Urdu in Guyana


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The term "Urdu" does not adequately describe the Urdu people as such but is merely a language distinction. Urdu, now the national language of Pakistan, is an Indo-Iranian language that developed from the Hindi language. It is heavily laden with Persian and Arabic words and is written in the Persian script. Urdu-speaking Muslims are not an ethnic group in the strictest sense but are rather a collection of ethnic groups who have been widely dispersed geographically. They possess a sense of "group identity" based on cultural and historical factors: the Islamic religion, a Persian cultural tradition, the Urdu language, and the tradition of Muslim supremacy in northern India.

A majority of the Urdu speakers live in Pakistan and the northern states of India. However, in recent years, many Urdu-speaking Muslims have emigrated to the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia, searching for economic opportunities. Skilled laborers and highly educated professionals have also emigrated to Western Europe, North America, and the Commonwealth countries. A small number are in Guyana, South America.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Urdu-speaking Muslims can be found in every level of society. They are the illiterate and the educated, the poor and the money lenders, the landlords and the religious leaders. There is such diversity among the Urdu speakers that it is difficult to generalize their lifestyles. Within any given region, their differences are related to class distinctions.

Being such a small minority in Guyana, the Urdu speakers blend in with other Muslim and South Asian people for social activities.

Urdu women are responsible for all of the household duties as well as caring for the children. They also enjoy embroidering, sewing and visiting with other neighborhood women.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Although the Urdu are all Muslims, this is no longer a unifying factor. There are intense differences among the various Muslim sects (the Hanafites, Shafiites, and Ithna-Asharis).

Since entire communities tended to migrate together, different Islamic sects are found in different countries. For example, in Turkey and South Africa, the Urdu speakers are almost completely Sunni Muslims; whereas in Canada and in Pakistan, they are almost completely Hanafite Muslims.


What Are Their Needs?

The Urdu need to see true Christianity lived out.


Prayer Points

Pray that God will open doors for Urdu speakers in Guyana to hear and respond to the gospel.
Pray for Urdu elders and family leaders to have dreams of the risen Christ.
Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Urdu towards Christ followers so that they will be receptive to the gospel.
Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among Diaspora Urdu speakers.


Scripture Prayers for the Urdu in Guyana.


References

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=Pakistanis+in+Guyana&mid=839A35D34AAC7AEE2E49839A35D34AAC7AEE2E49&FORM=VIRE
https://www.hinterlandtravel.com/pakistan/destinations/guyana


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Urdu
People Name in Country Urdu
Pronunciation OOR-doo
Alternate Names Hindi; Islami; Muhajirs; Undri
Population this Country 4,200
Population all Countries 2,165,000
Total Countries 24
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 15727
ROP3 Code 110423
ROP25 Code 308484
ROP25 Name Urdu
Map of Urdu in Guyana 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 Urdu (4,200 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Urdu (4,200 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Urdu Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children 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 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 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 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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Muzaffar Somro - Pixabay 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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