Khoja (Turkestan)

A Hodja ( Қожа Kazakh, Turkish hoca of neupers. خواجه / ḫwāǧa ) is in general a teacher, especially an Islamic religious scholar, for example, a religious teacher Ottoman prince or a Abdschad - teacher in a Mekteb.

Training

Hodschas do not need special training, even though they frequently possess an academic degree today. Prerequisite is the mastery of prayers in Arabic and ability to lead Praying. In the mosques they lead the prayer, keeping the Friday sermon and teach the Koran.

Other meanings

Khojas are also members of the Ismaili group (cf. Ismailis, Shi'a ) of the Nizari in India and Pakistan.

Khojas are also the leading families in Kashgaria between about 1500 and 1850 in the cities of Kashgar, Hotan ( Khotan ) and Yarkant.

In the Ottoman Empire the title of persons upscale object called: scholars ( see, for example Nasreddin Hodja ), merchants and eunuchs of a stately home. In Turkish Hoca means "teacher." It is used as a respectful form of address for teachers, professors, teachers or clergy.

See also

• List of Ottoman title

• Ottoman title
• Islamic cleric