.jpg) Muslim men praying inSiwan district, Bihar, 1910 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 24,538,379 Million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 India (Bihar only) | 23,138,379[1][2][3][4] |
 Pakistan | 1,000,000[5] |
 Bangladesh | 400,000[6] |
| Languages | |
| Urdu, variousBihari languages[7] | |
| Religion | |
 Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| OtherBiharis | |
Bihari Muslimsare those adherents ofIslam who identify linguistically, culturally, and genealogically asBiharis. They are geographically native to the region comprising theBihar state ofIndia, although there are significantly large communities of Bihari Muslims living elsewhere in theIndian subcontinent due to thepartition of India in 1947, which prompted the community to migrate en masse from Bihar to thedominion of Pakistan (bothWest Pakistan andEast Pakistan).[8][9]
Bihari Muslims make up a significant minority inPakistan under the diverse community ofMuhajirs (lit. 'migrants'), and largely began arriving in the country following theBangladesh Liberation War of 1971, which led to the secession of East Pakistan from the Pakistani union as the independent state ofBangladesh.
The majority of Bihari Muslims adhere to theSunni branch of Islam and the adoption of the religion by Biharis traces back to the 14th century, whenAfghan traders andSufi missionaries began to arrive in the region a century prior to theMughal conquest of India.[10] There are also a significant minority of Biharis who adhere to theShia branch of Islam, largely residing inPatna and Gopalpur inSiwan, tracing their religious descent to Shia Muslim settlers ofdistant Persian ancestry fromLucknow in neighbouringUttar Pradesh, who arrived in the region during the 19th century.[11]
The large-scale arrival of Muslims in Bihar began in the 14th century, whenTurk traders andSufi saints-warriors settled in the South Bihar plains and furthered the process of agricultural colonisation while also spreading Islam among the local populace. Muslims were not the only new immigrants to Bihar during this period. Inscriptions inBihar Sharif tell of a Sufi warrior by the name ofMalik Ibrahim Bayu who came to Bihar and defeated the non-HinduKol tribe who had been oppressing the localMuslims. He conquered many Kol chiefdoms.[12]
Some of the kings and chieftains of medieval Bihar were Muslim. The chieftaincy ofKharagpur Raj in modern-dayMunger district was originally controlled by HinduRajputs. In 1615 after a failed rebellion byRaja Sangram Singh, his son, Toral Mal converted and he changed his name to Roz Afzun.[13]
TheFaujdars of Purnea (also known as theNawabs of Purnea) created an autonomous territory for themselves under the leadership of Saif Khan and ruled in parts of Eastern Bihar in the early 1700s. They were engaged in a protracted conflict with the neighbouring Kingdom ofNepal.[14]
Many Bihari Muslims migrated toWest Pakistan andEast Pakistan (now Bangladesh) after thepartition of India in 1947.[9][15] In the context of the1971 war in Bangladesh, Biharis were seen as collaborators of the Pakistan Army andsubmitted to violence of all sorts. They then sought refuge in Pakistan. While the 1973–74Delhi Agreement facilitated the repatriation of some refugees, only 144,800 non-Bengalis were repatriated to Pakistan, with over 258,000 left awaiting relocation. In Pakistan, many settled in Karachi's low-income neighborhoods such asOrangi Town,Korangi Town,Musa Colony, and others. However, these communities remained vulnerable, particularly during ethnic conflicts like theQasba-Aligarh Colony Massacre in 1986. Repatriation efforts slowed significantly after 1982, with only 15,000 Biharis resettled in Pakistan by then. A brief resumption in 1993 resulted in the transfer of just 53 families before protests halted the process again.[16] This has led to the issue ofstranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, Biharis faced legal and social barriers to citizenship. It was not until a 2008Supreme Court ruling that Biharis born after 1971, or who were minors at the time, were granted Bangladeshi citizenship and voting rights.[17]
