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Ruth Padel
 Sayeed Mohammed an Indian Odia educationist | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 911,670 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 India (Odisha) | |
| Religions | |
 Islam | |
| Languages | |
| Majority:-Odia & Urdu Minority:- Hindi |
Odia Muslims are a community of people hailing from the Indian state of Odisha who follow Islam. They mostly descend from indigenous embraces to Islam along with a small proportion that migrated from northern India.
History
It is uncertain when Islam first arrived in Odisha. It is believed that the first significant Islamic presence dates from the invasion of the Bengal general, Kalapahad. Commanding the army of Sultan Sulaiman Khan Karrani, the Sultan of Bengal, Kalapahad defeated Raja Mukund Deva of Cuttack in 1568 CE.[1]
Karrani brought with him Muslim soldiers who settled down in Odisha, however their number was very few.[citation needed] Later migration continued under Mughal as well as the Nawab of Bengal's rule. The majority of these were traders or clergy, sent to preside over the courts, both secular and Islamic.[2] Conversions seemed to have mainly occurred from the 16th century onwards.[3]
Demographics
Islam has had a very slow rate of growth in Odisha even during the Muslim rule as there had never been any major Muslim missionary work. The current population of Muslims in Odisha is 911,670 (2011 census), roughly 2.2% of the total population. The city of Bhadrak has the maximum number of Muslims as a percentage of the total population (about 35%).[4][failed verification]
Most Odisha Muslims are Sunni while a small minority are Shia, belonging to such groups as the Khoja and Dawoodi Bohra.[3]
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| Source: [5][6][7][8][9][10] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Places with the largest proportions
The figures indicate percentage of Muslims within the districts:[11]
- Jajapur
- Sayadpur – 77.75%
- Brahmabarada – 60%
- Jajapur – 12%
- Bhadrak
- Bhadrak – 40%
- Dhamanagar– 47%
Denominations
Sunni Muslims
The majority of the Muslim population in Odisha are adherents of Sunni Islam, predominantly following the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. Within the Sunni community, there are notable subgroups such as the Barelvi and Deobandi movements. These groups are primarily concentrated in urban centres like Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, reflecting historical influences and migration patterns.[12]
Shia Muslims
A smaller segment of the Muslim community in Odisha adheres to Shia Islam. Communities such as the Khoja and Dawoodi Bohra have established their presence in key urban areas, contributing to the state's religious diversity.[13]
Ahmadiyya Community
The Ahmadiyya community, though numerically smaller, actively engages in interfaith outreach and community initiatives. For instance, in regions like Soro, Ahmadi Muslims have participated in social and religious activities, underscoring their role in the local socio-religious landscape.[14]
Sufi Traditions
Historically, Sufi traditions have significantly influenced Odisha's cultural and spiritual heritage. The establishment of dargahs (shrines) and the integration of syncretic practices into local customs highlight the enduring impact of Sufi mysticism in the region. Although Sufi practices are not classified as a separate denomination, they are interwoven with both Sunni and Shia traditions in Odisha.[15]
Education
Jamia Islamia Markazul Uloom, a centre of Deobandi Islamic study in Odisha, was founded in 1946 by Muhammad Ismail Katki, the third president of Jamiat Ulema Odisha.[16] Important Barelvi Madrasa are located at Bhadrak.
