Harni in Pakistan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

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.


Where Are they Located?

Most of the Muslim Harni people live in Pakistan, but a smaller number live in Jammu and Kashmir.


What Are Their Lives Like?

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.
What Are Their Beliefs?

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.


What Are Their Needs?

The Harni people need to find ways to earn a good, constructive living. They need to be able to support their families.


Prayer Points

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.


References

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
Punjab
9,400
Sindh
5,100
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
300
Islamabad
60
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
Punjabi, Western
4,600
Sindhi
2,700
Urdu
2,300
Dhatki
300
Hindko, Northern
200
Pahari-Potwari
100
Marwari
50
Hindko, Southern
40
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
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  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.



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