Tirgar (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

People Name:	Tirgar (Muslim traditions)
Country:	Pakistan
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	1,700
World Population:	1,700
Primary Language:	Saraiki
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	New Testament
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Muslim - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The name Tirgar is a combination of two words, which combined mean "arrow maker." Traditionally they made arrows for kings, and they claim Rajput (a military community) status. Others claim that they migrated to western India to produce arrows for the Rajputs. There are 20 Tirgar clans.

Where Are they Located?

The Tirgar people live mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Some Tirgar Muslims live in Pakistan.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most members of the Tirgar community are Hindu, but there is a smaller Muslim community among them as well. Once some people turn to another religion, they forfeit their ties with the original Hindu community.

Now that there is no longer a market for arrows, the Tirgar people are mainly wage laborers on other people's farms.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Tirgar people are Sunni, the largest branch of Islam. They believe that the One, Supreme God, Allah, spoken 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 Tirgar people, be they Hindu or Muslim, need to put their faith in Jesus Christ, the only one who can bless them with abundant life and eternal salvation from sin and death.

Prayer Points

Pray for his kingdom to come and his will to be done among the Muslim Tirgar people in both India and Pakistan.
Pray for a movement of Tirgar households to study the Bible and accept the blessings of Christ.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive Muslim Tirgar people to the arms of Jesus.
Pray for workers who are filled with the fruit and the power of the Holy Spirit to go to the Tirgar people in both India and Pakistan.