Sunni Bohra
Sunni Vahoras or Sunni Bohras (also Jafari Bohras or Patani Bohras), are a community from the state of Gujarat in India. Sharing many cultural similarities with the Dawoodi Bohras, they are often confused with that community. The community in Pakistan uses the surname "Vohra" and not Bohra and are commonly known as Sunni Vohras. A few families use the slightly different spelling of "Vora" or "Vohra" as their surname. Another common surname is Patel.
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| |
| Languages | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
History and distribution
In the 15th century, there was a schism in the Bohra community of Patan, Gujarat as many converted from Mustaali Ismaili to Sunni Islam. The leader of this conversion movement to Sunni Islam was Jafar Patani, himself a Bohra convert to Sunni Islam. Thus this new group is known as Jafari Bohras and Patani Bohras. In 1538, Syed Jafar Ahmad Shirazi, a missionary from Sindh, convinced Patani Bohras to cease social relations with Ismaili Bohras. This resulted in a conversion of around 80%, Shia Ismaili faith to Sunni Islam. This however was changed by Maulaya Raj, who went on to explain how highly misguided people are and explained Islam to them and invited them, hence leading to the return of most of these people back to their faith.[1][2]