Mawalud in India


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

Beginning in the 1100s, Muslim rulers conquered most of northern India. They then moved southward to subdue the Deccan Plateau, a region that was populated by many Dravidian- Muslims.

A distinct Islamic culture developed in the Deccan region, and it became the greatest center of Arabic learning in India until the Moghul conquest of 1687. In 1724, the Deccani regained power and became princely rulers. However, in 1948, when India declared its independence, they were forced under Hindu rule. Many emigrated to Pakistan; those who remained are now a minority group of Muslims.

Many Muslim peoples live in India’s Deccan region. One of these is the Mawalud. The Mawalud people live on the so-called tableland of central India, between the Godavari and Manjra Rivers. They are primarily concentrated in central Maharashtra State and in the arid Deccan Plateau. They also live in major cities such as Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh as well as various rural areas.


What Are Their Lives Like?

When the government of India ended Muslim rule, the Mawalud were converted from princely rulers, military officers, and wealthy landowners to blacksmiths, shopkeepers and carpenters. Muslim professionals adjusted more easily, entering banking, business, and employment as scientists and teachers. The former servants of the established Muslim government and nobility are now living on small pensions or the meager incomes of family members.



In the countryside, Mawalud culture embraces a mixture of Hindu and Muslim elements. However, much bitterness remains, due to the loss of their former glory. The educated urban population, which consists of only one-quarter of the Mawalud, lives a more secular modern life and has very little in common with the conservative urban Muslim community and religious leaders.

The social lives of the Mawalud center around their local religious community and immediate families. Groups usually cluster around their own local mosques. Intermarriage is rare between Muslim castes. Their society is patriarchal, which means that the fathers have absolute authority in the homes. Most women wear veils while in public. Each home contains small shrines in honor of their saints. The shrines are decorated with banners, flowers, and bright paintings of tigers.

Mawalud people honor learning and place a great emphasis on the arts. Painting is their specialty, especially the beautiful illustrations in poetry books. There are numerous art schools spread throughout the area of the Deccani. Some of these schools were begun as early as the 1500s by the migrating Muslims who were influenced by the famous Persian art.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Virtually all of the Mawalud are devout Muslims. They worship, play instruments, and sing at the ancient graves of their saints. Worship of saints is very common, and the extravagant decorations over their graves attract even the Hindus. As a whole, Islam in India include strong elements of mysticism.

Mawalud Muslims have been challenged in their religious beliefs by the Dravidians and various other Muslim sects that migrated into the Deccan Plateau long ago. Their religion, language, and ethnic recognition were belittled and discriminated against by the new Hindu Indian government. As a result, they have seemingly lost a vitality for Islam. It is no longer a spiritual lifestyle to them but is more a part of their identity as a people.


What Are Their Needs?

Deprived of their former sources of wealth and power, many Mawalud have given way to deep destitution and despair. They have struggled long and hard to maintain their culture, beliefs and pride. They need encouragement and hope, which can only be realized through a clear understanding of their relationship with the Lord of lords. Since Muslims revere holy scriptures, the Bible can be a possible opening.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to India and share Christ with the Mawalud.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will open the hearts and minds of the people to a clear understanding of the gospel.
Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Mawalud toward Christians so that they will be receptive to the gospel.
Pray that God will raise up teams of intercessors who will faithfully stand in the gap for the Mawalud.
Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Mawalud.


Scripture Prayers for the Mawalud in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Mawalud
People Name in Country Mawalud
Alternate Names Manewad; Munewad; Muslim of Deccan; मावलुद
Population this Country 247,000
Population all Countries 247,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 5
PeopleID3 17473
ROP3 Code 112882
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 3
Largest States
Maharashtra
111,000
Telangana
84,000
Karnataka
53,000
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 3
  Maharashtra 111,000
  Telangana 84,000
  Karnataka 53,000
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 India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Urdu (213,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Telugu
6,600
Primary Language Urdu (213,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Telugu 6,600
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 Copyrighted © 2024  Create International  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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.


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