Bihari Muslims
Encyclopedia
Bihari Muslims are people originating and tracing descent from the India
n 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.
About 3 millions of Bihari Muslims migrated to Pakistan and Bangladesh (then Pakistan) after independence.
, 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 Purnia
, Katihar
, Bhagalpur
, Madhubani
, Sitamarhi
, Champaran, Samastipur
, Madhepura
, Darbhanga
, Begusarai
, Munger
, Nawada
, Nalanda
, Gaya
, Jehanabad
and Muzaffarpur
.
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 clubbed 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.
and local Hindu
Bihari traditions. Shab-e-Baraat and Milad-un-Nabi is widely celebrated by Bihari Muslims ,as are festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. The majority of Bihari Muslims follow the Barelwi
movement of Sunni Islam
, although a large Deobandi
and Ahle Hadees minority exists especially in the northern districts. Sectarian conflict among Bihari Muslims is very rare and all the different sects live in peace and harmony. The differences in matters of Aqeedah are confined to the Mosque
and rarely boil over into public life. The major differences are between Ashraf and Afjal Muslims.
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...
n State of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, who practice Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
as their religion. Bihari Muslims mainly practice Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites....
of the Hanafi
Hanafi
The Hanafi school is one of the four Madhhab in jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. The Hanafi madhhab is named after the Persian scholar Abu Hanifa an-Nu‘man ibn Thābit , a Tabi‘i whose legal views were preserved primarily by his two most important disciples, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad al-Shaybani...
creed , though a small Shia minority exists.
Origin
Islam in Bihar is said to have been established in the 10-15th century with the arrivals of Sufi missionaries as well as Sunni rulers.About 3 millions of Bihari Muslims migrated to Pakistan and Bangladesh (then Pakistan) after independence.
Society
The majority of educated Bihari Muslims formally speak UrduUrdu
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...
, while in the vernacular speak in the Bihari dialect
Bihari languages
Bihari is a name given to the western group of Eastern Indic languages, spoken in Bihar and neighboring states in India. Angika, Bajjika, Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Maithili are spoken in Nepal as well. The Angika, Bajjika, Bhojpuri, Magahi and Maithili speaking population form more than 21% of Nepalese...
. The Muslims of Bihar have wealth rates comparable to rest of India.
Muslims are spread throughout the State of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, but are mainly concentrated in some Districts of Bihar
Districts of Bihar
Bihar, a state of India, has currently thirty-eight administrative districts.A district of an Indian state is an administrative geographical unit, headed by a district magistrate or a deputy commissioner, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service...
, especially Purnia
Purnia District
Purnia district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India. The town of Purnia is the administrative headquarters of this district.Purnia district is a part of Purnia Division...
, Katihar
Katihar District
Katihar district is one of the thirty-seven districts of Bihar state, India, and Katihar town is the administrative headquarters of this district...
, Bhagalpur
Bhagalpur District
Bhagalpur district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Bhagalpur town is the administrative headquarters of this district.-Geography:...
, Madhubani
Madhubani District
Madhubani District is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Madhubani town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Madhubani district is a part of Darbhanga Division. The district occupies an area of 3501 km² and has a population of 3,570,651...
, Sitamarhi
Sitamarhi District
Sitamarhi is one of the districts of Bihar state, India, and Sitamarhi town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Sitamarhi district is a part of Tirhut Division.- History :...
, Champaran, Samastipur
Samastipur District
Samastipur is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar in India. The district headquarters are located at Samastipur. The district occupies an area of 2904 km² and has a population of 27,16,929 .- History :...
, Madhepura
Madhepura District
Madhepura district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Madhepura town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Madhepura district is a part of Kosi division.-History:...
, Darbhanga
Darbhanga District
Darbhanga district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state in eastern India, and Darbhanga town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Darbhanga district is a part of Darbhanga Division...
, Begusarai
Begusarai District
Begusarai District is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Begusarai town is the administrative headquarters of this district.-Etymology:The name of the district apparently comes from "Begum" + "Sarai"...
