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]

Momin Ansari
Regions with significant populations
Pakistan • India • Nepal
Languages
UrduPunjabi 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

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  1. ^ The Artisans of Benaras Popular Culture and Identity, 1880h-1986 Orient Longman