Labana (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

The Labana (Muslim traditions) have only been reported in Pakistan
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The term Lobana comes from the words Lavan (meaning salt) and the Bana (meaning trade). They are known as a merchant caste, moving and trading salt, silk, diamonds, and other goods in South Asia.
This community can be Hindu, Sikh or Muslim. The vast majority of Muslims among them are in Pakistan but even this is a small community. A tiny number of Labana Muslims are in India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Though they were once merchants, the Labana people are now mainly agricultural. With their high status background, the Labana are probably landowners in most cases.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Labana 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 Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.
In most of the Muslim world, common 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 they live on a daily basis. For that reason, some Muslims appease spirits using charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces. More orthodox Muslims consider these practices heretical and un-Islamic.
What Are Their Needs?
These people need to put their hope and identity in the King of kings and Lord of lords.


Prayer Points

Pray for workers to go to Muslim Labana people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive the only savior.
Pray for families of believers loving and serving others to grow reproducing churches.
Pray for a chain reaction of families reaching families that results in thousands of new believers who share their faith with others.
Pray for grace and truth expanding into their entire society as all believers learn to love others.


Scripture Prayers for the Labana (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labana
https://newpakhistorian.wordpress.com/tag/labana-caste-pakistan/


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Labana (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Labana (Muslim traditions)
Alternate Names Labano; Lobana; लबाना (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 12,000
Population all Countries 12,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17602
ROP3 Code 113033
ROP25 Code 304514
ROP25 Name Labana
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 3
Largest States
Punjab
11,000
Azad Kashmir
500
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
500
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 3
  Punjab 11,000
  Azad Kashmir 500
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 500
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 Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Saraiki (9,100 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Marwari
2,000
Urdu
500
Hindko, Northern
300
Pahari-Potwari
300
Punjabi, Western
100
Bagri
100
Sindhi
100
Primary Language Saraiki (9,100 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Marwari 2,000
  Urdu 500
  Hindko, Northern 300
  Pahari-Potwari 300
  Punjabi, Western 100
  Bagri 100
  Sindhi 100
People Groups Speaking Saraiki
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.