district maximum number of... |
Amreli Amreli Amreli is a city and a municipality in Amreli district of the Saurashtra region in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It is believed that during the year 534 AD Amreli existed was formerly known as Anumanji, Amlik and then Amravati. The city is named in ancient Sanskrit ass Amarvalli. Initially... |
1,393,918 | 83,077 | 6% |
| Mehsana Mehsana district Mehsana district is one of the 26 districts of Gujarat state in western India. Mehsana city is the administrative headquarters of this district. The district has a population of over 18 lakhs and an area of over 4,500 km². There are over 600 villages in this district... |
Mehsana Mehsana Mahesana is a city and municipality in Mehsana district, in the Indian state of Gujarat.-City and surrounding area:Situated near Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, Mehsana is one of the largest cities in North Gujarat; followed by Patan and Palanpur. A number of primary industries including dairy, oil... |
1,837,892 | 113,631 | 6% |
| Navsari Navsari district Navsari is an administrative district in the state of Gujarat in India, with its headquarters at Navsari city. The district covers an area of 2,211 square kilometres, and had a population of 1,229,250 in 2001.Dudhia Talao:... |
Navsari Navsari Navsari is a city and municipality in the Surat Metropolitan Region and also the administrative headquarters Navsari District of Gujarat, India. Navsari is also the Twin City of Surat, and only 37 km south of Surat.-Geography:... |
1,229,463 | 69,972 | 6% |
| Panchmahal Panchmahal district Panchmahal, also Panch Mahals, is a district in the western India, in the eastern portion of Gujarat State. Panch-mahal means "five tehsils/talukas" , and refers to the five sub-divisions namely - Godhra, Dahod, Halol, Kalol and Jhalod that were transferred by the Maharaja Sindia of Gwalior to the... |
Godhra Godhra Godhra is a town and originally the name came from "Gou" which means "Cow" and "Dhara" which has two meanings: one in Sanskrit which means "Hold or Land" and the other in Hindi which means Flow. So, identically it means The Land of the Cow, a municipality in Panchmahal district in Indian state of... |
2,025,277 | 120,676 | 6% |
| Porbandar Porbandar district Porbandar district is one of the 26 districts of Gujarat state in western India. The district covers an area of 2,295.35 km². It had a population of 536,835 of which 48.69% were urban as of 2001 census This district was carved out of Junagadh District. It lies in the Kathiawar peninsula. ... |
Porbandar Porbandar Porbandar is a coastal city in the Indian state of Gujarat, perhaps best known for being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sudama... |
536,854 | 2,294 | 6% |
| Sabarkantha Sabarkantha district Sabarkantha is a district in Northeast of Gujarat state of India.-Geography:The administrative headquarters of the district is Himmatnagar, about 80 km from Ahmedabad.... |
Himmatnagar | 2,082,531 | 117,806 | 6% |
| Valsad Valsad district Valsad district is one of the 26 districts in the Western Indian state of Gujarat. It is bound by Navsari district to the north, Dang district to the east and the State of Maharashtra to the south. The Arabian Sea lies west of the district... |
Valsad Valsad Valsad , formerly known as Bulsar, is a city and a municipality in the Valsad district of the Indian state of Gujarat. The city has a collectorate, a district court, and a police headquarters with a historic prison... |
1,410,553 | 66,440 | 5% |
| Narmada Narmada district Narmada district is an administrative district in the state of Gujarat in India. The district headquarters are located at Rajpipla. The district is bounded by Vadodara district in the north, by Maharashtra state in the east, by Tapi district in the south and by Bharuch district in the west... |
Rajpipla Rajpipla Rajpipla is a city and a municipality in the Narmada district in the Indian state of Gujarat.It was the capital of the former Kingdom of Rajpipla.-Geography:Rajpipla is located at . It has an average elevation of 148 metres .... |
514,404 | 20,429 | 4% |
| Dahod Dahod District Dahod District, also known as Dohad District, is located in Gujarat state in western India. The city of Dahod is the district's administrative headquarters. The district has an area of 3,642 km², and a population of 1,636,433 , with a population density of 449 persons per km²... |
Dahod Dahod Dahod,on the banks of river Dudhimati, is a towncity with a municipality in Dahod District within the State of Gujarat, India. The city serves as District Headquarters for Dahod District. It is approx. 200 km away from Ahmedabad and 150 km away from Vadodara... |
1,636,433 | 52,632 | 3% |
| Gandhinagar Gandhinagar district Gandhinagar District is an administrative division of Gujarat, India, whose headquarters are at Gandhinagar, the state capital. It has an area of 649 km², and a population of 1,334,455 of which 35.02% were urban . The district includes Gandhinagar with three Suburbs - Chandkheda, Motera,... |
Gandhinagar | 1,334,455 | 50,559 | 3% |
| The Dangs Dang district Dang is a district in the state of Gujarat in India. The administrative headquarters of the district are located in Ahwa. The Dangs have an area of 1764 km² and a population of 186,729 .... |
Ahwa Ahwa Ahwa is the headquarters of Dang District in the state of Gujarat, in India. Ahwa is also only one tehsil in dang district. Ahwa is connected with Vansda, Navapur, Vyara, Nasik, Babulghat and Songadh by road. GSRTC bus are available from here. Nearest railway station are Bilimora and Waghai... |
186,729 | 2,792 | 1.5% |
Jamat Bandi
Gujarati Muslim society has a unique custom known as Jamat Bandi, literally meaning communal solidarity. This system is the traditional expression of communal solidarity. It is designed to regulate the affairs of the community and apply sanctions against infractions of the communal code. Almost all the main Gujarat communities, such as the Memon, ChhipaChhipa
The Chhipa are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. A few Chhipa are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan.-History and origin:Chhipa is also hindu community which belives in Sant Namdev...
, Ghanchi
Ghanchi (Muslim)
The Ghanchi are a Gujarati Muslim community found in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India. A small number of Ghanchi are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan. - Origin :...
, Khoja
Khoja
The Khojas are ethnic group of Shia Muslims. The word Khoja derives from Khwaja, a Persian title .In Pakistan, many Khojas migrated to and settled in the province of Sindh and especially in the city of Karachi. While in India, most Khojas live in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and...
, Bohra and Sunni Bohra
Sunni Bohra
Sunni Bohras or Sunni Vohras, are a Sunni Muslim community found in the province of Sindh in Pakistan and the state of Gujarat in India. Sharing a large number of cultural similarities with the Dawoodi Bohras, they are often confused with that community. However, they are different in the fact...
have caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
associations, known as jamats. Social organization at the Jamat Bandi level varies from community to community. In some communities, the Jamat simply runs a mosque and attached rest house, and a madrasah
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
. Some larger communities, such as the Bohra and Khoja
Khoja
The Khojas are ethnic group of Shia Muslims. The word Khoja derives from Khwaja, a Persian title .In Pakistan, many Khojas migrated to and settled in the province of Sindh and especially in the city of Karachi. While in India, most Khojas live in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and...
have developed elaborate and highly formalized systems with written and registered constitutions. Their organizations own large properties, undertake housing projects and schools, dispensaries and weekly newspapers. Perhaps the Memon have most formalized jamats, with census of community members, and distinct residential colonies.
