Agariya (Muslim traditions) 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

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.


Where Are they Located?

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.


What Are Their Lives Like?

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.


What Are Their Beliefs?

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.


What Are Their Needs?

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.


Prayer Points

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.


Scripture Prayers for the Agariya (Muslim traditions) in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Agariya (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Agariya (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation ah-gah-ree-YAH
Alternate Names Agaria Muslims; Agham; Agheria; Aghim; Agro; Ohar; अगारिया (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 18,000
Population all Countries 20,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16175
ROP3 Code 111277
ROP25 Code 300095
ROP25 Name Agaria
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 3
Largest States
Odisha
9,600
Uttar Pradesh
7,700
Gujarat
900
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 3
  Odisha 9,600
  Uttar Pradesh 7,700
  Gujarat 900
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 Urdu (11,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Odia
2,200
Chhattisgarhi
800
Kacchi
600
Bhojpuri
500
Gujarati
200
Primary Language Urdu (11,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Odia 2,200
  Chhattisgarhi 800
  Kacchi 600
  Bhojpuri 500
  Gujarati 200
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 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
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Malcolm P Chapman - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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