Rayeen (Muslim traditions) in Nepal
Photo Source:
Mohammad Faraz
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Map Source:
People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
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| People Name: | Rayeen (Muslim traditions) |
| Country: | Nepal |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 4,800 |
| World Population: | 1,240,800 |
| Primary Language: | Urdu |
| 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
The Rayeen are also known as the Raysipotra. The Raysipotra are a large Indian Muslim people, referred to as the sons (potra) of Raysi. The Raysi are said to have descended from a Sindh community of Pakistan. The Rayeen are today referred to as a cattle herding community. The Rayeen live in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
What Are Their Lives Like?
The nomadic life of cattle herding is known to continue for many Rayeen even today, especially in India. In Nepal the Rayeen will likely be found in agriculture and other labor jobs. They live all over the Terai region of Nepal and tend to speak the Maithili and Urdu languages.
They marry mainly among their clan cousins and follow closely the laws and rites of Islam. They usually name their child within a day of birth. Divorce is not allowed, and they are not vegetarian. Their staple foods are bajra and wheat roti.
What Are Their Beliefs?
The people 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?
Today the Rayeen are understood to be 100% Muslim virtually everywhere that they are found in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Because they interact with nearly any other cattle herding or breeding people any significant work among this group would move naturally throughout the Rayeen to other groups.
Prayer Points
Pray that the gospel will be proclaimed among the Rayeen for the first time in many districts of Nepal and India.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead the Rayeen people from darkness to light.
Pray for signs and wonders among them and for great breakthroughs with a rapid multiplication of disciples and house churches.
Pray for bold workers who are driven by the love of the Holy Spirit to go to them.
Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.