Gujar (Muslim traditions) in India


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

Introduction / History

The Gujar are comprised of three very closely related people groups that are collectively known as the "Gujar Rajasthani." As various Muslim groups began invading India and Pakistan in the eleventh century, the Gujar Hindus converted to Islam. When this happened, their resentful Hindu neighbors began to rise up and take control of the area. The Gujar were forced to leave the region and search for good pastures elsewhere. Their wanderings took them into Pakistan and Afghanistan, where thousands have remained until this day. The partition of Pakistan and India in 1947 also caused many migrations. Masses of Muslims immigrated to Pakistan, while the Hindus flocked to India. There are both Hindu and Muslim Gujar people in India today.


They are located in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and several states in northeastern India (Himachal, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan). In addition, the Gujarat state of western India is named after the historic Gujar peoples.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Some Gujar in India are seasonal nomads or semi-nomadic. Others live and work in towns. The few who live in forests are not integrated into Indian society.


In general, they are a simple, inoffensive people with a generous nature. Today, most of the Gujar living in India live as law-abiding shepherds and farmers. Unfortunately, members of higher castes still belittle them and often label them as thieves and vagrants. Gujar nomads who live in Jammu and Kashmir are often cheated by the middlemen who take their agricultural products to the city markets and sell them as their own.


The Gujar are divided into hundreds of clans. Their societies are patrilineal, which means that inheritances are passed down through the males. Marriages are usually arranged by the parents, and the groom's family must provide a bride price of either cash or livestock. They are permitted to marry outside their clans, and young couples generally live near the grooms' parents. Most live in extended families under a community council.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Centuries past, they were all Hindus. A Muslim invasion in the 11th century forced many to convert to Islam. Though there is a good percentage of Gujar Hindus in India, most are Sunni Muslim. They believe in the tenets of Islam and seek to obey the teachings of the Koran, as given by Mohammed. Few are familiar with more than a surface level Muslim theology. For this reason, they depend on amulets and the intercession of Muslim saints for their daily needs. Allah is too distant to help them.


What Are Their Needs?

The Gujar people need loving, patient Christ followers to show them the way to the cross and the empty grave. They need to put their faith in the one who rose from the dead, not saints who remain in the grave.


Prayer Points

Pray that God will send culturally sensitive missionaries who will show them the way to the only Savior.


Pray for a Christ-ward movement to flourish among this people group in the 2020s.


Pray for the Gujar people to be blessed with peace, joy and spiritual prosperity as they follow Jesus Christ.


Pray for their leaders to have dreams and visions that will open their hearts to Jesus Christ and his ambassadors.


Scripture Prayers for the Gujar (Muslim traditions) in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Gujar (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Gujar (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation GOO-jar
Alternate Names Gujar; Gurjar; गुजर (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 552,000
Population all Countries 5,752,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 11
People ID 17549
ROP3 Code 112971
ROP25 Code 302843
ROP25 Name Gujar
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 7
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
446,000
Uttarakhand
54,000
Haryana
27,000
Punjab
23,000
Chandigarh
500
Madhya Pradesh
400
Rajasthan
300
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 7
  Uttar Pradesh 446,000
  Uttarakhand 54,000
  Haryana 27,000
  Punjab 23,000
  Chandigarh 500
  Madhya Pradesh 400
  Rajasthan 300
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 India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Urdu (411,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Punjabi, Eastern
36,000
Garhwali
9,000
Bhojpuri
6,200
Awadhi
1,600
Marwari
700
Haryanvi
700
Kumaoni
80
Primary Language Urdu (411,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Punjabi, Eastern 36,000
  Garhwali 9,000
  Bhojpuri 6,200
  Awadhi 1,600
  Marwari 700
  Haryanvi 700
  Kumaoni 80
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  (1843-2022)
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 Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Urdu 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 The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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
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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
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Matt Brandon  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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