Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Quaid-e-Azam and founder of Pakistan, came from a family whose roots trace back to the Hindu Rajputs of India. Over generations, his ancestors converted to Islam and became part of the Khoja Muslim community, specifically following the Nizari Isma’ili sect under the spiritual leadership of the Aga Khan.
See Also: Ali Khamenei Family Tree – Supreme Leader of Iran
Ancestral Origins
The lineage begins with Heerji, a Hindu Rajput, whose son Meghji embraced Islam and joined the Khoja Muslim community.
- Heerji → Meghji → Poonja Meghji
From Poonja Meghji, the family branched out into several lines, including Manbai, Nathoobhai, and Veljibhai. One of Poonja Meghji’s sons, Jinnahbhai Poonja, would become the patriarch of the Jinnah family.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s Parents
- Father: Jinnahbhai Poonja (1857–1902) – a respected merchant in Karachi.
- Mother: Mithibai Jinnah – remembered for her strong influence on the early life of her son.
The couple had several children, including the future leader of Pakistan.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s Siblings
Muhammad Ali Jinnah had both brothers and sisters:
- Ahmed Ali Jinnah
- Bunde Ali Jinnah
- Rahmat Bai Jinnah
- Shireen Bai Jinnah
- Maryam Bai Jinnah
- Fatima Jinnah (1893–1967) – known as Madar-e-Millat (Mother of the Nation) for her political role in Pakistan’s independence movement.
- Bachu – died in infancy.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s Marriages and Children
Jinnah was married twice:
- First Marriage: Emibai Jinnah – No children from this marriage.
- Second Marriage:Rattanbai Jinnah (Maryam Jinnah) – Daughter of Sir Dinshaw Petit, a wealthy Parsi businessman of Bombay.
- They had one daughter, Dina Jinnah-Wadia (1919–2017).
Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s Descendants
Although Muhammad Ali Jinnah himself passed away in 1948, his family line continued through his daughter Dina’s marriage into the Wadia family, a prominent Indian Parsi industrialist dynasty.
- Dina Jinnah-Wadia married Neville Ness Wadia (1911–1996).
- Children:
- Nusli Neville Wadia (b. 1944) – Indian businessman.
- Ness Nusli Wadia (b. 1971) – Industrialist.
- Jehangir Nusli Wadia (b. 1973) – Business executive.
- Diana N. Wadia – Less publicly known member of the family.
- Nusli Neville Wadia (b. 1944) – Indian businessman.
- Children:
Connection to the Petit Family
Through his marriage to Rattanbai, Jinnah was connected to the Petit family, one of Bombay’s most influential Parsi families. Sir Dinshaw Petit, 2nd Baronet, was his father-in-law.
