Punjabi Muslims (Punjabi are a linguistic, geographic and religious group living in the region of Punjab, found between eastern Pakistan and northern India. Forming the majority of the Punjabi ethnic group, Punjabi Muslims are those who profess Islam and speak the Punjabi language. With a population of more than 120 million, they are the largest ethnic group in Pakistan and the third largest ethnic Muslim community in the world. The majority of Punjabi Muslims are adherents of the Sunni branch of Islam. A minority adheres to Shia and other sects.
The homelands of Punjabi Muslims are mainly concentrated in the Pakistani province of Punjab. They have a worldwide diaspora, with significant communities in North America and the United Kingdom, and large expatriate populations in the Middle East.
Some of the numerically large, or socially important Tribes and clans of Muslim Punjabis include:
Jats
Jat people found throughout the Punjab region. The Jat are the principal tribe of Central Punjab, but in the Pothohar region, they take third place, after both the Rajput and Awan. Jats began converting to Islam from the early Middle Ages onward, and now form the distinct community of Muslim Jats. They are sub-divided into various clan, such as the Cheema, Chatta, Bajwa, Waraich, Sandhu, Gill, Virk, Gondal, Ranjha, Mahi, Sangha, Uppal, Wahla etc. and further divided into sub-clans. Jat historically were of the zamindar or landowning class. They often carry title such as Malik, Choudhry and Khan, Rana, Rao.
Arains
The Arain are a Muslim tribe of Pakistan who are found mainly in the Punjab province. They are chiefly associated with petty farming or gardening and the legal profession, with some being zamindars (landlords). They often carry title such as Chourdry and Mian.
Rajputs
The Rajputs are large caste cluster, found in Punjab. The Punjabi Rajputs have almost 90% converted to Islam. Their reasons for conversion are complex and controversial, but all that can be said with certainty, is towards the middle of the 16th century, all the Rajput clans had converted to Islam. They are sub-divided into various clan, such as Bhatti, Chouhan, gakhars, Minhas, Janjua, Khokhar, Ghorewaha, Naro, Sulehria, Dhudhi, Parmar etc. and further divided into sub-clans. Rajputs historically were of the zamindar or landowning class. They often carry title such as Raja, Rana, Rao, Rai, Khan, Mirza.
Gujjars
Gujjar is a pastoral agricultural ethnic group with large population of Muslim Punjabis. Gujjars historically were of the zamindar or landowning class. They often carry title such as Malik, Choudhry and Khan.
Khatris
Muslim Khatris are originally from Hindu Khatri community who had converted to Islam. In western districts of the Punjab (Sargodha, Mianwali, Multan, Jhang, Chakwal, Rawalpindi and Faislabad), converted Khatri traders called themselves "Khoja". Some times they are called "Khoja Sheikh". There were conversions of Hindus to the faith from among various Punjabi communities, including Khatris. Generally they retained their tribal and clan affiliations as has been the norm in the region. Similarly, the Khatris who converted to Islam continue to retain a strong social identity and are known as Punjabi Shaikh. Muslim khatris community are known for their business acumen and have for many years been influential and prosperous in.
Kashmiris
Bhats/Butts found in the Punjab are the descendants of Kashmiris who migrated to Punjab a few centuries back. They often carry title such as Khuwaja, Mir and Shaikh.
Awans
Awan is a tribe living predominantly in northern, central, and western parts of Pakistani Punjab. On a rural level, Awans historically were of the zamindar or landowning class and many Awan families to this day live on and cultivate land, which their ancestors have held for centuries. They often carry titles typical to Punjabis who own tracts of ancestral land such as Malik, Chaudhry.
Pathans
Pathans depending upon region of Punjab are originally Pashtun people (Pathans) who have settled in the Punjab. These Pashtun communities are scattered throughout the Punjab and have over time assimilated into the Punjabi identity, both culturally and linguistically. They are also known as Khan.
Syeds
The Sayyids of Punjab belong to Hasani (descendants of Hasan), Husaini (descendants of Husayn), Alavi (descendants from other sons of Ali) and Zaidi (descendants of Zayd ibn Ali, grandson of Husayn) groups of sa'dat and also Rizvi, descendants of Ali al-Ridha and Naqvi (Ali al-Hadi)
The coalescence of the various tribes, castes and the inhabitants of the Punjab into a broader common "Punjabi" identity initiated from the onset of the 18th century CE. Prior to that the sense and perception of a common "Punjabi" ethno-cultural identity and community did not exist, even though the majority of the various communities of the Punjab had long shared linguistic, cultural and racial commonalities.