, Munger
Munger District
Munger district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state in eastern India. Munger town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Munger district is a part of Munger Division. Its literacy rate of 73.3% is higher than the state literacy rate of 63.8% and lower than national...
, Nawada
Nawada District
Nawada district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Nawada town is the administrative headquarters of this district. The district was part of famous Magadh, Sunga and Gupta empires. It is located between historical districts of Nalanda and Gaya and falls under Magadha...
, Nalanda
Nalanda District
Nalanda district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Bihar Sharif town is the administrative headquarters of this district...
, Gaya
Gaya District
Gaya is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India. The district is having a common boundary with the Jharkhand state in the south. Gaya city is its largest city and the district headquarters.-History:...
, Jehanabad
Jehanabad District
Jehanabad district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Jehanabad town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Jehanabad district is a part of Magadh Division. This district is 45 k.m nearby of Patna, the capital of Bihar.Jehanabad is located on the...
and Muzaffarpur
Muzaffarpur
Muzaffarpur Town is a town in Muzaffarpur district in the Indian state of Bihar. It serves as the headquarters of Muzaffarpur district and Tirhut division....
.
Distribution by District
| Number | District | Headquarters | Population (2001) | Muslim population | Percentage | |
| 1 | Kishanganj Kishanganj District Kishanganj district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Kishanganj town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Kishanganj district is a part of Purnia division.-History:... |
Kishanganj Kishanganj Kishanganj is headquarters of Kishanganj district in the Indian state of Bihar.-Geography:Kishanganj is a town and district headquarter of Kishangnj district in Purnea division of Bihar state, but gographically and culturally it is part of the north Bengal.It is part of the chicken neck of Indian... |
1,296,348 | 1,011,151 | 78% | |
| 2 | Katihar Katihar District Katihar district is one of the thirty-seven districts of Bihar state, India, and Katihar town is the administrative headquarters of this district... |
Katihar Katihar Katihar is a town situated in the north eastern part of Bihar state in India. It is headquarters of Katihar district.- Geography :Katihar is located at... |
2,392,638 | 1,017,495 | 43% | |
| 3 | Araria Araria District Araria district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Araria town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Araria district is a part of Purnia division. The district occupies an area of 2830 km².-Origin of name:... |
Araria Araria Araria is a town and a municipality that is headquarters of Araria district in the state of Bihar, India.-Geography:Araria is located at . It has an average elevation of 47 metres . Araria is situated at the northern part of Purnia and Madhepura in Bihar... |
2,158,608 | 887,972 | 41% | |
| 4 | Purnia Purnia District Purnia district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India. The town of Purnia is the administrative headquarters of this district.Purnia district is a part of Purnia Division... |
Purnia Purnia Purnia is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Purnia district of the Indian state of Bihar. It is located 400 km from Patna.The Indian army, Border Security Force ,and the SSB and the have bases around the city... |
2,543,942 | 935,239 | 37% | |
| 5 | Darbhanga Darbhanga District Darbhanga district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state in eastern India, and Darbhanga town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Darbhanga district is a part of Darbhanga Division... |
Darbhanga Darbhanga Darbhangā is a twin city and a municipal corporation and the capital city of the Darbhanga district and Darbhanga Division in the state of Bihar, India. It is one of the most important districts of North Bihar situated in the very heart of Mithilanchal. According to the latest 2011 census, the... |
3,295,789 | 748,971 | 23% | |
| 6 | Sitamarhi Sitamarhi Sitamarhi is a town and the district headquarters of Sitamarhi district, Bihar, India.-History:The name Sitamarhi, derives from "Sitamahi", meaning "hermitage of Sita". It is the mythological birthplace of Sita, and the spiritual centre of many sages and saints.This district is often bereaved by... |
