Assamese (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.

Subgroups: 1

Subgroup Name Population
Maria 131,000

Introduction / History

Unlike most people groups featured in the Joshua Project website, the Muslim Assamese are a collection of Muslim peoples who live in the northeast Indian state of Assam. They make up roughly one third of the population of Assam.

One group of Assamese Muslims is indigenous Hindus who converted to Islam during the 14th century and later periods. Another group were Bengali farmers who were encouraged to come to Assam and work on the tea plantations during the British period. Yet another group of Muslims have come in recent years to escape their poverty in Bangladesh to the relative wealth of Assam. Another group are the descendants of Muslim soldiers who came to fight in Assam and decided to stay there.

The rapid growth of Muslims in Assam has not always pleased the majority Hindu citizens. There have been anti-Muslim riots. In 1983, 2000 Muslims were killed in a massacre.

Most Muslim Assamese are in involved with agriculture. They grow rice, maize, oil seeds, sugarcane, wheat and seasonal vegetables. Some work in their traditional job of brass metalworking. Others work in small commerce and trade.

The primary language of the Assamese Muslims is Assamese. Others speak Bengali and other regional languages of India.


Where Are they Located?

The vast majority of the Assamese Muslims live in Assam in northeast India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Muslims of Assam are different than other Muslims of India and the world. They participate in Hindu festivals and customs. Another unusual practice of these Muslims is that their daughters can inherit property from their father. Still another unusual occurrence is Muslim fathers who allow their daughters to marry Hindu men. Orthodox Muslim fathers would not allow this to happen.

The main foods of the Assamese Muslims are rice, wheat, vegetables, dairy products and maize. They eat neither beef nor pork.


They are generally less orthodox than most Asian Muslims and are involved in many Hindu festivals and customs.
What Are Their Beliefs?

As was stated earlier, the Assamese Muslims practice both Muslim and Hindu traditions of their neighbors.

The Assamese Muslims are officially Sunni, the largest branch of Islam. They attempt to obey the teachings of the Qur 'an and the prophet Muhammad. They believe that by following the Five Pillars of Islam that they will attain heaven when they die. 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 Muslim 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.

At the same time, the Assamese Muslims celebrate the main Hindu holidays of Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights and Navratri, the celebration of autumn.


What Are Their Needs?

The Muslim Assamese need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way than can understand. They need protection from the Hindu majority who at times perpetrate violence against them. The Hindus and Muslims of Assam must learn to understand and each accept each other.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord moves the Assamese Muslims to seek protection in Him not in weapons or violence.
Pray for Muslim Assamese families and communities to discover and embrace the free gift of life found by trusting Christ and his finished work.
Pray that many of the Assamese people will come to love God with their whole being and will walk in His ways.


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


References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Assam
www.outlookindia.com/website/story/who-are-the-muslims-of-assam/296831
everyculture.com/South-Asia/Garia.html


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Assamese (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Assamese (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation ah-sah-MEEZ
Alternate Names Asomia Muslim; Asomiya Musalman; Garia; Goria; Muria; Thalua; Thalua Musalman; अस्सामएसए (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 3,202,000
Population all Countries 3,204,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 64
People ID 10461
ROP3 Code 114973
ROP25 Code 300536
ROP25 Name Assamese
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 18
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Assam
3,141,000
Nagaland
22,000
Arunachal Pradesh
12,000
Manipur
9,300
Meghalaya
7,600
Tripura
5,600
West Bengal
2,700
Mizoram
900
Delhi
500
Maharashtra
300
Chandigarh
40
Tamil Nadu
40
Haryana
30
Rajasthan
20
Karnataka
20
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 18
  Assam 3,141,000
  Nagaland 22,000
  Arunachal Pradesh 12,000
  Manipur 9,300
  Meghalaya 7,600
  Tripura 5,600
  West Bengal 2,700
  Mizoram 900
  Delhi 500
  Maharashtra 300
  Chandigarh 40
  Tamil Nadu 40
  Haryana 30
  Rajasthan 20
  Karnataka 20
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 Assamese (2,633,000 speakers)
Language Code asm   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 15
Secondary Languages
Bengali
67,000
Meitei
2,500
Urdu
1,000
Boro
700
Khasi
200
Dimasa
70
Deori
50
Rabha
50
Kok Borok
20
Tiwa Mising Chin, Thado
Kachari Naga, Yimchungru
Primary Language Assamese (2,633,000 speakers)
Language Code asm   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 15
Secondary Languages
  Bengali 67,000
  Meitei 2,500
  Urdu 1,000
  Boro 700
  Khasi 200
  Dimasa 70
  Deori 50
  Rabha 50
  Kok Borok 20
  Tiwa 10
  Mising 10
  Chin, Thado 0
  Kachari 0
  Naga, Yimchungru 0
People Groups Speaking Assamese

Primary Language:  Assamese

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1822-1974)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1819-1993)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1833-2022)
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 Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Assamese Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Assamese YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download Bible from Google Play Store Operation Agape
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Assamese YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Christ for the Nations General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Assamese Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Online New Testament (Bibles India) Operation Agape
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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