| Total population |
|---|
| 33,000 approx[1] |
| Regions with significant populations |
| • India • |
| Languages |
| Religion |
|
• Islam • |
The Malik (or Malick, Mallick, Urdu: ملک) are a Muslim community found in the state of Bihar in India.[2] In addition, they are also found in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal; Bangladesh and a few of them are settled in Canada, United States, United Kingdom, and some other parts of the world, but large numbers of them migrated to Pakistan after 1947.
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The group traces its origin to Ibrahim Malick, a Sufi born in Kamta (Afghanistan), descended from ancestors who had migrated there from Baghdad to escape persecution at the hands of the Abbasids. Ibrahim Malick came to India in 740 Hijri (1339 AD), where he served as a general in Sultan Mohammad Tughlaq's army. After several successful battles and campaigns he received the title of Mallick Biya from the Sultan Tughlaq, and was later appointed the Governor of the district of Bihar by the Sultan's son.
The descendants of the eight children of Ibrahim Malik Biya multiplied over 600 years and constituted a significant portion of the Muslim community in Bihar. The Muslim population of Bihar was around 13% before the partition of India in 1947. At that time, Maliks constituted about 25% of the Muslim population of Bihar, mostly concentrated in the villages and towns in the Districts of Patna, Nalanda, Gaya, Jehanabad, Nawada, Arrah, Jamui, shekhpura and Munger.
After the division of India, a great number of Malik families migrated to Pakistan and Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) and some of these villages may not have now a single Maliks family there. However, the names of these villages are still of historical importance and for the purpose of record and identification of the Maliks whose forefathers hailed from these villages.
As the Maliks migrated during the Abbasids regime to Afghanistan then to India it possesses the many Arab and adopted some Afghan values as well. They only marry in family and it is not appreciated outside community even after 600 years. It helps to still maintain the family characteristics like fair colour, tall height, brown eyes and hair unlike the natives of Bihar.
The Maliks are a relatively educationaly advanced community, having provided many professionals (scholars, educationists, chartered accountants, writers, poets, judges, film and theatre artistes, higher civil and army, navy and airforce officers, medical doctors, advocates, barristers, engineers, players, businessmen), and have played an important leadership role among the Bihari Muslims in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and other countries of the world.
The majority of the Maliks community of Bihar is highly qualified and well educated. In past and recent years, a number of Maliks have migrated and settled to the USA, Canada, UK, European countries and to the Middle East for higher education and for economic reasons.