Behlim

Behlim

Total population
7400
Regions with significant populations
India Pakistan
Languages
Urdu Hindi Gujarati
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Shaikh Shaikh of Uttar Pradesh Shaikh of Gujarat Nagar Muslims

The Behlim are a Muslim community found mainly in North India. A small number are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan.^{[1][full citation needed]}

Origin

The Behlim trace their descent the Sufi Masud Ghazi, and the word is said to be a corruption of the word ba-ilm, meaning those who are knowledgeable in Arabic. There are in fact two distinct communities of Behlim, those of Gujarat, who are found mainly in Mehsana and Banaskantha districts, while those of Uttar Pradesh, who are found mainly in the Doab region of that state.^[1]

Present circumstances

The Behlim are an agrarian community, found mostly in north Gujarat. According to some traditions, they were once Rajputs, and their customs are similar to other Muslim Rajput communities, such as the Maliks. The Behlim intermarry with other Gujarati Muslim communities of similar status such as Pathan, Shaikh and Molesalam Rajputs. Unlike other Gujarati Muslims, they have no caste association, and generally are allied to other Rajput landholding classes. They speak Gujarati and are Sunni Muslims.^[1]

References

1. Muslim Communities of Gujarat by S. C Misra pages 81 to 83