Mappila in India


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

Subgroups: 4

Subgroup Name Population
Jonakan 3,756,000
Thangal 2,320,000
Methan 1,164,000
Thirugantla Unknown

Introduction / History

The Laccadive Mappilla live in the Lakshadweep Islands off the southwestern coast of India. Malayalam is the state language of Kerala and its script has been significantly influenced by Arabic. The term mappilla is a combination of two words: maha, which means great and pilla, which is an endearing term that means child.

The people of the islands migrated from the Kerala coast around the seventh century. They came as Hindus, but later converted to Islam. The Laccadive Mappilla attribute their conversion to the work of an Arab missionary. The Muslim communities resulted from the unions of Arab sailors and merchants with native women. The islanders have been in contact with the mainland Mappilla through trade and sporadic migrations. The Laccadive Mappilla are unique in that they have maintained a matrilineal society (line of descent is traced through the women) in spite of their Islamic beliefs.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Lakshadweep Islands are covered with coconut trees, which provide the basis of the Laccadive Mappilla's economy. The coconut supplies coir (the husky fiber, which can be used to make ropes or mats) and copra (coconut meat). These products provide the main industries on the islands. Vinegar is also derivative of coconut sap and is sold on the mainland. Breadfruit (an evergreen timber tree with edible fruits) runs a distant second to coconut in economic importance. Other foods that are raised include papayas, plantains (banana-like fruits), yams, sweet potatoes, maize, and beans.

Each island has various mosques and one or two schools for religious education. Within the last ten years, the government has made efforts to establish high schools and primary schools for girls.

Since 1956, the Laccadive Islands have been a Union Territory with the headquarters of administration at Calicut on the mainland. The local administration of each island is carried out by an Amin, who is appointed by the Administrator of the Laccadive Islands. He is usually selected from the Island Council of Elders, which consists of the heads of lineages.

The common matrilineal unit in the islands is called Taravad, in which individuals trace their descent by a common ancestress in the female line. For example, the right to share in property passes through female members. This system began centuries ago when the men were needed to manage negotiations in trade. Their periodic absence from the island facilitated the adoption of matrilineal blood lines. Maintenance of individually owned property was only possible if the women who stayed behind could officially speak for the family on the man's behalf.

Monogamy (one husband, one wife) prevails among the Laccadive Mappilla, in spite of the fact that Islam may allow a man to have as many as four wives. Cross cousin marriages are preferred, and marriages usually take place shortly after puberty. The man has true authority over his wife only if he stays with her until after all of her male relatives have died. He is then able to manage her property. A man has little authority over his children. Divorce is easy and common; over half of their marriages end in divorce.


Muslim communities strongly discourage their people from following Jesus Christ unless believers reach their leaders first.
What Are Their Beliefs?

The Laccadive Mappilla belong to the Shafite School of the Sunni branch of Islam. Their religion has the typical characteristics of Islamic beliefs and practices, in addition to certain local features that have developed according to their particular way of life. Every child has to read the Koran completely in Arabic at least once, but the meaning is not explained to them. Priesthood is inherited through the females.


What Are Their Needs?

The Bible, the Jesus film, and some Christian broadcasts are available in the Malayalam language; however, very few of the islanders have responded to the Gospel. Prayer is the key to reaching them for Christ.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to India and share Christ with the Laccadive Mappilla.
Pray for the effectiveness of the Jesus film among these people.
Ask God to use the few Laccadive Mappilla believers to share Christ with their own people.
Ask the Lord to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through intercession.
Pray that God will open the hearts of India's governmental and religious leaders to the Gospel.


Scripture Prayers for the Mappila in India.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Mappila
People Name in Country Mappila
Pronunciation MAH-pee-lah
Alternate Names Bhai; Byari; Jamma Mappila; Kaka; Kodava; Mapara; Mapilla; Mopla; Moplah; Moplaha; Saheb; मप्पीला
Population this Country 10,357,000
Population all Countries 10,368,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 207
People ID 17452
ROP3 Code 112857
ROP25 Code 305175
ROP25 Name Mappilla
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 22
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Kerala
10,082,000
Tamil Nadu
112,000
Karnataka
93,000
Maharashtra
44,000
Puducherry
15,000
Delhi
2,500
Andhra Pradesh
1,900
Lakshadweep
1,200
Madhya Pradesh
1,100
Gujarat
1,100
Uttar Pradesh
1,100
West Bengal
1,100
Telangana
1,100
Rajasthan
600
Andaman and Nicobar
500
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 22  (only 20 largest shown)
  Kerala 10,082,000
  Tamil Nadu 112,000
  Karnataka 93,000
  Maharashtra 44,000
  Puducherry 15,000
  Delhi 2,500
  Andhra Pradesh 1,900
  Lakshadweep 1,200
  Madhya Pradesh 1,100
  Gujarat 1,100
  Uttar Pradesh 1,100
  West Bengal 1,100
  Telangana 1,100
  Rajasthan 600
  Andaman and Nicobar 500
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 Malayalam (8,712,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
Urdu
18,000
Konkani
1,000
Tulu
800
English
400
Konkani, Goan
400
Tamil
70
Primary Language Malayalam (8,712,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
  Urdu 18,000
  Konkani 1,000
  Tulu 800
  English 400
  Konkani, Goan 400
  Tamil 70
People Groups Speaking Malayalam

Primary Language:  Malayalam

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1811-1968)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1829-1995)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1841-2022)
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 Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Malayalam 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 World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
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
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
Photo Source Shagil Kannur - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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