Bihari Muslims
Total population | |
---|---|
13,722,048[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
• India • Pakistan• Bangladesh • United States • Canada • Australia | |
Languages | |
• Urdu • Hindi • Bihari | |
Religion | |
• Islam • | |
Related ethnic groups | |
• Bihari peoples |
Bihari Muslims are people originating and tracing descent from the Indian State of Bihar, who practice Islam as their religion. Bihari Muslims mainly practice Sunni Islam of the Hanafi creed, though a small Shia minority exists.
Origin
Islam in Bihar is said to have been established in the 9-15th century with the arrivals of Sufi missionaries as well as Sunni rulers.
About 3 millions of Bihari Muslims migrated to Pakistan and Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) after independence.
Society
The majority of educated Bihari Muslims formally speak Urdu, while in the vernacular speak in the Bihari dialect. The Muslims of Bihar have wealth rates comparable to rest of India.
Muslims are spread throughout the State of Bihar, but are mainly concentrated in some Districts of Bihar, especially Kishanganj, Katihar, Araria, Purnia, Bhagalpur, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Champaran, Samastipur, Madhepura, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Nawada, Gaya, Jehanabad and Muzaffarpur.
Distribution by district
Number | District | Headquarters | Population (2001) | Muslim population | Percentage |
1 | Kishanganj | Kishanganj | 1,296,348 | 1,011,151 | 78% |
2 | Katihar | Katihar | 2,392,638 | 1,017,495 | 43% |
3 | Araria | Araria | 2,158,608 | 887,972 | 41% |
4 | Purnia | Purnia | 2,543,942 | 935,239 | 37% |
5 | Darbhanga | Darbhanga | 3,295,789 | 748,971 | 23% |
6 | Sitamarhi | Sitamarhi | 2,682,720 | 568,992 | 21% |
7 | West Champaran | Bettiah | 3,043,466 | 646,597 | 21% |
8 | East Champaran | Motihari | 3,939,773 | 755,005 | 19% |
9 | Bhagalpur | Bhagalpur | 2,423,172 | 423,246 | 18% |
10 | Madhubani | Madhubani | 3,575,281 | 641,579 | 18% |
11 | Siwan | Siwan | 2,714,349 | 494,176 | 18% |
12 | Gopalganj | Gopalganj | 2,152,638 | 367,219 | 17% |
13 | Supaul | Supaul | 1,732,578 | 302,120 | 17% |
14 | Sheohar | Sheohar | 515,961 | 80,076 | 16% |
15 | Muzaffarpur | Muzaffarpur | 3,746,714 | 573,951 | 15% |
16 | Saharsa | Saharsa | 1,508,182 | 217,922 | 14% |
17 | Begusarai | Begusarai | 2,349,366 | 313,713 | 13% |
18 | Banka | Banka | 1,608,773 | 190,051 | 12% |
19 | Gaya | Gaya | 3,473,428 | 403,439 | 12% |
20 | Jamui | Jamui | 1,398,796 | 170,334 | 12% |
21 | Nawada | Nawada | 1,809,696 | 204,457 | 11% |
22 | Madhepura | Madhepura | 1,526,646 | 173,605 | 11% |
23 | Aurangabad | Aurangabad | 2,013,055 | 221,436 | 11% |
24 | Kaimur | Bhabua | 1,289,074 | 123,048 | 10% |
25 | Khagaria | Khagaria | 1,280,354 | 131,441 | 10% |
26 | Rohtas | Sasaram | 2,450,748 | 246,760 | 10% |
27 | Samastipur | Samastipur | 3,394,793 | 355,897 | 10% |
28 | Saran | Chhapra | 3,248,701 | 337,767 | 10% |
29 | Vaishali | Hajipur | 2,718,421 | 259,158 | 10% |
30 | Jehanabad | Jehanabad | 1,514,315 | 124,149 | 8% |
31 | Munger | Munger | 1,137,797 | 89,791 | 8% |
32 | Patna | Patna | 4,718,592 | 366,164 | 8% |
33 | Bhojpur | Arrah | 2,243,144 | 163,193 | 7% |
34 | Nalanda | Bihar Sharif | 2,370,528 | 176,871 | 7% |
35 | Sheikhpura | Sheikhpura | 525,502 | 37,755 | 7% |
37 | Buxar | Buxar | 1,402,396 | 86,382 | 6% |
38 | Lakhisarai | Lakhisarai | 802,225 | 35,378 | 4% |
Diaspora
During the Partition of India in the summer of 1947 many Bihari Muslims migrated to both Pakistan and Bangladesh. The majority (approx 3 million) went to Pakistan and settled down in the Province of Sindh, especially in Karachi. The Pakistanis of Bihari origin are classed under Muhajirs. Those that went to Bangladesh lived in Dhaka where they remain till now. Many of them have gained voting rights and many are termed as Stranded Pakistanis.
References
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