Faqir in Bangladesh
Photo Source:
Anonymous
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Map Source:
People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.
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| People Name: | Faqir |
| Country: | Bangladesh |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 5,500 |
| World Population: | 127,500 |
| Primary Language: | Bengali |
| Primary Religion: | Islam |
| Christian Adherents: | 0.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.00 % |
| 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: |
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Introduction / History
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.
What Are Their Lives Like?
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.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Faqir children receive Islamic education at home and in madrasas. They have a history of being Sufi Muslims.
What Are Their Needs?
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.
Prayer Points
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.