The Qazi community derive their name from the term qadi which means "judge." They have a tradition of being the religious leaders or imams among the Muslim groups. The majority of the Qazi live in Bihar, India but a good number in Nepal live in the Maithili speaking areas of Narayari and Janakpur zones.
They live primarily in Bihar, Gujarat and Rajasthan. In the latter they live mainly in Sikar, Churu and Junjunu. A number also live in Bangladesh.
The Qazi are skilled in art of Islamic religious rites and tend to perform the traditional ceremonies for the greater Muslim community. They perform the birth, purification, marriage, death and burial rites. The Qazi are Muslims of the Hanafi tradition and virtually 100% Muslim in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. In India Urdu is the mother tongue of the over 450,000 Qazi and they can speak other local languages in their context. In Nepal the Qazi primarily speak Maithili. They enjoy a higher than average social status because of the general and religious education.
The Qazi are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi tradition. They faithfully follow the Muslim practice of praying five times a day. They also fast during the month of Ramadan as do most Muslims. Some also celebrate Hindu festivals and traditions as well as participating in animistic rituals.
There is a need for education. There is also a lack of employment among them.
The Qazi are a very strategic community to bring to faith in Christ as they would be natural spiritual leaders as followers of Isa. Terrific influence among many Muslim groups could be made if a Qazi man were able to remain in the community and be a Christian Qazi leader. With Christ all things are possible!
* Scripture Prayers for the Qazi in Nepal.
Singh, K. S., ed. "India's Communities A-Z", Oxford University Press, USA 1999
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Qazi |
People Name in Country | Qazi |
Pronunciation | KAH-zee |
Population this Country | 9,700 |
Population all Countries | 749,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Kazi; क़ाज़ी |
People ID | 17125 |
ROP3 Code | 112472 |
Country | Nepal | ||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | ||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 32 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||||||||||||
Location in Country | Districts of Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusa, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, and Banke. Source: www.ethnologue.com | ||||||||||||
Total States on file | 10 | ||||||||||||
Largest States |
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Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | Nepal |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 32 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Districts of Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusa, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, and Banke.. Source: www.ethnologue.com |
Total States | 10 |
Narayani 3,600 | |
Janakpur 2,400 | |
Bheri 1,400 | |
Sagarmatha 1,000 | |
Lumbini 400 | |
Bagmati 300 | |
Mechi 200 | |
Gandaki 200 | |
Kosi 80 | |
Seti 80 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Urdu (4,200 speakers) | ||||||
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 7 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Urdu (4,200 speakers) |
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 7 |
Secondary Languages | |
Bhojpuri 2,600 | |
Maithili 2,300 | |
Nepali 400 | |
Awadhi 300 | |
Bengali 40 | |
Dotyali 20 | |
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 Nepal census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Photo Source | South Asia People Groups |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |