Ancestries of modern Kazkahs dating back to 751 year started to accept Islam as a major religion in Central Asia. The reason was the help of Arab armies, under the command of Kuteib-ibn-Muslim helped Turkic tribes to fight against Tan Empire in a battle in Talas, close to modern Taraz city in Kazakhstan. They won the army of Tan Empire and Turks allowed Arabs to stay on their territories, where Arabs started to spread Islam among Turkic tribes. Koca, Kozha, Hoca, Hoja (Kz: Қожалар) are direct descendents of Arabs in Central Asia. They primarily live in South Kazakhstan, and their nationalities: Kazakh, Uzbek, Dungans.

Kozhalar are not included to the tribal-generic structure of Kazakh zhuzs. Together with Tore ( descendants of Chengiz Khan) they are Ak suiek.
The origin of the word Khoja comes from Persian word Khvadzha - «Lord»). According to the genealogical story (Shezhire), recorded in ХIХ century in Syr-Daria Oblast, Khozhas are the descendants of three Saints (Aulie) from Bukhara — Appak Seid Khodzha, Khafiz Seid Khodzha and Magady Seid Khodzha. Different groupings started from there: Seit-Khodzha, Horasan-Khodzha, etc. Each group started their own family tree, which leads them to Muhammed or the first four Halifs — Abu Bekry, Omar, Osman and Ali.

In most cases Khodzhas served as representatives of Cult of Saints, organizers of Aul schools (religious mektebs) and teachers. Using their sacrosanctity as sacred generation they played a role of middlemen in cases of conflicts between the tribes.

Islam religion -- Kozhalar shezhiresi -- Akkorgan Kozhalar -- Karakhandyk Kozhalar -- Duana Kozhalar -- Horasan Kozhalar -- Ishak Kozhalar