Rajput Gahlot (Muslim traditions) in India


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

Introduction / History

Starting in the 5th century there was a massive attack by the White Huns in what is now northern and northwestern India and Pakistan. About a century later the reigning Hindu-based Gupta Empire broke up, leaving the Subcontinent vulnerable to Muslim invaders from the north. As time went on, invaders took over land and integrated with the settled peoples of this region. Tribal leaders, especially those involved with defense, were accepted as Kshatrya, the second highest varna (major type of castes) in Hindu society, while their followers became the fourth and lowest varna. Priests became the Brahmins, the highest of the four varnas.
The Rajputs, who were part of the Kshatrya varna, became politically important in the seventh century. From around 800 AD Rajput dynasties ruled northern India. Petty Rajput kingdoms were the main obstacle for Muslim domination of the Hindu subcontinent. For more than 500 years Rajputs were the warriors who defended kingdoms from invaders and conquered others. When possible, Rajputs settled down, became nobles, and enjoyed the lives of landed gentry.
Over a period of a couple hundred years, invaders penetrated the Rajput wall that protected the Subcontinent. Some Rajput subgroups converted to Islam during this time. Legend has it that the Muslim community of Rajput is the descendant of Umrao Singh. Umrao had fought against a conquering Muslim ruler over the death of the ruler's son. However, after his release, Umrao was never restored to his Hindu Rajput community and as an outcast, formed his own Muslim Rajput community.
Though most Rajputs are Hindu, there are many Sikh and Muslim communities. One of the Muslim Rajput communities is Gahlot.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Today the Gahlot Rajput people are primarily an agricultural community. Those who have lost their land holdings have become employed in service and even wage labor jobs. Gahlot women earn money by weaving, embroidery and making handkerchiefs. For women, toe-rings, nose-pins and glass bangles are common symbols for being married. They are non-vegetarian though avoid beef and enjoy foods like wheat, rice and pulses.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Gahlot Rajput people are Sunni Muslims who 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 Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.
In most of the Muslim world, common people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well they live on a daily basis. For that reason, some Muslims appease spirits using charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces. More orthodox Muslims consider these practices heretical and un-Islamic.


What Are Their Needs?

As people of influence and social status, the Rajputs are a key people to reach with the Gospel. As converts to Islam they may be more open than many traditionally Muslim peoples to hear and receive of the love of Christ. Praise God that some Hindu Rajput have become believers but there are no known believers among the Muslim Rajput.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Gahlot Rajput community to increasingly grow in awareness of Jesus and their need for him.
Pray the Lord will give Rajputs a spiritual hunger, then satisfy that hunger.
Pray that these Gahlot Rajputs will understand the value of becoming part of God's royal family.
Pray for a Holy Spirit led humility for all Rajput communities to fall at the feet of the King of kings.
Pray for a disciple making movement among every Rajput community.


Scripture Prayers for the Rajput Gahlot (Muslim traditions) in India.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Rajput Gahlot (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Rajput Gahlot (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation RAHJ-put gah-LOAT
Alternate Names
Population this Country 14,000
Population all Countries 27,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 22303
ROP3 Code 119116
ROP25 Code 306917
ROP25 Name Rajput
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 5
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
14,000
Gujarat
400
Jammu and Kashmir
200
Haryana
100
Punjab
70
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 5
  Uttar Pradesh 14,000
  Gujarat 400
  Jammu and Kashmir 200
  Haryana 100
  Punjab 70
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 Urdu (12,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Gujarati
200
Dogri
200
Bhojpuri
70
Punjabi, Eastern
60
Marwari (India)
20
Primary Language Urdu (12,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Gujarati 200
  Dogri 200
  Bhojpuri 70
  Punjabi, Eastern 60
  Marwari (India) 20
People Groups Speaking Urdu

Primary Language:  Urdu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1747-1894)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1758-2000)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1843-2022)
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Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Urdu Jesus Film Project
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Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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