The term Gujarati Muslims is usually used to signify an Indian Muslim from the state of Gujarat in North-western coast of India. Gujarati Muslims are very prominent in industry and medium-sized businesses, and there is a very large Gujarati Muslim community in Mumbai. Many members of this community migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and have settled in Sindh province especially in Karachi, contributing to the national welfare and economy of Pakistan. Having earned a formidable accolade as some of India's greatest seafaring merchants, the centuries-old Gujarati diaspora is found scattered throughout the Near East, Indian Ocean, and Southern Hemisphere regions everywhere in between Africa and Japan with a notable presence in: Hong Kong, Britain, Portugal, Réunion, Oman, Yemen, Mozambique, Zanzibar, United Arab Emirates, Burma, Madagascar, South Africa, Mauritius, Pakistan and East Africa. According to the 2001 Census of India, the Gujarati Muslim population was 4,592,854, which is 9.064% of the total population of the state, by the side survey done on the basis of adhaar it is showing the total Muslim population in Gujrat was 8,934,201, which is 13.28% however significant numbers of Gujarati Muslims are found within the larger context of the Gujarati diaspora that became established throughout all the inhabited continents of the world.Most Gujarati Muslims have Gujarati language as their mother tongue, but some communities such as the Momin Ansari, Memons, Gujarati Shaikh, and others, have Urdu as their mother tongue.The majority of Gujarati Muslims are Sunni, with a minority of heterodox Shi'ite groups. The Gujarati Muslims are further sub-divided into groups, such as the Sunni Vohra/Bohra, Ismāʿīlī, Khoja, Dawoodi Bohra, Surti, Pathan people, Khatri, Ghanchi and Chhipa each with their own customs and traditions. Gujarati Muslims played a pivotal role in establishing Islam in Southeast Asia.
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