Mallah (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

The Mallah are a traditional boatmen caste. The word mallaah is said to come from an Arabic word which means navigation on the sea or in the air. They are related to the Kewat community, who form the bulk of the boatmen class of north India. In Pakistan, many have seen their traditional areas of habitation washed away by the sea. An important subsidiary occupation is animal husbandry, with the Mallaah raising cattle. The Mallaah community consists of a number of clans, referred to as nukh, the largest Mallaah nukh being the Dablo.
Most Mallah individuals live in India, but there are also sizable communities in Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Mallah people are usually poor and often illiterate. They are involved in boating and some fishing and sometimes in farming. They are strict about marrying within their own caste. The women are not often seen in public, although at times in Hindu pilgrimage areas such as Allahabad or Benares, you will see children and women of this caste selling flowers and incense for river worship purposes.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Muslims like the Mallahs believe that Allah is the all-powerful God of creation. He is the center of their dedication, though most, sadly, also put their trust in the power of charms and amulets. Islam is based on the teachings of Mohammed, who founded Islam in the seventh century in what is now Saudi Arabia. They believe that a good Muslim will pray facing Mecca five times a day, give alms to the poor, fast during the month of Ramadan, and go on a pilgrimage to Mecca.


What Are Their Needs?

They have lacks in literacy, education, health, family planning, and economic advancement. All Mallah people need the chance to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and to become part of his holy family.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among Mallah families and community leaders to seek His face and enjoy His blessings.
Pray for the Lord to raise up workers who will be led to nurture disciple making movement within Mallah communities througout South Asia.
Pray that soon Mallah people will have joy and faith that will be contagious; giving their neighbors a desire to follow Christ.


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


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17432/NP
https://peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/mallah/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallaah


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Mallah (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Mallah (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation mah-LAH
Alternate Names Machhua; Muriari; Muriyari; मल्लाह (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 464,000
Population all Countries 541,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 9
PeopleID3 17624
ROP3 Code 113059
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 3
Largest States
Punjab
410,000
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
48,000
Sindh
6,500
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 3
  Punjab 410,000
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 48,000
  Sindh 6,500
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 Saraiki (317,000 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 10
Secondary Languages
Punjabi, Western
50,000
Urdu
27,000
Marwari (Pakistan)
27,000
Hindko, Northern
8,900
Hindko, Southern
7,600
Sindhi
7,300
Pashto, Northern
4,800
Bagri
4,000
Pashto, Central
700
Primary Language Saraiki (317,000 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 10
Secondary Languages
  Punjabi, Western 50,000
  Urdu 27,000
  Marwari (Pakistan) 27,000
  Hindko, Northern 8,900
  Hindko, Southern 7,600
  Sindhi 7,300
  Pashto, Northern 4,800
  Bagri 4,000
  Pashto, Central 700
People Groups Speaking Saraiki
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  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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