Agariya (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Agariya people derive their name from the prominent city of Agra in northern India. According to their legends, they were a landed Hindu community at one time, probably related to the Agri caste. A local Muslim governor demanded women from their community. They refused and faced imprisonment. Firsad, the grandson of a Sufi Muslim saint, helped them escape so out of gratitude many converted to Islam.


Where Are they Located?

Most of the Muslim Agariya people live in India's states of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha. They are most likely to be found in Gujarat. A smaller number live in Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

There are at least 11 prominent clans among the Agariya Muslim community. All of them intermarry with one another.

Today, the Agarias work with metal. They manufacture agricultural tools such as axes, ploughshares, and sickles. Many have also turned to agricultural pursuits and raising livestock. Others specialize in making toys such as wooden masks for children. Their children begin working at an early age. Some Agaria people have been prey to money-lenders and have not been able to afford amenities such as electricity.


What Are Their Beliefs?

There are still Hindus among them, but some Agariya people are Sunni Muslim. They believe that the One, Supreme God, Allah, spoken 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, using deceit, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship. The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.


What Are Their Needs?

The Muslim Agariya people in India and Pakistan need access to safe drinking water and reliable electricity. They also need access to gospel materials, whether they live in Gujarat, India or over the border in Pakistan.


Prayer Points

Pray for his kingdom to come and his will to be done among the Muslim Agariya people.
Pray for a movement of Agariya households to study the Bible and accept the blessings of Christ.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive the Agariya 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 Agariya people.


Scripture Prayers for the Agariya (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Agariya (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Agariya (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation ah-gah-ree-YAH
Alternate Names Agaria Muslims; Agham; Agheria; Aghim; Agro; Ohar; अगारिया (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 1,700
Population all Countries 19,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16175
ROP3 Code 111277
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 2
Largest States
Sindh
1,200
Punjab
500
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 2
  Sindh 1,200
  Punjab 500
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 Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Sindhi (700 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Urdu
400
Punjabi, Western
300
Saraiki
300
Dhatki
70
Primary Language Sindhi (700 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Urdu 400
  Punjabi, Western 300
  Saraiki 300
  Dhatki 70
People Groups Speaking Sindhi

Primary Language:  Sindhi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1825-1981)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1890-1992)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1954)
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 Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Sindhi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
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 Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Sindhi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Malcolm P Chapman - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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