Muslim Kayasths
{{Short description|Community of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Kayastha Musalman 15px
| population =
| popplace = India • Pakistan
| langs = Urdu • Hindi • various Indic languages
| related = Kayastha • Shaikh of Uttar Pradesh|
}}
The Muslim Kayasths ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|مسلمان کائستھ}}}}), also known as Siddiqui, are descendants of the Kayasth community of North India, mainly modern Uttar Pradesh, which embraced Islam during medieval period. They are now mostly concentrated in Pakistani provinces of Punjab, Sindh as well as northern India. {{Cite book |last1=Khanam |first1=Azra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sdz9AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA16 |title=Muslim Backward Classes: A Sociological Perspective |date=30 August 2013 |publisher=SAGE Publications India |isbn=9788132116509 |access-date=5 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203062135/https://books.google.com/books?id=Sdz9AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA16 |archive-date=3 February 2022 |url-status=live}}
History and origin
=Origin=
Muslim Kayasths consider themselves part of the Shaikh community and claim descent from Abu Bakr, the first Sunni Caliph, and a close companion of Muhammad.{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Satish Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPXZAAAAMAAJ&q=Kayastha+muslim+claim+to+be+the+descendants+of+Abu+Bakr, |title=Reform, Protest, and Social Transformation |date=1987 |publisher=Ashish Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7024-098-3 |pages=224 |language=en |quote=They are converts from Kayastha caste among the Hindus but today they claim to be the descendants of Abu Bakr Siddiqui.}}{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=Dipankar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ysLsAAAAIAAJ&q=Kayastha+muslim+claim+to+be+the+descendants+of+Abu+Bakr, |title=Social Stratification |date=1992 |publisher=OUP India |isbn=978-0-19-563088-6 |pages=223 |language=en}}
=History=
The Kayasths historically played a significant role in administration, particularly in maintaining land records, taxation, and governance. Kayasths were distinct from Brahmins, as they focused on secular knowledge like administration rather than religious scriptures. Their adaptability allowed them to thrive under changing political landscapes. Over time, some Kayasths converted to Islam, particularly during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire, while continuing to work in administrative and bureaucratic roles.{{Cite journal|last=Jahanara|date=2003-01-01|title=The Muslim Kayasthas of India|url=https://doi.org/10.1177/0976343020030106|journal=The Oriental Anthropologist|language=en|volume=3|issue=1|pages=48–51|doi=10.1177/0976343020030106|s2cid=220082119|issn=0972-558X}} Today, Muslim Kayasths primarily speak Hindustani (Hindi in India{{Cite web |last=Venkatesh |first=Karthik |date=2016-09-14 |title=How Hindi Fought a Tough Battle to Emerge as an Official Language |url=https://www.thequint.com/voices/blogs/how-hindi-fought-a-tough-battle-to-emerge-as-an-official-language |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=TheQuint |language=en}} and Urdu in Pakistan). During Islamic rule, they served as scribes, officials, and administrators, quickly adapting to Persian, Arabic, and Turkish—the languages of governance. Their expertise in economics, taxation, and administration made them valuable.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
=Notes=
- Jahanara (2003-01-01) [https://doi.org/10.1177/0976343020030106 The Muslim Kayasthas of India] Journal. The Oriental Anthropologist. pp. 48 volume_3 (Issue 1)
{{Indian Muslim}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kayasth Muslims}}
Category:Muslim communities of Uttar Pradesh
Category:Social groups of Uttar Pradesh