Khumra (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan
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Map Source:
People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
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| People Name: | Khumra (Muslim traditions) |
| Country: | Pakistan |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 3,800 |
| World Population: | 3,800 |
| Primary Language: | Saraiki |
| Primary Religion: | Islam |
| Christian Adherents: | 0.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.00 % |
| Scripture: | New Testament |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | South Asia Muslim - other |
| Affinity Bloc: | South Asian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
The Khumra are traditionally involved with millstone manufacturing. They have low status, both in India and Pakistan. There is some doubt as to whether or not they are still a separate community in India, but they have a small population in Pakistan.
What Are Their Lives Like?
Many work as agricultural and industrial laborers. Only a few of them are landowners. The Khumra are endogamous (meaning they prefer marriage between members of their group rather than marrying outside the group) and they intermarry. They have caste councils that deal with disputes.
What Are Their Beliefs?
The Khumra people are Sunni Muslims who 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 Kumra people need to be humble before the One True God and accept His salvation through Jesus Christ, the only Savior.
Prayer Points
Pray that God will give the Khumra dreams and visions leading them to Jesus Christ. Pray for their elders to open their hearts to the claims of Christ. Pray for a Disciple Making Movement to flourish among them this decade.