Bihari Muslims
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 17.5 million in Bihar alone | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
•        | |
| Languages | |
| • Urdu • Hindi • Surjapuri • Maithili • Bhojpuri[1] | |
| Religion | |
•  | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Bihari peoples • Indian Muslims |
Bihari Muslims are people originating and tracing descent from the Indian state of Bihar who practice the religion of Islam.
The vast majority of Bihari Muslims are followers of the Sunni sect and even in pre-Mughal Bihar, all the Ulemas, Mullas and Sufis were Sunnis.[2] There is however a significant community of Shia Muslims residing in Patna who descend from settlers from Lucknow who came in the 1800's.[3]
Origin
In common with the rest of India, the overwhelming majority of Muslims in Bihar are descended from native converts from various caste groups.[4] The rise in the Muslim population can traced to the early twelfth century with many conversions taking place during the rule of the Sur Empire which had its capital in Sasaram, Bihar.[5]
History
Many Bihari Muslims migrated to Pakistan and Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) after independence in 1947.[6]
They played a large role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 with many Bihari Muslims fighting on the side of Pakistani army and joining militant organisations like Al-Badr and Al-Shams.[7]
Society
Muslims are spread throughout the State of Bihar, but are mainly concentrated in some districts, especially Kishanganj, Katihar, Araria, Purnia, Bhagalpur, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Champaran, Siwan, Samastipur, Madhepura, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Nawada, Gaya, Jehanabad and Muzaffarpur.
Distribution by district
| Number | District | Population (2001) | Muslim population | Percentage |
| 1 | Kishanganj | 1,296,348 | 1,011,151 | 68% |
| 2 | Katihar | 2,392,638 | 1,017,495 | 44% |
| 3 | Araria | 2,158,608 | 887,972 | 42% |
| 4 | Purnia | 2,543,942 | 935,239 | 38% |
| 5 | Darbhanga | 3,295,789 | 748,971 | 23% |
| 6 | Sitamarhi | 2,682,720 | 568,992 | 21% |
| 7 | West Champaran | 3,043,466 | 646,597 | 21% |
| 8 | East Champaran | 3,939,773 | 755,005 | 19% |
| 9 | Bhagalpur | 2,423,172 | 423,246 | 18% |
| 10 | Madhubani | 3,575,281 | 641,579 | 18% |
| 11 | Siwan | 2,714,349 | 494,176 | 18% |
| 12 | Gopalganj | 2,152,638 | 367,219 | 17% |
| 13 | Supaul | 1,732,578 | 302,120 | 17% |
| 14 | Sheohar | 515,961 | 80,076 | 16% |
| 15 | Muzaffarpur | 3,746,714 | 573,951 | 15% |
| 16 | Saharsa | 1,508,182 | 217,922 | 14% |
| 17 | Begusarai | 2,349,366 | 313,713 | 13% |
| 18 | Banka | 1,608,773 | 190,051 | 12% |
| 19 | Gaya | 3,473,428 | 403,439 | 12% |
| 20 | Jamui | 1,398,796 | 170,334 | 12% |
| 21 | Nawada | 1,809,696 | 204,457 | 11% |
| 22 | Madhepura | 1,526,646 | 173,605 | 11% |
| 23 | Aurangabad | 2,013,055 | 221,436 | 11% |
| 24 | Kaimur | 1,289,074 | 123,048 | 10% |
| 25 | Khagaria | 1,280,354 | 131,441 | 10% |
| 26 | Rohtas | 2,450,748 | 246,760 | 10% |
| 27 | Samastipur | 3,394,793 | 355,897 | 10% |
| 28 | Saran | 3,248,701 | 337,767 | 10% |
| 29 | Vaishali | 2,718,421 | 259,158 | 10% |
| 30 | Jehanabad | 1,514,315 | 124,149 | 8% |
| 31 | Munger | 1,337,797 | 98,791 | 7.4% |
| 32 | Patna | 4,718,592 | 366,164 | 8% |
| 33 | Bhojpur | 2,243,144 | 163,193 | 7% |
| 34 | Nalanda | 2,370,528 | 176,871 | 7% |
| 35 | Sheikhpura | 525,502 | 37,755 | 7% |
| 37 | Buxar | 1,402,396 | 86,382 | 6% |
| 38 | Lakhisarai | 802,225 | 35,378 | 4% |
Sum total of this table is 14,780,500 Muslims out of 83.0 millions total population in 2001 census, hence Muslims were 16.5% of total population in Bihar. In 2011 census, total population grew to 103.9985 millions, of which 16.9% or 17,557,809 were Muslims.[9] During 2001–2011, Muslims grew by 33.433%, while non-Muslims grew by 23.537%. District-wise break up by religions for 2011 is not available.
Muslim communities
References
- ↑ "Case of Bhojpuri and Hindi in Mauritius". lexpress.mu. 27 July 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ↑ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=znJuAAAAMAAJ&q=sunni+shia+bihar&dq=sunni+shia+bihar&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwijo7ikm7vdAhWkI8AKHTBfD5sQ6AEIRzAG
- ↑ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=gCnRzJwcqSQC&pg=PA26&dq=shia+muslims+in+patna&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi724-0m7vdAhWFBsAKHeI9DlMQ6AEIJDAA#v=onepage&q=shia%20muslims%20in%20patna&f=false
- ↑ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=cmhDAAAAYAAJ&q=bihari+muslims+native+converts&dq=bihari+muslims+native+converts&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjr9ZWZ57rdAhXiJsAKHS0mCGQQ6AEILjAC
- ↑ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MoAyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT117&dq=bihari+muslims+native+converts&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiyzvnJ57rdAhVKL8AKHbs_Dx4Q6AEINzAE#v=onepage&q=bihari%20muslims%20native%20converts&f=false
- ↑ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VxpBDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT43&dq=bihari+muslims+migrants&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiP85ag6LrdAhWGXsAKHSrEBSQQ6AEIJDAA
- ↑ D'Costa, Bina (2011). Nationbuilding, Gender and War Crimes in South Asia. Routledge. p. 103.
- ↑ "Error Value". www.censusindia.gov.in. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016.
- ↑ Singh, Vijaita (25 August 2015). "Bihar elections among factors in religious data of Census 2011 release". Archived from the original on 30 December 2017 – via www.thehindu.com.