Khoja in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Subgroups: 1

Subgroup Name Population
Aghakhani Unknown

Introduction / History

The Khoja are a Muslim community who live in west and north India. They originally were a group of Hindu traders who converted to Islam in the 14th century. The word Khoja comes from a Persian word meaning pious or respected one. The branch of
Shia Islam that the Khoja converted to is called Ismaili. They believe that the Aga Khan is the successor to the prophet Muhammad. Some Sunnis, the largest branch in Islam, see the Ismaili as heretics.

Some of the wealthiest entrepreneurs in India are Khoja. They believe in higher education for their children, especially for their sons. Khoja have migrated all over the globe including North America, Europe, Africa and East Asia. When a Khoja person travels to a new place, he instantly has friendly Ismailis there to offer him or her hospitality and business contacts.

The founder of nation of Pakistan was a Khoja, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The primary language of the Khoja is Gujarati. They speak also other regional languages. University educated Khoja speak English.


Where Are they Located?

The large majority of the Indian Khoja lives in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Smaller groups live throughout the nation of India. Many Khoja also live in Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The lives of the Khoja vary. Some are wealthy, college graduates and hold positions at the highest levels of Indian society. Others are small businessmen who their own shops.

Khoja families arrange marriages with the consent of the young people. They desire to marry within their own sect of Shia Islam. Sons inherit property with the eldest son becoming responsible for the welfare of his mother and younger siblings. Ismaili priests officiate at important life events like births, weddings and funerals. Their ceremonies are unlike any other Muslim group. They have been influenced by Hindu and Neo-platonic thought.

The Khoja eat meat except for pork.

Caste associations promote their interests and settle legal matters.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Khoja are members of the Ismaili sect, the second largest group in Shia Islam.

Like all Shia they believe that the successors of Muhammad should be his direct descendants. The larger group of Islam, the Sunni, does not believe that Muhammad successors have to be in the physical lineage of Muhammad.

Ismaili Shia believe that the Aga Khan IV, a British businessman, is Allah's living imam and representative on earth. He is able to interpret the Qur 'an for his followers.

Like all Muslims, the Khoja Ismaili pray five times a day towards Mecca, fast during the month of Ramadan and attend Mosque services on Friday.

A tiny group of Khoja is Sunni Muslims.


What Are Their Needs?

The Khoja need to hear and understand the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. They must be humble enough to accept themselves as sinners in need of a Savior.

The Khoja would benefit by seeing God's love shown to them by Christians.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to raise up and send out a new generation of fruitful, multiplying witnesses from among the Khoja people.
Ask God to deliver families and communities within the Khoja people from fears that hinder them from embracing His blessings
Pray for movements to Jesus to sweep through Khoja families, permeating
the group from within.


Scripture Prayers for the Khoja in India.


References

everyculture.com/South-Asia/Khoja.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoja
britannica.com/topic/Khoja


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Khoja
People Name in Country Khoja
Pronunciation KOH-jah
Alternate Names Firkai-Jafaria; Firkai-Jataria; Imami; Imami Ismaili Shi; Ismaili; Khoja Shia Asna Asari; Khojah; Khojura; Khwajo; Nizari; Nizarians; Shi'a; Shia Ismaili; Shias Isna Asari; खोजा
Population this Country 477,000
Population all Countries 1,445,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 10
PeopleID3 17177
ROP3 Code 112531
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 17
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Maharashtra
308,000
Gujarat
153,000
Haryana
9,200
Karnataka
1,300
Jammu and Kashmir
1,200
Telangana
900
Punjab
500
West Bengal
500
Madhya Pradesh
300
Bihar
200
Chhattisgarh
200
Rajasthan
200
Goa
200
Daman and Diu
100
Tamil Nadu
50
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 17
  Maharashtra 308,000
  Gujarat 153,000
  Haryana 9,200
  Karnataka 1,300
  Jammu and Kashmir 1,200
  Telangana 900
  Punjab 500
  West Bengal 500
  Madhya Pradesh 300
  Bihar 200
  Chhattisgarh 200
  Rajasthan 200
  Goa 200
  Daman and Diu 100
  Tamil Nadu 50
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Gujarati (355,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
Kacchi
42,000
Konkani
11,000
Urdu
8,800
Sindhi
2,500
Punjabi, Eastern
1,400
Marathi
400
Hindi
200
English
200
Konkani, Goan
100
Bhojpuri
80
Kashmiri
30
Primary Language Gujarati (355,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
  Kacchi 42,000
  Konkani 11,000
  Urdu 8,800
  Sindhi 2,500
  Punjabi, Eastern 1,400
  Marathi 400
  Hindi 200
  English 200
  Konkani, Goan 100
  Bhojpuri 80
  Kashmiri 30
People Groups Speaking Gujarati

Primary Language:  Gujarati

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1809-1965)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1823-2021)
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Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Gujarati Literacy & Evangelism International
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Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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