Jhinwar (Muslim traditions) in India

Introduction / History

The Jhinwar people are live in India and Pakistan. At the Partition of 1947 most of the Hindu Jhinwar moved to India and the Muslim Jhinwar located to Pakistan. There also a sizable Sikh community among the Jhinwar. Most Muslim Jhinwar live in the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and Sindh. The traditional occupation of the Jhinwar has been related to water, in fishing, boating and as water carriers. Others work in agriculture as farmers, day laborers or in grinding grain. Illiteracy is a major issue for the Jhinwar especially among the women and girls. A tiny fraction among the Jhinwar call themselves believers. The gospel will need to be presented to the Jhinwar in oral and visual forms. The two main languages of the Jhinwar are Western Punjabi and Urdu. A complete New Testament and the JESUS Film are available in Western Punjabi.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Some Jhinwar work in business as traders in fish and mutton. Many urban Jhinwar work in factories and in construction. Some rural Jhinwar make baskets for a living. Many of the Jhinwar are now day laborers in agriculture. Women carry water to villages and work as domestics. As Muslims, the Jhinwar will not eat pork. They marry as adults. One marriage to one spouse is their normal pattern. Divorce and remarriage are not favorably accepted by them. Families arrange marriages within their group. Sons inherit property upon their father's death.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Jhinwar people of Pakistan are Sunni, the largest branch of Islam. They try to obey the teachings of the Koran and the prophet Mohammad. They believe that by following the Five Pillars of Islam that they will attain heaven when they die. However, Allah, the supreme God of the universe, determines who enters paradise. Sunnis pray five times a day facing Mecca. They fast the month of Ramadan. They attend mosque services on Friday. If a Muslim has the means, he or she will make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in his or her lifetime. Muslims are also prohibited to drink alcohol, eat pork, gamble, steal, use deceit, slander, and make idols. 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.

What Are Their Needs?

The Muslim Jhinwar need to learn new job skills to improve their place in Pakistani society. Many adults and all children need to learn to read and write. Most of all the Jhinwar need to hear and understand the message about Isa, the Muslim name for Jesus. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.

Prayer Points

Pray that God's Holy Spirit will open new doors in hearts to positive changes among Jhinwar people. Pray for the Jhinwar people to have a Holy Spirit driven hunger for spiritual truth that will drive them to Jesus Christ and the Bible. Pray for the Lord to thrust out new workers who will lovingly stick with these people until they have a church planting movement. Pray for a disciple making movement to sweep through all Jhinwar communities in this decade.

Text Source:   Keith Carey