Sitamarhi Sitamarhi Sitamarhi is a town and the district headquarters of Sitamarhi district, Bihar, India.-History:The name Sitamarhi, derives from "Sitamahi", meaning "hermitage of Sita". It is the mythological birthplace of Sita, and the spiritual centre of many sages and saints.This district is often bereaved by... |
2,682,720 | 568,992 | 21% | |
| 7 | West Champaran West Champaran West Champaran is an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India. It is a part of Tirhut Division. The district headquarters are located at Bettiah.... |
Bettiah Bettiah Bettiah is the headquarters of West Champaran district in the state of Bihar, near the Indo-Nepal border, 225 Kilometres north-west of Patna. Bettiah, pronounced as 'Betiya', derived its name from 'baint'... |
3,043,466 | 646,597 | 21% | |
| 8 | East Champaran East Champaran East Champaran is an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India. The district headquarters are located at Motihari.The district occupies an area of 3969 km2 and has a population of 3,933,636 . East Champaran is a part of Tirhut Division... |
Motihari Motihari Motihari is the headquarters of East Champaran district in the Indian state of Bihar.-History:In 1866 Champaran was made into a district with Motihari as its headquarters. On 1 December 1977 the Champaran district was divided into two districts, and Motihari became the headquarters of East... |
3,939,773 | 755,005 | 19% | |
| 9 | Bhagalpur Bhagalpur District Bhagalpur district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Bhagalpur town is the administrative headquarters of this district.-Geography:... |
Bhagalpur Bhagalpur Bhagdattpuram was one of the most influential towns in "Aryavarta" . It is supposed to have been concurrent to Patliputra or Patna. Bhagdattpuram finds its mention in the Vedas and Ramayana as well. It is supposed to be the kingdom of Daanvir Karna, the son of Kunti and the Sun God... |
2,423,172 | 423,246 | 18% | |
| 10 | Madhubani Madhubani District Madhubani District is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Madhubani town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Madhubani district is a part of Darbhanga Division. The district occupies an area of 3501 km² and has a population of 3,570,651... |
Madhubani Madhubani Madhubani is a town and a municipality in Madhubani district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is the district headquarters. It lies 26 km northeast of Darbhanga town and was part of the erstwhile 'Bettiah Raj'. Internal disputes and family quarrels divided the Bettiah Raj in course of time.... |
3,575,281 | 641,579 | 18% | |
| 11 | Siwan Siwan Siwan may refer to* Sivan, a month of the Hebrew calendar* Siwan, Xichuan County , a town in Xichuan County, Henan, China* Siwan District, in the state of Bihar, India* Siwan, Bihar, the headquarters of the district... |
Siwan Siwan Siwan may refer to* Sivan, a month of the Hebrew calendar* Siwan, Xichuan County , a town in Xichuan County, Henan, China* Siwan District, in the state of Bihar, India* Siwan, Bihar, the headquarters of the district... |
2,714,349 | 494,176 | 18% | |
| 12 | Gopalganj Gopalganj District, India Gopalganj is the administrative district in the state of Bihar in India. The district headquarter is located in the town of Gopalganj and the district is a part of Saran Division. Languages spoken are Bhojpuri, Urdu and Hindi.-History:... |
Gopalganj Gopalganj, India Gopalganj is a town, municipality and the headquarter of Gopalganj district in the Indian state of Bihar which got independence from the old Saran district on October 2, 1973.-Geography:... |
2,152,638 | 367,219 | 17% | |
| 13 | Supaul Supaul Supaul is a town and a municipality that is headquarters of Supaul district in the Indian state of Bihar. Not far from this place is the Indian border connecting Nepal. The Supaul Town is the administrative headquarters of this district.... |
Supaul Supaul Supaul is a town and a municipality that is headquarters of Supaul district in the Indian state of Bihar. Not far from this place is the Indian border connecting Nepal. The Supaul Town is the administrative headquarters of this district.... |
1,732,578 | 302,120 | 17% | |
| 14 | Sheohar Sheohar District Sheohar is an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India. The district headquarters are located at Sheohar, and the district is a part of Tirhut Division. This district was carved out of Sitamarhi district in 1994... |
Sheohar Sheohar Sheohar is headquarters of Sheohar district.-Geography:Sheohar is located at coor 26.52N, 85.3E. It has an average elevation of 53 metres .The district contains five blocks: Piprahi, Purnahiya, Sheohar, Taryani and Dumri Katsari.... |
515,961 | 80,076 | 16% | |
| 15 | Muzaffarpur Muzaffarpur District Muzaffarpur District is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Muzaffarpur town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Muzaffarpur district is a part of Tirhut Division.... |
