Introduction / History

The Rayeen are also known as the Raysipotra. The Raysipotra are a large Indian Muslim people, referred to as the sons (potra) of Raysi. The Raysi are said to have descended from a Sindh community of Pakistan. The Rayeen are today referred to as a cow-herding community. The Rayeen live in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The nomadic life of cow-herding is known to continue for many Rayeen even today, especially in India. In Nepal the Rayeen will likely be found in agriculture and other labour jobs. They live all over the Terai region of Nepal and tend to speak the Maithili and Urdu languages. They marry mainly among their clan cousins and follow closely the laws and rites of Islam. It is said that they usually name their child within a day of birth. Divorce is not allowed and they are not vegetarian. Their staple foods are bajra and wheat roti.

What Are Their Needs?

Today the Rayeen are understood to be 100% Muslim virtually everywhere that they are found in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Because they interact with nearly any other cattleherding or breeding people any significant work among this group would move naturally throughout the Rayeen to other groups. Pray that the Gospel could be proclaimed among the Rayeen for the first time in many districts of Nepal and India.