Jat Jakhar (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

The Jat Jakhar (Muslim traditions) have only been reported 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

There are different opinions as to the origin of the Jats, but most seem to recognize them to be from Indo-Aryan tribes native to the Punjab region that straddles modern Pakistan and India. There is a theory suggesting that they may be the predecessors of Gypsies. They probably reached Egypt with the Muslim conquerors, lived in Afghanistan before the Muslims, and invaded China with the Mongol Army. They also proved to be a threat to Tamarlane in Persia and Uzbekistan in the 1400s.

There are very few records concerning Jats prior to the 1600s. They rose to prominence following the 1669 Jat uprising against Mughal rule, and they ruled various princely states throughout the 18th century. For centuries the Jat lifestyle was designed to foster a martial spirit. Whenever they lost their kingdoms, Jat people became landlords who were ready to defend their land against any invaders.

After 1858, under the British Raj, the Jats were known for their service in the Indian Army, being categorized as a "martial race" by the British. For a couple hundred years Jats were a force that could not be ignored by South Asians or British imperialists.

Muslim Jat communities are usually from Pakistan's Punjab Province, but they can also live in other provinces as well. For example, most Muslim members of the Jakhar Jat gotra live in Pakistan s Sindh Province, and they speak Sindhi.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Overall Jakhar Jats have a good self-image. "Men may come and men may go, but I go on forever," is a well-known Jat proverb. They are brave, hardworking people who possess both the desire and ability to rule. It has been said that no Jat wants to be ruled. Rather, he desires to have power over a group if not over an area. They take great pride in their ancestry. In fact, all the Jats in a particular village consider themselves to be the descendants of the man whom they believe founded it by the power of the sword.

Conservative by nature Jakhar Jats rarely marry people from other people groups. From about 1650 AD onwards marrying within same gotra (ie, lineage or community) became more common. The modern-day litmus test that Jat people use in marriage is if the girl and boy must not have the same great-great-grandparents (not related for four generations). If they are from the same gotra but are not directly related for four generations then it is considered acceptable for them to marry.

Physically Jats are usually taller and heavier than most of their neighbors. Because of their larger build, their reputation for violence, and the fact that they control much of the land and village income, they are sometimes feared by other communities in South Asia.

Most Jakhar Jats live in rural areas, and they are usually landowners. A small percentage are traders and laborers. Today, the Jats are well read, and some occupy high positions in academic and technical arenas. Ironically, because they value thriftiness and diligence, the Jats are often regarded as miserly.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though Jats were all originally Hindu, some Jat gotras have converted to Islam, including the Jakhar gotra. Most of these Islamic Jats trace their conversion to Sufi saints like Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar in the 12th century. Muslim Jats have their own culture, which includes poems, songs, and stories of romance.

Though Muslim Jats are Sunnis, they are known to have a strong tradition of worshiping many local saints. Jats observe many ceremonies, especially rites of passage such as circumcision and initiation into adulthood. Like many other South Asian communities of good standing, Muslim Jats have a negative view of Christianity, because it is associated with people of low status and caste.


What Are Their Needs?

Many Jakhar Jat communities need clean drinking water and proper health care facilities. Christian medical teams and humanitarian aid workers are needed to work among them and show them God's love in practical ways.

Missionaries, Christian broadcasts, and evangelistic literature are needed to effectively reach the Jakhar Jats with the light of the gospel. Most importantly, they need people who will begin to intercede for them, tearing down the strongholds that are keeping them in spiritual bondage. Only then will their hearts be prepared to receive the good news as it is presented to them.


Prayer Points

Pray that Jakhar Jat people will have a spiritual hunger that will drive them to seek and find Jesus Christ.
Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers filled with the power and the fruit of the Holy Spirit to serve Jakhar Jats.
Ask God to save key Jat leaders who will begin a Disciple Making Movement among their people in the 2020s.
Pray for Jakhar Jat leaders to recognize the blessings that Christ offers their families and communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Jat Jakhar (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan.


References

https://www.jatland.com/home/Gotras
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jat_people
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jat
http://www.dawn.com/news/1077113
https://www.jatland.com/home/Jats
https://www.quora.com/Who-are-the-Jats-and-why-ar


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Jat Jakhar (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Jat Jakhar (Muslim traditions)
Alternate Names जात जखार (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 162,000
Population all Countries 162,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
PeopleID3 21508
ROP3 Code 118285
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
Sindh
85,000
Punjab
65,000
Azad Kashmir
8,800
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
2,700
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
  Sindh 85,000
  Punjab 65,000
  Azad Kashmir 8,800
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 2,700
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 Sindhi (56,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
Saraiki
50,000
Urdu
25,000
Punjabi, Western
18,000
Pahari-Potwari
5,200
Dhatki
2,700
Hindko, Northern
1,200
Hindko, Southern
700
Marwari (Pakistan)
700
Primary Language Sindhi (56,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
  Saraiki 50,000
  Urdu 25,000
  Punjabi, Western 18,000
  Pahari-Potwari 5,200
  Dhatki 2,700
  Hindko, Northern 1,200
  Hindko, Southern 700
  Marwari (Pakistan) 700
People Groups Speaking Sindhi

Primary Language:  Sindhi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1825-1981)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1890-1992)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1954)
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Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Sindhi Literacy & Evangelism International
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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