Gadaria (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

People Name:	Gadaria (Muslim traditions)
Country:	Pakistan
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	500
World Population:	5,000
Primary Language:	Sindhi
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Muslim - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Gadaria are largely shepherds and blanket-weavers. They are mainly engaged as laborers in masonry work, while some are involved in animal husbandry.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Women participate in the rearing of cattle and in the processing of wool. Property is divided equally among sons only; succession is by the eldest son.

What Are Their Beliefs?

In Pakistan the Gadaria 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?

Their literacy rate is low. This limits them economically. With adequate education, they could participate in the more lucrative careers.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Christian disciples who will soon come to faith within the Gadaria community, that they live holy lives, zealous to know and serve the Lord.
Ask God to deliver families and communities within the Gadaria people from fears that hinder them from embracing His blessings.
Pray for them to have adequate health care, be able to find honorable employment, and have good schools available for their children.