Persian in Canada

Introduction / History

Persians (also known as Iranians) are an ethnic group native to Iran. The Persian language, called Farsi, is part of the Indo-Iranian language family, and is the official language of Iran. Dari, the language of the elite in Afghanistan, is a dialect of modern Persian.
Around 1000 B.C., Persian groups began to settle in the territory that is now Iran. Loosely associated Persian tribes became a more cohesive political unit under the Achaemenian dynasty. Their unity soon made them the dominant ethnic group in the region.
For 1,200 years, Persia maintained a culture that became increasingly more complex and rigid. This laid the foundation for a successful Arabian conquest in the seventh century A.D. It was not until the Islamic revolution of 1979 that massive changes came both to Iran and to the Persian people.
Although most Persians now live either in Iran or in one of the nearby Middle Eastern countries, small Persian communities can also be found in many other nations including Canada.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The life of a Persian in Canada is very different than their counterparts in Iran. Most are well established, since they started coming in the 1970s. A smaller number are still trickling into Canada. Those who were allowed to enter Western nations usually had marketable skills and a leaning towards Western secularization.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Prior to the Arab invasions, the Persian religion was Zoroastrianism. This religion taught that there was an eternal struggle between the forces of good and evil. Shia Islam became the national religion of Iran in the sixteenth century, at which time the ulama (clergy) began playing an important role in both the social and political lives of the people. Today, most Persians are Shia Muslims of the Ithna Ashari branch, and are radical in their adherence to Islamic laws and principles.
Islam is a major world religion that is based on the teachings of Mohammed, the prophet. The Koran, or holy book of Islam, was said to have been given to Mohammed by the angel Gabriel.
There are five essential duties in Islam: (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.

What Are Their Needs?

There are many Iranians in Iran’s major cities allowing Jesus Christ to turn their hearts to the truth. This can potentially become a worldwide movement among Iranians. There is a high percentage of Christ followers among Canada’s Persians who can lead the way.

Prayer Points

Pray that God will raise up faithful intercessors who will stand in the gap for the Persians in Canada.
Pray their traditional Muslim culture will soften, creating open doors for the gospel to be preached to Persians all over the world.
Ask the Lord to raise up strong disciples among the Persians in Canada who will make disciples all over the world.

Text Source:   Joshua Project