Shaikh in Nepal


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

Introduction / History

The term Shaikh is used here for a sociocultural group that originated with Arab settlers in South Asia which now includes many subgroups, some of which intermarry in Bangladesh with non-Shaikh Bengali Muslims and some of which don't.
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. The Shaikhs of Pakistan, however, claim pre-Islamic ancestry. They are a sub-group of the Zamindar group or qoum, traditionally associated with farming, which is one of the two groups making up the Pakistani Punjabis (the other group is the Moeens group or quom, who are traditionally artisans). Shaikh is also a term that is usually attributed to the leaders or elders of Arabian social groups. Other variants of this term are Sheik, Shaykh, Shaikh, Cheikh, Šeih, Šejh, Seyh.
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 this title. They are known as Punjabi Shaikh (Punjabi). The majority of the Punjabi Shaikhs are urbanized and detached from their traditional agricultural ancestry. However, a few families also cultivate their own land in the western districts of Punjab. The main professions of the urban Punjabi Shaikhs are business and public service and are stereotyped for their reputation for business acumen. The Khawaja Shaikh, with their sub-division the Chiniotis and the Qanungoh Shaikh are two such communities.


What Are Their Lives Like?

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. 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 Beliefs?

The Shaikhs are not bound by one profession. The Shaikh can be broadly grouped into five communities. Three of these communities are the Siddiks, Farukis and Abbasi who are often descendants of Arab immigrants. The other two are the Chistis and Kuraishis communities who tend to be mainly from converts to Islam. Consequently, the Shaikhs profess Islam and have both Sunni and Shia traditions among them. In Nepal they speak Nepali and either Urdu, Bhojpuri or Maithili in their communities. They are not vegetarian, and their common food is rice, mutton and vegetables. Common surnames are Mondal, Siddiqui, Usmani, Faroqui and Sheikh.


What Are Their Needs?

There has been much ministry activity among the Shaikh in India but few works in Bangladesh or Nepal. The need is for loving workers.


Prayer Points

Pray that this largest group of Nepali Muslims will find the truth of the Prophet Isa.
Pray for the Shaikhs to seek and find the only savior to be who he claimed to be.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out loving and steadfast workers for this neglected harvest.
Pray for Shaikh disciples to make more disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Shaikh in Nepal.


References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjabi_Shaikh
Toni Tagimacruz


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Shaikh
People Name in Country Shaikh
Pronunciation shayk
Alternate Names Bengali Muslim (in Bangladesh); Faraji; Jhiwar; Shaik; Sheikh; Shekhzade; शैख़
Population this Country 948,000
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 19
People ID 18084
ROP3 Code 113585
ROP25 Code 307422
ROP25 Name Shaikh
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 14
Largest States
Narayani
271,000
Janakpur
189,000
Lumbini
159,000
Kosi
112,000
Sagarmatha
99,000
Bheri
72,000
Mechi
20,000
Bagmati
14,000
Gandaki
6,500
Rapti
2,400
Seti
2,300
Dhaulagiri
400
Mahakali
300
Karnali
40
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 14
  Narayani 271,000
  Janakpur 189,000
  Lumbini 159,000
  Kosi 112,000
  Sagarmatha 99,000
  Bheri 72,000
  Mechi 20,000
  Bagmati 14,000
  Gandaki 6,500
  Rapti 2,400
  Seti 2,300
  Dhaulagiri 400
  Mahakali 300
  Karnali 40
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 Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Urdu (507,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
Maithili
147,000
Bhojpuri
142,000
Nepali
10,000
Bengali
2,200
Awadhi
1,700
Marwari
1,600
Angika
300
Punjabi, Eastern
200
Dotyali
200
Kumaoni
80
Rangpuri
40
Primary Language Urdu (507,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
  Maithili 147,000
  Bhojpuri 142,000
  Nepali 10,000
  Bengali 2,200
  Awadhi 1,700
  Marwari 1,600
  Angika 300
  Punjabi, Eastern 200
  Dotyali 200
  Kumaoni 80
  Rangpuri 40
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)
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Photo Source (Representative photo)
Mikhail Nilov - Pexels 
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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