Jat (Muslim traditions) 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

The Jat people are a historical Indo-Aryan tribal group native to the Punjab region.
The Jats rose to prominence following the 1669 Jat uprising against Mughal rule, and they ruled various princely states throughout the 18th century. After 1858, under the British Raj, the Jats were known for their service in the Indian Army, being categorized as a "martial race" by the British, specifically in the Jat Regiment, the Punjab Regiment and the Sikh Regiment.
It is not known when the Jat people established themselves in the Indian desert. By the 4th century they had spread to the Punjab.
According to earlier censuses, the Jat people accounted for approximately one-quarter of the entire Sindhi-Punjabi speaking area, making it the "largest single socially distinctive group" in the region.
In 1931, the date of the last census of the British Raj before the abolition of caste, they were distributed throughout North India, mostly in the Punjab and Rajputana. Today, the largest population center is in the Punjab region, Haryana and Rajasthan; there are smaller distributions across the world, due to the large immigrant diaspora. Some live in nearby Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The life and culture of Jats is full of diversity and approaches most closely to that ascribed to the traditional Central Asian colonists of South Asia. The Jat lifestyle was designed to foster a martial spirit. Whenever they lost their kingdoms, Jat people retired to the countryside and became landed barons and the landlords with their swords girded round their waists. They would draw the sword out of the scabbard at the command of their panchayat to fight with the invaders.
Jat people have a history of being brave and ready fighters. They are fiercely independent in character and value their self-respect more than anything, which is why they offered heavy resistance against any foreign force that treated them unjustly. They are known for their pride, bravery and readiness to sacrifice their lives in battle for their people and kinsmen. In the government of their villages, they appear much more democratic. They have less reverence for hereditary right and a preference for elected headmen.
The Jat people are required to marry within their community. The Joint family system was popular amongst the Jats and large families use to share the same house and hearth. With the advancement of modern civilization, as people are becoming less dependent upon and less tolerant towards each other, the joint family system is going out of vogue. It was still prevalent in the less advanced areas in the 1930s. Jat marriage ceremonies are traditionally conducted in according with Vedic rituals. The Jats are required to marry within their community. Widow marriage is not only permitted and practiced but is also a social obligation.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Jats make up followers of three major religions: Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism. Today there is a small group of adherents to Christianity, especially Jats living in the in UK. There is a large Muslim Jat community, especially in Muslim Pakistan. Like most Muslims in South Asia, they include certain Hindu practices with their Islamic practices.


What Are Their Needs?

Jats need the humility it takes to enter the Kingdom of God like a child.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Muslim Jat people in Pakistan to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods.
Pray for Holy Spirit anointed believers from the Muslim Jat people to change their society from within.
Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers Jat disciples to make more disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Jat (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

The Waiting World - The Punjabi

Source:  The Waiting World      Download

People Name General Jat (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Jat (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation jot
Alternate Names Jat; Jati; Jatu; Langah; Langha; Manhas; Mannas; Marth; Nath; जाट, (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 13,429,000
Population all Countries 14,491,000
Total Countries 6
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 269
People ID 17571
ROP3 Code 112998
ROP25 Code 303344
ROP25 Name Jat
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 7
Largest States
Punjab
26,517,000
Sindh
7,695,000
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
682,000
Azad Kashmir
620,000
Islamabad
97,000
Balochistan
33,000
Gilgit-Baltistan
2,400
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 7
  Punjab 26,517,000
  Sindh 7,695,000
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 682,000
  Azad Kashmir 620,000
  Islamabad 97,000
  Balochistan 33,000
  Gilgit-Baltistan 2,400
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 (14,218,000 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 28
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Punjabi, Western
10,692,000
Sindhi
4,709,000
Urdu
3,305,000
Marwari
1,266,000
Pahari-Potwari
544,000
Dhatki
372,000
Hindko, Southern
254,000
Hindko, Northern
92,000
Bagri
49,000
Pashto, Central
47,000
Kacchi
37,000
Pashto, Northern
11,000
Kashmiri
5,300
Balochi, Southern
4,500
Balochi, Western
2,200
Primary Language Saraiki (14,218,000 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 28
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Punjabi, Western 10,692,000
  Sindhi 4,709,000
  Urdu 3,305,000
  Marwari 1,266,000
  Pahari-Potwari 544,000
  Dhatki 372,000
  Hindko, Southern 254,000
  Hindko, Northern 92,000
  Bagri 49,000
  Pashto, Central 47,000
  Kacchi 37,000
  Pashto, Northern 11,000
  Kashmiri 5,300
  Balochi, Southern 4,500
  Balochi, Western 2,200
People Groups Speaking Saraiki
Photo Source Steve Evans - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Video Source The Waiting World
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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