Khoja

Khojas
Subdivisions:	Ismaili Shia, Ithna Ashari Shia, Sunni, Punjabi
Significant populations in:	South Asia, East Africa, Europe and North America
Language	The Indo-Aryan languages of Urdu, Sindhi, Gujarati, Memoni and Kutchi
Religion	Primarily Ismaili Shi'a, with significant Twelver Shi'a and Sunni minorities

The Khojas (Urdu: خوجہ) are a set of communities of Shia Muslims in the Indian Subcontinent. The word Khoja derives from Khwaja, a Persian/Turkic honorific title (Persian: خواجه) that is widespread across Muslim societies and cultures with different spelling.

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 the city of Hyderabad. Many Khojas have also migrated and settled over the centuries in East Africa, Europe and North America. The Khoja were originally adherents of Ismaili Shi'a Islam. In the late 19th and early 20th century, a minority separated and adopted Twelver Shi'ism or Sunni Islam, while the majority remained Ismaili.

Origin of the name

The term “Khwaja”, pronounced “Khoja” in Gujarat, is a Persian honorific title, first bestowed by the Ismaili Pir Sadr al-din (d. c. 15th c) upon his followers during the lifetime of the Imam Islamshah. As such, Pir Shihab al-din Shah wrote regarding the origins of the Khojas that the very formation of the community came about through Pir Sadr al-din’s devotion to the Imam. It is said that many Lohanas of Gujarat converted to Ismaili sect of Islam due to the efforts of Sadr al-din. They gradually used the title Khoja and Memon. Before the arrival of the Aga Khan from Persia to India in the 19th century, Khojas retained many Hindu traditions including the one about ten incarnations (Dashavatar) of Vishnu. Only difference being that they believed Imam Ali was the tenth and last incarnation (Avatar).

Khoja communities

Ismaili Khojas

Originally Ismaili, the Khojas remain Ismaili by majority today. The Khojas credit their title to Pir Sadr al-din who laid the foundations for the Nizari community in India, even before the Anjudan phase of Ismaili history. The gināns indicate that the Pir established Ismaili religious centres (Jama'at Khanas) in Sindh, Punjab and Kashmir.

Twelver Khojas

A number of Khoja families resented the direct control of the Imam on community affairs and formed a reform movement, some even claiming that Khojas were originally a Sunni community, which resulted in a court case which ruled in favor of the Aga Khan I. In the early 19th century, some Khojas embarked on Ziyarat and while in Najaf, they met the Twelver Mujtahid of the time, Sheikh Zain al-Abidin Mazandarani. During their discussions they adopted the Twelver Shi'i cause. At the behest of Sheikh Mazandarani, Mullah Kader Hussein arrived in the subcontinent espousing Twelver Shi’ism, resulting in several more Khoja families leaving the Ismaili faith.

A student of Mullah Kader Hussein, Haji Ghulamali Haji Ismail, remembered as Haji Naji, born in Mumbai, India, was a Gujarati-speaking Twelver scholar who was instrumental in converting many Ismailis. His publications included magazines like Rah-e-Nijat and various books of supplications in the Gujarati language. One such book, entitled Majmuaa, is an integral part of Twelver Khoja literature to date. His speeches, preaching, and simple way of explaining the faith has earned him the respect of Twelver communitiesaround the world.

Perhaps the most notable Khoja Ismaili to convert to Twelverism is Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's founding figure and first president.

Another example would be an unrecognized community of Twelver Khojas residing in Oman since no short time, who still preserve their ethnic identity as Khojas till recent days. Though tides of Arabianization wiped out most of their lingual and cultural inheritance. Largely Khojas are very religious, disciplined, strong ideologues with deep rooted Hindu culture in their practice and names. They are conservative, divisive and not open to societal changes. To an extent they follow the Jinnah's doctrine of purismMuhammad Ali Jinnah. There place of worship often called Mahfil or Jamaat Khana. They have high respect for their officers in their organization and Mahfil who are the most powerful members of the organization even have the control to hire or fire the resident priest.

Sunni Khojas

Some Khojas follow the Hanafi fiqh of Sunni Islam; others are members of the unaffiliated Ahl al-Hadith movement.^{[citation needed]}

Punjabi Khojas

A Hindu trader converted to Islam is also known by the name Khoja. Thus, the Khojas of Shahpur are almost entirely Khatris. A Khatri convert to Islam in this district is termed a Khoja. The Khojas of Jhang, on the other hand, are Rajput converts to Islam; while some at least of the Lahore Khojas claim Bhatia In northwest Punjab and northern districts of the Northwest Frontier Province, the term Paracha is preferred by Hindu traders who convert to Islam. Therefore while the Parachas are a recognized and wealthy community, the term Khoja is used for miscellaneous Muslim traders.

Migration to Africa

For hundreds of years South Asians sailed down the coast of East Africa in their sail ships during the North Eastern monsoons. There were young Khojas amongst these early sailors and some of them stayed behind in East Africa and took advantage of opportunities in commerce and trade.

While the new land offered limitless opportunities to the Khojas, the new environment and prevailing influences called for a reorientation.

The Khojas around the 1870s primarily followed Ismaili Shi'a Islam. However, a minority rejected the changes of modernity under the guidance of the Imam of that era and revolted. While some were barred from the Jama'at Khana, the Ismaili place of worship, others abandoned it willingly. Many of these adopted the larger Twelver branch of Shi'a Islam and were aided by scholars from Iran, hence the origination of an Agha (Persian) community in Zanzibar. Alongside were the Bahranis, Arab Twelver Shi'a from Bahrain, whose inspirations emanated from Kalbe Aly Khan, a minister to Sultan Majid/Bargash. He proved a great influence and helped a minority of Khojas to secede.

Zanzibar had a prosperous Khoja community and it was quite forthcoming into this secession. In fact, the Kuwwat Jamaat of Zanzibar became the first ever Khoja Twelver Shi'a community (jamaat) in the world in 1882 when the Khojas elsewhere including the subcontinent were still facing opposition to establish their separate identity. There were stirring events and emotions were roused as the dissidents fervently built up their mosque. Initially the connection between the two Khoja groups persisted for a while and even a couple of dhegs (large pots) used to be dispatched to the Jama'at Khana from the mosque during jaman (feast). Social traditions also prompted the two counterparts to meet each other. Later restrictions became severe and even family members separated disconnecting ties between each other or the two met in hiding at a secret place.

See also

• Ismāʿīlī
• Twelver Shi`ism
• Khoja (clan)
• Khojki
• Nizari

External links

• World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna Asheri Muslim Communities
• History of the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheries