Ulema (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 Ulema is a community of Muslim scholars. Their name means, "those who have knowledge." They are known to teach at madrasas, sacred places of learning. They have been called upon to interpret Islamic law and theology. In the past they were so powerful that even leaders in the Ottoman and Mughal Empires craved their support. Thus, they held much political influence and high status.
One is most likely going to find members of the Ulema community in Pakistan's Sindh and Punjab provinces. A smaller number are in western India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Today these Muslim scholars still have high status, and they continue to reach at madrasas. Yet their status is being replaced by people with modern education.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Ulema 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 Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.
Ulama are often associated with the more emotional and mystic Sufi Muslim orders.


What Are Their Needs?

The Ulema people need to be given the chance to hear the life-changing gospel so they can enjoy life to the full.


Prayer Points

Pray for loving gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Ulema people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing the hearts of these people would be open and ready to follow him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended families so the gospel will spread rapidly.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Ulema people to become fruitful so others will be drawn to Jesus Christ.


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


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17702/IN
https://www.britannica.com/topic/ulama
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulama
https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/ulema


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Ulema (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Ulema (Muslim traditions)
Alternate Names उलेमा (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 288,000
Population all Countries 293,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 6
PeopleID3 17702
ROP3 Code 113149
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 4
Largest States
Punjab
260,000
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
16,000
Islamabad
7,000
Sindh
5,000
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 4
  Punjab 260,000
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 16,000
  Islamabad 7,000
  Sindh 5,000
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 (206,000 speakers)
Language Code pnb   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
Saraiki
32,000
Hindko, Northern
13,000
Pahari-Potwari
13,000
Urdu
8,700
Hindko, Southern
3,600
Sindhi
2,700
Marwari (Pakistan)
1,400
Pashto, Central
900
Dhatki
200
Shina
100
Shina, Kohistani
80
Primary Language Punjabi, Western (206,000 speakers)
Language Code pnb   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
  Saraiki 32,000
  Hindko, Northern 13,000
  Pahari-Potwari 13,000
  Urdu 8,700
  Hindko, Southern 3,600
  Sindhi 2,700
  Marwari (Pakistan) 1,400
  Pashto, Central 900
  Dhatki 200
  Shina 100
  Shina, Kohistani 80
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
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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