Mappila in Sri Lanka


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Sri Lanka census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Subgroups: 2

Subgroup Name Population
Jonakan 3,800
Thangal 2,700

Introduction / History

The term mappilla is a combination of two words: maha, which means great and pilla, which is an endearing term that means child.

The Mappila people migrated from the Kerala coast. They came as Hindus, but later converted to Islam because of the work of an Arab Muslim missionary. These Muslim communities resulted from the unions of Arab sailors and merchants with local women.


Where Are they Located?

Most of the Muslim Mappila people live in India's Laccadive Islands, but a smaller number live in nearby Sri Lanka.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Mappila people are one of the minority Muslim peoples on Sri Lanka, an island dominated by Buddhism and Hinduism.

Monogamy (one husband, one wife) prevails among the Mappila, in spite of the fact that Islam allows a man to have as many as four wives. They prefer cross cousin marriages, and marriages usually take place shortly after puberty. The man has true authority over his wife only if he stays with her until after all of her male relatives have died. He is then able to manage her property. A man has little authority over his children. Divorce is easy and common; over half of their marriages end in divorce.


Muslim communities strongly discourage their people from following Jesus Christ unless believers reach their leaders first.
What Are Their Beliefs?

The Laccadive Mappila belong to the Shafite School of the Sunni branch of Islam. Their religion has the typical characteristics of Islamic beliefs and practices, in addition to certain local features that have developed according to their particular way of life. Every child has to read the Koran completely in Arabic at least once, but the meaning is not explained to them. Priesthood is inherited through the females.


What Are Their Needs?

The Bible, the JESUS Film, and some Christian broadcasts are available in their Malayalam language; however, very few of the islanders have responded to the gospel. Prayer is the key to reaching them for Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done among the Muslim Mappila people.
Pray for a movement of Mappila households to study the Bible and accept the blessings of Christ.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive the Mappila people to the arms of Jesus.
Pray for workers who are filled with the fruit and the power of the Holy Spirit to go to the Mappila people.


Scripture Prayers for the Mappila in Sri Lanka.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17452/CE
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17452/IN
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mappila


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Mappila
People Name in Country Mappila
Pronunciation MAH-pee-lah
Alternate Names Bhai; Byari; Jamma Mappila; Kaka; Kodava; Mapara; Mapilla; Mopla; Moplah; Moplaha; Saheb; मप्पीला
Population this Country 11,000
Population all Countries 10,368,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17452
ROP3 Code 112857
ROP25 Code 305175
ROP25 Name Mappilla
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 9
Largest States
Western
7,000
Eastern
1,600
Central
1,100
North Western
600
North Central
400
Uva
200
Sabaragamuwa
200
Southern
100
Northern
70
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 9
  Western 7,000
  Eastern 1,600
  Central 1,100
  North Western 600
  North Central 400
  Uva 200
  Sabaragamuwa 200
  Southern 100
  Northern 70
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Sri Lanka census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Malayalam (11,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Malayalam (11,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Malayalam

Primary Language:  Malayalam

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1811-1968)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1829-1995)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1841-2022)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Malayalam Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
Photo Source Shagil Kannur - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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