Notable people
- Syed Mustafiz Ahmed (1941–2017), former Welfare Minister
- Syed Ameer Ali (1849–1928), jurist, author and political leader
- Surat Alley (1905–1988), trade unionist and political activist
- Afzal-ul Amin (1915–1983), statesman and social worker
- Farhat Amin (born 1967), journalist and social activist
- Mohammed Ayoob (born 1942), professor
- A. M. Bachan, footballer
- Syed Irfan Ali Chaudhury (1842–1890), Raja of Tarakote
- Sofia Firdous (born 1992), MLA for Barabati-Cuttack
- Hussain Rabi Gandhi (1948–2023), author and cultural activist
- Mehmood Hussain (1950–2015), filmmaker and author
- Mohammad Shahid Jabbar (born 1965), football coach
- Muhammad Ismail Katki (1914–2005), Islamic scholar, author and politician[17]
- Karamat Ali Karamat (1936–2022), Urdu poet, author, literary critic and mathematician
- Harun Rashid Khan (born 1955), deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India
- Mohammad Mohsin (1942–2003), actor, director and producer
- Atharuddin Mohammed (1859–1931), Dewan of Dhenkanal State
- Khwaja Fazal Mohammed (1805–1868), Sufi philosopher
- Sayeed Mohammed (1891–1922), educationist and philanthropist
- Aparajita Mohanty (née Khan) (born 1962), actress
- Mohammed Moquim (born 1965), MLA for Barabati-Cuttack
- Amjad Najmi (1899–1974), poet, dramatist and prose writer
- Kafeel Ahmad Qasmi (born 1951), Islamic scholar, academician and litterateur[18]
- S. S. Sajideen Qasmi (1939–2006), Islamic scholar, poet, and orator[19]
- Ibrahim Suhrawardy (1896–1971), educationist and linguist
See also
References
- ^ History of Modern Orissa: 1936-2000 page:5 by Kartik Chandra Rout, Published by Anmol Publications PVT. LTD., 2004, ISBN 81-261-2006-1, ISBN 978-81-261-2006-2
- ^ Kanungo, Pralay (2 August 2003). "Hindutva's Entry into a 'Hindu Province': Early Years of RSS in Orissa". The Economic and Political Weekly. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via sacw.net.
- ^ a b Weekes, Richard V. (1984). Muslim Peoples [2 Volumes]: A World Ethnographic Survey. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 587. ISBN 978-0-313-23392-0.
- ^ "Census GIS HouseHold". Archived from the original on 6 July 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
- ^ "C-01: Population by religious community (2011)". Census India. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "C-01: Population by religious community (2001)". Census India. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "C-9 Religion (1991)". Census India. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "Portrait of Population - Census 1981" (PDF). Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ "Census Atlas, Vol-XII-Part IX-A, Orissa - Census 1961" (PDF). Census India. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "General Population, Social and Cultural and Land Tables, Part II-A, Tables, Volume-XI, Orissa - Census 1951" (PDF). Census India. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "Orissa Hindu Muslim Population". www.census2011.co.in. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- ^ Weekes, Richard V. (21 December 1984). Muslim Peoples [2 Volumes]: A World Ethnographic Survey. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-0-313-23392-0.
- ^ "The Influence of Sufism and Shia Traditions in Odisha" (PDF). Orissa Review. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ "Ahmadi Muslims Distribute Water during Ram Navami Procession in Odisha". Light of Islam. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ "The Influence of Sufism and Shia Traditions in Odisha" (PDF). Orissa Review. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ Rūhul Amīn, Muhammad (5 December 2021). "Munāzir e Islām Maulāna Muhammad Ismāil Katki Qāsmi: Life and Works". Baseerat online (in Urdu). Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Nazish, Motiullah (2023). Odisha Ke Mujaahideen e Aazadi (in Urdu) (1st ed.). Sanskruti Bhawan, BJB Nagar, Bhubaneswar: Odisha Urdu Academy. pp. 263–266.
- ^ Mayurbhanji, Muhammad Rūhul Amīn (16 September 2023). "Prof. Maulana Sayed Kafeel Ahmed Qasmi: Biographical Sketch". qindeelonline.com (in Urdu). Qandeel Online. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ Katki, Sayed Abdul Hafiz (June 2004). Majlis-e-Shūra, Jamia Rashidia Riyazul Uloom Sungra (in Urdu). Gohalipur, Cuttack district: Department of Broadcasting, Jamia Rashidia Riyazul Uloom Sungra. pp. 7, 12–18.