Bayad in India

The Bayad have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Bayad are a small indigenous group of Sunni Muslims who live in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Most live in or near to a town in Gujarat named Bayad. The Bayad were originally Rajput Hindus. They converted to Islam during the time of the Muslim conquest of west India. The Bayad first lived in Rajastan and moved to Gujarat about 500 years ago. During the Partition of 1947 many Bayad moved to Pakistan and are settled in the districts of Sanghar and Badn.
The primary occupation of the Bayad men was military service in the army of the princely state of Kutch. Most of the men who do not join the military work in agriculture. The men along with many women work on small to medium size farms which they own.

The primary language of the Bayad is Kacchi. Many Bayad also speak Gujarati so they can communicate with others. Few Christian resources exist in Kacchi while many are available in Gujarati.


Where Are they Located?

The Bayad people live in India's western state of Gujarat near the towns of Bayad and Ansar.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bayad tend to marry within their group but sometimes they will marry someone within the larger Muslim Samma peoples.
The Bayad earn their living by selling their crops and milk from their goats, buffalo and cattle. A caste council promotes their interests and settles any legal disputes within the community. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young people. Sons inherit property with the eldest son becoming the head of the family upon his father's death. Most marriages are to one spouse even though a Muslim man can have up to four wives if he can afford them. The Bayad eat meat except for pork. Their main foods are rice, wheat, vegetables and dairy products.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bayad people are Sunni, the largest branch of Islam. They believe that the One, Supreme God, Allah, spoken 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.

In most of the Muslim world, peoples like the Bayad 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. The often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.


What Are Their Needs?

The Bayad would benefit by learning new job skills. Most Bayad have access to modern medicine but not all. The Bayad need most of all to hear and understand the message of Isa, Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and get them right with the one, true God.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among Bayad family and community leaders to seek His face and enjoy His blessings.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers who will be compelled to nurture a disciple making movement among the Bayad people.
Pray that soon the Bayad people will have faith that will lead them to live honorable lives that will draw others to the Savior.


Scripture Prayers for the Bayad in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayad_tribe
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304528030_Folk_herbal_medicines_used_by_the_Tribals_of_Bayad_taluka_in_Aravalli_District_Gujarat_India


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Bayad
People Name in Country Bayad
Alternate Names बायड (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 700
Population all Countries 700
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16350
ROP3 Code 111488
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 1
  Gujarat 700
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Kacchi (700 speakers)
Language Code kfr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kacchi (700 speakers)
Language Code kfr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kacchi

Primary Language:  Kacchi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2013)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2010-2013)
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Kacchi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.