Sindhi Mohana in Pakistan

Map Source:  People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
People Name: Sindhi Mohana
Country: Pakistan
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 542,000
World Population: 542,000
Primary Language: Sindhi
Primary Religion: Islam
Christian Adherents: 0.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
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 Sindhi Mohana people are mentioned in the Chach Nama, one of the key sources for the history of Sindh Province. This was written in the 7th or 8th century, and it chronicles the rise and fall of two dynasties before the rise of the Arab Empire which conquered this land.

The Sindhi Mohana people call themselves, Mir Bahana, which means, "Lord of the sea." They have traditionally been fishermen.

Where Are they Located?

The Sindhi Mohana people live mainly in Pakistan's Sindh Province, though many also live in Punjab, Pakistan's largest province. A smaller number are in Baloch Province. If you wanted to find this people group, a good place to look would be the shores of Lake Manchar, a manmade lake created in the 1930s and fed with fresh water by two canals. Another good place to find them is in the city of Karachi where they often work on fishing trawlers.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Though many are still fishermen, others are boatmen or sailors. Like other ethnic groups in Sindh Province, the Mohanas speak Sindhi. There are numerous subgroups of the Mohanas, and they are allowed to intermarry.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Oddly enough, these simple fishermen are drawn to the complex sector of Islam known as Sunni Hanafi Fiqh. Most Muslims are Sunnis, but "Hanafi" refers to an Islamic scholar's interpretation of Sharia Law. Fiqh refers to the human understanding of Sharia Law and the observance of Islamic rituals and morals.

What Are Their Needs?

The Sindhi Mohanas live in a country that is closed to the gospel. Only Sunni Muslims have good status; members of other sects of Islam are often violently persecuted. They have no choice but to remain Muslim since the "gatekeepers" prevent outsiders from sharing other spiritual believes. The great missionary statesman, William Carey, referred to such groups as "no choice" peoples.

Prayer Points

Pray for spiritual hunger and a desire for truth that will give this Sindhi people group the willingness to seek and find answers.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers to the Sindhi Mohana people.
Pray for a disciple-making movement to flourish among this people group and spread to other communities in Pakistan.

Text Source:   Keith Carey