Khalaj in Iran

The Khalaj have only been reported in Iran
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Khalaj is a Turkish word meaning, "stay hungry." Some say they are the remnant of the Hephthalitite tribe. The Khalaj language is also called Arghu, and it has two dialects. They speak an ancient Turkic language.

In the 9th and 10th centuries, Arab geographers mentioned the Khalaj people as being one of the Turkish tribes along the steppes of Central Asia, and their original homeland was in the Talas region. They moved several times throughout their history, usually because of war and conquest. During the Mongol invasions of the 1200s, some Khalaj people sided with the Mongols, while others were loyal to more local leaders.


Where Are they Located?

Though the majority of the Khalaj people live in the Markhazi Province of Iran, there are smaller pockets of them in Afghanistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

There is almost no information about the lifestyle of this people group.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Khalaj people are all Shi 'ite Muslims. There are no Christian materials in their ancient Turkic language, not even gospel recordings.


What Are Their Needs?

Like all other people groups, the Khalaj people need spiritual hunger so that they will seek and find the true source of light, Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to equip prayer warriors to overcome spiritual darkness in the Khalaj homeland so that the gospel can be understood without Satan's interference.
Pray for accurate Christian materials to be developed in the Khalaj language.
Pray that the Khalaj people will receive Christ and they will become a blessed people, shining with the light of Jesus in a dark world.
Pray for the Khalaj people to be discipled in the ways of Christ, and that others will join their fellowships.


Scripture Prayers for the Khalaj, Turkic in Iran.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalaj_people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalaj_language
http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/khalaj-i-tribe-turkistan
https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Khalaj%20people&item_type=topic


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Khalaj, Turkic
People Name in Country Khalaj, Turkic
Natural Name Khalaj
Pronunciation hah-LAHZH
Alternate Names
Population this Country 20,000
Population all Countries 20,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 12648
ROP3 Code 104882
Country Iran
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 9  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Gilan and Ardebil provinces; scattered.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Iran
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 9  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Gilan and Ardebil provinces; scattered..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Khalaj, Turkic in Iran Ethnolinguistic map or other map

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 %
Primary Language Khalaj (20,000 speakers)
Language Code klj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Khalaj (20,000 speakers)
Language Code klj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Khalaj

Primary Language:  Khalaj

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Mostafa Meraji - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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