Communities
Historically, each of the MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
communities are endogamous. The communities practice both cross-cousin and parallel cousin marriages. Recent studies of Gujarati Muslims in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
have shown that endogamy remains important. There are approximately 130 communities, with membership ranging from 65,000 to as low as 100 individuals. Among the largest Muslim communities are the Shaikhs
Gujarati Shaikh
The Shaikh are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are part of the larger Shaikh community of South Asia. Included within the Shaikh community are the Shaikhda of Bharuch district and the Sodagar of Patan.-History and origin:...
, Sunni Bohra
Sunni Bohra
Sunni Bohras or Sunni Vohras, are a Sunni Muslim community found in the province of Sindh in Pakistan and the state of Gujarat in India. Sharing a large number of cultural similarities with the Dawoodi Bohras, they are often confused with that community. However, they are different in the fact...
s, Ghanchi
Ghanchi (Muslim)
The Ghanchi are a Gujarati Muslim community found in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India. A small number of Ghanchi are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan. - Origin :...
, Pathans
Pathans of Gujarat
Gujarati Pathans are a group of Pathans. At various times in history, large number of Pashtuns have settled in the region of Gujarat in western India. They now form a distinct community of Gujarati speaking Muslims...
, Memon and Daudi Bohras. Each of these communities were traditionally associated with particular occupations. Important trading communities include the Alavi Bohra
Alavi Bohra
The Alavi Bohras are a Taiyabi Mustaali Ismaili Shi'i Muslim community from Gujarat, India.In India, during the time of the 18th Fatimid Imam Ma'ad al-Mustansir Billah around 1093 AD, the designated learned people who were sent from Yemen by the celebrated missionaries under the guidance of the...
, Daudi Bohra, Khoja
Khoja
The Khojas are ethnic group of Shia Muslims. The word Khoja derives from Khwaja, a Persian title .In Pakistan, many Khojas migrated to and settled in the province of Sindh and especially in the city of Karachi. While in India, most Khojas live in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and...
, Memon, Sulaymani Bohra and Vyapari
Vyapari (caste)
The Vyapari are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India . Many members of Vyapari Muslim community migrated to Pakistan after the independence in 1947 and settled in Karachi.- History and origin :...
. Other communities are associated with particular trade, and are similar to guilds in medieval Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. For example the Chundrigar
Chundrigar
The Chundrigar are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. A few are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan.-History and origin:...
were silk printers, the Ghanchi
Ghanchi (Muslim)
The Ghanchi are a Gujarati Muslim community found in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India. A small number of Ghanchi are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan. - Origin :...
were oil pressers, the Ansari
Momin Ansari
The Momin Ansari or Ansari, are a Muslim community, found mainly in West and North India, and the province of Sindh in Pakistan. A small number of Ansaris are also found in the Terai region of Nepal. The community were once known as al ansar, although the term is now obsolete. In North India, the...
were weavers. The greater mechanization of the Indian economy has seen as a decline in their traditional occupation, and these communities have suffered an economic decline. However the majority of Gujarati Muslim are small and medium sized farmers, and larger communities such as the Sunni Bohra
Sunni Bohra
Sunni Bohras or Sunni Vohras, are a Sunni Muslim community found in the province of Sindh in Pakistan and the state of Gujarat in India. Sharing a large number of cultural similarities with the Dawoodi Bohras, they are often confused with that community. However, they are different in the fact...
, Molesalam
Molesalam Rajput
The Molesalam are a Muslim Rajput community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They also refer to themselves as Molesalam Thakur and sometimes Molesalam Girasia.-History and origin:...
, Pathan
Pathans of Gujarat
Gujarati Pathans are a group of Pathans. At various times in history, large number of Pashtuns have settled in the region of Gujarat in western India. They now form a distinct community of Gujarati speaking Muslims...
and Shaikh
Gujarati Shaikh
The Shaikh are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are part of the larger Shaikh community of South Asia. Included within the Shaikh community are the Shaikhda of Bharuch district and the Sodagar of Patan.-History and origin:...
are all traditionally farmers.
The region of Kutch has always been historically distinct, with the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s their accounting for about twenty percent of the population. This region is characterised by salt desserts, such as the Rann of Kutch
Rann of Kutch
The Great Rann of Kutch, also called Greater Rann of Kutch or just Rann of Kutch , is a seasonal salt marsh located in the Thar Desert in the Kutch District of Gujarat, India and the Sindh province of Pakistan....
. Because of this landscape, the Kutch Muslims are Maldhari pastoral nomads found in the Banni
Banni Grasslands Reserve
Banni Grasslands Reserve or Banni grasslands form a belt of arid grassland ecosystem on the outer southern edge of the desert of the marshy salt flats of Rann of Kutch in Kutch District, Gujarat State, India. They are known for rich wildlife and biodiversity and are spread across an area of...
region of Kutch. Most of them are said to have originated in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, and speak a dialect of Kutchi
Kutchi language
Kachhi Kachhi Kachhi (also spelt Cutchi, Kutchhi or Kachchhi, is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat as well as in Sindh.- Closely related languages :...
which has many Sindhi
Sindhi language
Sindhi is the language of the Sindh region of Pakistan that is spoken by the Sindhi people. In India, it is among 22 constitutionally recognized languages, where Sindhis are a sizeable minority. It is spoken by 53,410,910 people in Pakistan, according to the national government's Statistics Division...
loanwords. Major Maldhari communities include the Jath
Jats of Kutch
The Jats of Kutch are a cattle breeding nomadic Muslim community, found in the Kutch region of Gujarat in India. They are one of a number of communities of Maldhari pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.- History and origin :...
, Halaypotra
Halaypotra
The Halaypotra are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of Maldhari pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.-History and origin:...
, Hingora
Hingora
The Hingora are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of Maldhari pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.-History and origin:...
, Hingorja
Hingorja
The Hingorja are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.-History and origin:...
, Juneja
Junejo
Junejo is the name of a Samma Sindhi Rajput tribe in Sindh and in some parts of India mostly in Rajasthan. Among the Sindhi Hindu community Juneja is a common surname and many Juneja people originally from Sindh migrated to India during the independence in 1947. Junejo are also known as Jam in...
and Samma tribes.
