The Faqir (or Fakir) of India are beggars by tradition. Fakir comes from the Arabic word meaning poverty.
In Uttar Pradesh, most of the Faqir are landowners and work in cultivation. Poultry work is a second occupation for them. Most of them are living in multi caste villages where there are many religions. Every subdivision has a caste council that judges local problems and matters. They are endogamous, which means they do not marry outside their group and have a caste association that covers India.
In Gujarat, the Faqir are endogamous, and marriages usually happen in their community. They favor parallel cousin marriages and cross cousin marriages. They traditionally beg and some work at Sufi shrines. Most now work as laborers.
In Maharashtra, the Faqir speak Urdu and Marathi. They beg but there is a slow change towards work such as selling baskets, crockery and craft items. Most are laborers, particularly in Nagpur. They have been given the Other Backward Classes position which means they have a part in education and work.
In West Bengal, the Faqir are also called Sahajia and were beggars. They are supposed to be called by that name as they were followers of Sher Ali Sahaji who is classed as a Sufi saint. Some cultivate jute and mustard seeds and produce cooking oil. A few are landless agricultural laborers. Some live in Muslim cemeteries.
They are Sunni Muslim by religion. They also hold folk beliefs.
They have a low literacy level so the gospel will have to be presented in oral form.
Pray that these low status Muslims will look to Jesus for acceptance.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out loving workers to the Faqir community in India.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to give Faqir elders a hunger and thirst for righteousness and be satisfied by the Lord.
Scripture Prayers for the Faqir in India.
www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/fakir
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/faqir_(clan)
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Faqir |
People Name in Country | Faqir |
Alternate Names | Bava; Bhenrihar; Darvesh; Fakir; Faqirani; Fhakir Budbudki; Gareri; Ghanta Fhakirlu; Ghanti Fhakir; Pir; Sai; Sain; Sayee; Shah; Turaka Budbudiki; फ़क़ीर |
Population this Country | 106,000 |
Population all Countries | 132,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 2 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 2 |
People ID | 16762 |
ROP3 Code | 112012 |
ROP25 Code | 302404 |
ROP25 Name | Faqir |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Muslim - other |
People Group | Faqir |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 28 (only 15 largest shown) |
Bairagi 13,000 | |
Benawa 5,600 | |
Chishti 5,500 | |
Qalandar 4,800 | |
Dervesh 4,100 | |
Azad 3,300 | |
Gosain 3,000 | |
Udasi 2,600 | |
Jalais 2,100 | |
Sanyasi 2,100 |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 21 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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Districts | Interactive map, listing and data download | |||||||||||||||
Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 21 (only 20 largest shown) |
Uttar Pradesh 33,000 | |
Haryana 13,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 9,700 | |
Delhi 8,800 | |
Punjab 8,400 | |
Rajasthan 8,200 | |
Bihar 6,200 | |
West Bengal 3,900 | |
Gujarat 3,100 | |
Jharkhand 2,800 | |
Maharashtra 2,300 | |
Himachal Pradesh 2,100 | |
Uttarakhand 1,900 | |
Chandigarh 1,700 | |
Odisha 400 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
33.32 %
|
Islam |
60.31 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
6.37 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Urdu (42,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 18 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Urdu (42,000 speakers) |
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 18 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Hindi 32,000 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 9,100 | |
Bengali 2,700 | |
Bhojpuri 2,200 | |
Gujarati 1,100 | |
Marwari (India) 900 | |
Awadhi 400 | |
Haryanvi 300 | |
Kanauji 200 | |
Mewari 100 | |
Maithili 100 | |
Bilaspuri 70 | |
Kashmiri 70 | |
Bagri 40 | |
Dhundari 20 | |
People Groups | Speaking Urdu |
Primary Language: Urdu
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1747-1894) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1758-2000) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1843-2022) |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |