Ansari in India

Introduction / History

The Ansari people are noted for their friendliness and their helpfulness. They are predominately artisans by trade and are mostly poor and illiterate. The weaving of silk is a common trade skill of these people. Although traditionally weavers and textile sellers, the Ansaris are now involved in a wide range of small business enterprises.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The friendliness of the Ansaris can open doors for believers to develop closeness and opportunities to share the gospel. Pakistan is a country that is very hostile to the gospel. It is almost impossible for believers to stay long enough to help people find their way to the cross and be discipled in the ways of Jesus Christ.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Ansari 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?

Pray for the Holy Spirit to empower the Ansari people in Pakistan to open their eyes and see Jesus.

Prayer Points

There are no known Ansaris who follow Christ in Pakistan. Pray for the Lord to find a way to draw these people into his family. Pray for the Lord to bless the Ansaris in such a way that they will know He is the one to follow.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give Ansari people a hunger for righteousness and holiness that will turn their hearts to Jesus.

Pray for the Lord to find a way to get His children into Ansari communities so that they can enjoy the blessings of the Savior.

Text Source:   Joshua Project