Qazilbash in Pakistan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Qizilbash are bilingual Persian and Turkic-speaking Azerbaijani background, united in their belief in Twelver Shia Islam. In Afghanistan they live in urban areas such as Kabul, Herat, Logar, Kandahar or Mazar, as well as in certain villages in central Afghanistan. They are descendants of the troops left behind by Nadir Shah Afshar during his "Indian campaign" in 1738.
Qizilbash are Azeri Turks tribes mainly from Anatolia and Azerbaijan. The main difference between Qizilbash Oghuz tribes and other Turkic people is that they are Shia Turkic people. Therefore, the name Qizilbash is usually applied to them only. Some of these tribes in Afghanistan were subdivided in clans included the Afshar, Bayat, Shahseven, Ansarlu, Shaaghasi, Shamlu and Javanshir or Jawansher.
Bayat clan: Bayat is the name of an originally Turkic clan in Iran which traces its origin to the 12th century. The first location of the Bayat clan was the city of Nishapur in the south of Khorasan, a state in northeastern Iran. The Bayat clan moved in the 16th century to three locations after attacks by Mongol forces. The Bayat clan made war with the Mongols, killing Genghis Khan's son-in-law with his army. Then Khan attacked Nishapur with all his forces, killing many Bayat clansmen, and the rest of the Bayat clan escaped to the mountains around Nishapur.
Bayat was the name of one the 24 Oghuz Turkish clans purported to descend from Oghuz Khaqan according to Oghuzname and the oral legends prior to that book's writing in early 14th century. In Afghanistan, the clan is known to have included those who originally immigrated into the country with Nader Shah Afshar. Bayat is a common surname today in Afghanistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan and to a lesser extent in Turkey and Turkmenistan where it carries the meaning "Knight" or "Chevalier".
Ansarlu clan: Ansarlu or Ansaroglu are Azerbaijani Turkish tribe and a part of Qizilbash people in Afghanistan. It is a branch of Bayat clan. The name of one Oghuz Turkish clans purported to descend from Oghuz Khaqan. They are living in Kala Fatullah, Kala sadulah Wazirabad village in Kabul. In Afghanistan the clan is known to have included those who originally immigrated into the country with Nader Shah Afshar.
Afshar clan: Afshars are a branch of the Turkic Oghuz groups. These originally nomadic Oghuz tribes moved from Central Asia through Iran and finally most settled in Anatolia (Turkey).
The Afshar tribes of Iran are two distinct Turkic-speaking ethnic groups. The larger group is concentrated in the north of the country, and the smaller in the south. The Turkic dialect spoken by the Afshar of the north is closely related to the Azeri language, while the dialect spoken by the southern Afshar is more closely related to the Qashqai language. Many Afshari are living in Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan.
Shamlu clan: The Shamlu Tribe is one of the 7 original and the most powerful Qizilbash tribe of Turkoman origin in Iran. In Afghanistan they are mainly living in Kabul and Herat.
Shahsevan and Shah Aghasi clans: They are a branch of the Turkic Oghuz groups located primarily in Iran and in the territory of the present-day Republic of Azerbaijan and Afghanistan. In Iran, they are mainly living in Qom, Tehran, Qazvin and Zanjan. In Afghanistan they are mainly living in Kabul. The name shahsevan means adherents of the king.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Afghanistan's Qizilbash have always held important posts in government offices; today they engage in trade or are craftsmen. They constitute an important and politically influential element of Afghan society.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Qizilbash adhered to multiple Shia doctrines encouraged by early Safawiyyah sheikhs, specifically sheikh Haydar and his son, Isma'il. They regarded their rulers as divine figures and would thus be classified as ghulat extremist by orthodox Ithnaashari Shias.


What Are Their Needs?

As far as we know, there is not a single Christ follower among the Muslim Qizilbash people in Afghanistan. They live in a country where the government hunts down Christians, and they do all they can to prevent gospel materials from being available. God needs to reach them through a miracle.


Prayer Points

Pray for a clear presentation of the gospel message among the Qizilbash in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Pray that God will raise up laborers who are willing to reach the Qizilbash for Christ, no matter what the cost.
Pray that strong local churches will be planted among the Qizilbash people.
Pray for Qizilbash disciples who will make more disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Qazilbash in Pakistan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Qazilbash
People Name in Country Qazilbash
Pronunciation kiz-uhl-BAHSH
Alternate Names Afshari; Kizilbash; Qasilbash; Shia; क़िज़िलबश्
Population this Country 5,300
Population all Countries 338,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 14498
ROP3 Code 108231
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 4
Largest States
Balochistan
3,100
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
1,200
Sindh
1,000
Islamabad
80
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 4
  Balochistan 3,100
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 1,200
  Sindh 1,000
  Islamabad 80
Website South Asia Peoples
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 %
* From latest Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Dari (5,300 speakers)
Language Code prs   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Dari (5,300 speakers)
Language Code prs   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Dari

Primary Language:  Dari

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1974)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1982-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2008)
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Dari Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Dari YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Dari Bible کتاب مقدس دری General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Khabar-e Khush General / Other
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Dari YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Dari Bible General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Bible Gateway scripture Bible Gateway
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024