Qassab 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.

Subgroups: 1

Subgroup Name Population
Bakar 62,000

Introduction / History

The Kasai or Qassab people are also known as Kassab, Bakar Qassab, Quresh, Gau Gowa or Guru Qussai, Shaikh, Chikwa and Gai Kassia, etc. Their community name Qassab in Arabic means "to cut." They claim that their origin is from Arabia. Kasai or Qassabs speak Urdu among themselves but are equally conversant with Hindi. Though they use the Perso-Arabic script, sometimes they also use the Devanagari script. They are found in different states of India and Pakistan especially in the big towns and cities. There are smaller numbers of them in Nepal and Bangladesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They are a professional Muslim caste of butchers and slaughterers of animals and selling meat. Many of them are now engaged in business or work as daily-wage labors. The Qassab people practice both child and adult marriage. They also perform group marriages at public places like the Idgah. Normally only the husband can divorce his wife, however the wife is also entitled to seek divorce through her parents. Like other Muslims, they circumcise the boys. They bury their dead and observe 40 days of mourning. The Qassab has a council known as Jamat, which constitutes of five chosen members. All types of disputes are referred to the Jamat. They adhere to the Islamic code of conduct with regard to marriage, divorce, remarriage and the inheritance of property. Their sacred specialist is the Qazi, who performs worship and other rituals.


Qsaab people define themselves as Sunni Muslims.
What Are Their Beliefs?

The Qassab people belong to the Sunni sect of Islam. They have faith in Nasir Pir. The imam and Qazi impart religious teachings and perform the religious rites. Traditionally they do not accept water and food from Hindu communities. They share the burial grounds and mosques with other Muslim groups.


What Are Their Needs?

The Qassab people need to submit to Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life He offers them in John 10:10.


Prayer Points

For the salvation of the Qassab people and that God may send several workers to work among them and meet their spiritual and physical needs. Pray for a powerful movement to Christ among the Qassab people in Pakistan. Pray that the practice of child marriages among the Qassab people may come to an end. Pray that they will soon embrace changes for the better through education and developmental programs and opportunities.


Scripture Prayers for the Qassab in Pakistan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Qassab
People Name in Country Qassab
Pronunciation kah-SAHB
Alternate Names Are Katika; Baega; Bai; Baig; Bakali; Bakarkasai; Bakarqassab; Bakr Qassab; Buz Qassab; Chikwa; Dana Kasai; Dana Katagaru; Gai Kasai; Kasab; Kasai; Kasai Bhai; Kassab; Kassai; Katgar; Katika; Katke; Katuga; Khatik; Khatika; Khatki; Khureshi; Kureshi; Kuresi; Marati-Qhasab; Musalman; Muslim; Qhasab; Quresh; Qureshi; Saheb; Saheb Bhai; Sultani; क़स्सब
Population this Country 1,190,000
Population all Countries 2,440,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 24
PeopleID3 17919
ROP3 Code 113401
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 5
Largest States
Punjab
865,000
Sindh
242,000
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
79,000
Islamabad
4,000
Balochistan
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 5
  Punjab 865,000
  Sindh 242,000
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 79,000
  Islamabad 4,000
  Balochistan 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 (464,000 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 13
Secondary Languages
Punjabi, Western
348,000
Urdu
131,000
Sindhi
130,000
Marwari (Pakistan)
26,000
Hindko, Northern
22,000
Hindko, Southern
20,000
Pashto, Northern
11,000
Pahari-Potwari
6,400
Bagri
3,700
Dhatki
3,600
Pashto, Central
2,300
Kacchi
400
Primary Language Saraiki (464,000 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 13
Secondary Languages
  Punjabi, Western 348,000
  Urdu 131,000
  Sindhi 130,000
  Marwari (Pakistan) 26,000
  Hindko, Northern 22,000
  Hindko, Southern 20,000
  Pashto, Northern 11,000
  Pahari-Potwari 6,400
  Bagri 3,700
  Dhatki 3,600
  Pashto, Central 2,300
  Kacchi 400
People Groups Speaking Saraiki
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Josep Parat - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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