Jat Sidhu (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan
Photo Source:
Anonymous
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Map Source:
People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
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| People Name: | Jat Sidhu (Muslim traditions) |
| Country: | Pakistan |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 643,000 |
| World Population: | 646,200 |
| Primary Language: | Sindhi |
| Primary Religion: | Islam |
| Christian Adherents: | 0.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.00 % |
| Scripture: | Complete Bible |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | South Asia Muslim - Jat |
| Affinity Bloc: | South Asian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
Pakistan's Punjab Province is a fertile area for farming, as well as the most industrialized segment of the country. About 40 per cent of Pakistan's large scale manufacturing and 70 per cent of its small-scale manufacturing take place in this province. For this reason, there are people with great wealth there.
What Are Their Lives Like?
Certain people groups like the Sidhu Jats are among the wealthier members of Pakistan's population. One hundred years ago they were the largest Jat clan, and they probably are still today. Like most wealthy communities, the Sidhu Jats have been able to develop great literature and poetry. There are several poetic romances that Sidhu Jats have written that have remained in use for centuries. One such story is regarding Heer and her lover Ranjha, preserved in a poetry book compiled by Waris Shah during the 1700s.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Each Jat community is unique, so it is difficult to generalize about the spiritual condition of the Sidhu Jats in Pakistan. But since about 700 AD, when Muslims first began to invade what is now Pakistan, there have been Jat Muslims. The Arab Muslims at this time referred to them as Zatts, and many converted to Islam. Sidhu Jats have been dedicated to Islam everywhere they have gone.
What Are Their Needs?
With power and wealth often comes a resistance to change. This powerful, wealthy community would be likely to resist efforts to share the ways of Christ. And those who dared to share Christ with them would be doing so at great risk since Pakistan is such a dangerous mission field.
Prayer Points
There are no known followers of Christ among the Sidhu Jats in Pakistan. Pray the Lord will stir his people to connect with and befriend the Sidhu Jats.
Pray for the hearts of the Sidhu Jats to be softened by the Holy Spirit leading to a community-wide movement to Christ.
Pray that their circumstances would draw them to his presence, his grace, and his mercy.