Sardar (Muslim traditions) in Bangladesh
Send Joshua Project a photo
of this people group. |
Map Source:
People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
|
| People Name: | Sardar (Muslim traditions) |
| Country: | Bangladesh |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 91,000 |
| World Population: | 106,000 |
| Primary Language: | Bengali |
| Primary Religion: | Islam |
| Christian Adherents: | 0.08 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.08 % |
| Scripture: | Complete Bible |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | South Asia Muslim - other |
| Affinity Bloc: | South Asian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
|
Introduction / History
"Sardar" is used as a title of respect among Muslims throughout South Asia, especially among the Pashtuns. It means "chief" or "leader." That title is given to men with positions of authority in villages or in government.
What Are Their Lives Like?
Bangladesh is a Muslim country, so the Sardars have much respect in their nation. They have political clout and influence in social areas.
What Are Their Beliefs?
The Sardar people in Bangladesh 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.
In most of the Muslim world, common 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 they live on a daily basis. For that reason, some Muslims appease spirits using charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces. More orthodox Muslims consider these practices heretical and un-Islamic.
What Are Their Needs?
They need the Holy Spirit to open their eyes so they can see Jesus as he is.
Prayer Points
Pray for many from this unreached people group to understand both God's judgment and his majestic glory.
Pray for loving workers to go to the Sardar people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their savior.
Pray for a chain reaction of families reaching families that result in thousands of new disciples who share their faith with others.
Pray for grace and truth expanding into their entire society as all believers learn to love others.