Subgroups: 1
Subgroup Name | Population ▼ | |
---|---|---|
Aghakhani | -1 Unknown |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
everyculture.com/South-Asia/Khoja.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoja
britannica.com/topic/Khoja
Profile Source: David Kugel |
Global Prayer Digest: 2007-10-31 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2008-08-10 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2014-10-25 |
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 | 505,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,460,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 10 |
People ID | 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) |
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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 322,000 | |
Gujarat 160,000 | |
Haryana 9,600 | |
Karnataka 1,300 | |
Jammu and Kashmir 1,300 | |
Telangana 900 | |
Punjab 600 | |
West Bengal 500 | |
Madhya Pradesh 300 | |
Chhattisgarh 300 | |
Bihar 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 | 10 | |||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Gujarati (355,000 speakers) |
Language Code | guj Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 10 |
Secondary Languages | |
Kacchi 42,000 | |
Konkani 11,000 | |
Urdu 9,000 | |
Sindhi 2,500 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 1,400 | |
Marathi 400 | |
English 200 | |
Konkani, Goan 100 | |
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) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
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. |