Muzaffarpur Muzaffarpur Muzaffarpur Town is a town in Muzaffarpur district in the Indian state of Bihar. It serves as the headquarters of Muzaffarpur district and Tirhut division.... |
3,746,714 | 573,951 | 15% | |
| 16 | Saharsa Saharsa District Saharsa is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar, India. Saharsa town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Saharsa district is a part of a larger territory, the Kosi Division and it became a district on 1 April 1954 and subsequently has become smaller with other districts being... |
Saharsa Saharsa Saharsa is a city and a municipality in the Saharsa district in the Indian state of Bihar in north India, east of the Kosi River. It is the administrative headquarters of the Saharsa District, and is in the Kosi Division. Sahrasa is also the name of the Parliamentary constituency, which contains... |
1,508,182 | 217,922 | 14% | |
| 17 | Begusarai Begusarai District Begusarai District is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Begusarai town is the administrative headquarters of this district.-Etymology:The name of the district apparently comes from "Begum" + "Sarai"... |
Begusarai Begusarai Begusarai is a city and a municipal council in Begusarai district in the state of Bihar, India. Begusarai had traditionally been a communist stronghold and it was earlier also referred to as the Leningrad of Bihar.- Recent history :... |
2,349,366 | 313,713 | 13% | |
| 18 | Banka Banka District Banka is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar in India.-History:Banka is the homeland of great revolutionary Satish Prasad Jha, one of seven martyrs who hoisted the flag of India at the Secretariat building near Patna on 11 August 1942. Jha was born in Khadihara near Dhakamod, Banka... |
Banka Banka, Bihar Banka is a city and a municipality in Banka district in the state of Bihar, India. The Hindi meaning of Banka is brave. Banka is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar in India. The district, part of Bhagalpur Division, has its headquarters at Banka town. The district occupies an area of... |
1,608,773 | 190,051 | 12% | |
| 19 | Gaya Gaya District Gaya is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India. The district is having a common boundary with the Jharkhand state in the south. Gaya city is its largest city and the district headquarters.-History:... |
Gaya Gaya, India Gaya is the second largest city of Bihar, India, and it is also the headquarters of Gaya District.Gaya is 100 kilometers south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar. Situated on the banks of Falgu River , it is a place sanctified by both the Hindu and the Buddhist religions... |
3,473,428 | 403,439 | 12% | |
| 20 | Jamui Jamui District Jamui is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India. The district was formed as a District on 21 February 1991 as a result of its separation from Munger district. It is located at a longitude of 86º-13'E and the latitude is 24º-55'N.... |
Jamui Jamui Jamui is a city and a municipality in Jamui district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is the district headquarters of Jamui district.-Geography:Jamui is located at... |
1,398,796 | 170,334 | 12% | |
| 21 | Nawada Nawada District Nawada district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Nawada town is the administrative headquarters of this district. The district was part of famous Magadh, Sunga and Gupta empires. It is located between historical districts of Nalanda and Gaya and falls under Magadha... |
Nawada Nawada Nawada is a city and a municipality. It is also the headquarters of Nawada district in the Indian state of Bihar.-Geography:Nawada is located at . It has an average elevation of 80 metres... |
1,809,696 | 204,457 | 11% | |
| 22 | Madhepura Madhepura District Madhepura district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Madhepura town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Madhepura district is a part of Kosi division.-History:... |
Madhepura Madhepura Madhepura is a city and a municipality in Madhepura district in the Indian state of Bihar. Madhepura as it stands now was carved out of Saharsa district and got the status of revenue district on 9 May 1981. Prior to that, Madhepura was a sub-division under Bhagalpur district with effect from 3... |
1,526,646 | 173,605 | 11% | |
| 23 | Aurangabad Aurangabad District, Bihar Aurangabad district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India. It is currently a part of the Red Corridor.-History:Aurangabad features in traditional records... |
