Teli (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 word 'Teli' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'tailika' or 'tails', which means oil pressed from seeds. The community are traditional manufacturers of mustard or sesame oil.

Muslim Teli can be found in Pakistan and North India. In India, the term Teli is a business caste among Hindus. Hindus who convert to Islam are called Roshandaar or Muslim Teli. Hindu Teli are named Teli Sahu and Muslim Teli are called Teli Malik.

The Muslim Teli of Punjab say that they have descended from Baba Hasu, who is said to have invented the oil press. According to their tradition, their ancestor Luqman was apprenticed to the Biblical King David. Luqman is said to have first started the oil extraction profession. It is said that Luqman's ancestor was the Prophet Ayoub (Biblical Job). Baba Hasu is said to be a descendant of Luqman.


Where Are they Located?

In North India, the Muslim Teli community is also known by the name Shaikh Mansuri. The Muslim Banjara is a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. Many members of this community migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and have settled in Karachi and Sindh.

In Delhi, the Teli can be sub-divided into two communities, the Teli proper and the Teli Dhuniya. They live in the neighbourhoods of Phatak Teliya, Phatak Habash Khan, Khirwala Phatak and Borhaiya in Old Delhi. The Delhi Teli are also known as Shaikh Mansuri, and this name has replaced Teli as a self-description. Many of the Delhi Teli emigrated to Pakistan, at partition, and are now found in Karachi.

In Pakistan, three distinct Teli communities can be identified. Shaikh Mansoori based in Karachi and Teli Malik and Teli Rajput who are largely in the province of Punjab.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Muslim Teli depend on the land for their living. Their traditional occupation of oil pressing is now being replaced with cash crops and other private business. The Teli now have many small businessman and traders amongst them, although many are still engaged in oil pressing.

In the province of Punjab, many Teli are landless and earn a living working in cash crop farms (wheat or maize farms). Significant changes, however, have occurred in the cities of central Punjab, such as Faisalabad,Sahiwal, Sialkot and Gujranwala where the urban Teli have started small industries. The Teli Malik of Faisalabad have been particularly successful in small business. Teli Rajputs have also taken up into other professions besides oil pressing.

The Teli have traditional community councils and also formal community associations. Their traditional councils or panchayats are sub-divided into circles made up of 10 to 20 villages.

In Pakistan, the Muslim Teli speak mainly Punjabi. They were among a number of artisan communities that were converted to Islam. Shaikh Mansoori speak Urdu.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Teli belong to the Sunni sect of Islam, and offerings are also made to Ghazi Mian.


What Are Their Needs?

The Teli have little concept of a loving creator God who is willing to forgive their sins and give them an abundant life. There are a few followers of Christ among the Teli. They need to adequately provide for their families and educate all their children. The Teli need to have their material and spiritual needs met. The Teli community is large and speak several languages.

The Muslim Teli traditionally identify with oil. Oil is a particularly useful connection point between Christians and the Teli. The physical and spiritual significance of oil in the Bible can be a key point for sharing the gospel with them.


Prayer Points

The Teli need to understand that they have a loving creator God who wants to forgive them and offers an abundant life.
The Teli need to learn about Jesus Christ, and follow Him wholeheartedly.
The Teli need to provide for their families
They need good schools for their children.
Pray for teams of workers to preach the good news to the Teli communities in their many languages
Pray that a strong church planting movement would take root among the Teli.


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


References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teli


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Teli (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Teli (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation TEL-ee
Alternate Names Chakani; Chakee; Chaki; Gachhi; Ganiga; Harsolia; Malik; Maliks; Sahu; Sahu Samaj; Teli Muslim; Telwain; Tili; टेली (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 3,081,000
Population all Countries 5,001,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 62
PeopleID3 17692
ROP3 Code 113137
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
2,355,000
Sindh
584,000
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
85,000
Azad Kashmir
28,000
Islamabad
27,000
Gilgit-Baltistan
1,500
Balochistan
1,400
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 2,355,000
  Sindh 584,000
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 85,000
  Azad Kashmir 28,000
  Islamabad 27,000
  Gilgit-Baltistan 1,500
  Balochistan 1,400
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 (1,403,000 speakers)
Language Code pnb   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Saraiki
722,000
Urdu
320,000
Sindhi
300,000
Marwari (Pakistan)
76,000
Pahari-Potwari
64,000
Hindko, Northern
52,000
Hindko, Southern
42,000
Dhatki
10,000
Bagri
9,800
Pashto, Northern
7,200
Pashto, Central
4,900
Kacchi
3,700
Koli, Wadiyari
1,400
Koli, Parkari
900
Kashmiri
200
Primary Language Punjabi, Western (1,403,000 speakers)
Language Code pnb   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Saraiki 722,000
  Urdu 320,000
  Sindhi 300,000
  Marwari (Pakistan) 76,000
  Pahari-Potwari 64,000
  Hindko, Northern 52,000
  Hindko, Southern 42,000
  Dhatki 10,000
  Bagri 9,800
  Pashto, Northern 7,200
  Pashto, Central 4,900
  Kacchi 3,700
  Koli, Wadiyari 1,400
  Koli, Parkari 900
  Kashmiri 200
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 Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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