One of the Harni descendants was Najaf Khan, a Pashtun military leader who had eight sons. The sons married Rajput women, and became Rajputs. They left their homeland either after a dispute or a famine and became mercenaries of Rai Kalla Khan. They destroyed villages for him then were banished from their land. In the 19th century they appealed to the colonial British to have their land re-established, but the British gave them a wasteland instead. They began a life of crime, especially burglary. They have had a reputation as clever burglars ever since. Some of their women would work as domestic servants for wealthy clients, then burglarize the home. Crime was attributed to them, even if they were not guilty. They had lost trust with other Indian communities, and this can haunt them even today.
Most of the Muslim Harni people live in Pakistan, but a smaller number live in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Harni people probably struggle with their traditional bad reputation that can hamper their ability to move forward socially and economically. This can make it difficult for them to earn an honest living.
The Harni have a history of mercenary work, crime and burglary that has followed them to the present day.
The Harni people are Sunni, the largest branch of Islam. 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, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship. The Harni people are noted for visiting shrines to Muslim saints whom they believe will intercede for them and help them gain favor with Allah.
The Harni people need to find ways to earn a good, constructive living. They need to be able to support their families.
Pray for the Harni culture to be renewed and enhanced by a work of the Holy Spirit and shaped into a God-centered and God-honoring mold.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among Harni family and community leaders in India and Pakistan to seek His face and enjoy His blessings.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers who will be compelled to nurture a disciple making movement among the Harni people.
Pray that soon the Harni people will have faith that will lead them to live honorable lives that will draw others to the Savior.
Scripture Prayers for the Harni in Pakistan.
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16911/IN
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harni
https://www.jatland.com/home/A_glossary_of_the_Tribes_and_Castes_of_the_Punjab_and_North-West_Frontier_Province_By_H.A._Rose_Vol_II/H
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
People Name General | Harni |
People Name in Country | Harni |
Pronunciation |
HAR-nee
|
Alternate Names | Harnia; हरनी |
Population this Country | 15,000 |
Population all Countries | 16,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 16911 |
ROP3 Code | 112208 |
ROP25 Code | 302988 |
ROP25 Name | Harni |
Country | Pakistan | ||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||
National Bible Society | Website | ||||||
Persecution Rank | 7 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||||||
Total States on file | 4 | ||||||
Largest States |
|
Country | Pakistan |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 7 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 4 |
Punjab 9,400 | |
Sindh 5,100 | |
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 300 | |
Islamabad 60 | |
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 Pakistan census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Saraiki (4,700 speakers) | |||||||||
Language Code | skr Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||
Total Languages | 9 | |||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Saraiki (4,700 speakers) |
Language Code | skr Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 9 |
Secondary Languages | |
Punjabi, Western 4,600 | |
Sindhi 2,700 | |
Urdu 2,300 | |
Dhatki 300 | |
Hindko, Northern 200 | |
Pahari-Potwari 100 | |
Marwari 50 | |
Hindko, Southern 40 | |
People Groups | Speaking Saraiki |
Primary Language: Saraiki
Bible Translation Status: Unspecified
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Saraiki | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Bible for Children | Bible for Children |
General | Biblical answers to your questions | Got Questions Ministry |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Android Bible app: Miniafia Oyan: Saraiki | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Saraiki | YouVersion Bibles |
Text / Printed Matter | Literacy primer for Saraiki | Literacy & Evangelism International |
Photo Source |
(Representative photo) Copyrighted © 2023 Prabhjit S. Kalsi - 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. |