Rajput Janjua (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

Introduction / History

Three hundred years ago Janjua Rajputs were ruled by a Sikh Empire. Then they rebelled and gained their independence. After that the Janjua often fought wars against Sikh dominated empires. These wars didn't stop until the 1800s when Pakistan came under British rule.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Today the Janjua Rajputs still consider Sikhs to be enemies, and they have not forgiven them for what happened during these wars. Janjua Rajputs are very powerful in some parts of Pakistan's Punjab Province. Like other Rajput communities, the Janjuas have high status throughout South Asia.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Janua Rajputs 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 Janjua in Pakistan are 100 percent Muslim. Those that live in Pakistan have few opportunities to hear of the ways of Christ. The only Christians they know of come from low caste groups that have very little contact with any Rajput community.
Most of these people speak a major language in Pakistan like Punjabi or Urdu, so they have potential access to biblical materials online like gospel recordings and the JESUS Film. Pray for many Janjua Rajputs to find, download, and believe what they hear in these resources.

Prayer Points

Pray the Janjua Rajputs would be at peace with all of their neighbors.
May this people group come to see Jesus Christ as the true source of peace.
Ask God to lead faithful workers to reach out to this people group with the message of salvation leading to a movement to Christ.

Text Source:   Joshua Project