Introduction / History

The Sudhan name from Sanskrit means "just, fair and honest."

What Are Their Lives Like?

National borders don't always define who people are or what they value. The Sudhan are an excellent example. While they live in Jammu and Kashmir, they see themselves as descendants of a brave Afghan chief.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Sudhan 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 that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.

In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.

What Are Their Needs?

The Sudhan are heavily influenced by Wahabism, an orthodox form of Islam. Very few from that sect have turned to Christ. Although the Bible and other resources are available in their languages (Kashmiri and Dogri), the Sudhan continue to reject the good news of Christ.

Prayer Points

Ask God to bring a great harvest of souls and establish a church planting movement among the Sudhan people. Pray for him to give their leaders a hunger for his Word and a desire to know him. Pray for the Kingdom of God to come powerfully to the Sudhan. Pray for an opening of doors for mission workers. Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers who will use songs and skits in their language to share the gospel.

Scripture Prayers for the Sudhan in India.