Shaikh unspecified in India


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: 16 (10 largest shown)  Show all

Subgroup Name Population
Abbasi 227,000
Bani Israil 42,000
Milki 31,000
Bahlim 21,000
Kidwai 21,000
Khurasani 12,000
Ulwi 12,000
Jafari 8,900
Hashimi 8,700
Shaikhzada 7,700

Introduction / History

Islam arrived in what is now West Bengal and Bangladesh in the early 1200s with a military attack by Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji. It was an early foothold of Islam in a region dominated by the local religions collectively known as Hinduism. For hundreds of years, Muslim conquerors fought for more of Bengal, all the while facing resistance by Hindu kings. Historians are divided between those who say Hindus converted to Islam by force and those who say conversion was voluntary. In either case the result has been a region with one basic language and two world religions: Hinduism and Islam. As time progressed the two Bengali religious communities were divided not only by religion but by economics. Bengali Muslims gravitated to being landless laborers while the Hindus became landlords and urban specialists.
After India gained her independence in 1947, the Muslim regions broke away from predominantly Hindu India. A West and East Pakistan emerged, with East Pakistan eventually gaining independence from Pakistan in a brutal 1971 war. The result was the establishment of a new Bengali speaking nation called Bangladesh. This was made up mainly of Bengali speaking Muslims, though there were (and still are) members of other religious communities who speak the Bengali language.
Hindu Bengalis live mainly in India’s adjacent state of West Bengal although close to 10% of Bangladesh’s population is Hindu. There are also millions of Muslim Bengali speakers outside of Bangladesh, mainly in West Bengal. Bengali is the largest language bloc for any Muslim people group worldwide.


What Are Their Lives Like?

With a population in the tens of millions, Muslim Bengalis in India can be found in almost any profession. Muslim Bengalis have made major contributions through literature. They have many renowned intellectuals in both Bangladesh and India.
Though there are often love marriages in urban areas, family-oriented arranged marriages are most common among Bengali Muslims. It starts with a matchmaker who approaches both families to make sure the couple is compatible. No unemployed man is acceptable as a groom. Family elders take care of the formalities for the engagement.
The wedding ceremony can take up to three days. It includes many rituals including one where the bride has turmeric put on her forehead. The groom’s mother gives her daughter-in-law jewelry and a saree for the wedding. They dress up two fishes like a bride and groom.
Bride and groom are seated, and asked if they accept the other as their spouse, and they each respond, “I do.” There are many more gifts exchanged between families and for the new couple. The ceremonies can take up to three days.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though they are officially Sunni Muslim, Bengalis have an affinity for saints known as pirs. They believe these saints hold much spiritual power that can help one gain wealth and heal health problems. Pirs are similar to their Hindu equivalent, the sadhu mendicants. In recent decades, pirs have gained excessive political power in Bangladesh, leading some to want their influence diminished. Long after they die the graves of pirs are visited by those who want physical or material blessings.
Bengali Muslims also commonly embrace Sufism. This is a mystical and emotional Islamic practice which seeks to reach a state of spiritual purity known as fitra. Sufis form themselves into orders led by spiritual teachers.


What Are Their Needs?

There is a massive harvest in the making, and Bengalis are in the midst of discipling Muslims for Christ! While conservative estimates of Bengali Muslim-background followers of Christ are in the tens of thousands, some Bengali and western missionary leaders claim that a couple million Bengali Muslims have become followers of Christ within rapidly growing movements. Most of these have reportedly occurred in the 21st century.
The best things outsiders can do is regularly and faithfully pray for a complete harvest that will leave Bengalis blessed by the Lord.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord of the Harvest to continue leading thousands of Muslim Bengalis to the Savior of all nations.
Pray that this largest Muslim group will find the truth of the Prophet Isa, the One who is the savior of all mankind.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out loving and steadfast workers for this neglected harvest.
Pray for Muslim background Bengali disciples to make more disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Shaikh unspecified in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_Muslims
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_West_Bengal
https://www.thedailystar.net/in-focus/news/bengali-muslims-and-their-identity-fusion-confusion-2072357
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/discovering-bengal-muslims-embracing-islam-identity-tarun-choudhury-mgnjf/
https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/the-bengal-conundrum-how-islamisation-of-bengal-started-in-medieval-times-with-forced-conversion-5138791.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_Muslim_wedding
https://www.academia.edu/36873630/The_Pir_Culture_in_Bangladesh_a_sign_of_spirituality_and_secularisms
http://cyber_bangla0.tripod.com/article/article29.html
https://pure.royalholloway.ac.uk/en/publications/pirs-and-politics-in-contemporary-bangladesh-ca-1945-2020
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufism


