Arain (Muslim traditions) 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

Sitting in a corner bench in the Lahore High Court, Wassim, a young Arain man, feverishly took notes on his laptop. Drops of perspiration were falling on the computer screen. The relentless Lahore summer heat and humidity didn't spare even those within this Mughal-Gothic style building. Wassim's father wished that his son would become as good a lawyer as he is. Wassim was eager not only to be a good lawyer, but also to reform Pakistan's legal system.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Arains are an agricultural caste that over the years has reached the echelons of lawmakers and politicians. Fabled to have come along with Muhammad bin Qasim, a Syrian Umayyad General, the Arains claim to have come from Areeha (Jericho, Syria). Claiming also to be of Arab descent, they pride themselves of "unbroken practice of Islam." However, there are 19,000 Sikhs among them.

Today they primarily live in the Punjab, a region straddling the border between India and Pakistan. During the time of the British Raj or rule, the Arains were chiefly employed to cultivate the land around the cities. They were favored over the other tribes because they were diligent in their work. They used their newfound wealth to further education, which has left them with a legacy of extensive contributions in the field of politics and the practice of the law.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Arain people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.

The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.

Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.

In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.


What Are Their Needs?

Like all other peoples of the world, this people group needs the blessings and guidance that only Jesus Christ can offer.


Prayer Points

Ask God to raise up Arain who are more desirous to know the truth than to stay on the broad road to death.

Ask God to send loving, committed workers to the Arain in the near future.

Pray the Arain would no longer be hidden away from the influence of Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Arain (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Arain (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Arain (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation ah-rah-EEN
Alternate Names Airi; Araeen; Arani; Baghban; Chaudhari; Drain; Kunjra; Malik; Mehar; Mian; Raeen; Rain; Rayeen; Rayin; Rin; आरायण (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 11,668,000
Population all Countries 11,818,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 233
PeopleID3 16228
ROP3 Code 111344
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 7
Largest States
Punjab
10,165,000
Sindh
1,296,000
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
150,000
Azad Kashmir
36,000
Islamabad
16,000
Balochistan
4,100
Gilgit-Baltistan
1,000
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 7
  Punjab 10,165,000
  Sindh 1,296,000
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 150,000
  Azad Kashmir 36,000
  Islamabad 16,000
  Balochistan 4,100
  Gilgit-Baltistan 1,000
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 Punjabi, Western (5,045,000 speakers)
Language Code pnb   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 20
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Saraiki
4,079,000
Urdu
999,000
Sindhi
684,000
Marwari (Pakistan)
275,000
Pahari-Potwari
93,000
Marwari (India)
54,000
Hindko, Northern
52,000
Hindko, Southern
51,000
Dhatki
44,000
Bagri
30,000
Pashto, Northern
21,000
Pashto, Central
12,000
Balochi, Eastern
900
Kashmiri
800
Shina
500
Primary Language Punjabi, Western (5,045,000 speakers)
Language Code pnb   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 20
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Saraiki 4,079,000
  Urdu 999,000
  Sindhi 684,000
  Marwari (Pakistan) 275,000
  Pahari-Potwari 93,000
  Marwari (India) 54,000
  Hindko, Northern 52,000
  Hindko, Southern 51,000
  Dhatki 44,000
  Bagri 30,000
  Pashto, Northern 21,000
  Pashto, Central 12,000
  Balochi, Eastern 900
  Kashmiri 800
  Shina 500
People Groups Speaking Punjabi, Western

Primary Language:  Punjabi, Western

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1885-1922)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1819-2021)
Bible-Complete No
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 DAVAR Partners recording, New Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Punjabi, Western Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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 Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
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
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Punjabi, Western YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Punjabi, Western YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Cartoon Gospel tract General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Punjabi, Western Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Imran Ali Arain - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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