| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 58,000 [1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 India •  Pakistan •  Nepal | |
| Languages | |
| Urdu • Maithili • Gujarati • Bengali | |
| Religion | |
 Islam 100% | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Jogi Faqir • Faqir • Qalandar • Rawal • Sai |
The Abdal (Shekh Hashmi) are a Muslim community found in North India. They are a sub-group within the Arabic old shekh community. [2] [3]
The Abdal are one of a number of Muslim semi-nomadic community, traditionally associated with begging at shrines of Sufi saints. They are likely to be a division of the hashmi community. The word Abdal is the plural form of the Arabic word Abdal. According to the traditions of the Abdal, they acquired this name on account of the fact that they were followers of various Sufi saints. The Abdal of Bihar speak the Maithili language, and are found mainly in the district of Purnea, while other Abdal communities speak the language of the region they reside in. [2]
In Gujarat- the Abdal are a community khadim Bahraich, who are also known as Dafali saudagar, Shekh Hashmi and DafWala. Their traditional occupation was beating drums at Muslim shrines. The community is found mainly in Ahmedabad city. [4]
In West Bengal, according to the traditions of the community, the community is known as Abdal. Little is known when the community emerged in West Bengal, but presently form a distinct Muslim community. [3]
The Abdal of Bihar are now mainly a land owning community. A significant number are involved in the manufacture of horse shoes. They are Sunni Muslims, with a small number are employed as village imams. The Abdal have a well-organized caste association, the Panchayat Jamiate shekh Hashimi. [2]
In Gujarat, the community is mainly involved in singing and begging at Sufi shrines. A small number of Abdal are now farmers. Like other Gujarati Muslims, they have a caste association known as the Abdal Samaj. They are an endogamous community, and marry close kin. [4]
The Abdal in West Bengal are found mainly in the districts of 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, Birbhum and Burdwan. They are in West Bengal, a landless community whose traditional occupation is seeking alms on festive occasions. Most have now given up their traditional occupation, and are now landless agricultural labourers. A few Abdal are marginal farmers. The community speak Bengali among themselves and with outsiders, and usually live in multi-caste villages with Khotta Muslims living in the vicinity of the Abdal. They are strictly endogamous, with absolutely no intermarriage with other Muslim groups. [3]
Muslim Rangrezz are a community of Muslim Rajputs in North India. Many members of the community migrated to Pakistan after independence and settled in Karachi, Sindh.
The Muslim Gaddi are a Muslim community found mainly in northern India. After the independence in 1947, the Gaddi of the states of Haryana and Delhi migrated to Pakistan and are now found in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh. In Pakistan and North India, some community members have started to refer to themselves as Ghazi in a way to reconstruct identity.
The Ghosi are a Muslim community found mainly in North India.
The Qassab (Urdu: قصاب; from the Arabic word قصاب, are members of a north Indian community or biradari. Occasionally most Quresh caste members are referred to as the Qassab. At present, Qassab who are engaged in meat cutting and selling business are referred to as Qureshi.
The Muslim Teli are members of the Teli caste who follow Sunni Islam. They are found in India and Pakistan.
The Qassar are a South Asian Muslim caste whose traditional occupation is washing clothes. They are considered to be Muslim converts from Hinduism, where the Dhobi castes are launderers. They are found in North India,East India as well as middle East India and Pakistan. The community is also known as Charhoa and Gazar in Pakistan and Qassar in India. They also use "Hawari" as a surname.
The Mirasi are a community found in North India and Pakistan. They are folklore tellers and traditional singers and dancers of a number of communities. The word "mirasi" is derived from the Arabic word (ميراث) mīrās, which means inheritance or sometimes heritage. In the strict grammatical sense of the term, they are considered to be propagators of the cultural and social heritage.
The Mochi are a Hindu caste found mainly in North India. They are the traditional shoemakers of South Asia.
The Panchpiria are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.
The Sai or sometimes pronounced Sayee are a Muslim community found in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as the Sain.
The Nat are a sunni Muslim community found in North India. A few are also found in the Terai region of Nepal. They are Muslim converts from the Hindu Nat caste.
The Nat are a Hindu caste found in northern India.
The Faqir are a Muslim ethnic group in India. They are also known as Syed, Alwi, Shah, Sain Pir, Dewan Saheb, Miya Shah, Shah Saheb, Dewan Baba in India, Shah is now their preferred self-designation and in West Bengal they are called as Faqirbaba. Faqirs cast of Syed community is evident in the Deccan Region of Telangana State. Since the people of this community are the descendants of Sufi Saints belonging to Syeds lineage, is traced to Ali, so they are called as Syed, Shah, Mir, Shah-Diwan and by other surnames. They are also venerated as pir or peer saheb. Some Muslims also visit the holy shrines of Sufi Saint or peer fakir. They are respected in Muslims like Brahmins in Hindus. Some live in the Terai region of Nepal.
The Dhuldhoya are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India.
The Chhaparband are a Muslim community found in the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra in India. They are Muslim converts from the Chhaparband community.
The Tuntia, or sometimes pronounced Tutia, is a Muslim community found in the state of West Bengal in India. They are also known as Tute and are a community of Bengali-speaking peasant farmers.
The Kahar is community found in north east India and Bangladesh. They are a community of palanquin bearers and agriculturists, from the Hindu Kahar caste. The Kahar are also known as Sardars, especially in Murshidabad District.
The Mal Muslims are a Muslim community found in north east India and Bangladesh. They are a Muslim converts from the Hindu Mal caste. The community is also known as Besati Mal or Churiwala. Mal Muslim are listed as Other Backward Classes by the Government of India and Government of West Bengal.
The Sapuria are a Muslim community found in the state of West Bengal in India, as well as in Bangladesh. They are also known as Bedia Mal and Sanpui.
The Hurkiya are a caste found in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in India. They have been granted Scheduled Caste status in both these states. In fact, there are two distinct communities that go by the name Hurkiya, those of Uttarakhand, who are Hindu by religion, and those found in western Uttar Pradesh, who are Muslim. Both Hurkiya are of common origin, being a sub-group within the Dom ethnic group, and are one of the many gypsy like grouping found in North India.