The Sama Sindhi are a group of Muslims who live in Pakistan The majority of Muslim Sindhi from India moved to Pakistan during the Partition of 1947. Equal numbers of Hindu and Sikh Sindhi immigrated to India. The word Sindhi comes from the Persian word meaning those who inhabit the Indus Valley. All Sindhi were originally Hindu or Buddhist. In the early 8th century, many of these people converted to Islam with the coming of the Muslim armies. The Sama Sindhi claim to be descendants of the rulers of the Samma Dynasty. This royal family reigned over the Indus Valley and west India from the 14th to early 16th century.
Today, most of the Sama Sindhi are engaged in irrigation farming. Their principal crops include wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, various fruits, and oilseed. Some farmers also raise sheep, goats, and camels. The Sindhi living in cities often work as merchants, physicians, lawyers and teachers.
The primary language of the Sama Sindhi in Pakistan is Sindhi. They also speak Urdu and other regional Pakistani languages.
The Sama Sindhi live in the Indus Valley in the southeast region of Pakistan.
The lives of the Sama Sindhi are diverse depending upon whether they live in urban or rural areas. The rural Sama live lives much like their ancestors.
The family is the basic unity of Sama Sindhi society, with the male head being the authority. Unlike other Muslims, the Sindhi tend to organize in caste groups based on clan and occupation. The Sindhi do not marry outside of their own caste. Marriages between cousins are common. The wedding ceremony includes a reading from the Koran and is performed by a local Muslim teacher or priest.
Most of the Sama Sindhi are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi School. The majority of the rural Sindhi, however, have no clear understanding of their Muslim faith and still believe in folk spirits. Before 1947, many Hindu and Muslim practices were combined. For example, it was not uncommon for both Hindus and Muslims to venerate the same saint. Today, the practice of saint worship still persists among the rural Sama.
Islam is a major world religion that is based on five essential duties or "pillars": (1) A Muslim must affirm that "there is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet." (2) Five times a day he must pray while facing Mecca. (3) He must give an obligatory percentage (very similar to tithes) on an annual basis. (4) He must fast during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim year. (5) He must try to make at least one pilgrimage to Mecca in his lifetime. Muslims are also prohibited to drink alcohol, eat pork, gamble, steal, use deceit, slander, and make idols.
The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.
The Sama Sindhi need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. Sindhi who live in a rural setting need help in educating their children and in learning new job skills.
Ask God to send missionary teams who will go to the Sama Sindhi and share the gospel with them.
Pray for effectiveness of the Jesus film among the Sindhi, with many conversions resulting.
Pray that strong local churches will be raised up among the Sindh.
Scripture Prayers for the Sindhi Sama in Pakistan.
etnopedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Sindh
globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2010/10/13
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindhis
Profile Source: David Kugel |
Global Prayer Digest: 2007-09-08 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2007-11-08 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2008-08-05 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2019-08-20 |
People Name General | Sindhi Sama |
People Name in Country | Sindhi Sama |
Natural Name | Sama Sindhi |
Pronunciation |
SAH-muh SIN-dee
|
Alternate Names | Chuda Samma; Dungar Summa; Gha Samma; Saheb Samma; Samma; सिंधी समा |
Population this Country | 1,621,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,622,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 32 |
People ID | 18164 |
ROP3 Code | 113676 |
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 | 2 | |||
Largest States |
|
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 | 2 |
Sindh 1,544,000 | |
Islamabad 2,900 | |
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 | Sindhi (1,479,000 speakers) | |||
Language Code | snd Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 4 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Sindhi (1,479,000 speakers) |
Language Code | snd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 4 |
Secondary Languages | |
Urdu 125,000 | |
Saraiki 11,000 | |
Marwari 4,800 | |
People Groups | Speaking Sindhi |
Primary Language: Sindhi
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1825-1981) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1890-1992) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1954) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | FD productions - Wikimedia Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | David Kugel |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |