Goan Muslims

The Goan Muslims are a minority community who follow Islam in the western Indian coastal state of Goa. They are native to Goa, unlike recent Muslim migrants from Karnataka. They are commonly referred as Moir (Konkani: मैर) by Goan Catholics and Hindus.Moir is derived from the Portuguese word mour (Moors). The Portuguese called them Mouros because they (and the Spaniards in contact with the Muslims of Mauritania, who had conquered the Iberian Peninsula) were called Mouros and later generalized as Mouros.

History

Although the advent of Muslims in Goa occurred later in history, Arab geographers referred to Goa as Sindabur and believed that Goa had one of the best ports in western India. In 554 CE, Sidi Ali Kodupon wrote the Turkish-language book Mohit. In the book, Goa is referred to as Kuvah-Sindabur: a combination of the names Kuvah (Goa) and Sindabur (Chandor).

The copper plate of Kadamba Jayakesi I refers to the Muslim Minister named Chadma. While Kadamba ruler Gullhadeva I was sailing towards Somanath, his ship got involved in a naval accident and the mast of his ship broke. His grandson Jayakesi I gave Chadma, the privilege of levying the taxes on small and big boats. The amount collected by way of taxes was utilized for the maintenance of the mosques built in Goa at Laghumorambika (modern Merces).This copper plate goes to the extent of saying that Jayakesi I made him the Chief Minister. Later Arab Muslim commercial traders migrated to Goa by force of conquest and established their society; this was the first forceful influx of Muslims into Goa, which led the local Hindus to migrate elsewhere.After Malik Kafur invasion and subsequently during the rule of Sultanate, there were Muslim Officers in Goa like Malik Bahadur. After the downfall of the Goa Kadamba, some Muslims might have migrated to Bhatkal and Honavar. The Nawayaths of Bhatkal are the descendant of Muslim community and once lived in Goa.