Mussulman Tat in Iran


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Other PDF Profile

Introduction / History

Mussulman (Muslim) Tats live in northwestern Iran, in the mountain valleys along the Azerbaijani border. They are part of two distinct religious communities that fall into a category known as "tats." The two groups include the Jewish Tats (known as mountain Jews) and the Mussulman or Muslim Tats.

The Turks originally coined the term "tats" to designate settled groups of non-Turkic origin. The term now applies to a Caucasian group that speaks a southern dialect of the Iranian language.

Because the Muslim Tats do not have an alphabet for their language, they use Azeri (Azerbaijani) for their written and literary language. Depending on the area in which they live, the Tats speak other regional languages in addition to their own. There may be a Christian Tat dialect, but this cannot be confirmed.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Mussulman Tats still live in their rural ancestral villages among the mountains and valleys. The availability of well water determines the village location. Farmers living in the valleys raise wheat, barley, maize, and cattle. Those higher in the mountains raise sheep, bulls, and buffaloes.

The rural Mussulman Tats usually live in one- or two-story homes, which are constructed of rectangular-shaped natural stones cemented with clay mortar. The houses feature flat roofs and front porches supported by wooden pillars. Families living in two-story homes use the upper floor for living quarters and the lower floor for workspace.

Iran is an ethnically complex country where minority groups staunchly defend their traditional differences and struggle for local autonomy. The Tats are considered a closed society because they insist on maintaining ethnic purity by allowing marriage only within the tribe.

Although education is compulsory for children between the ages of six and eleven, many of the village classroom facilities are inadequate. Classes are segregated by sex, and the major emphasis is on religion and traditional values.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Islam is the official state religion of Iran. Nearly all Mussulman Tats are Shi'a (Shi'ite) Muslim and a small percentage are Sunni (orthodox) Muslim. Islam is a major world religion that is based on the teachings of Mohammed, the prophet. The Koran, or holy book of Islam, was said to have been given to Mohammed by the angel Gabriel.

Mussulman Tats adhere to the five essential "pillars" or duties in Islam: (1) A Muslim must affirm that "there is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet." (2) Five times a day he must pray while facing Mecca. (3) He must give an obligatory percentage (very similar to tithes) on an annual basis. (4) He must fast during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim year. (5) He must try to make at least one pilgrimage to Mecca in his lifetime.

Most Muslims believe in the traditional form of marriage for life. However, some traditionalist Shi'ites still practice mutah, a form of temporary marriage that can be dissolved at any time stipulated in the premarital agreement.

Iran has strictly enforced the "Islamic code of conduct" since the 1979 revolution. This code states that men are the leaders and women care for the children and home. The government's persecution of Christians has increased dramatically since the revolution.


What Are Their Needs?

There has been little evangelization among the Mussulman Tats of Iran because they are such a small group within the Indo-European population. Plus, Iran is closed to Christian missionaries.

Very few of these needy people have ever heard a clear presentation of the Gospel.


Prayer Points

Pray that God will raise up prayer teams to break up the spiritual soil of Iran through worship and intercession.
Pray that Christian radio broadcasts will be available to Mussulman Tats.
Pray that the doors of Iran will soon open to missionaries.
Ask the Lord to bring forth a vigorous Mussulman Tat church for the glory of His name!


Scripture Prayers for the Mussulman Tat in Iran.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  
Other PDF Profile

People Name General Mussulman Tat
People Name in Country Mussulman Tat
Alternate Names Mussulman; Tat
Population this Country 86,000
Population all Countries 203,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 13896
ROP3 Code 106963
Country Iran
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 9  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Gilan and Qazvin provinces.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Iran
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 9  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Gilan and Qazvin provinces..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Tat, Muslim (86,000 speakers)
Language Code ttt   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tat, Muslim (86,000 speakers)
Language Code ttt   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tat, Muslim

Primary Language:  Tat, Muslim

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1989-2011)
Bible-New Testament Yes
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tat, Muslim Jesus Film Project
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Photo Source Withheld by request 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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