Urdu in Norway


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Aryan tribes entered India about 1500 BC mixing with Mongolians, Greeks and Huns. Through the generations this ethnic blending caused the Urdu’s Indian features to gradually become more Caucasian and their languages to become more diverse. In later centuries Muslim influences promoted the linguistic change out of which the Urdu language eventually developed. Hindi and Urdu are similar languages, but they are divided by religious affiliation; Hindi is spoken by the Hindu peoples while Urdu is spoken by Muslims. Urdu is heavily laden with Persian and Arabic words and is written in the Persian script.
Today when one thinks of South Asian Muslim languages, Urdu is the first one that comes to mind. Urdu is seldom a heart language, but it is the trade language of Pakistan. Urdu speakers come from all walks of life, but they usually originate in either Pakistan or northern India. The Urdu possess a sense of group identity based on cultural and historical factors: the Islamic religion, a Persian cultural tradition, the Urdu language, and the tradition of Muslim supremacy in northern India.
In recent years many Urdu-speaking Muslims have emigrated to Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, searching for economic opportunities. Skilled laborers and highly educated professionals among them have also emigrated to Western Europe, North America, and British Commonwealth countries all over the world.
Most Pakistanis in Norway speak Punjabi, but there are some who prefer Urdu. Initially the Urdu in Pakistan came to Norway as guest workers in the 1970s. Most of these were young men. As time progressed, Norway allowed these young men's families to join them, as living in this country offers these immigrants the stability that they need and seek. It was at one time the practice of Pakistanis to get a wife from the old country, but this practice is decreasing year by year.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Today, many Pakistani wives are also employed, especially those who have been there for a generation. Pakistanis are sometimes discriminated against in Norway's job market as indicated by the smaller percentage of those with Pakistani names who are granted job interviews.
Parents of these Urdu offspring pressure them to get a good education and become lawyers, doctors or engineers. Pakistanis in Norway usually have college degrees. As often happens, the second generation is caught between parents who raise them with the values of the old country and the more liberal values of the new country. Even those who are born and raised in Norway cling to religious values which are Islamic even though their political beliefs are very diverse.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Although the Urdu are predominantly Muslims, they are not completely unified. There are intense differences among the various Muslim sects (the Hanafites, Shafiites, and Ithna-Asharis).
Since entire communities tended to migrate together, different Islamic sects are found in different countries. For example, in Turkey and South Africa, the Urdu speakers are almost completely Sunni Muslims, whereas in Canada and in Pakistan, they are almost completely Hanafite Muslims.


What Are Their Needs?

The Urdu speakers in Norway need the chance to respond to the wonderful grace of Jesus. That is very hard for them to do when there is so much community pressure to not deviate from the Islamic religious system. Pray also that Urdu-speaking Christian believers would be able to share their testimonies and the truth of Jesus effectively and safely.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers to the Urdu speakers in Norway.
Pray for people of peace to emerge among the Urdu people who will accept Christ's ambassadors.
Pray for a massive movement to Christ among Urdu speakers to occur this decade leading to spiritual and physical blessings to raise from their acceptance of Christ.
Pray for resources like the JESUS Film and Urdu language broadcasts to become widely available among the Urdu populations.


Scripture Prayers for the Urdu in Norway.


References

https://www.nation.com.pk/02-May-2019/pakistani-population-in-norway-growing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegians_with_Pakistani_background
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3676176.stm
https://www.geo.tv/latest/161122-72-of-second-generation-pakistanis-in-norway-are-college-educated-report


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Urdu
People Name in Country Urdu
Pronunciation OOR-doo
Alternate Names Hindi; Islami; Muhajirs; Undri
Population this Country 35,000
Population all Countries 2,161,000
Total Countries 24
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 15727
ROP3 Code 110423
Country Norway
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Norway
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

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Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
95.00 %
Non-Religious
5.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Urdu (35,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Urdu (35,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
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 Urdu Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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 Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kitab e Muqaddas Urdu General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Urdu YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Urdu Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible App: Urdu Devnagri Bible (उर्दू बाइबिल) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Urdu Injeel Sharif General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Urdu Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta Urdu 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 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 Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Urdu YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Urdu Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Muzaffar Somro - Pixabay 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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