Aryan tribes entered India about 1500 BC mixing with mongoloids, Greeks and Huns. Through the generations this caused the Indian features of the people to gradually become more Caucasian and their languages to become more diverse. In later centuries Muslim influence promoted the linguistic change out of which the Urdu language eventually developed. Hindi and Urdu are similar languages, but they are divided by religious affiliation; Hindi is spoken by the Hindu peoples while Urdu is spoken by Muslims. Urdu is heavily laden with Persian and Arabic words and is written in the Persian script. Today when one thinks of South Asian Muslim languages, Urdu is the first one that comes to mind. Urdu is seldom a heart language, but it is the trade language of Pakistan.
Urdu speakers come from all walks of life, but they usually originate in either Pakistan or northern India. The Urdu possess a sense of group identity based on cultural and historical factors: the Islamic religion, a Persian cultural tradition, the Urdu language, and the tradition of Muslim supremacy in northern India. In recent years many Urdu-speaking Muslims have emigrated to Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, searching for economic opportunities. Skilled laborers and highly educated professionals among them have also emigrated to Western Europe, North America, and British Commonwealth countries all over the world.
Pakistani Urdu speakers arrived in Qatar as early as the 1940s. They worked in the professional and service sectors where they helped develop Qatar's petroleum, finance, and other important industries. Today Urdu speakers work in many parts of Qatar's economy. There are those in the business, sports and entertainment sectors. Qatar is an excellent place for Urdu speakers to get an education and excel economically.
Almost all Urdu speakers are Sunni Muslims. They believe the teachings of the Koran and the Hadith, but they also often lean on pre-Islamic spiritual forces for their daily needs. A faithful Muslim will pray five times a day, fast during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, go on the pilgrimage to Mecca, and obey what their imams teach them.
Though Qatar is a great place for them to excel economically, it is a difficult place for the Urdu to learn of the Savior who came as the light of the world. There are few if any followers of Christ among Urdu speakers in Qatar, and few believers there to show them the way to the cross.
* Scripture Prayers for the Urdu in Qatar.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers to the Urdu speakers in Qatar.
Pray for persons of peace among the Urdu people who will accept Christ's ambassadors.
Pray for a massive movement to Christ among Urdu speakers this decade leading to spiritual and physical blessings in Christ.
Pray for resources like the JESUS Film and Urdu language broadcasts to become widely available.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Global Prayer Digest: 2014-12-15 |
People Name General | Urdu |
People Name in Country | Urdu |
Pronunciation |
OOR-doo
|
Population this Country | 180,000 |
Population all Countries | 2,121,000 |
Total Countries | 24 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 4 |
Alternate Names | Hindi; Islami; Muhajirs; Undri |
People ID | 15727 |
ROP3 Code | 110423 |
Country | Qatar | ||
Region | Africa, North and Middle East | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 18 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Country | Qatar |
Region | Africa, North and Middle East |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 18 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Primary Language | Urdu (180,000 speakers) |
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Urdu (180,000 speakers) |
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Urdu |
Primary Language: Urdu
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1747-1894) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1758-2000) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1843-2019) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching |
Audio Recordings | Online Audio Scripture |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio |
Audio Recordings | Urdu Online Audio Bible |
Film / Video | God's Love Story |
Film / Video | God's Story video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Urdu |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels |
Film / Video | Magdalena video |
Film / Video | My Last Day video, anime |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children |
Film / Video | The Hope Video |
Film / Video | The Prophets' Story |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.01 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
98.99 %
|
Non-Religious |
1.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
0.0 %
|
Independent |
45.0 %
|
Orthodox |
0.0 %
|
Other Christian |
0.0 %
|
Protestant |
30.0 %
|
Roman Catholic |
25.0 %
|
Photo Source |
(Representative photo) Muzaffar Somro - Pixabay Creative Commons |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |