Introduction / History

The Pawaria live mainly in India, but there are a small number in Pakistan. Their main language is Urdu. They are a Jat clan.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Pawaria are involved in several lines of work such as working in shops and being day laborers. They are mostly monogamous meaning that one man marries one wife. The divorced and bereaved can marry again. On the death of the father, the property is inherited by the sons and the oldest son becomes the new family head.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Pawaria people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the One, 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. 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. The often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.

What Are Their Needs?

They need hope. They must be told of the one Savior, the One who walked this earth and desires to guide them and bless them throughout eternity.

Prayer Points

Pray that God gives the Pawaria dreams and visions that will lead them to Christ. Pray for a Disciple Making Movement to flourish among them this decade. Pray for discernment and a spiritual hunger that will lead them to the cross.

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

References

https://www.jatland.com/home/Pawariya