By definition, Persians (also known as Iranians) are an ethnic group native to Iran. The Persian language, called Farsi, is part of the Indo-Iranian language family, and is the official language of Iran. Dari, the language of the elite in Afghanistan, is a dialect of modern Farsi. Around 1000 B. C. , Persian groups began to settle in the territory that is now Iran. Loosely associated Persian tribes became a more cohesive political unit under the Achaemenian dynasty. Their unity soon made them the dominant ethnic group in the region. For 1,200 years, Persia maintained a culture that became increasingly more complex and rigid. This laid the foundation for a successful Arabian conquest of Persia in the seventh century AD. It was not until the Islamic revolution of 1979 that massive changes came both to Iran and to the Persian people. Although the vast majority of Persians now live either in Iran or in one of the nearby Central Asian or Middle Eastern countries, small Persian communities might also live in many other nations around the world, especially in the West. Some Persians live in South Asian countries like Pakistan.
The basic social and economic unit in Persian culture is the nuclear family; however, some families join together to make larger units. Families are traditionally patriarchal, patrilineal and patrilocal. This means that their society is strictly male-dominated. The line of descent is traced through the father; property and inheritances are passed down through the males; and family and political rule belong to the men. Persian women are submissive to their husbands in public; however, they often hold a considerable amount of decision-making power in private. Men are guardians and defenders of the family honor and are responsible for protecting the chastity of their daughters and sisters. Persians prefer cross cousin marriages. Many of the Iranians in Pakistan are from ethnic minorities like the Baloch. They are often students or restaurant owners. Unfortunately, there is persecution of Shia Muslims in Pakistan. One can frequently find news stories of Shia mosques in Pakistan being bombed by Sunni militants.
Prior to the Arab invasions, the Persian religion was Zoroastrianism. This religion taught that there was an eternal struggle between the forces of good and evil. Shia Islam became the national religion of Iran in the sixteenth century, at which time the ulama (clergy) began playing an important role in both the social and political lives of the people. Today, most Persians are Shia Muslims of the Ithna Ashari branch, and are radical in their adherence to Islamic laws and principles. Thanks to the excess of the Iranian government, a high percentage of Persians are secularized and tired of forced religion. The Lord is growing his Church in Iran, and many have come to faith in recent years. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be affecting Persians in other countries like Pakistan.
Persians need their spiritual eyes will be opened. Some are staunch Shia Muslims while others are secularized. They need believers to take the glory of Christ to them.
* Scripture Prayers for the Persian in Pakistan.
Pray for Persian believers from Iran to take Christ to Persians in other countries including Pakistan. Pray for a spiritual hunger among the Persian diaspora that will result in a movement to Christ in Pakistan and other countries. Pray for the Lord to show himself powerful and loving to the Persians in Pakistan.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Global Prayer Digest: 2011-11-29 |
People Name General | Persian |
People Name in Country | Persian |
Pronunciation |
PUR-zhun
|
Population this Country | 12,000 |
Population all Countries | 42,530,000 |
Total Countries | 43 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Fars; Irani; पर्षियन |
People ID | 14371 |
ROP3 Code | 107987 |
Country | Pakistan | ||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||
National Bible Society | Website | ||||||
Persecution Rank | 8 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||||||
Total States on file | 5 | ||||||
Largest States |
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Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | Pakistan |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 8 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 5 |
Balochistan 4,700 | |
Sindh 2,700 | |
Punjab 2,600 | |
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 1,800 | |
Islamabad 300 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.
Primary Language | Dari (12,000 speakers) | |||
Language Code | prs Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 3 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Dari (12,000 speakers) |
Language Code | prs Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 3 |
Secondary Languages | |
Persian, Iranian 800 | |
Pashto, Central 400 | |
People Groups | Speaking Dari |
Primary Language: Dari
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1974) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1982-1985) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (2008) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching |
Audio Recordings | Love letter to you from scripture |
Audio Recordings | Love letter to you from scripture |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible Stories |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio |
Film / Video | God's Love Story |
Film / Video | God's Story video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Dari |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels |
Film / Video | Magdalena video |
Film / Video | Rivka video |
Film / Video | The Prophets' Story |
Film / Video | The Savior 3 - Woman at the Well |
Film / Video | The Savior 7 - Golgotha |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
General | Gospel resources links |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file |
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. |
Photo Source | Hamed Saber - Flickr Creative Commons |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |