Surti Muslims - The People

The People

Many Surti Muslims, who are commonly referred to as Vohra claim they may have some origins in Southern Arabia. Their Arab ancestors probably came from the city of Taif, Madina, and Hadramaut in Saudi Arabia, and from the city of Basra, Najaf or Kufa in Iraq. They are said to have migrated as traders and sailors to the districts of Surat and Bharuch in the state of Gujarat, India. It is claimed that they married local women and settled in Surat, over time adopting the Gujarati language and local customs.

A large number of Surti Muslims have immigrated throughout the world, especially to the United Kingdom, South Africa, the United States of America, and Canada. The majority of them follow the Deobandi school for religious guidance. They have established a number of mosques and madrassahs throughout the world and have produced a large number of respected 'Ulama and Huffaz. They mostly own medium-sized businesses, though the younger generations are increasingly opting for professional white collar jobs. Due to their consistent higher education levels, Surti Muslims have succeeded in the professional sphere in both India and Pakistan.