Arab in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

Did you know that there are Arabs living in India? Most Arab peoples live in the Middle East and across North Africa. Smaller groups of Arabs live in other areas of the world including India. Arab merchants have been visiting India on trade journeys for over 500 years. Some Arab traders decided to marry local women and make India their permanent home. Arab officers often served in the armies of Indian empires. A larger concentration of Indian Arabs lives in the west India state of Maharashtra. The primary family language of Indian Arabs is the Iraqi dialect of Arabic. An Iraqi Arabic New Testament was completed in 2006. Indian Arabs also speak the local languages where they live. Many educated Arabs speak English which helps them in their businesses.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Arabs of the Diaspora (those scattered throughout the world) are a diverse group. Some are wealthy upper class business owners. Others are lower middle class shop keepers or work in restaurants and in the trades. All of them take pride in their Arabic language and traditional culture. Indian Arabs want their children to marry within their group. Indian Arab parents would prefer to bring in an Arab young person from Iraq or Iran than have their child marry an Indian young person. If the Arab parents can afford it, they have their child attend Arabic language study on Saturday or Sunday. In the Indian Arab family, the father is the head of the house. Women and mothers are gaining more independence and status as they attend universities and work outside the home. Sons often follow in the business of their father. A father and mother with many children, especially sons, are considered blessed by Allah or God. Most parents encourage their children to go to college and obtain professional degrees. Life revolves around going to mosque on Fridays with other Muslims.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Arabs of India practice Islam. Muslims try to obey the teachings of the Koran and the prophet Mohammad. They believe that by following the Five Pillars of Islam that they will attain paradise when they die. However, Allah, the supreme God of the universe, determines who enters paradise. Muslims 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. Muslims are also prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, using deceit, slandering, and making idols. The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims 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. There are very few if any Christians in this people group.


What Are Their Needs?

Indian Muslims need to understand the Isa or Jesus is much more than a human prophet. Muslims must see that their sins can only be forgiven by God through Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

 Ask the Lord to call Muslim background believers in India to reach out and share the love of Christ with the Arab Indians. Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Arabs of India towards Christ so that they will be more receptive to the gospel. Pray that God will raise up faithful intercessors who will stand in the gap and pray for the Indian Arabs. Ask the Lord to raise up a Disciple Making Movement among the Arabs in India in this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Arab in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Arab
People Name in Country Arab
Pronunciation AE-rub
Alternate Names Anglolan Arabs; Baggara; Bedouin Arab; Bosnian Muslims; Chavus; Coast; Coast Arab; Hemat; Iraqi Arab; Lebanese Arab; Levantine Arab; Nawar; Palestinian Arab; Palestinian Arabs; Saudi Arab; Syrian Arab; Syro-Lebanese Arab; अरब
Population this Country 2,900
Population all Countries 755,000
Total Countries 31
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 10375
ROP3 Code 100425
ROP25 Code 300393
ROP25 Name Arab
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 14
Largest States
Maharashtra
900
Kerala
300
Delhi
300
Gujarat
300
Karnataka
300
West Bengal
300
Uttar Pradesh
100
Telangana
100
Madhya Pradesh
100
Andhra Pradesh
60
Rajasthan
50
Uttarakhand
10
Bihar
10
Tamil Nadu
10
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 14
  Maharashtra 900
  Kerala 300
  Delhi 300
  Gujarat 300
  Karnataka 300
  West Bengal 300
  Uttar Pradesh 100
  Telangana 100
  Madhya Pradesh 100
  Andhra Pradesh 60
  Rajasthan 50
  Uttarakhand 10
  Bihar 10
  Tamil Nadu 10
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 Arabic, Mesopotamian (2,900 speakers)
Language Code acm   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Arabic, Mesopotamian (2,900 speakers)
Language Code acm   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Arabic, Mesopotamian
Photo Source Hashim Abdullah - Pixabay 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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