Chapparband (Muslim traditions) in India

People Name:	Chapparband (Muslim traditions)
Country:	India
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	6,900
World Population:	6,900
Primary Language:	Urdu
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Muslim - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Muslim Chapparband are a small community who live in southwestern India. Their traditional occupation was building roofs for houses. All Chapparband were originally Hindus. Some Chapparband converted to Islam during the Mughal period. The Chapparband no longer practice their ancient profession of making thatched roofs. Today they are primarily landless agricultural workers and small shop owners. The primary language of the Chapparband Muslims is Urdu. Many Christian resources are available in Urdu including a complete Bible and the JESUS Film.

Where Are they Located?

This Muslim people group lives in Maharashtra and Karnataka states of India.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Many Chapparband work in the building trades as carpenters and masons. Some also work as fruit sellers and truck drivers.

Marriage to one spouse is the norm among the Chapparband although a man may have up to four wives is he can afford them. Families arrange marriages within the Chapparband people. Sons inherit their parents' property. Most Chapparband boys only receive a primary school education. Illiteracy is common among the women and girls. Most young people quit school after only a few years to work along side their parents in supporting their families. A caste association settles legal issues and promotes the interests of the group and enforces social norms.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Chapparband people are Sunni, the largest branch of Islam. They believe that the One, Supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.

In most of the Muslim world, peoples like the Chapparband depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they believe they must appease the spirits. The often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.

What Are Their Needs?

The Chapparband need help in educating their children. Many rural Chapparband do not have access to modern medicine. Most of all, the Chapparband need to see that following the tenets of Islam will not get them right with a holy God. They must see that Isa or Jesus is much more than a prophet. Only He can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.

Prayer Points

Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Muslim Chapparband people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing their hearts would be open and ready to follow Him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended Chapparband families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Muslim Chapparband people to become fruitful as they follow Christ.
Pray for the lives and culture of the Muslim Chapparband people to evidence the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God as they open to the gospel, and for the beauty of Jesus to be seen in them.