Sasak in Indonesia

The Sasak have only been reported in Indonesia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Sasak people make up the majority of the population of Lombok Island in West Nusa Tenggara province. They live throughout almost the whole island, but the most densely populated areas are the fertile rice fields south of the famous Mount Rinjani. In the past, anthropologists divided the Sasak into two groups: the Waktu Lima and Waktu Telu. The Waktu Lima Sasak mostly live in the central plains, close to the roads and trade centers. The Sasak Waktu Telu tend to live in remote villages in the south and in the mountains. The Sasak language is like Balinese and Javanese, but different in how it is written and pronounced. Many words have been borrowed from the Kawi language (Old Javanese), Sanskrit and Arabic, as can be seen in ancient writings on palmyra leaves known as takepan which were often read in the past. In Sasak society there are two classes: the revered nobility and the lower class. For many years, Lombok was divided into many small, warring kingdoms. This ended when the armies from Bali subjugated them. In 1894 the Dutch freed them from Balinese control. Up to the present there are many Sasak who don't like the Balinese.


What Are Their Lives Like?

For newcomers, the Sasak seem very unrefined, frightening and aggressive. But once you get to know them, the Sasak are very friendly and open. Most Sasak are farmers, some are laborers, some are fishermen, and some are craftsmen. Weavings and earthenware crafts made by skilled workers can be found in several villages. Many of these are sold to tourists or even exported to Western countries. Many Sasak look for work in larger cities, both on Lombok and on other islands. Moral and ethical values are called tindih by the Sasak. They try to maintain values of good friendships and maintaining cultural forms of respect within the family, honoring their parents and acting politely when a guest. In looking for a wife, many Sasak follow the custom of eloping, where the woman voluntarily allows herself to be "kidnapped" and hidden away somewhere for a while. After this, the "kidnapper" contacts the woman's family to negotiate the wedding terms and then the wedding ceremony is held.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Sasak are Muslims. Every year many Sasak travel far to complete the hajj - the journey to Mecca. Many of them have to save up money for years and years, or sell their land or car in order to pay for this trip because when they come back from Mecca they are highly honored by their families and neighbors for the rest of their life. Many Sasak people still also worship in sacred places, such as tombs of religious leaders or on Mount Rinjani. They also worship the spirits of the ancestors and spirits that live in the forest, mountains or rivers.


What Are Their Needs?

Although the Sasak live on a beautiful island, they still live in poverty. The rates are very high of women who die in childbirth and child mortality. Besides this, the people could also benefit from training in tourism skills to develop the great tourism potential of their area.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Sasak people to have the spiritual hunger it takes to stand up for Jesus in the face of community pressure.
Pray for loving workers.
Pray for Sasak disciples who will disciple others.


Scripture Prayers for the Sasak in Indonesia.


References

IPN, 2011 Copyrighted © Used with permission.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

The Waiting World - The Sasak

Source:  The Waiting World      Download

People Name General Sasak
People Name in Country Sasak
Pronunciation SAH-sahk
Alternate Names Lombok
Population this Country 3,397,000
Population all Countries 3,397,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 68
People ID 14776
ROP3 Code 108736
ROP25 Code 307287
ROP25 Name Sasak
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Nusa Tenggara Barat Province, Lombok island.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Nusa Tenggara Barat Province, Lombok island..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Sasak in Indonesia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.02 %)
0.02 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.98 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Sasak (3,397,000 speakers)
Language Code sas   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Sasak (3,397,000 speakers)
Language Code sas   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Sasak

Primary Language:  Sasak

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1948)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2007)
Bible-Complete No
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 Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Sasak Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Malam Terakhir General / Other
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sasak YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Sasak YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Online New Testament, text General / Other
Photo Source Anton Diaz - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Video Source The Waiting World
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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