The Shaikh is a Muslim community commonly found in the state of Bihar in India. They are part of the larger Shaikh community of South Asia. A number of Bihari Shaikh families are also found in the city of Karachi in Sindh province of Pakistan. Common surnames used by the community include: Sayyid, Farooqi, Osmani, Ansari and Shaikh.
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History and origin
The word Shaikh in Arabic means a tribal elder or headman.
The Kulhaiya Shaikh are found mainly in Araria District and in Kadwa. They get their name from the custom of not marrying within their clan or kul in Hindi, or within their village. They speak Maithili and Urdu. Traditionally the title Shaikh signifies Arab descent and hence within the South Asian Muslim context, higher societal standing. Shaikh along with Syed, Maliks and Khan/Pathans are considered to be amongst the Ashraf communities within the Bihari Muslim.
The term Shaikh now covers a large number of communities of no definite origin, since the name has been used by any individuals of wide background. This is especially the case in Bihar, for example in the Purnea division, where the Shaikh form just under one-third of the population.
Some Shaikh played a key role in the early Islamic history of Bihar, serving as courtiers and administrators for the Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal rulers. These Shaikhs were local Muslim converts converted by Sufi missionaries from Middle East and Central Asia although some of them were immigrants from modern Pakistan and north-western India. The oldest Shaikh families settled in Bihar Sharif, which was the centre of early Muslim rule in the region. Often these early settlers from the Central Asia were granted jagirs (estates), and were the earliest Muslim colonists in the region. These early colonists were often required to make converts, and these converts often adopted the clan name of those at whose hand they accepted Islam. This practice led to a large increase in those who call themselves Shaikhs, and these converts now form by far the largest Bihari Muslim community. The term Shaikh, particularly in Bihar and Bengal refers to any Muslim, and in the Muslim majority Purnia Division, covers four distinct groups. In East India, the term Shaikh is closer to its intended meaning in Arabic language i.e. an elder or old man. In fact, not only in Bihar but also in Bengal ( modern West Bengal and Bangladesh); Shaikhs comprise one of the three major social groups the other two being Khan and Kayasthas. The Muslim Kayasths are community of Muslims, descendents of members of the Kayastha caste of northern India, mainly in modern Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Bihar who embraced Islam during the rule of Muslim dynasties and assumed the title of Shaikh.
Present circumstances
The greatest concentration of the Shaikh are in the Purnia division, especially in Kishanganj district, but they are found throughout Bihar. They also have a presence in Nalanda, Patna, Nawada, Gaya, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi and Saharsa.. The Shaikh speak Urdu, Urdu and various local dialects. They are Sunni Hanafi Muslims, and have customs similar to other Bihari Muslims. In the rural areas, the community are a largely endogamous, marrying close within close kin and other Muslims. They practice both parallel cousin and cross cousin marriages. While in the cities, there is now great deal of intermarriage with other Bihari Muslim communities. The abolishment of the zamindari system at Indian Independence saw the breakup of the larger jagirs. These changes have not affected the Shaikh who were medium and small scale farmers, who have actually benefited from the breakup of the estates.
Shaikh of Purnea Division
The Shaikh form the largest single community in the Purnia division, particularly in the Kishanganj District, where they make just under half the population. These Shaikh are a medium to small scale farmers, and are entirely rural. They are in fact four distinct communities, the Bengali, Kulaiya, Surjapuri, Habalyar and Khutta, each of whom are endogamous.
Bengali Shaikh
The Bengali Shaikh make nearly half of the population of Kishanganj district, with large communities in Araria District. They speak a mixed dialect of Bengali and Urdu, which gets more progressively closer to standard Bengali as one get towards the West Bengal border. In West Bengal, they are found in Malda, Jalpaiguri and Dargeling districts. The community are converts from the Rajbongshi, who have said to have converted during the period of Mughal rule. They gave considerably trouble to the British colonial authorities in the 19th century. Like other Shaikh groups they have intermarried with other Muslim groups. They are Sunni Hanafi Muslims, and their beliefs incorporate many local customs and traditions.
Kulhaiya Shaikh
The Kulhaiya Shaikh are found mainly in Araria, Purnea and Kishanganj District of north eastern Bihar. Some members of the community are said to be the descendants of Caliph Abu Bakar Siddiq, a companion of Prophet Muhammad. They speak Urdu and Maithili. The community members are mostly converts from the upper castes: Brahmins, Rajputs, Kayasthas, Kshatriya, Jats, Rajbanshi and other castes, and said to have converted in the 16th century. They are mostly settled in Seemanchal region.
Surjapuri Shaikh
The Surjapuri Shaikhs can be found mainly in Kishanganj, Katihar and District of north eastern Bihar. The community members are converts from the upper castes: Brahmins, Rajputs, Kayasthas, Kshatriya, Jats, Rajbanshi and other castes they are said to have converted during the 15-16th century. Like other Shaikh groups they have intermarried with other Muslim groups. They are Sunni Hanafi Muslims, and their beliefs incorporate many local customs and traditions.