Gujarati Muslims

The term Gujarati Muslims is usually used to signify an Indian Muslim from the state of Gujarat in west India, who speaks the Gujarati Language as a mother-tongue (first language) and follows certain customs different from the rest of Indian Muslims. Gujarati Muslims are very prominent in Industry and medium-sized businesses, and there is a very large Gujarati Muslim community in Mumbai. Many members of this community migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and have settled in Karachi and Sindh, contributing greatly to the economy and general welfare of Pakistan. Owing to their knack for business enterprise, and insatiable appetite for maritime adventure, the age old Gujarati diaspora is found scattered all throughout the Middle East, and everywhere in between Africa and Japan, as has been the case for several centuries, with a notable presence in South Africa, Malaysia, France, Mauritius, Madagascar, UAE, and Hong Kong, comprising historically of independent "free migrants" rather than indentured laborers.

Gujarati Muslim communities began settling in the United Kingdom at the turn of the early 20th century, with a particularly strong concentration in the towns of London - Wembley, Dewsbury, Leicester, Blackburn and Preston. According to the 2001 Census of India, the Gujarati Muslim population was 4,592,854, which is 9.064% of the total population of the state. Most Gujarati Muslims have Gujarati as their mother tongue, but some communities such as the Momin Ansari have Urdu as their mother tongue. The Gujarati Muslims are further sub-divided into groups, such as the Chhipa and Memon, each with their own customs and traditions. Famous Gujarati Muslims include Badruddin Tyabji, a Congress president and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan.