From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sunni Bohra
Sunni Bohra
Sunni Bohra or Vohra to Pakistan from India and there is a 15,500 strong com-
Total population munity in Karachi. Recently, many Sunni Bohras/Vohras
from Ahmedabad, Surat, Karachi and Bombay have mi-
1,038,000 [1]
grated to the USA, Canada, Australia and the Persian Gulf
Regions with significant populations countries forming small pockets of communities
throughout many cities (numbering upwards of 500 peo-
• India • Pakistan • United Kingdom • ple in Chicago, IL).
South Africa
In fifteenth century, there was schism in Bohra com-
Languages munity of Patan in Gujarat as large number converted
from Mustaali Ismaili to Hanafi Sunni sect. The leader of
• Gujarati • Sindhi • Hindi • Urdu • Kutchi • English
this conversion movement to Sunni was Jafar. Thus this
Religion new group is known as Jafari Bohras and Patani Bohras.
In 1538, Syed Jafar Ahmad Shirazi convinced Patani
• Islam 100% • Bohras to cease social relations with Ismaili Bohras. The
Related ethnic groups cumulative results of these pressures resulted in over
one million Bohras conversting from Ismaili Shia Fiqh to
• Gujarati Muslims • Memon • Khoja • Bohra Sunni Hanafi Fiqh[2].
Sunni Bohras or Sunni Vohras (Arabic: )سنی بوہرہare a
Vohras,
Sunni Muslim community found in the province of Sindh Distribution
in Pakistan and the state of Gujarat in India. Sharing a Sunni Bohras/Vohras have large communities in the ma-
large number of cultural similarities with the Dawoodi jor cities of Gujarat such as Ahmedabad and Surat as
Bohras, they are often confused with that community. well as in smaller towns such as Patan, Himmatnagar,
However, they are different in the fact that they are Sun- Visnagar, Bhavnagar, Mahesana, Kadi,
ni following the Hanafi fiqh. The community in Pakistan [[Kalol],[Anand],[Mahemdavad],[Umreth],[Petlad],[Vadodara],[Borsad]]
uses the surname "Vohra" and not Bohra and are com- etc. There is a large community also based in Mumbai.
monly known as Sunni Vohras. A very small number of After independence in 1947, many members of the com-
families use the slightly different spelling of "Vora" as munity moved to Pakistan, and there is a 15,500 strong
their surname. Another common surname is Patel. An community in Karachi. Recently, many Sunni Bohras/
overwhelming majority of the Gujrati speaking Vohra Vohras from Ahmedabad, Surat, Karachi and Bombay
community of Pakistan, lives in the port city of Karachi have migrated to the USA, Canada, Australia and the Per-
in Sindh province. They are well organized and carry out sian Gulf countries forming small pockets of communi-
their activities through their own Karachi based Asso- ties throughout many cities (numbering upwards of 500
Anjuman,
ciation named Charotar Muslim Anjuman Charotar be- people in Chicago,( Harvey,IL), IL
ing the name of the region in the Indian state of Gujarat
where their ancestors are originally from.
Organizations
History and origin •
•
Sunnat Jamaat Quam-e-Bawahir (SJKB), Ahmedabad
Jamaat-e-Gujrati Saudagaran Pakistan
Traditionally, they have been traders and most of them • Patni Sunnat Jamaat, Surat
have the suffix wala in their last name to designate either • Patni Sunni Jamaat Quam-e-Bawahir ,Himmatnagar
their ancestral trade or their ancestral village. Many Sun- • Charotar Muslim Anjuman, Karachi
ni Bohras/Vohras are educated professionals with a large • Charotar Sunni Vahora Community ,
number of bankers, doctors and engineers among them. Anand,Mahemdavad,Petlad,Umreth,Chicago,New
Sunni Bohras/Vohras have large communities in the Jersey,London,Sydney
major cities of Gujarat such as Ahmedabad and Surat as
well as in smaller towns such as Patan, Himmatnagar,
Visnagar, Bhavnagar, Mahesana, Kadi, Kalol etc. There is See also
a large community also based in Mumbai. After indepen- • Gujarati Muslims
dence in 1947, many members of the community moved
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sunni Bohra
• Sunni • List of Sunni Bohra Jamaats
• Hanafi • Jamaat-e-Gujrati Saudagaran Pakistan
• Patani Bohras • [Charotar Sunni Vahora Community,Gujarat,INDIA]
• Dawoodi Bohras
• Vora Patel
References
[1] http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php
External links and references [2] Patani Bohras
• Patni Jamaat
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sunni_Bohra&oldid=458639479"
Categories:
• Bohra
• Social groups of Pakistan
• Muhajir communities
• Muslim communities of India
• Social groups of Gujarat
• Muslim communities of Gujarat
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