Aurangabad Aurangabad, Bihar Aurangabad is a city and a municipality in Aurangabad district in the state of Bihar, India. Aurangabad is the district headquarters of the Aurangabad district. It is situated on the Grand Trunk Road. The people of this region primarily speak Magahi. Due to lack of industrialization, people are... |
2,013,055 | |||
| 24 | Kaimur Kaimur Kaimur may refer to:* Kaimur Range, a hill range running across MP, UP and Bihar in India* Kaimur district, an administrative district in Bihar, India* Kymore, a town and a nagar panchayat in Katni district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh... |
Bhabua Bhabua Bhabua is a city and a municipality in Kaimur district in the state of Bihar, India. It is the headquarters of Kaimur district in the state of Bihar, in India.- Geography :... |
1,289,074 | 123,048 | 10% | |
| 25 | Khagaria Khagaria District Khagaria district is an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India. The district headquarters are located at Khagaria. Khagaria district is a part of Munger Division.... |
Khagaria Khagaria Khagaria is a city in India, and the administrative headquarter of Khagaria district. Khagaria is a part of Munger division. The town has a major railway junction on the Barauni Guwahati section of the Indian Railways. National Highway 31 which connects rest of the India to North Eastern region... |
1,280,354 | 131,441 | 10% | |
| 26 | Rohtas Rohtas Rohtas can refer to:*Rohtas, Pakistan, a village located in Rohtas Fort, Pakistan*Rohtas Fort, Pakistan*Rohtas District, a district in Bihar, India*Rohtas Plateau in north-western Bihar... |
Sasaram Sasaram Sasaram , sometimes also spelled as Sahasram, is the administrative headquarters of the Rohtas district in the Indian state of Bihar.It is one of the oldest cities in India, and is famous for production of stone chips and for the local quarrying industry... |
2,450,748 | 246,760 | 10% | |
| 27 | Samastipur Samastipur District Samastipur is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar in India. The district headquarters are located at Samastipur. The district occupies an area of 2904 km² and has a population of 27,16,929 .- History :... |
Samastipur Samastipur Samastipur is a city and a municipality in Samastipur district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is headquarters of the Samastipur district.It is situated on the banks of Burhi Gandak River.-Demographics:... |
3,394,793 | 355,897 | 10% | |
| 28 | Saran Saran district Saran District is one of the thirty-seven districts of Bihar state, India. The district, part of Saran Division, is also known as Chapra district after the headquarters of the district - Chapra... |
Chhapra Chhapra Chhapra is a city and headquarters of Saran district in the state of Bihar, India. Chhapra is also written as Chapra. It is situated near the junction of the Ghaghara River and The Ganges River.... |
3,248,701 | 337,767 | 10% | |
| 29 | Vaishali Vaishali District Vaishali District is a district in Bihar state, India. It is named after the Vaishali . The history of Vaishali district is thus very ancient, and finds mention in the Indian classic Mahabharata, as well as in Buddhist and Jain tradition.... |
Hajipur Hajipur Hajipur is the headquarters of Vaishali district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is famous for producing bananas, and has a modern railway zonal office. Patna, the capital of Bihar is only 10 km from Hajipur... |
2,718,421 | 259,158 | 10% | |
| 30 | Jehanabad Jehanabad District Jehanabad district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Jehanabad town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Jehanabad district is a part of Magadh Division. This district is 45 k.m nearby of Patna, the capital of Bihar.Jehanabad is located on the... |
Jehanabad Jehanabad Jehanabad is a city and a municipality in and the headquarters of Jehanabad district in the Indian state of Bihar. Earlier, Jehanabad was part of Gaya district. It is 50 km away from both Patna and Gaya.-Demographics:... |
1,514,315 | 124,149 | 8% | |
| 31 | Munger Munger District Munger district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state in eastern India. Munger town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Munger district is a part of Munger Division. Its literacy rate of 73.3% is higher than the state literacy rate of 63.8% and lower than national... |
Munger Munger Munger town is the headquarters of Munger district, in the Indian state of Bihar. Historically, Munger is known for its manufacturing of iron articles such as firearms and swords. One of the major institutions in Munger is Bihar School of Yoga. It is one of the foremost learning center in the... |
1,137,797 | 89,791 | 8% | |
| 32 | Patna Patna District Patna district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, with Patna as the district headquarters. Patna district is a part of Patna division... |
