The Momin Ansari (Urdu: مومن أنصاري) or Saudagar are a Muslim community of merchants found mainly in India, Pakistan, and Nepal. The literal meaning of Ansar is "supporter".[citation needed]
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Pakistan • India • Nepal | |
| Languages | |
| Urdu • Punjabi and Arabic | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Julaha/Ansari |
In North India, the community are known as Ansari or Shaikh while in Maharashtra the community are known as Momin or Saudagar.[citation needed]
Although the community can be found throughout the Indian subcontinent, the Varanasi District in Uttar Pradesh is always regarded by most Momin as the centre of their community. In that city, the Ansari are said to make up a third of the city's population. Important Ansari neighborhoods in the city include Madanpura, Adampura and Jaitpura.[1]
References
edit- ^ The Artisans of Benaras Popular Culture and Identity, 1880h-1986 Orient Longman