Mishari Tatar in Russia

The Mishari Tatar have only been reported in Russia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Tatars make up the second largest ethnic group in Russian after the ethnic Russians. Mishars are a sub-group of the Turkic Tatars. They inhabit the right bank of the Volga River up to the right bank of the Oka River to the north in Niznyi Novgorod, Penza and Ulyanovsk regions. The locals refer to the area as Misharistan because it is the land of Mishari Tatar.

Most Tatars become Muslims in the ninth century. They speak a western dialect of the Tatar language. In the 16th century, Ivan the Terrible forcibly baptized many Tatars into the Russian Orthodox Church. However, they Tatars have tried to carefully preserve their Muslim traditions so not to be absorbed into the Russian majority. The Tatars have a reputation for being fierce fighters and excellent horsemen.

Despite the actions of the Soviet government to eradicate Islam in the country, the local Tatars have managed to preserve wooden mosques—unique historical monuments with a 200-year history. But what is more interesting; the Mishari Tatars not only honor their own tradition but keep and respect ancient Russian traditions and holidays. During the Majlis (Assembly), funeral or religious holidays, they place samovars on their tables and drink tea from saucers in the ancient Russian manner.

The Tatars speak Tatar at home and Russian in their schools and in business. Some Tatar leaders have tried to gain more autonomy for the Tatars since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990. The Russian government has resisted these moves.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Tatars are integrated into the Russian economy. They work in agriculture growing grains, fruits and vegetables. Some Tatars raise cattle, goats and sheep. Other Tatars work in factories and in trade. There is a variety in the lives of Tatars. Some work as day laborers while others have taken advantage of the Russian education system are professionals and owners of businesses.

Tatars often have larger families than ethnic Russians. Tatars see children, especially boys, as a gift from Allah. Young people choose their own mates with the approval of their parents. Tatars tend to marry within their group.

Tatars wear their distinctive clothing on Muslim holidays. They sing songs, recite poetry and dance. Sports involving horses are popular as well as archery and wrestling.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Almost Mishari Tatar are Sunni Muslims. Nevertheless, the Tatar's beliefs remain more liberal and intellectual than the beliefs held by the more Orthodox Muslims of Central Asia or the Caucasus. For instance, in many of their mosques, prayer times have been arranged so as not to conflict with work schedules. Women have also been encouraged to join the men at the mosques instead of praying at home, as is the usual custom.

The Tatars sees being a Muslim as part of their essential personal identity. By becoming a follower of Christ, a Tatar will face persecution from their family and clan.


What Are Their Needs?

The Tatars frequently see Christianity as a European religion. They have faced various forms of discrimination by Russian Orthodox Christians for centuries. The Tatar must understand that becoming a Christian will not change the fact that he or she is a Tatar. Christ alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send workers to the Mishari Tatars of Russia.

Pray that God will give mission agencies favor and strategies for reaching these Muslims.

Ask God to open doors for Christian businessmen, teachers and other tentmakers to share the gospel with the Tatars.

Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Mishari Tatar elders and leaders towards Christians so that they will be more receptive to Christ.

Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Mishar Tatars in this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Tatar, Mishari in Russia.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatars


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tatar, Mishari
People Name in Country Tatar, Mishari
Natural Name Mishari Tatar
Pronunciation mish-ar-ee tah-TAR
Alternate Names
Population this Country 800
Population all Countries 800
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 20521
ROP3 Code 116825
ROP25 Code 307991
ROP25 Name Tatar
Country Russia
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Russia
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.20 %)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Tatar (800 speakers)
Language Code tat   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tatar (800 speakers)
Language Code tat   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tatar

Primary Language:  Tatar

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1864-2007)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-2005)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2015-2018)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Forum Bible Agencies
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Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, complete Bible DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio 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 Tatar 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 Rivka video 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
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General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tatar YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tatar YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter IBT, Russia - resources Institute for Bible Translation - Russia
Photo Source Anonymous 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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