Bosniak in Canada
Photo Source:
Michał Huniewicz - Flickr
Creative Commons
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| People Name: | Bosniak |
| Country: | Canada |
| 10/40 Window: | No |
| Population: | 94,000 |
| World Population: | 3,150,500 |
| Primary Language: | Bosnian |
| Primary Religion: | Islam |
| Christian Adherents: | 0.03 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.01 % |
| Scripture: | Complete Bible |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | Slav, Southern |
| Affinity Bloc: | Eurasian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
The Bosniaks are a people group who live mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina and are South Slavic. The Bosniaks are included in the Bosnians.
There was some immigration of Bosnians to Canada in the nineteenth century. Many Bosnians came to live in Canada in and after the Bosnian War in the first half of the 1990s. A lot of them came as refugees.
Many Bosnians in Canada live in Ontario, especially Toronto and in Quebec.
What Are Their Lives Like?
There are sports, religious and social associations for them in Canada. They have Bosnian language newspapers also. The largest Bosnian association in Canada is the Congress of North American Bosniaks. The Bosnian Islamic Association Gazi Husrev-Beg was formed to help with religious matters for its members. They have an imam who is full-time. This association also looks after the needs of Bosniaks regards workshops, sports and matters to do with Bosniak culture.
They speak Bosnian, Serbian and English.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Some are atheists, but most identify with Sunni Islam. They believe that the One, 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.
In most of the Muslim world, 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 we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. The often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.
What Are Their Needs?
The Bosniaks need to put their trust in Jesus Christ, the only one who can provide life to the full.
Prayer Points
Pray that God gives the Bosnians dreams and visions leading them to Jesus Christ as he has done with many Muslims.
Pray for loving ambassadors for Christ to work with the Bosniaks in Canada until they have a movement to Christ.
Pray for spiritual hunger and discernment among this Muslim people group.