The following table shows the Muslim population of Bihar by district:[18][dead link]
| Number | District | Population (2001) | Muslim population | Percentage |
| 1 | Kishanganj | 1,796,348 | 1,123,456 | 68% |
| 2 | Katihar | 2,392,638 | 1,024,678 | 43% |
| 3 | Araria | 2,158,608 | 887,972 | 42% |
| 4 | Purnia | 2,543,942 | 935,239 | 38% |
| 5 | Darbhanga | 3,295,789 | 748,971 | 23% |
| 6 | Sitamarhi | 2,682,720 | 568,992 | 21% |
| 7 | West Champaran | 3,043,466 | 646,597 | 21% |
| 8 | East Champaran | 3,939,773 | 755,005 | 19% |
| 9 | Bhagalpur | 2,423,172 | 423,246 | 18% |
| 10 | Madhubani | 3,575,281 | 941,579 | 18% |
| 11 | Siwan | 2,714,349 | 494,176 | 18% |
| 12 | Gopalganj | 2,152,638 | 367,219 | 17% |
| 13 | Supaul | 1,732,578 | 302,120 | 17% |
| 14 | Sheohar | 515,961 | 80,076 | 16% |
| 15 | Muzaffarpur | 4,746,714 | 752,358 | 15% |
| 16 | Saharsa | 1,508,182 | 217,922 | 14% |
| 17 | Begusarai | 2,349,366 | 313,713 | 13% |
| 18 | Banka | 1,608,773 | 190,051 | 12% |
| 19 | Gaya | 3,473,428 | 403,439 | 13% |
| 20 | Jamui | 1,398,796 | 170,334 | 12% |
| 21 | Nawada | 1,809,696 | 204,457 | 11% |
| 22 | Madhepura | 1,526,646 | 173,605 | 11% |
| 23 | Aurangabad | 2,013,055 | 221,436 | 11% |
| 24 | Kaimur | 1,289,074 | 123,048 | 10% |
| 25 | Khagaria | 1,280,354 | 131,441 | 10% |
| 26 | Rohtas | 2,450,748 | 246,760 | 10% |
| 27 | Samastipur | 3,394,793 | 355,897 | 10% |
| 28 | Saran | 3,248,701 | 337,767 | 10% |
| 29 | Vaishali | 2,718,421 | 259,158 | 10% |
| 30 | Jehanabad | 1,514,315 | 124,149 | 8% |
| 31 | Munger | 1,337,797 | 98,791 | 7.4% |
| 32 | Patna | 4,718,592 | 366,164 | 8% |
| 33 | Bhojpur | 2,243,144 | 163,193 | 7% |
| 34 | Nalanda | 2,370,528 | 176,871 | 7% |
| 35 | Sheikhpura | 525,502 | 37,755 | 7% |
| 37 | Buxar | 1,402,396 | 86,382 | 6% |
| 38 | Lakhisarai | 802,225 | 35,378 | 4% |
Sum total of this table is 14,780,500 Muslims out of 83.0 million total population in 2001 census, hence Muslims were 16.5% of total population in Bihar. In 2011 census, total population grew to 103.9985 million, of which 16.9% or 17,557,809 were Muslims.[19] During 2001–2011, Muslims grew by 33.433%, while non-Muslims grew by 23.537%. District-wise break up by religions for 2011 is not available.
Kishanganj is the only district in Bihar with aMuslim majority.
In common with the rest ofIndia, theMuslims inBihar are largely descendants of native converts from variouscastes.[20] The rise of theIndian Muslim population can be traced back to the early 12th century, with manyconversions to Islam taking place during the rule of theSur Empire, which had established its capital inSasaram.[21]
As per the2022 Bihar caste-based survey, the population of major Muslim castes in Bihar was as follows:
| Caste | Categorization | Population | Population as a percentage of total population of Bihar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaikh | General | 4995897 | 3.821675389 |
| Momin (Muslim) (Julaha/Ansari) | EBC | 4634245 | 3.545025061 |
| Surjapuri Muslim (except Shaikh, Syed,Mallick,Mirza,Baig,Mughal, Pathan) (only forPurnia,Katihar,Kishangunj andAraria districts) | BC | 2446212 | 1.871261196 |
| Dhuniya (Muslim) | EBC | 1888192 | 1.444396651 |
| Rayeen orKunjra (Muslim) | EBC | 1828584 | 1.398798748 |
| Shershahbadi | EBC | 1302644 | 0.99647421 |
| Kulhaiya | EBC | 1253781 | 0.959095832 |
| Pathan (Khan) | General | 986665 | 0.754762027 |
| Sai/Faqeer/Diwan/Madar (Muslim) | EBC | 663197 | 0.507321038 |
| Dhobi (Muslim) | EBC | 409796 | 0.313478698 |
