Tamil (Muslim traditions) in India

Introduction / History

The Tamil Muslims are largely defined by their language, Tamil. Some members of the community are descendants of Tamil women and Arab traders. They are drawn from various subgroups, especially the Syed, Sheikh, Labbai, Maraikkayar, and Rawuthar.

What Are Their Lives Like?

They are mainly businessmen and industrial workers. Some are in white-collar jobs, and some are engaged in embroidery work. Their relations with other Tamil caste groups and the Hindu communities is cordial.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The 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 that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.
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. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.

What Are Their Needs?

To follow Jesus within a Muslim community is to risk much that is important in life. Family, friends and status are included in what is at risk. Tamil Muslims need to be willing to do this so they can find the only savior.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to raise up a strong disciple making movement to saturate the hearts and minds of this people group.
Pray for spiritual hunger and discernment that will draw Tamil Muslims into the Kingdom of God.
Although there may be no followers of Jesus among the Tamil Muslim community today, pray for those the Lord will soon call to himself. Pray they will grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, learning to live in the power of the Lord's Spirit.
Pray for the Tamil Muslims to live in peace with their neighbors and be able to care adequately for their families. Pray for employment opportunities.

Text Source:   Joshua Project