Introduction / History

The Luwathiya Persians are also called Luwati. They are the largest Shia Muslim group in Oman. Most of them are supposed to have come from India though they are originally from Iran. They speak the Luwati language, which is similar to Farsi, the language of the Iranians. The only place they live is Oman.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Luwathiya are usually wealthy and live around the capital Muscat. The poorer ones live in a walled section in Matrah and where strangers are not allowed in, and which is the only no-go zone in Oman. Their main mosque is in that location.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Shia practices tend toward the ecstatic. They affirm human free will, and they differ with the Sunni Muslims in matters of law and ceremony. Unlike the Sunnis, Shias believe that Mohammad's successor should be someone in his bloodline, namely Ali. Because some of their leaders have faced violent, martyr's death, Shias understand that a righteous man can be killed by the unrighteous. For this reason, Christ's death on a Roman cross isn't as foreign to them as it is to Sunnis. Only about 15 percent of the world's Muslims are Shia; most of the rest are Sunni.

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.

There are a few Luwathiya Christians but no church planting.

What Are Their Needs?

The Luwathiya people need to put their trust and identity in the hands of the loving God of Creation who sent his son to make it possible for them to enter the Kingdom of God.

Prayer Items

Pray for the Luwathiya families to discover and embrace Jesus Christ, the only Savior.

Pray that God will give them dreams and visions leading them to salvation.

Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers to the Luwathiya people.

Scripture Prayers for the Luwathiya in Oman.

References

http://www.worldmap.org/maps/other/profiles/oman/OmanProfile.pdf?PHPSESSID=351146b587965ed92c43843f66d9f910