Major Sub-groups
Gujarati Muslim society is roughly divided into four major groupings, each of whom have traditional occupations. The major Gujarati Muslim sub-groups include –Foreign Descended Groups
Here is a brief description of the various Muslim communities, starting with those who claim actual or putative foreign descent.| Community | Sect | Clans | Language | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sayyid Sayyid of Gujarat The Sayyid of Gujarat are members of the wider Sayyid community of South Asia. They are also known as Mir and Pirzada.-History and origin:... |
Sunni and Ithna Ashri Shia | Shirazi Shirazi (ethnic group) The Shirazi are a sub-group of the Swahili people living on the Swahili Coast of East Africa, especially on the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Comoros. Local traditions about their origin claim they are descended from merchant princes from Shiraz in Persia who settled along the Swahili Coast.... , Mattari, Bukhari, Naqvi Naqvi The surname "Naqvi" are the descendants of Islamic Prophet Muhammad through the lineage of Ali al-Hadi... , Tirmizi, Zaidi, Rifai, Bhaktari, Qadiris, Chishti, Mahdawai, Kitoi, Mashadi, Idrusi, and Bahraini |
Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... and Urdu Urdu Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an... |
found throughout Gujarat |
| Shaikh Gujarati Shaikh The Shaikh are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are part of the larger Shaikh community of South Asia. Included within the Shaikh community are the Shaikhda of Bharuch district and the Sodagar of Patan.-History and origin:... |
Sunni | Hashemi, Siddiqui Siddiqui Siddiqui, is a Muslim family name, found in the South Asia and the Middle East. Shaikh is an additional title used occasionally by Siddiqui/Siddique to signify their Arab heritage... , Qureshi, Farooqi Farooqi Farooqui , is a distinctt name or surname or last name.- Origin :... , and Osmani Osmani Usmani or Osmani or Othmani or Uthmani is a large community , found mainly in South Asia. The word Usmani or Osmani is a surname adopted mainly by two castes in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.-Sheikh Usmani:The Shaikh Usmani are a Urdu speaking community, and many are found among the... in Gujarat and Shaikh Dada, Shaikh Syed and Shaikh Faqir in Kutch |
Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... and Kutchi Kutchi language Kachhi Kachhi Kachhi (also spelt Cutchi, Kutchhi or Kachchhi, is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat as well as in Sindh.- Closely related languages :... |
found throughout Gujarat |
| Pathan Pathans of Gujarat Gujarati Pathans are a group of Pathans. At various times in history, large number of Pashtuns have settled in the region of Gujarat in western India. They now form a distinct community of Gujarati speaking Muslims... |
Sunni | Babi, Sama, Khanzada, Yousafzai Yousafzai The Yūsufzai is one of the largest Pashtun tribes... , Lohani, Ghori, Suleiymani, Surat Turk, Miana and Zadran |
Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... and Urdu Urdu Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an... |
found throughout Gujarat |
| Mughal Mughal (tribe) The term Mughal is simply a Turkic word and many groups in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh use the term Mughal to describe themselves... |
Sunni and Ithna Ashri Shia | Two sub-groups, the Irani who are Shia and the Turani who are Sunni | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... and Urdu Urdu Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an... |
found throughout Gujarat |
| Arabs Arab (Gujarat) A large number of people with Arab origins have over time have settled in the state of Gujarat in India, and now form one of the large communities Muslim in that state. They are also known as Chavuse, especially in Saurashtra... |
Sunni | Akvon, Acari, Ansari, Anuj, Kathiri, and Qureshi | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Junagadh Junagadh Junagadh is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is the 7th largest in Gujarat. The city is located at the foot of the Girnar hills, 355 km south west of state capital Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. The city is in western India. Literally translated,... , Bhavnagar Bhavnagar -Topography:Bhavnagar is a coastal city in the eastern coast of Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar, located at . It has an average elevation of 24 metres . It occupies area of 53.30 km². General slope dips in the northeasterly direction at the apex of Gulf of Khambhat... , Panchmahal and Surat Surat Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper... |
| Siddi Siddi The Siddi, Siddhi, or Sheedi , also known as Habshi, are an Indian and Pakistani ethnic group of Afro-Arab and/or Black African descent. The Siddi population is currently estimated to be 20,000–55,000, with Gujarat and Hyderabad in India the main population centre. Siddis are mainly Sufi Muslims,... s |
Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Saurashtra, mainly in Junagadh District Junagadh district Junagadh District is a district of the Indian state of Gujarat. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Junagadh.-Geography:The district is located on the Kathiawar peninsula in western Gujarat. It is surrounded by Rajkot District , Porbandar District , Amreli District... |
| Baluchis Baloch (Gujarat) The Baloch are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are descended from Baluch tribesmen who settled in this region of Gujarat in the late Middle Ages. The community use the surname khan... |
Sunni and Ithna Ashri Shia | Gabol Gabol Gabol is a Baloch tribe settled in the Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. Gabols are of Rind origin and are mostly settled in Tikko Baran surrounding the Kirthar Mountains Range, Karachi, Ghotki, Alipur, Sibi, and Jacobabad. This tribe is also considered to be present in Iran... , Lashari Lashari Lashari is the name of a Baloch tribe in Pakistan and Iran. The Lasharis have migrated and settled in the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, India, Indonesia, USA, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, England, and many other countries of the world... , Birri, Gopang Gopang The Gopang are one of six Baloch tribes or clans called ataks'. These ataks function mainly to denote ancestry and members consider themselves to be low in the social hierarchy.They are found in the Rojhan Balochistan, Kamber district of Sindh province... , Sukhe, Hooth Hooth The Hooth are a Baloch tribe of Iran and Pakistan. They are mainly settled in areas of Pakistan including Turbat, Gwadar, Tump, Zhob and Dasht.There are Khosa, Kalmati, Khushk, Chandio from Hooth.... and Korai Korai The Korai are a Baloch tribe settled in the Balochistan province of Iran, Balochistan Province of Pakistan; Sindh; Punjab provinces of Pakistan; and the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujrat, Maharastra, Haryana, and Indian Punjab.... |
Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Saurashtra and Kutch |
| Makrani Makrani (caste) - History and origin :The Makrani of Gujarat are descendents of Baluch who were brought to Saurashtra as mercenaries. They are still distributed in the former princely states of Kathiawar. These Baluch soldiers came from the Makran region of Baluchistan. They now speak Gujarati, while some Makrani... |
Sunni | Askani, Baluch, Umarzai, Rind-Baluch, Mulkajee and Gudizai | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Saurashtra |
Trading classes
| Community | Sect | Language | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alavi Bohra Alavi Bohra The Alavi Bohras are a Taiyabi Mustaali Ismaili Shi'i Muslim community from Gujarat, India.In India, during the time of the 18th Fatimid Imam Ma'ad al-Mustansir Billah around 1093 AD, the designated learned people who were sent from Yemen by the celebrated missionaries under the guidance of the... |
Shia Ismaili Mustaali Mustaali The Musta‘lī Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept Al-Musta'li as the nineteenth Fatimid caliph and legitimate successor to his father, al-Mustansir... |
Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Mainly in Vadodara District Vadodara district Vadodara District is a district in the eastern part of the state of Gujarat in western India. The city of Vadodara , in the western part of the district, is the administrative headquarters. Vadodara District covers an area of 7,794 km². It had a population of 3,641,802 of which 45.20% were... |
| Dawoodi Bohra Dawoodi Bohra Dawoodi Bohra is a subsect of Ismāʿīlī Shīʿa Islām. While the Dawoodi Bohra is based in India, their belief system originates in Yemen, where it evolved from the Fatimid Caliphate and where they were persecuted due to their differences from mainstream Sunni Islam... |
Shia Ismaili Mustaali Mustaali The Musta‘lī Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept Al-Musta'li as the nineteenth Fatimid caliph and legitimate successor to his father, al-Mustansir... |
Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
throughout Gujarat |
| Doodwala Doodwala The Doodwala are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India . Many members of Doodwala community migrated to Pakistan after the independence in 1947 and settled in Karachi, where there are often known as Nagori.- History and origin :... |
Sunni | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
throughout Gujarat |
| Khoja Khoja The Khojas are ethnic group of Shia Muslims. The word Khoja derives from Khwaja, a Persian title .In Pakistan, many Khojas migrated to and settled in the province of Sindh and especially in the city of Karachi. While in India, most Khojas live in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and... |
Shia Ismaili Nizari Nizari 'The Shī‘a Imami Ismā‘īlī Tariqah also referred to as the Ismā‘īlī or Nizārī , is a path of Shī‘a Islām, emphasizing social justice, pluralism, and human reason within the framework of the mystical tradition of Islam. The Nizari are the second largest branch of Shia Islam and form the majority... |
Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... and Kutchi Kutchi language Kachhi Kachhi Kachhi (also spelt Cutchi, Kutchhi or Kachchhi, is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat as well as in Sindh.- Closely related languages :... |
found throughout Gujarat |
| Memon who are further divided into the Kathiawadi Kathiawadi Memons The ancestors of present day Memons who settled few centuries ago, in various part of the district of Kathiawar are now identified as simply Memons or Kathiawadi Memons, or Halai Memons . Kathiawadi Memons are further divided into sub-group which is generally refer to their ancestral village or... , Kutch Kutchi Memon Kutchi Memons or Cutchi Memons are a part of larger Memons, a Muslim community of Pakistan and India, who speak the Kutchi language and are original residents of Kutch region.... , Juberi Juberi Memon Juberi Memons are an ethnic group residing in the Sindh Province of Pakistan. They speak Sindhi and Kachi. They are primarily involved in agriculture, business and education unlike other Memons who tend to be only businessmen or only agriculture. They are generally believed to have been the... and Okhai Okhai Okhai Memons are a large branch of Memons in India. Named for the town of Okha, the community has spread with a large migration to Karachi having taken place in the mid 19th century.... Memon communities |
Sunni | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... , Kutchi Kutchi language Kachhi Kachhi Kachhi (also spelt Cutchi, Kutchhi or Kachchhi, is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat as well as in Sindh.- Closely related languages :... and their own language known as Memoni |
Found mainly in Kutch and Saurashtra |
| Patni Jamat Patni Jamat The Patni are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India.History and originThe Patni are a trading community who are said to have settled in the town of Patan, the historic capital of Gujarat, during the rule of Mahmud of Ghazni. They originated in the town of Patan in Gujarat... |
Sunni | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Found in Veraval Veraval Veraval is a city and a municipality in Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is located 6 km from Somnath.- History :... , Govindpura, Naodra, Kalji, Chourbad, Keshod Keshod Keshod is a city and a municipality in Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Infrastructure:Development of this city is very fast in terms of population, art, infrastructures, education and cultural change. The Nawab of Junagadh had built one mahal in Keshod for passing winter in to... and Junagadh Junagadh Junagadh is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is the 7th largest in Gujarat. The city is located at the foot of the Girnar hills, 355 km south west of state capital Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. The city is in western India. Literally translated,... . |
| Sulaymani Bohra | Shia Ismaili Mustaali Mustaali The Musta‘lī Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept Al-Musta'li as the nineteenth Fatimid caliph and legitimate successor to his father, al-Mustansir... |
Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Found throughout Gujarat |
| Vyapari Vyapari (caste) The Vyapari are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India . Many members of Vyapari Muslim community migrated to Pakistan after the independence in 1947 and settled in Karachi.- History and origin :... |
Sunni | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Viramgam Viramgam Viramgam is a city and a municipality in Ahmedabad district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Geography:Viramgam is located at . It has an average elevation of 32 metres... and Dholka Dholka Dholka is a city and municipality in the Ahmedabad District of the Indian state of Gujarat. With an average elevation of , Dholka is considered "India's first municipality".-History:... talukas of Ahmedabad District |
Landholders and Cultivators
| Community | Sect | Clans | Language | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunni Bohra Sunni Bohra Sunni Bohras or Sunni Vohras, are a Sunni Muslim community found in the province of Sindh in Pakistan and the state of Gujarat in India. Sharing a large number of cultural similarities with the Dawoodi Bohras, they are often confused with that community. However, they are different in the fact... |
Sunni, both Deobandi Deobandi Deobandi is a movement of Sunni Islam. The movement began at Darul Uloom Deoband in Deoband, India, where its foundation was laid on 30 May 1866.-History:... and Barelvi Barelvi Barelvi is a term used for the movement of Sufi , Sunni Islam originating in the Indian subcontinent.The Movement is known as Ahle Sunnat movement to its followers.... |
Charotar, Patani, Kadiwal, Bharuch and Surat Jamats | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
found mainly in Bharuch Bharuch district Bharuch in India, is a district in the southern part of the Gujarat peninsula on the west coast of state of Gujarat with a size and population comparable to that of Greater Boston... , Ahmedabad, Mehsana Mehsana Mahesana is a city and municipality in Mehsana district, in the Indian state of Gujarat.-City and surrounding area:Situated near Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, Mehsana is one of the largest cities in North Gujarat; followed by Patan and Palanpur. A number of primary industries including dairy, oil... and Surat Surat district Surat is a district in the state of Gujarat India with Surat city as the administrative headquarters of this district. It is surrounded by Bharuch, Narmada , Navsari and Dang districts. To the west is the Gulf of Cambay. It is the second-most advanced district in Gujarat... districts |
| Agaria Agaria (Muslim) The Agaria are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India.- Origin :The Agaria derive their name from the city of Agra in North India. According to their traditions, they were substantial landowners and came to the attention of the local Muslim governor, who demanded women from the... |
Sunni | None | Kutchi Kutchi language Kachhi Kachhi Kachhi (also spelt Cutchi, Kutchhi or Kachchhi, is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat as well as in Sindh.- Closely related languages :... |
Kutch |
| Bhati Bhati Bhati is one of the largest tribes of the Gujjars& Rajput. They claim descent from Krishna as an avatar of Vishnu, and thus identify themselves as a Chandravanshi Kshatriya clan. The Bhati trace their history to the desert principality of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, in the border villages of Bikaner... |
Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... and Marwari Marwari language The Marwari language , also variously Marvari, Marwadi, Marvadi), is spoken in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Marwari is also found in the neighboring state of Gujarat and Haryana and in Eastern Pakistan... |
Bharuch Bharuch Bharuch , also known as Broach, is the oldest city in Gujarat, situated at the mouth of the holy river Narmada. Bharuch is the administrative headquarters of Bharuch District and a municipality of more than 1,50,000 inhabitants. As Bharuch is a major seaport city, a number of trade activities have... and Banaskantha districts |
| Chauhan Muslim Chauhan (Gujarat) The Muslim Chauhan are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India.- Origin :The Muslim Chauhan of Gujarat are converts from the Hindu Chauhan caste. Their conversion is said to have occurred during the rule of Mahmud Begada. Traditionally, they were an agrarian community, but now... |
Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... and Marwari Marwari language The Marwari language , also variously Marvari, Marwadi, Marvadi), is spoken in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Marwari is also found in the neighboring state of Gujarat and Haryana and in Eastern Pakistan... |
north Gujarat |
| Dafer Dafer - Origin :The Dafer claim to have immigrated from Sindh, and settled in Saurashtra. The community is sub-divided along religious lines, with there being both Muslim and Hindu Dafer. They are settled in the Vanthali and Talala talukas of Junagadh District. The community speak Kutchi, while most also... |
Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Saurashtra |
| Jat Jats of Kutch The Jats of Kutch are a cattle breeding nomadic Muslim community, found in the Kutch region of Gujarat in India. They are one of a number of communities of Maldhari pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.- History and origin :... |
Sunni | Halai Jat (found in Jamnagar Jamnagar Jamnagar is a city and a municipal corporation in Jamnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city was built up substantially by Maharaja Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji in the 1920s, when the district was known as Nawanagar. The district lies just to the south of the Gulf of Kutch and is... and Porbandar Porbandar Porbandar is a coastal city in the Indian state of Gujarat, perhaps best known for being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sudama... ), Verai Jat (Banaskantha District Banaskantha district Banaskantha is one among the twenty-six districts of the Gujarat state of India. The administrative headquarters of the district is at Palanpur which is also its largest city... ), and Kutchi Jat (found in Kutch District Kutch District Kutch district is a district of Gujarat state in western India. Covering an area of 45,652 km², it is the largest district of India.... ) |
Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... and Kutchi Kutchi language Kachhi Kachhi Kachhi (also spelt Cutchi, Kutchhi or Kachchhi, is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat as well as in Sindh.- Closely related languages :... |
Saurashtra and Kutch |
| Kasbatis Rajputs Sipahi (caste) The Sipahi are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India . They are also known as Kasbatis, especially in Baroda.-History and origin:... |
Sunni | Sayyid Sayyid Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,... , Mughal Mughal (tribe) The term Mughal is simply a Turkic word and many groups in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh use the term Mughal to describe themselves... , Qureshi, Shaikh, Pathan, Parmar, Ghori, Rathore, Kokwana, Bhelim, Khokhar and Soomra |
Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
through Gujarat |
| Khokhar Khokhar The Khokhar or Khokar are a people of Punjab region of Pakistan and north-western India. According to H. A. Rose they are the gotra of Rajput, Jat, Arain, Nai, and Churah. According to Denzil Ibbetson, they are also a gotra of the Tarkhan and Khatri tribes. The Khokhars were designated as an... |
Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
|
| Maliks | Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Kheda District Kheda district Kheda district is one of the 26 districts of Gujarat state in western India. Kheda city is the administrative headquarters of the district.-History:... |
| Makwanas Makwana (Muslim) The Makwana Muslims are Muslim converts from the Makwana Rajput community. According to their traditions, their ancestor Babuji, the son of Harpal Makwana, converted to Islam. He founded to the principality of Lalpur-Mandva, in Mahikantha. The Makwana are now mainly small peasant proprietors found... |
Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
north Gujarat |
| Mandali Mandali (caste) The Mandali are a Muslim Rajput community found in the state of Gujarat in India.-History and origin:The Mandali claim to have migrated from the city of Multan in what is now Pakistan in the 16th Century and settled at Mandal, a small town of Viramgam taluka of Ahmadabad District. Thus, the... |
Sunni | Kachhote, Salar, Patadia, Waria, Barogia, Adi and Panghed | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Ahmedabad District |
| Miyana Miyana The Miyana are a Muslim Rajput community found in the state of Gujarat in India.- History and origin :The Miyana are Rajputs who were converted to Islam during the rule of Allauddin Khilji in the thirteenth century... |
Sunni | Manek, Bhati, Dhona, Kathia, Mour, Ladhani, Malani, Samani, Musani, Jain, Kher, Makwana, Sadhwami, nd Baidmulla | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... and Kutchi Kutchi language Kachhi Kachhi Kachhi (also spelt Cutchi, Kutchhi or Kachchhi, is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat as well as in Sindh.- Closely related languages :... |
Kutch and Saurashtra |
| Molesalam Rajput Molesalam Rajput The Molesalam are a Muslim Rajput community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They also refer to themselves as Molesalam Thakur and sometimes Molesalam Girasia.-History and origin:... s |
Sunni | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
||
| Momna Momna The Momna or sometimes referred to as Momin are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India.-History and origin:The term momin in Arabic means someone who is a true follower of Islam, and this term was given to Hindu converts from a number of Hindu castes who adopted the Shia faith... |
Ithna Ashri Shia | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
||
| Nayak | Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Banaskantha District Banaskantha district Banaskantha is one among the twenty-six districts of the Gujarat state of India. The administrative headquarters of the district is at Palanpur which is also its largest city... and Saurashtra |
| Muslim Patel Muslim Patel The term Muslim Patel applies to Muslim converts from the Hindu Patidar caste who are found mainly in the state of Gujarat in India. They are distinct from the Sunni Bohras, another Gujarati Muslim community that also uses the surname Patel... |
Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Bharuch District Bharuch district Bharuch in India, is a district in the southern part of the Gujarat peninsula on the west coast of state of Gujarat with a size and population comparable to that of Greater Boston... |
| Shaikhda Shaikhda The Shaikhda or Shaikhra are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India.-History and origin:The Shaikhda are a community who are the devotees of the Sufi preacher Bala Mohammad Shah. Historically the community was one which followed a syncretic belief system, which incorporated... |
Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Godhra Godhra Godhra is a town and originally the name came from "Gou" which means "Cow" and "Dhara" which has two meanings: one in Sanskrit which means "Hold or Land" and the other in Hindi which means Flow. So, identically it means The Land of the Cow, a municipality in Panchmahal district in Indian state of... , Baroda and Ahmedabad Ahmedabad Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad... |
| Rathore Rathore The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India... |
Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts |
| Parmar Muslim Parmar (Gujarat) The Muslim Parmar of Gujarat are Muslim converts from the larger Parmar Rajput community. They are said to have converted to Islam during the early period of the Gujarat Sultanate. Their ancestors were a Hasan and his brother Hisamuddin. Hisamuddin was made governor of Gujarat by the Khilji rulers.... |
Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
north Gujarat |
| Sandhai Muslims Sandhai Muslims The Sandhai Muslim are a community found in the state of Gujarat in India . They are one of a number of communities of pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.-History and origin:... |
Sunni | Shetha clans. Their major clans include the Sameja Samejo The Samejo or Sameja is the Samma and it is settled in Sindh and Balochistan province of Pakistan.- Origin :*According to some traditions, They are descendants of Sam , the eldest of the three surviving sons of the prophet Nuh . descendants of Sam, the son of Umar, son of Hashim, son of Abu Lahab,... , Samma, Jadeja, Nareja, Dal, Gothi, Solanki, Virsa, Theba Theba (tribe) The Theba are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch... , Nayi, Bafars, Hala, Shetha, and Khokhar Khokhar The Khokhar or Khokar are a people of Punjab region of Pakistan and north-western India. According to H. A. Rose they are the gotra of Rajput, Jat, Arain, Nai, and Churah. According to Denzil Ibbetson, they are also a gotra of the Tarkhan and Khatri tribes. The Khokhars were designated as an... |
Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... and Kutchi Kutchi language Kachhi Kachhi Kachhi (also spelt Cutchi, Kutchhi or Kachchhi, is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat as well as in Sindh.- Closely related languages :... |
Kutch and Saurashtra |
| Sanghar Sanghar (tribe) The Sanghar are a partly Hindu and partly Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India.-History and origin:According their traditions, the community are a branch of the Manka community. According to there tradition, the community was nomadic, until the came to an agreement with the... |
Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Saurashtra and Mandvi Mandvi Mandvi is a city and a Municipality in Kachchh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was once a major port of the region and summer retreat for Maharao of the Kachchh. The old city had a surrounding fort, and remains of the fort wall can still be seen to this day... Taluka of Kutch |
| Solanki Solanki The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin.... s |
Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
north Gujarat |
| Surti Muslims Surti Muslims Surti Muslims, who are commonly referred to as "Surtis", are Gujarati Muslims. Most of them adhere to Hanafi Sunni Islam. They are at least in part descended from Arabs from Southern Arabia who migrated and settled in the districts of Surat in the state of Gujarat, India, partial lineages to... |
Sunni | None | Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
Surat District Surat district Surat is a district in the state of Gujarat India with Surat city as the administrative headquarters of this district. It is surrounded by Bharuch, Narmada , Navsari and Dang districts. To the west is the Gulf of Cambay. It is the second-most advanced district in Gujarat... |
| Wagher Muslim Wagher The Wagher are a Muslim Rajput community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are Muslim converts from the Wagher caste.-History and origin:... |
Sunni | Chamdia, Notitar, Chowra, Sodha, Mendani, Chauhan, Manak, Sumania, Juneja, Kero, Bhati, Koda and Ruchcher | Kutchi Kutchi language Kachhi Kachhi Kachhi (also spelt Cutchi, Kutchhi or Kachchhi, is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat as well as in Sindh.- Closely related languages :... |
Okha Taluka of Jamnagar District Jamnagar district Jamnagar District is located in state of Gujarat, India on the southern coast of the Gulf of Kutch. The headquarters is in Jamnagar. The famous city of Dwarka is situated in this district. The district had a population of 1,904,278 of which 43.91% were urban as of 2001.Jamnagar is a very beautiful... |
Muslim Maldhari communities of Kutch
The Kutch region of Gujarat is home to a number of cattle rearing tribal communities, known as the Maldhari. Most of them speak KutchiKutchi language
Kachhi Kachhi Kachhi (also spelt Cutchi, Kutchhi or Kachchhi, is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat as well as in Sindh.- Closely related languages :...
, with large Sindhi
Sindhi language
Sindhi is the language of the Sindh region of Pakistan that is spoken by the Sindhi people. In India, it is among 22 constitutionally recognized languages, where Sindhis are a sizeable minority. It is spoken by 53,410,910 people in Pakistan, according to the national government's Statistics Division...
loanwords. All the Maldhari are Sunnis. Here is a list of the larger communities.
- BafanBafanThe Bafan are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of Maldhari pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.-History and origin:...
- BayadBayad (tribe)The Bayad are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India.-History and origin:The community get their name from the village of Bayad in Sabarkantha District, and are Rajput converts to Islam. According to their traditions, the accampanied a Rajput prince as he reestablished his...
- ChakeeChakeeThe Chakee are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. A small number are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan.-History and origin:...
- HalaypotraHalaypotraThe Halaypotra are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of Maldhari pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.-History and origin:...
- HingoraHingoraThe Hingora are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of Maldhari pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.-History and origin:...
- HingorjaHingorjaThe Hingorja are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.-History and origin:...
- JunejaJunejoJunejo is the name of a Samma Sindhi Rajput tribe in Sindh and in some parts of India mostly in Rajasthan. Among the Sindhi Hindu community Juneja is a common surname and many Juneja people originally from Sindh migrated to India during the independence in 1947. Junejo are also known as Jam in...
- KerKer (tribe)The Ker are a Muslim Rajput community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.-History and origin:...
- KhaskheliKhaskheliKhasakhel is a tribe in Sindh. This a warrior clan which came with Mohammad Bin Qasim and defeated Raja Dahir. After the death of Mohammad Bin Qasim they stayed in subcontinent and spread the Islamic religion...
- Meta QureshiMeta QureshiThe Meta Qureshi are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch...
- MutwaMutwaThe Mutwa are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of Maldhari pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.-History and origin:...
- NodeNode (tribe)The Node are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch. The community is also known sd Nodi or Nodhi...
- RaysipotraRaysipotraThe Raysipotra are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch.-History and origin:...
- RoymaRoymaThe Royma are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch. The community is also known as Raheema, especially in Sindh.-History and origin:The Royma...
- Samma
- SangharSanghar (tribe)The Sanghar are a partly Hindu and partly Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India.-History and origin:According their traditions, the community are a branch of the Manka community. According to there tradition, the community was nomadic, until the came to an agreement with the...
- SoomraSoomroSoomro or Soomra is a Sindhi tribe in Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan, Pakistan.- History and origin :The Soomra Dynasty was established by the Soomro tribe of Sindh. The Soomra ruled Sindh from 750-1351. Following the 985 CE expulsion of the Qarmatian Muslim sect from Iraq and Egypt, the...
- ThebaTheba (tribe)The Theba are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and a province of Sindh in Pakistan. They are one of a number of communities of pastoral nomads found in the Banni region of Kutch...
