Among the Khojas, who are a branch of the Ismaili sect, which special literary genre developed to express devotional teachings and community identity?

Introduction / Context:
This question relates to religious history and regional devotional literature in South Asia. It asks about a specific literary genre that developed among the Khojas, a community linked to the Ismaili branch of Islam. Knowing the name and nature of this genre helps students appreciate the diversity of Islamic devotional traditions beyond standard Arabic and Persian texts.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The community in focus is the Khojas, who are part of the Ismaili tradition.
• The question asks for the name of a literary genre developed by them.
• Options given are Ginan, Ziyarat, Raag and Shahada.

Concept / Approach:
Ginans are devotional hymns in Indic languages composed within the Nizari Ismaili tradition, especially among Khojas in South Asia. They convey religious teachings, ethical guidance and mystical ideas in a form accessible to local communities. Ziyarat generally refers to visits to shrines or texts linked with such visits, not a literary genre unique to Khojas. Raag is a musical mode in Indian classical music. Shahada refers to the Islamic testimony of faith, not a special Khoja literary genre. Therefore, the correct conceptual link is between the Khojas and the genre called Ginan.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify Khojas as a community often associated with Nizari Ismaili traditions in South Asia. Step 2: Recall that this community developed devotional hymns in local languages to explain complex doctrines. Step 3: Recognize that these hymns are collectively known as Ginans. Step 4: Understand that Ziyarat refers to visiting holy places and is not primarily a literary genre here. Step 5: Select Ginan as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard religious studies on Ismaili communities repeatedly describe Ginans as short poetic compositions that blend Islamic, local and sometimes Bhakti inspired imagery. They form a distinct corpus associated with Khojas and other Nizari Ismaili groups in India and East Africa. In contrast, Raag is a general musical term used across many traditions, and Shahada is the universal declaration of faith in Islam. This comparison confirms that Ginan is the only option that fits the description asked in the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ziyarat: Means visiting shrines or places associated with saints and is not a specific literary genre created by Khojas.
Raag: Describes musical modes in Indian classical music, not a distinct Ismaili devotional literature form.
Shahada: Refers to the core Islamic declaration of faith and is shared by all Muslims; it is not a unique literary genre of the Khoja community.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to focus on more familiar Islamic terms like Shahada or Ziyarat and assume one of them must be the answer. Another trap is to link Raag with devotional songs simply because music is involved, but here the question is about a named genre used by a specific community. Remembering that Ginans are unique devotional compositions of Khoja Ismailis helps avoid confusion and leads directly to the correct choice.

Final Answer:
The literary genre developed by the Khojas is known as Ginan.