Bahna (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

The Bahna (Muslim traditions) have only been reported in Pakistan
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Bahna or Behana or Dhunia are a people who live in Pakistan and India. Their name comes a word for "seed." Their traditional occupation was separating the seeds from raw cotton. The Bahna believe they originally came from Persia or Afghanistan. With the coming of the modern technology, the Bahna have gone into different jobs like selling cotton fabric, agriculture, manufacturing and trade. The Bahna were originally all Hindus. Some Bahna became Muslims during the time of the Delhi Sultanate and Moghul Empire. Many of them left India and moved to Pakistan in 1947. Most of the Bahna girls receive little formal education while the boys pursue more schooling. The primary language of the Bahna is Urdu.


Where Are they Located?

The vast majority of the Muslim Bahna of Pakistan live in the province of Sindh. Some also reside in Punjab.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bahna marry within their community often their cousins. One spouse is the general rule while having more than one wife is legal. The sons inherit their father's property. Their dead are buried.

The Bahna are not vegetarians but as Muslims do not eat pork. Their main foods are rice, wheat, lentils, vegetables and fruit. Most Bahna live in villages with other castes.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bahna people are 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 Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the Ramadan fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.


What Are Their Needs?

The Muslim Bahna need to hear the good news about Isa or Jesus in a way they can understand. They need to see the love and grace of Christ lived out before them in practical ways. Teachers can come and help Bahna women and girls learn the basics of reading and writing. Workers can help the Bahna gain access to clean water and electricity.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to work powerfully through those believers ministering to the Bahna people.
Pray for the tiny number of Bahna believers in India to be strengthened in the faith and led by God to share their faith with their people in Pakistan.
Pray for movements to Jesus to sweep through Bahna families, permeating the group from within.


Scripture Prayers for the Bahna (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan.


References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behna
peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/dhunia/comment-page-1/


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Bahna (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Bahna (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation BAH-nah
Alternate Names Behana; Dhunia; Dhunkar; Naddaf; Panjara; Panjwara; Penja; Pinja; Pinjali; Pinjara; Pinjia; Punji; बहना (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 196,000
Population all Countries 196,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 4
People ID 16291
ROP3 Code 111416
ROP25 Code 309220
ROP25 Name Bahna / Behana
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 3
Largest States
Sindh
186,000
Punjab
9,500
Islamabad
400
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 3
  Sindh 186,000
  Punjab 9,500
  Islamabad 400
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 Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Sindhi (107,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
Urdu
61,000
Punjabi, Western
14,000
Saraiki
11,000
Dhatki
2,800
Marwari
1,700
Bagri
1,200
Goaria
800
Koli, Wadiyari
600
Kacchi
500
Koli, Parkari
100
Primary Language Sindhi (107,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
  Urdu 61,000
  Punjabi, Western 14,000
  Saraiki 11,000
  Dhatki 2,800
  Marwari 1,700
  Bagri 1,200
  Goaria 800
  Koli, Wadiyari 600
  Kacchi 500
  Koli, Parkari 100
People Groups Speaking Sindhi

Primary Language:  Sindhi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1825-1981)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1890-1992)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1954)
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 Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Sindhi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video 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 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 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: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Sindhi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Khalid Mansoori - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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