Bihari Muslims facts for kids

Bihari Muslims are people from the Indian state of Bihar who follow the religion of Islam. Most Bihari Muslims are Sunni Muslims, but a small number are Shia Muslims.

How Bihari Muslims Began

Islam came to Bihar between the 10th and 15th centuries. It was brought by Sufi teachers and Sunni rulers.

Around 3 million Bihari Muslims moved to what is now Pakistan and Bangladesh. This happened when India was divided into different countries. Those who moved to Pakistan became known as Muhajirs. Those who moved to Bangladesh were sometimes called "Stranded Pakistanis."

A Look at Bihar's Past

Bihar had a great history until about the 7th or 8th century AD. This was during the Gupta period. Then, invaders from the Middle East took over much of northern India, and the Gupta dynasty ended.

During medieval times, Bihar lost its place as a main political and cultural center in India. The Mughal period was a time when Delhi ruled Bihar as a regular province.

One important person from this time in Bihar was Sher Shah Suri. He was an Afghan leader. Sher Shah was based in Sasaram, a town in Bihar today. He managed to defeat Humayun, the son of the Mughal King Babur, two times. He won battles at Chausa and Kannauj.

After his victories, Sher Shah became the ruler of a large area that reached all the way to Punjab. He was known as a fierce warrior. But he was also a good leader, much like the ancient kings Ashok and the Gupta rulers. He made many changes to land laws. You can still see his grand tomb in Sasaram today.

Daily Life and Language

Most educated Bihari Muslims speak Urdu. However, in their daily lives, they often speak local Bihari languages. The wealth of Muslims in Bihar is similar to that of other people across India.

Images for kids

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  Sher Shah Suri Tomb in Sasaram. Sher Shah Suri founded the Sur Empire and was born in Bihar