Khojas

Khojas are a historically Gujarati-speaking Shia Muslim merchant community from western India, especially Gujarat and the Kutch region. Their ancestry is linked to Hindu trading communities who adopted Islam in medieval India, and over time many Khojas aligned with Ismaili branches of Shiism. Within Ismailism, the Khoja world includes multiple strands, most prominently the Nizari Ismailis, who follow the Aga Khan, and the Dawoodi Bohras, a Musta’li Ismaili group. There are also smaller Khoja groups and individuals who affiliate with other currents of Islam.

Religious life among Khojas centers on organized community structures. Nizari Khojas gather in jamatkhana or similar prayer houses and are overseen by local councils with connections to the Imam’s representatives. Dawoodi Bohras maintain distinct religious leadership and endowments under the Dai al-Mutlaq, along with educational and charitable institutions. The two main streams share core Ismaili beliefs but differ in ritual practices, leadership, and communal organization.

Diaspora and social emphasis have shaped Khoja communities across the Indian Ocean world and beyond. Large populations are found in India and Pakistan, with substantial communities in East Africa (notably Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) and in Europe and North America due to migration in the 19th and 20th centuries. Khoja communities are known for their cohesive networks, emphasis on education, philanthropy, and business activity, as well as distinctive cultural traditions and languages, particularly Gujarati and related Gujarati-influenced dialects.