Tawaif (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

Tawaifs are courtesans, high class prostitutes who are also artistic performers. Hindu Tawaifs are far better known than their Muslim Pakistani counterparts. Tawaifs either live in India's Uttar Pradesh state or Pakistan's Punjab and Sindh Provinces.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Tawaifs have their own culture which involves music and dance. People have wavered for many years between seeing them in negative terms, even as non-humans, and honoring their cultural achievements.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Like any Muslim, the Tawaif believe in Allah as the all-sovereign God who spoke to Mohammed leading to the Koran, which is their holy book. Typically Muslims in South Asia also hold beliefs that seem almost Hindu.


What Are Their Needs?

The Tawaifs need to find their worth in the Savior, Jesus Christ. Some need help with job training so they can earn a better living.


Prayer Points

Pray for Holy Spirit driven workers to go to the Muslim Tawaifs until there they have their own church planting movement. Pray for them to have the spiritual hunger to seek and find the only Savior. Pray for the Lord to speak to the hearts of Tawaif community leaders, giving them reason to open the doors for the gospel.


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


References

https://www.dailyo.in/arts/tawaifs-courtesans-women-balakhanas-kothas-nautch-girls-awadh-prostitutes/story/1/21698.html
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/an-ode-to-the-tawaifs-of-bollywood/articleshow/74597968.cms
https://thewire.in/books/tawaifnama-saba-dewans-radical-proposition-that-courtesans-are-people


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tawaif (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Tawaif (Muslim traditions)
Alternate Names Bakariya; Harkaya; तवायफ़ (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 18,000
Population all Countries 145,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17691
ROP3 Code 113136
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
Sindh
11,000
Punjab
6,800
Islamabad
50
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
  Sindh 11,000
  Punjab 6,800
  Islamabad 50
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 Sindhi (6,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Urdu
4,200
Saraiki
3,800
Punjabi, Western
2,900
Dhatki
400
Marwari (Pakistan)
200
Primary Language Sindhi (6,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Urdu 4,200
  Saraiki 3,800
  Punjabi, Western 2,900
  Dhatki 400
  Marwari (Pakistan) 200
People Groups Speaking Sindhi

Primary Language:  Sindhi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1825-1981)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1890-1992)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1954)
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 Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Sindhi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video 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 in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
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 Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Sindhi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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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