Memon people

Sunni Muslim community in India and Pakistan

The Memons are a Muslim community in Sindh, Pakistan and Gujarat, India. They are divided into different groups based on where they live: Sindhi Memons from Sindh, Kathiawari Memons and Bantva Memons from Kathiawar region, Kutchi Memons from Kutch.[1]

Memon
Total population
1,800,000
Regions with significant populations
Sindh, Gujarat
Languages
Sindhi, Kutchi & Memoni
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Khoja, Bohra, Shaikh

Origins

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All Memons have origins in Thatta, Sindh, they were Sindhi Hindu Lohanas from Sindh. In 1524 they embraced Islam on the hands of Syed Yusufuddin Qadri, and were called (Mu'min i.e "believer" in Arabic), which changed into Memon overtime,[2] from Sindh they migrated first into Kutch and then into other regions of Gujarat.[3][4]

References

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  1. "Memon association to congregate today". The Times of India. 2014-02-14. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  2. Vahed, Goolam (2006). "'Unhappily Torn by Dissensions and Litigations': Durban's 'Memon' Mosque, 1880–1930". Journal of Religion in Africa. 36 (1): 23–49. doi:10.1163/157006606775569631. ISSN 0022-4200.
  3. Pirbhai, M. Reza (2009-09-30). Reconsidering Islam in a South Asian Context. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-17758-1.
  4. "Census to shed light on 'Memon' legacy, empower sub-community". The Times of India. 2023-12-10. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-12-14.