Artisans
| Community | Sect | Traditional Occupation | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdal Abdal (caste) The Abdal are Muslim community found in North India. They are a sub-group within the Faqir community. - Origin :The Abdal are one of a number of Muslim semi-nomadic community, traditionally associated with begging at shrines of Sufi saints. They are likely to be a division of the Domba community... |
Sunni Sufi | singing and begging at Sufi shrines | Ahmedabad Ahmedabad Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad... |
| Ansari Momin Ansari The Momin Ansari or Ansari, are a Muslim community, found mainly in West and North India, and the province of Sindh in Pakistan. A small number of Ansaris are also found in the Terai region of Nepal. The community were once known as al ansar, although the term is now obsolete. In North India, the... |
Sunni | weavers | Junagarh Junagadh district Junagadh District is a district of the Indian state of Gujarat. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Junagadh.-Geography:The district is located on the Kathiawar peninsula in western Gujarat. It is surrounded by Rajkot District , Porbandar District , Amreli District... , Surat Surat district Surat is a district in the state of Gujarat India with Surat city as the administrative headquarters of this district. It is surrounded by Bharuch, Narmada , Navsari and Dang districts. To the west is the Gulf of Cambay. It is the second-most advanced district in Gujarat... , Ahmedabad and Bharuch Bharuch district Bharuch in India, is a district in the southern part of the Gujarat peninsula on the west coast of state of Gujarat with a size and population comparable to that of Greater Boston... |
| Attarwala Attarwala - History and origin :The Attarwala claim to be descended from a group of Hazara soldiers who were initially settled in Agra, during the rule of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. According to their recorded documents, they then migrated to Ahmedabad via Gwalior, Ratlam and Godhra. This migration... |
Shia | perfumers | Ahmedabad Ahmedabad Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad... |
| Bhadala | Sunni | fishermen and sailors | Kutch District Kutch District Kutch district is a district of Gujarat state in western India. Covering an area of 45,652 km², it is the largest district of India.... |
| Bharbhunja Bharbhunja The Bharbhunja are a Muslim community found in the states of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh in India. In Uttar Pradesh, the community are also known as Bharbhunja Shaikh.- Origin :... |
Sunni | grain parchers | Ahmedabad Ahmedabad Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad... and Surat Surat Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper... |
| Bhishti | Sunni | water carriers | Ahmadabad |
| Chhipa Chhipa The Chhipa are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. A few Chhipa are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan.-History and origin:Chhipa is also hindu community which belives in Sant Namdev... |
(Sunni Barelvi Barelvi Barelvi is a term used for the movement of Sufi , Sunni Islam originating in the Indian subcontinent.The Movement is known as Ahle Sunnat movement to its followers.... /Deobandi) |
calico printers | throughout Gujarat |
| Chundrigar Chundrigar The Chundrigar are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. A few are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan.-History and origin:... |
Sunni | silk knot printers | |
| Chunara Chunara The Chunara are an ethnic group found in the state of Gujarat in India. A small number are also found in the port city of Karachi in Pakistan. There are in fact now two communities of Chunara, one Hindu and the other Muslim.-Origin:... |
Sunni | manufacturers of lime | |
| Dhobi Muslim Dhobi The Muslim Dhobi are a Muslim community that is traditionally involved in washing clothes in South Asia. They are considered to be Muslim converts from the Hindu Dhobi caste, and are found in North India and Pakistan... |
Sunni | washermen | |
| Dhuldhoya Dhuldhoya - History and origin :The community get their name Dhuldhoya from the Hindi word dhul-dhone ka kam or straining dust and separating gold particles. They claim to be a community of Shaikh Muslims who emigrated from Mawasa in Kota District of Rajasthan to different parts of Gujarat. The community is... |
Sunni | ||
| Faqir Faqir (caste) The Faqir are a Muslim ethnic group found in India. They are also known as Shah Alvi or Sain in North India, which is now their preferred self-designation and in West Bengal, they are known as Sahajia... |
mendicants | ||
| Galiara Galiara - History and origin :The Galiara derive their name from the Gujarati word gali which means indigo. People who are engaged in the extraction of indigo and dyeing are referred to as Galiara. They are found throughout Gujarat. According to their traditions, the community were originally Rajputs, who... |
Sunni | ||
| Ghanchi Ghanchi (Muslim) The Ghanchi are a Gujarati Muslim community found in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India. A small number of Ghanchi are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan. - Origin :... |
Sunni | oil pressers | |
| Ghanchi-Pinjara Ghanchi-Pinjara The Ghanchi-Pinjara are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. A small number of Ghanchi are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan. - Origin :... |
Sunni | oil pressers | |
| Kadia Kadia (Muslim) The Kadia are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are Muslim converts from the Hindu Kadia caste.-History and origin:The Kadia are a community of masons and bricklayers... |
Sunni | ||
| Kagzi Kagzi The Kagzi are a Muslim community found in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra in India.- History and origin :The term Kagzi in Urdu means a manufacturer of paper, from the word kagaz or paper... |
Sunni | paper manufacturers | |
| Khalipha Khalipha Khalifa is a Muslim community of Gujarat in India and Sindh in Pakistan. Their traditional occupation is usually as folk singers or musicians. Most Khaliphas are Sunni Muslims. They form one of the sub-groups of the Gujarati Muslims.... |
Sunni | barbours | |
| Khateek Khateek The Khatik is a Kshatriya, Rajput ancestry and the etymology of the word Khatik comes from Sanskrit Khat+eek, which means orders of Priest in the Yaga Mandapam to stroke sacrifice of animal during Vedic Yagas by none other than Rajput, Kshatriya i.e... |
Sunni | goat meat butchers | |
| Langha Langha (tribe) The Langha or Langah are a Muslim community found in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India. They are unrelated to the Langah tribe of southern Pakistan.- History and origin :... |
Sunni | ||
| Machiyar Machiyar The Machiyar are Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They also known as the Machhi.-History and origin:The Machiyar are fishing community distributed throughout the coastal areas of Gujarat from Kutch to south Gujarat. They are first said to have settled at Patan, the historic... |
Sunni | fishermen | |
| Manihar Manihar The Manihar or more commonly referred to as the Siddiqui Manihar, are a Muslim community, found mainly in North India, and the province of Sindh in Pakistan. A small number of Manihar are also found in the Terai region of Nepal.-History and origin:... |
Sunni | bangle makers | through out Gujarat |
| Mansoori Mansoori The Mansoori are Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are part of the larger Pinjara community which is found throughout North India.-History and origin:... |
Sunni | cotton carders | through out Gujarat |
| Mirasi Mirasi The Mirasi are a Muslim or Sikh caste, found in Northern India and Pakistan. They are also known as Pakhwaji, Kalawart and Qawwal.The Mirasi community are the genealogists of a number of communities in Northern India and Pakistan. Most Mirasis are Muslim, but Rababi and Dhadi sub-groups are... |
Sunni | genealogist | through out Gujarat |
| Multani Multani (caste) The Multani are Muslim, Sikh and Hindu community found in the states of Gujarat and Punjab in India.- History and origin :The community derives its name from the city of Multan, situated in Pakistan. Multani literally means an inhabitant of the city of Multan. They are said to have immigrated from... |
Sunni | ||
| Multani Lohar Multani Lohar - History and origin :The community claims to be Rajputs who converted to Islam. They were originally settled in the city of Multan, and were brought to Jodhpur by its ruler to manufacture cannonballs. Over time, these Multani Lohars immigrated to Gujarat. Their dialect of Gujarati still contains... |
Sunni | ||
| Muslim Rangrez Muslim Rangrez The Rangrez are a Muslim community found in North India. They are also known as Sabagh. Many members of Muslim Rangrez community have migrated to Pakistan after independence and have settled in Karachi, Sindh.-History and origin:... |
Sunni | dyers | through out Gujarat |
| Nagori Nagori (caste) The Nagori are Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They also known as the Nagori Lohar.- History and origin :The community claims to be Rajputs who converted to Islam. They were originally settled in the city of Nagaur, and Nagori literally means an inhabitant of Nagaur. They... |
Sunni | blacksmiths | through out Gujarat |
| Panar Panar The Panar are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India.-History and origin:The word panar in the Gujarati language means a weaver, the traditional occupation of the community. They claim to have come from Central Asia and settled in the city of Patan, the historic capital of Gujarat... |
Sunni | weavers | Dholka Dholka Dholka is a city and municipality in the Ahmedabad District of the Indian state of Gujarat. With an average elevation of , Dholka is considered "India's first municipality".-History:... in Ahmedabad District |
| Salaat Salaat (Muslim) The Salaat are Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are Muslim converts from the Hindu Salaat caste.-History and Origins:... |
Sunni | stone masons | Palanpur District |
| Soni | Sunni | goldsmiths | through out Gujarat |
| Turk Jamat Turk Jamat The Turk Jamat are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. Many members of Turk Jamat Muslim community migrated to Pakistan after the independence in 1947 and settled in Karachi.-History and origin:... |
Sunni | soldiers | Kathiawar Kathiawar Kathiawar or Kathiawad is a peninsula in western India, which is part of the Saurashtra region on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat state. It is bounded on the north by the great wetland of the Rann of Kutch, on the northwest by the Gulf of Kutch, on the west and south by the Arabian Sea, and on... |
| Tai Tai (caste) The Tai are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. There is also a large diaspora in the city of Karachi in Pakistan.- History and origin :... |
Mahdawi | weavers | Viramgam Viramgam Viramgam is a city and a municipality in Ahmedabad district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Geography:Viramgam is located at . It has an average elevation of 32 metres... , Dharangadhra and Ahmadabad |
Notable persons
There are many notable Gujarati Muslims:- Muhammad Ali JinnahMuhammad Ali JinnahMuhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
- Badruddin Tyabji
- Ismail MerchantIsmail MerchantIsmail Merchant was an Indian-born film producer, best known for the results of his famously long collaboration with Merchant Ivory Productions which included director James Ivory as well as screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala...