Patna Patna Paṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world... |
4,718,592 | 366,164 | 8% | |
| 33 | Bhojpur Bhojpur district, Bihar Bhojpur district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state in eastern India. Arrah town is the administrative headquarters of this district.-History:... |
Arrah Arrah Arrah is a city and a municipal corporation in Bhojpur district in the state of Bihar, India. The actual name of Arrah is Ara but it was misspelt by the British and now corrected to Ara but still known as Arrah in many records. It is the district headquarters of Bhojpur district, located near the... |
2,243,144 | 163,193 | 7% | |
| 34 | Nalanda Nalanda Nālandā is the name of an ancient center of higher learning in Bihar, India.The site of Nalanda is located in the Indian state of Bihar, about 55 miles south east of Patna, and was a Buddhist center of learning from the fifth or sixth century CE to 1197 CE. It has been called "one of the... |
Bihar Sharif Bihar Sharif Bihar Sri is the district headquarters of Nalanda district in the state of Bihar in eastern India.-History:The ancient Odantpuri University was located here, an important centre for the learning of Buddhism. Odatpuri is center of Buddhist culture... |
2,370,528 | 176,871 | 7% | |
| 35 | Sheikhpura Sheikhpura Sheikhpura is a city and a municipality in Sheikhpura district in the Indian state of Bihar. Sheikhpura is also an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India. The district occupies an area of 689 km² and has a population of 5,25,502 . Sheikhpura has given the leaders like Shri... |
Sheikhpura Sheikhpura Sheikhpura is a city and a municipality in Sheikhpura district in the Indian state of Bihar. Sheikhpura is also an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India. The district occupies an area of 689 km² and has a population of 5,25,502 . Sheikhpura has given the leaders like Shri... |
525,502 | 37,755 | 7% | |
| 37 | Buxar | Buxar Buxar Buxar district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India. The district headquarters are located at Buxar.-Mythology:This place was also known as "Siddhashram", "Vedgarbhapuri", "Karush", "Tapovan", "Chaitrath", "VyaghraSar", "Buxar" in ancient history. The History of Buxar dates... |
1,402,396 | 86,382 | 6% | |
| 38 | Lakhisarai Lakhisarai District Lakhisarai district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Lakhisarai town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Lakhisarai district is a part of Munger Division. The district occupies an area of 1228 km2... |
Lakhisarai Lakhisarai Lakhisarai town is the administrative headquarters of Lakhisarai district in Bihar state in eastern India. The town has a population of 77,840 . It is well connected by road and rail routes. It is situated on Patna-Howrah main line passing through Kiul junction. NH-80 passes through the town... |
802,225 | 35,378 | 4% | |
Disapora
During the Partition of IndiaPartition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
in the summer of 1947 many Bihari Muslims migrated to both 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...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. The majority (approx 3 million) went 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...
and settled down in the Province of 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...
, especially 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...
. The Pakistanis of Bihari origin are clubbed under Muhajirs. Those that went to Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
lived in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
where they remain till now. Many of them have gained voting rights and many are termed as stranded Pakistanis.
Culture
Bihari Muslims have a rich culture representing a syncretisation between ArabArab
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...
and local 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...
Bihari traditions. Shab-e-Baraat and Milad-un-Nabi is widely celebrated by Bihari Muslims ,as are festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. The majority of Bihari Muslims follow the Barelwi
Barelwi
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....
movement of Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites....
, although a large 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 Ahle Hadees minority exists especially in the northern districts. Sectarian conflict among Bihari Muslims is very rare and all the different sects live in peace and harmony. The differences in matters of Aqeedah are confined to the Mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
and rarely boil over into public life. The major differences are between Ashraf and Afjal Muslims.