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Shaikh
People Name in Country Shaikh unspecified
Pronunciation shayk
Alternate Names Bengali Muslim (in Bangladesh); Faraji; Jhiwar; Shaik; Sheikh; Shekhzade; शैख़
Population this Country 81,439,000
Population all Countries 95,840,000
Total Countries 9
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1629
PeopleID3 18084
ROP3 Code 113585
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Muslim - Shaikh
People Group Shaikh
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 16 (only 15 largest shown)
  Abbasi 227,000
  Bani Israil 42,000
  Milki 31,000
  Bahlim 21,000
  Kidwai 21,000
  Khurasani 12,000
  Ulwi 12,000
  Jafari 8,900
  Hashimi 8,700
  Shaikhzada 7,700
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 36
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
West Bengal
21,130,000
Bihar
11,546,000
Uttar Pradesh
11,262,000
Assam
7,657,000
Maharashtra
7,397,000
Karnataka
4,718,000
Rajasthan
3,293,000
Jharkhand
3,236,000
Andhra Pradesh
2,952,000
Telangana
2,775,000
Madhya Pradesh
2,241,000
Gujarat
2,061,000
Delhi
1,278,000
Haryana
1,022,000
Tamil Nadu
923,000
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 36  (only 20 largest shown)
  West Bengal 21,130,000
  Bihar 11,546,000
  Uttar Pradesh 11,262,000
  Assam 7,657,000
  Maharashtra 7,397,000
  Karnataka 4,718,000
  Rajasthan 3,293,000
  Jharkhand 3,236,000
  Andhra Pradesh 2,952,000
  Telangana 2,775,000
  Madhya Pradesh 2,241,000
  Gujarat 2,061,000
  Delhi 1,278,000
  Haryana 1,022,000
  Tamil Nadu 923,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
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 India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Urdu (39,066,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 63
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bengali
26,074,000
Hindi
7,232,000
Assamese
2,084,000
Bhojpuri
1,749,000
Gujarati
1,517,000
Telugu
1,334,000
Marathi
1,269,000
Marwari (India)
839,000
Kannada
784,000
Maithili
680,000
Punjabi, Eastern
572,000
Wagdi
549,000
Tamil
470,000
Magahi
187,000
Dhundari
157,000
Primary Language Urdu (39,066,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 63
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bengali 26,074,000
  Hindi 7,232,000
  Assamese 2,084,000
  Bhojpuri 1,749,000
  Gujarati 1,517,000
  Telugu 1,334,000
  Marathi 1,269,000
  Marwari (India) 839,000
  Kannada 784,000
  Maithili 680,000
  Punjabi, Eastern 572,000
  Wagdi 549,000
  Tamil 470,000
  Magahi 187,000
  Dhundari 157,000
People Groups Speaking Urdu

Primary Language:  Urdu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1747-1894)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1758-2000)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1843-2022)
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 Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Urdu Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children 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 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 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 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 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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
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 direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kitab e Muqaddas Urdu General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Urdu YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Urdu Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible App: Urdu Devnagri Bible (उर्दू बाइबिल) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Urdu Injeel Sharif General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Urdu Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta Urdu General / Other
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Urdu YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Urdu Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Mikhail Nilov - Pexels 
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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