- Hashim AmlaHashim AmlaHashim Mahomed Amla is a South African cricketer. A right-handed upper order batsman and occasional medium-pace bowler, Amla bats at number 3 for South Africa in Test matches and has opened in limited overs contests. He is currently ranked as the No...
- Abu Bakr Osman Mitha
- Azim PremjiAzim PremjiAzim Hashim Premji is an Indian business tycoon and philanthropist who is the chairman of Wipro Limited, guiding the company through four decades of diversification and growth to emerge as one of the Indian leader in the software industry...
- Tiger MemonTiger MemonIbrahim Mushtaq Abdul Razak Nadim Memon better known by his nickname Tiger Memon is an Indian gangster and the prime suspect in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case and is wanted by Interpol and the CBI. He is a member of the D-Company gang and is a trusted lieutenant of its leader, Dawood Ibrahim...
- Ejaz LakdawalaEjaz LakdawalaEjaz Lakdawala is one of the most wanted gangsters from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.In May 2003, he was rumored to have been killed when Dawood's gang-members, also known as D-Company, angered by his allegiance to Chota Rajan, opened fire at him in a crowded market in Bangkok...
- Ahmed PatelAhmed PatelAhmed Patel is a senior leader of Indian National Congress party. He is the present political secretary to Congress President and Leader Sonia Gandhi. Patel is among the core think tank of the INC today. He is one of the crucial leaders in the decision making process of the party at national level...
- Irfan PathanIrfan PathanIrfan Pathan is an Indian cricketer who made his debut for India in late-2003 and was a core member of the national team until a decline in form set in during 2006, forcing him out of the team...
- Munaf PatelMunaf PatelMunaf Musa Patel Urdu:مناف موسی پٹیل is an Indian cricketer who has also played for the West Zone in the Duleep Trophy and Gujarat, Mumbai cricket team and Maharashtra cricket team....
- Anees BazmeeAnees BazmeeAnees Bazmee is an Indian film director, film writer, Screenplay writer who works in the Bollywood film industry.-Career:Bazmee started his career in 1988, as a dialogue writer for the film Hum Farishte Nahin. He then took a year break, and returned in 1990 as a writer for the film Swarg, which was...
- Sajid NadiadwalaSajid Nadiadwala- Career :Nadiadwala started as an AC Technician and then later worked as spot boy and graduated to become production assistant in his uncle's production house before establishing his own production company called "Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment"...
- Ismail DarbarIsmail DarbarIsmail Darbar is an Indian composer and violinist, a popular name in Bollywood.-Career:Ismail Darbar is from Surat, Gujarat. He worked for several years as a session violinist for leading music directors Laxmikant Pyarelal, Kalyanji Anandji, Bappi Lahiri, Rajesh Roshan, Anand-Milind,...
- Salim Merchant
- Yusuf PathanYusuf PathanYusuf Pathan is an Indian cricketer. Pathan made his debut in first-class cricket in 2001/02. He is a powerful and aggressive batsman and a right-arm offbreak bowler. His brother Irfan Pathan is also an Indian cricketer...
- Ahmed DeedatAhmed DeedatAhmed Hussein Deedat was a Muslim writer and public speaker of Indian South African descent. He was best known for his numerous inter-religious public debates with evangelical Christians, as well as pioneering video lectures, most of which centered around Islam, Christianity and the Bible...
- Noureen DeWulfNoureen DeWulfNoureen DeWulf is an Indian American actress. She is best known for her roles in films like West Bank Story, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, and The Back-Up Plan.-Early life:...
- Dhiren BarotDhiren BarotDhiren Barot is a convicted terrorist from the United Kingdom.-Background:...
- Murad VelshiMurad VelshiMurad Velshi is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He is an Indian Muslim who lived in Kenya and migrated to Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 1990.-Background:...
- Ali VelshiAli VelshiAli Velshi is a Canadian-American television journalist best known for his work on CNN. He is CNN's Chief Business Correspondent, Anchor of CNN's Wake Up Call and a co-host of CNN's weekday morning show American Morning.-Personal life:...
- Rizwan ManjiRizwan ManjiRizwan Manji is a Indo-Canadian actor. He is chiefly notable for his role as Rajiv in the now cancelled NBC Universal TV series Outsourced....
- Moazzam Mirza
- Muhammad Zaman MirzaMuhammad Zaman MirzaMuhammad Zaman Mirza was a Timurid descendant and General of Mughal Emperors Babur and Humayun, he was briefly ruler of Gujarat in 1537. He tried to exert his independence early on but was imprisoned at Bayana by order of Emperor Humayun, but he managed to escape and took refuge in Gujarat...
- mohammed wasim qureshi
Cuisine
The cuisine of the Gujarati Muslims is exactly identical to that of traditional Gujarati dishesGujarati cuisine
Gujarati cuisine refers to the cuisine of the Gujaratis from India, who are predominant in western India. It is primarily a vegetarian cuisine, despite having an extensive coastline for sea food, due influence of Jain vegetarianism and traditional Hinduism...
. However, meat is incorporated in their cuisines, which is rarely eaten in vegetarian Gujarat. Meat is eaten by Gujarati Muslims primarily in their own respective households. Such examples are chicken, fish, eggs, goat, and lamb are consumed, especially the last two for Eid al-Adha which involves sacrificing an animal of that kind for the recognition on how the Prophet Ibrahim
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
(Abraham) sacrificed his son, Ismail
Ishmael
Ishmael is a figure in the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an, and was Abraham's first born child according to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Ishmael was born of Abraham's marriage to Sarah's handmaiden Hagar...
(Ishmael) to Allah
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
. Beef seems to be a rarity of being eaten, although they happen to consume it as well.
See also
- Islam in IndiaIslam in IndiaIslam is the second-most practiced religion in the Republic of India after Hinduism, with more than 13.4% of the country's population ....
TwoCircles.net series on Gujarat's Muslims