That Agariya people derive their name from the prominent city of Agra in northern India. According to their legends, they were a landed Hindu community at one time, probably related to the Agri caste. A local Muslim governor demanded women from their community. They refused and faced imprisonment. Firsad, the grandson of a Sufi Muslim saint, helped them escape so out of gratitude many converted to Islam.
Most of the Muslim Agariya people live in India's states of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha. They are most likely to be found in Gujarat. A smaller number live in Pakistan.
There are at least 11 prominent clans among the Agariya Muslim community. All of them intermarry with one another.
Today the Agarias work with metal. They manufacture agricultural tools such as axes, ploughshares, and sickles. Many have also turned to agricultural pursuits and raising livestock. Others specialize in making toys such as wooden masks for children. Their children begin working at an early age. Some Agaria people have been prey to money-lenders and have not been able to afford amenities such as electricity.
There are still Hindus among them, but some Agariya people are Sunni Muslim. They believe that the One, Supreme God, Allah, spoken through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, using deceit, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship. 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.
The Muslim Agariya people in India need access to safe drinking water and reliable electricity. They also need access to gospel materials, whether they live in Gujarat, India or over the border in Pakistan.
* Scripture Prayers for the Agariya (Muslim traditions) in India.
* Pray for his kingdom to come and his will to be done among the Muslim Agariya people.
* Pray for a movement of Agariya households to study the Bible and accept the blessings of Christ.
* Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive the Agariya people to the arms of Jesus.
* Pray for workers who are filled with the fruit and the power of the Holy Spirit to go to the Agariya people.
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
People Name General | Agariya (Muslim traditions) |
People Name in Country | Agariya (Muslim traditions) |
Population this Country | 15,000 |
Population all Countries | 16,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Agaria Muslims; Agham; Agheria; Aghim; Agro; Ohar; अगारिया (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स) |
People ID | 16175 |
ROP3 Code | 111277 |
Country | India | |||
Region | Asia, South | |||
Continent | Asia | |||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||
National Bible Society | Website | |||
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||
Total States on file | 3 | |||
Largest States |
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Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 3 |
Odisha 8,100 | |
Uttar Pradesh 6,400 | |
Gujarat 800 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
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Primary Language | Urdu (11,000 speakers) | ||||||
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 7 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Urdu (11,000 speakers) |
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 7 |
Secondary Languages | |
Odia 2,100 | |
Chhattisgarhi 800 | |
Kacchi 600 | |
Bhojpuri 500 | |
Gujarati 200 | |
Kui 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 (1843-2007) |
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 (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament - Easy to Read (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament - Pakistan Bible Society (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online Scripture (Talking Bibles) |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Audio Recordings | Urdu Online Audio Bible |
Film / Video | God's Love Story |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Urdu |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
Film / Video | The Hope Video |
Film / Video | The Prophets' Story |
Film / Video | The Savior 6 - The Lord's Prayer |
Film / Video | The Savior 8 - Jesus is Risen |
General | Bible Visuals |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
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. |