| Idrisi orDarzi (Muslim) | EBC | 329661 | 0.252178404 |
| Syed | General | 297975 | 0.227939792 |
| Chudihar (Muslim) | EBC | 207914 | 0.159046477 |
| Thakurai (Muslim) | EBC | 147482 | 0.112818245 |
| Qasab (Qasai) (Muslim) | EBC | 133807 | 0.102357378 |
| Bhat (Muslim) | BC | 89052 | 0.068121468 |
| Madariya (Muslim) (only for Sanhaul block ofBhagalpur and Dhoriya block ofBanka) | BC | 86658 | 0.066290147 |
| Daphali (Muslim) | EBC | 73259 | 0.05604041 |
| Mehtar,Lalbegi,Halalkhor,Bhangi (Muslim) | EBC | 69914 | 0.05348161 |
| Morshikar | EBC | 66607 | 0.050951878 |
| Pamaria (Muslim) | EBC | 64890 | 0.049638437 |
| Nat (Muslim) | EBC | 61629 | 0.047143893 |
| Gaddi | BC | 57617 | 0.044074862 |
| Mukairi (Muslim) | EBC | 56522 | 0.043237228 |
| Cheeq (Muslim) | EBC | 50404 | 0.038557185 |
| Jat Muslim (Madhubani,Darbhanga,Sitamarhi,Khagaria andAraria) | BC | 44949 | 0.034384313 |
| Rangrez (Muslim) | EBC | 43347 | 0.033158843 |
| Bakho (Muslim) | EBC | 36830 | 0.02817358 |
| Bhathiyara (Muslim) | EBC | 27263 | 0.020855181 |
| Saikalgarg (Muslim) | EBC | 18936 | 0.014485336 |
| Qadar | EBC | 18121 | 0.013861891 |
| Miriyasin (Muslim) | EBC | 15415 | 0.011791902 |
| Nalband (Muslim) | EBC | 11900 | 0.009103057 |
| Madari (Muslim) | EBC | 11620 | 0.008888868 |
| Abdal | EBC | 11433 | 0.00874582 |
| Itfarosh/Itafarosh/Gadheri/Itpaz Ibrahimi (Muslim) | EBC | 9462 | 0.007238078 |
| Qalandar | EBC | 7873 | 0.006022552 |
| Qaghzi | BC | 2360 | 0.001805312 |
TheIraqi/Kalal was counted as a subset ofBania caste. Prominent members of the Kalal community had protested against the state government and demanded a separate categorization.
Among Bihari Muslims, traditional attire reflects a blend ofIslamic modesty and regional cultural aesthetics. One notable example is the chaapa dress, commonly worn by Bihari Muslim women, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas. The term chaapa (from Hindi/Urdu: छाप/چاپ) means "print" or "stamp," referring to the block-printed or hand-stamped designs featured on these garments.
Chaapa dresses are typically made of cotton and are adorned with floral, paisley, or geometric motifs in vibrant colors. The outfit usually consists of a long tunic (kurta), a lower garment such as a salwar or lehenga, and a matching dupatta. These dresses prioritize comfort and modesty while showcasing local textile traditions. Although machine-printed versions have become common, traditional hand-block printed chaapa fabrics continue to be worn on festive and religious occasions.[22][23]
The chaapa dress is an example of how Bihari Muslim clothing preserves local artisanal techniques while expressing cultural and religious identity.[24]
Abdul Kadir Khanzada, who represents Orangi Town in Pakistan's parliament, said he would like to welcome Nitish to his constituency, where a majority of over a million people have their roots in Bihar.
According to local NGOs working for Bihari welfare, around 400,000 members of the community live in camps in Bangladesh.
Others got attracted to the supposedly greener pastures in West Pakistan. Hence, in Karachi, a separate Bihari colony of construction labourers came into existence even before Pakistan was formally created. ... Moreover, some of the wealthier Biharis migrated towards West Pakistan. In order to induce further migration, Maulana Abdul Quddus Bihair, Chairman of the Bihar Relief Committee (Karachi) and also of theJamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Islam began propagating that there was a better scheme of land and flats to be given to them in Karachi by January 1947. Quddus presented the province of Sindh as a destination that offered openings for traders, cultivators, labourers, contractors, manufacturers, weavers and professionals, and therefore was the 'best substitute for Bihar'.
