Mali (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 Mali people of India are known as growers of flowers and vegetables. The vast majority of Mali is Hindu. A sizable minority converted to Islam during the eras of the Delhi Sultanate and Moghul Empire. Most of the Muslim Mali moved to Pakistan during the Partition of 1947. A smaller group remained in India. The Muslim Mali are part of the sudra or the fourth caste of laborers. Some claim to be Rajputs although they are seen as sudras by the higher castes. Flowers and garlands play a large part in Hindu life ceremonies especially weddings. Muslims do not make flowers a big part of their life ceremonies. As a result, many Muslim Mali grow vegetables, sugarcane and lentils along with flowers.

The primary language of the Muslim Mali is Urdu. Educated Mali also speak English and other local languages. Many Christian resources exist in Urdu including a complete Bible and the JESUS Film.


Where Are they Located?

The Muslim Mali people live throughout central India including the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

There is great variety in the lives of Muslim Mali. Educated Mali work in the professions while some Mali work as landlesss day laborers. Some Mali own the land they cultivate. Others work on the land own by other higher castes. Most Muslim Mali would fit into the Indian lower middle class.

Muslim Mali marry within their group, most of the time outside their clan. Families arrange marriages. Sons inherit property with the eldest son receiving the family home and father's title. Most boys go on to a secondary education while the girls only receive a primary education. Illiteracy is a problem among the Mali people, which hinders their economic advancement. A caste council settles legal disputes and promotes their interests. Muslim Mali do not eat pork but will eat other types of meat. Their stable foods are rice and vegetables.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though most Mali people are Hindu, some are Sunni Muslim converts. Sunni Muslims 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 Fridays at a mosque, their place of worship.


What Are Their Needs?

The Muslim Mali would benefit from access to modern medicine. Solar panels could help rural Mali. The children of Mali need to attend secondary schools, which lead to college. Agricultural experts could help the Mali with increased crop yields. Most of all, the Mali need to hear and respond to the message of Isa or Jesus. He alone can forgive their sin and get them right with the one, true God.


Prayer Points

Pray for workers to go to the Muslim Mali people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their Savior.
Pray for networks of believing families and fellowships that will throw the doors open for others to follow Jesus.
Pray for the Lord to bless the families among the Mali people with His presence and mercy.
Pray for believers among this people group to disciple others who will disciple still others.


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


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/18786/IN
https://peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/mali/


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Mali (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Mali (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation MAH-lee
Alternate Names Dilliwal Shaikh; Phulmali; Phulvadhio; Rani; Rani Mali; माली (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 17,000
Population all Countries 93,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 18787
ROP3 Code 114474
ROP25 Code 305045
ROP25 Name Mali/Malakkar
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 6
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
15,000
Uttarakhand
1,100
Rajasthan
700
Gujarat
500
Madhya Pradesh
200
Haryana
100
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 6
  Uttar Pradesh 15,000
  Uttarakhand 1,100
  Rajasthan 700
  Gujarat 500
  Madhya Pradesh 200
  Haryana 100
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 (13,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Marwari
400
Bhojpuri
400
Gujarati
400
Primary Language Urdu (13,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Marwari 400
  Bhojpuri 400
  Gujarati 400
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
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 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
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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