The homelands of Punjabi Muslims are mainly concentrated in the Pakistani province of Punjab. They have a worldwide diaspora, with significant communities in North America and the United Kingdom, and large expatriate populations in the Middle East.
Some of the numerically large, or socially important Tribes and clans of Muslim Punjabis include:
Jats
Jat people found throughout the Punjab region. The Jat are the principal tribe of Central Punjab, but in the Pothohar region, they take third place, after both the Rajput and Awan. Jats began converting to Islam from the early Middle Ages onward, and now form the distinct community of Muslim Jats. They are sub-divided into various clan, such as the Cheema, Chatta, Bajwa, Waraich, Sandhu, Gill, Virk, Gondal, Ranjha, Mahi, Sangha, Uppal, Wahla etc. and further divided into sub-clans. Jat historically were of the zamindar or landowning class. They often carry title such as Malik, Choudhry and Khan, Rana, Rao.
Arains
The Arain are a Muslim tribe of Pakistan who are found mainly in the Punjab province. They are chiefly associated with petty farming or gardening and the legal profession, with some being zamindars (landlords). They often carry title such as Chourdry and Mian.
Rajputs
The Rajputs are large caste cluster, found in Punjab. The Punjabi Rajputs have almost 90% converted to Islam. Their reasons for conversion are complex and controversial, but all that can be said with certainty, is towards the middle of the 16th century, all the Rajput clans had converted to Islam. They are sub-divided into various clan, such as Bhatti, Chouhan, gakhars, Minhas, Janjua, Khokhar, Ghorewaha, Naro, Sulehria, Dhudhi, Parmar etc. and further divided into sub-clans. Rajputs historically were of the zamindar or landowning class. They often carry title such as Raja, Rana, Rao, Rai, Khan, Mirza.
Gujjars
Gujjar is a pastoral agricultural ethnic group with large population of Muslim Punjabis. Gujjars historically were of the zamindar or landowning class. They often carry title such as Malik, Choudhry and Khan.
Khatris
Muslim Khatris are originally from Hindu Khatri community who had converted to Islam. In western districts of the Punjab (Sargodha, Mianwali, Multan, Jhang, Chakwal, Rawalpindi and Faislabad), converted Khatri traders called themselves "Khoja". Some times they are called "Khoja Sheikh". There were conversions of Hindus to the faith from among various Punjabi communities, including Khatris. Generally they retained their tribal and clan affiliations as has been the norm in the region. Similarly, the Khatris who converted to Islam continue to retain a strong social identity and are known as Punjabi Shaikh. Muslim khatris community are known for their business acumen and have for many years been influential and prosperous in.
Kashmiris
Bhats/Butts found in the Punjab are the descendants of Kashmiris who migrated to Punjab a few centuries back. They often carry title such as Khuwaja, Mir and Shaikh.
Awans
Awan is a tribe living predominantly in northern, central, and western parts of Pakistani Punjab. On a rural level, Awans historically were of the zamindar or landowning class and many Awan families to this day live on and cultivate land, which their ancestors have held for centuries. They often carry titles typical to Punjabis who own tracts of ancestral land such as Malik, Chaudhry.
Pathans
Pathans depending upon region of Punjab are originally Pashtun people (Pathans) who have settled in the Punjab. These Pashtun communities are scattered throughout the Punjab and have over time assimilated into the Punjabi identity, both culturally and linguistically. They are also known as Khan.
Syeds
The Sayyids of Punjab belong to Hasani (descendants of Hasan), Husaini (descendants of Husayn), Alavi (descendants from other sons of Ali) and Zaidi (descendants of Zayd ibn Ali, grandson of Husayn) groups of sa'dat and also Rizvi, descendants of Ali al-Ridha and Naqvi (Ali al-Hadi)
The coalescence of the various tribes, castes and the inhabitants of the Punjab into a broader common "Punjabi" identity initiated from the onset of the 18th century CE. Prior to that the sense and perception of a common "Punjabi" ethno-cultural identity and community did not exist, even though the majority of the various communities of the Punjab had long shared linguistic, cultural and racial commonalities.
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