Shaikh unspecified in India


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

Subgroups: 16 (10 largest shown)  Show all

Subgroup Name Population
Abbasi 227,000
Bani Israil 42,000
Milki 31,000
Bahlim 21,000
Kidwai 21,000
Khurasani 12,000
Ulwi 12,000
Jafari 8,900
Hashimi 8,700
Shaikhzada 7,700

Introduction / History

The term Shaikh is used for a sociocultural group that originated with Arab settlers in South Asia which now includes many subgroups. Islam arrived in the area now known as Pakistan in 711 AD when a Muslim Arab army conquered the northwestern part of the Indus Valley from Jammu and Kashmir to the Arabian Sea. Technocrats, bureaucrats, soldiers, traders, scientists, architects, teachers, theologians, and Sufis flocked from the rest of the Arab and Muslim world to the Islamic Sultanate in South Asia and settled permanently. The descendants of these Arabs usually go by the title of Shaikh and are also known in Pakistan as Muslim Khatri. They are a sub-group of the Zamindar group traditionally associated with farming, which is one of the two groups making up the Punjabis. Shaikh is also a term that is usually attributed to the leaders or elders of Arabian social groups. After the advent of Islam in South Asia, some high caste (Brahmins, Muslim Rajputs and Khatris) converted to Islam in the Punjab region and adopted the Shaikh title. They are known as Punjabi Shaikh. The majority of the Punjabi Shaikhs are urbanized and detached from their traditional agricultural ancestry. However, a few families still cultivate their own land in the western districts of Punjab. The main professions of the urban Punjabi Shaikhs are business and public service. They are often stereotyped for their reputation for business acumen. The main language of the Shaikh is Urdu. They also speak the local languages of the areas where they live.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The large south Asian caste of Shaikhs is not bound by one particular profession. The Shaikh can be broadly grouped into five communities. The majority of the Punjabi Shaikhs are urbanized and detached from their traditional agricultural ancestry. However, a few families still cultivate their own land in the western districts of Punjab. The main professions of the urban Punjabi Shaikhs are business and public service. They are often stereotyped for their business acumen. Common surnames are Mondal, Siddiqui, Usmani, Faroqui and Sheikh. The Shaikhs marry within their group. Families arrange marriages. Marriage to one spouse is the norm but a man may marry more wives if he can afford them. Sons inherit property. As Muslims, they will not eat pork.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Shaikhs profess Islam and have both Sunni and Shia traditions among them. Both groups try to obey the teachings of the Koran and the prophet Mohammad. They believe that by following the Five Pillars of Islam that they will attain heaven when they die. However, Allah, the supreme God of the universe, determines who enters paradise. Sunnis pray five times a day facing Mecca. They fast the month of Ramadan. They attend mosque services on Friday. If a Muslim has the means, he or she will make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in his or her lifetime. Muslims are also prohibited to drink alcohol, eat pork, gamble, steal, use deceit, slander, and make idols. 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?

There has been much ministry activity among the Shaikh in India. Unfortunately, these efforts have brought few Shaikh into God's kingdom. Shaikhs who live in rural villages often lack access to modern medicine, electricity and clean water. Teams of believers can help meet these needs.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to open the hearts of the Shaikhs so they will receive the good news.
Pray for a disciple making movement that will bless the Shaikhs this decade.
Pray for the Lord to send workers to the Shaikhs to tell them about Jesus or Isa.


Scripture Prayers for the Shaikh unspecified in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Shaikh
People Name in Country Shaikh unspecified
Pronunciation shayk
Alternate Names Bengali Muslim (in Bangladesh); Faraji; Jhiwar; Shaik; Sheikh; Shekhzade; शैख़
Population this Country 71,553,000
Population all Countries 219,155,000
Total Countries 9
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1431
People ID 18084
ROP3 Code 113585
ROP25 Code 307422
ROP25 Name Shaikh
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Muslim - Shaikh
People Group Shaikh
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 16 (only 15 largest shown)
  Abbasi 227,000
  Bani Israil 42,000
  Milki 31,000
  Bahlim 21,000
  Kidwai 21,000
  Khurasani 12,000
  Ulwi 12,000
  Jafari 8,900
  Hashimi 8,700
  Shaikhzada 7,700
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 36
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
West Bengal
21,156,000
Bihar
11,546,000
Uttar Pradesh
11,015,000
Assam
7,657,000
Maharashtra
7,397,000
Karnataka
4,718,000
Jharkhand
3,236,000
Rajasthan
3,205,000
Andhra Pradesh
2,852,000
Telangana
2,787,000
Madhya Pradesh
2,241,000
Gujarat
2,061,000
Delhi
1,278,000
Haryana
1,023,000
Tamil Nadu
923,000
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 36  (only 20 largest shown)
  West Bengal 21,156,000
  Bihar 11,546,000
  Uttar Pradesh 11,015,000
  Assam 7,657,000
  Maharashtra 7,397,000
  Karnataka 4,718,000
  Jharkhand 3,236,000
  Rajasthan 3,205,000
  Andhra Pradesh 2,852,000
  Telangana 2,787,000
  Madhya Pradesh 2,241,000
  Gujarat 2,061,000
  Delhi 1,278,000
  Haryana 1,023,000
  Tamil Nadu 923,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
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 (46,645,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 63
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bengali
26,089,000
Assamese
2,086,000
Bhojpuri
1,595,000
Gujarati
1,518,000
Marathi
1,266,000
Telugu
1,031,000
Marwari
985,000
Kannada
786,000
Maithili
679,000
Punjabi, Eastern
582,000
Tamil
473,000
Dhundari
417,000
Magahi
187,000
Shekhawati
186,000
Awadhi
117,000
Primary Language Urdu (46,645,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 63
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bengali 26,089,000
  Assamese 2,086,000
  Bhojpuri 1,595,000
  Gujarati 1,518,000
  Marathi 1,266,000
  Telugu 1,031,000
  Marwari 985,000
  Kannada 786,000
  Maithili 679,000
  Punjabi, Eastern 582,000
  Tamil 473,000
  Dhundari 417,000
  Magahi 187,000
  Shekhawati 186,000
  Awadhi 117,000
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
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Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
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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
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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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Mikhail Nilov - Pexels 
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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