This community name is derived from the Arabic word faqr, meaning poverty. Most Faqir consider the famous Sufi Abdul Qadir Jillani as their mentor, and most Faqir in Bengal thus belong to the Qadriyah Sufi order.
They often live in multi-caste villages in their own quarters, known as Faqir paras. The Faqir are giving up their age-old activity of begging and turning towards agriculture and self-employment. Their literacy rate is low.
Faqir children receive Islamic education at home and in madrasas. They have a history of being Sufi Muslims.
The literacy rate of the Faqir people is low. The gospel needs to come to them in audio and visual ways, perhaps by stories from scripture.
There are no known believers within the Faqir community, not in Bangladesh or India or Pakistan or any country where they reside. However, pray the Lord is now preparing teachers and pastors for those he will soon call to himself. Pray this poor community will gain job skills to become productive members of Bangladeshi society.
Scripture Prayers for the Faqir in Bangladesh.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |