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The Murego-Grubden are a sub-group of the Dargin peoples of the Northern Caucasus Mountains of southeastern Europe. The Russian Empire annexed Dagestan in the 19th century after a 30-year war. The Dargwa language of the Murego is spoken in 15 towns and villages in the mountains west of the Caspian coastal city of Izberbash.

The Murego became Muslims in the 15th century. They have the reputation as being the most devout Muslims in the Caucasus. The traditional occupations of the Murego are agriculture and animal husbandry.

The Murego speak the Dargwa language among themselves and Russian at school and in business and with other peoples of the region. Bible portions and the JESUS Film are available in the Dargwa language.

Most Murego live in rural villages near the coast of the western Caspian Sea. They grow fruit, vegetables, olives, and grains in the land surrounding their villages. Some men work as herders of sheep, goats and cattle. Most families have a few chickens and a dairy cow to supplement their diets.

The Murego trade and sell their excess produce and animal products to buy things they cannot make for themselves such as cell phones and appliances. The Murego tend to have larger families as children are viewed as blessings from Allah. It is the adult sons' responsibility to take care of elderly parents. Often three generations of an extended family lives under one roof.

The Murego celebrate both Russian and Muslim holidays. They have traditional, distinctive clothing that they wear during festivals. The Murego sing ancient songs and dance during their holidays. Most Murego do not want to be absorbed into the Russian majority. Rural Murego tend to marry among themselves. Some young people are moving out of their mountain homeland and moving to cities hoping for a better life. These young people frequently marry outside their people and speak Russian are their primary language.

Islam of the Murego-Gubden region of Dagestan is influenced by a zealous Salafi strain of Sunni Islam coming out of Saudi Arabia. Murego women dress more conservatively than the other Muslim regions of Dagestan. The Murego devout pride themselves on their adherence to Muslim law and rituals. They look down on Caucasian Muslims who practice animism and ancestor worship.

Sunni Muslims believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.

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.

Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.

The Murego need to understand that their keeping of Islamic religious rules will not gain them favor with the one, true God of the Bible. Christ alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.

Ask the Lord to send workers to the Murego-Grubden of Dagestan, Russia.

Pray for an openness for spiritual things for the leaders and elders of the Murego.

Pray that the few believers among the Murego would grow and share their faith with their families and friends.

Ask the Lord to raise up a growing, biblical church among the Murego-Grubden of Russia in this decade.

Scripture Prayers for the Murego-Gubden in Russia.

http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2014/03/16