In Nepal, Bengali Muslims (sometimes known as Shaikh) are most likely to live in the southern and eastern regions. Though there are often love marriages in urban areas, family-oriented arranged marriages are most common among Bengali Muslims in Nepal. It starts with a matchmaker who approaches both families to make sure the couple is compatible. No unemployed man is acceptable as a groom. Family elders take care of the formalities for the engagement. A Bengali Muslim wedding ceremony can take up to three days.
Bengali Muslims seek help from pirs, Muslim saints they believe carry special powers even after they die. They also commonly embrace Sufism. This is a mystical and emotional Islamic practice which seeks to reach a state of spiritual purity.
Christ’s ambassadors can point out that those who pray to Jesus Christ will always be heard, and he will always give an answer. Some Sufis are seeking an emotional connection with the one true God, which they can find through the Lord of lords.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move in Bengali Muslim families, giving them spiritual hunger.
Pray for loving and dedicated workers to go to them in Nepal, showing the way to the cross.
Pray that movement to Christ among Bengali Muslims in Bangladesh will extend to Nepal.
Scripture Prayers for the Shaikh in Nepal.
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 | 959,000 |
Population all Countries | 221,413,000 |
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 (India) 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) |
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 |
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. |