The term Shaikh is used for a sociocultural group that originated with Arab settlers in South Asia which now includes many subgroups. Islam arrived in the area now known as Pakistan in 711 AD when a Muslim Arab army conquered the northwestern part of the Indus Valley from Jammu and Kashmir to the Arabian Sea. Technocrats, bureaucrats, soldiers, traders, scientists, architects, teachers, theologians, and Sufis flocked from the rest of the Arab and Muslim world to the Islamic Sultanate in South Asia and settled permanently. The descendants of these Arabs usually go by the title of Shaikh and are also known in Pakistan as Muslim Khatri. They are a sub-group of the Zamindar group traditionally associated with farming, which is one of the two groups making up the Punjabis. Shaikh is also a term that is usually attributed to the leaders or elders of Arabian social groups. After the advent of Islam in South Asia, some high caste (Brahmins, Muslim Rajputs and Khatris) converted to Islam in the Punjab region and adopted the Shaikh title. They are known as Punjabi Shaikh. The majority of the Punjabi Shaikhs are urbanized and detached from their traditional agricultural ancestry. However, a few families still cultivate their own land in the western districts of Punjab. The main professions of the urban Punjabi Shaikhs are business and public service. They are often stereotyped for their reputation for business acumen. The main language of the Shaikh is Urdu. They also speak the local languages of the areas where they live.
The large south Asian caste of Shaikhs is not bound by one particular profession. The Shaikh can be broadly grouped into five communities. The majority of the Punjabi Shaikhs are urbanized and detached from their traditional agricultural ancestry. However, a few families still cultivate their own land in the western districts of Punjab. The main professions of the urban Punjabi Shaikhs are business and public service. They are often stereotyped for their business acumen. Common surnames are Mondal, Siddiqui, Usmani, Faroqui and Sheikh. The Shaikhs marry within their group. Families arrange marriages. Marriage to one spouse is the norm but a man may marry more wives if he can afford them. Sons inherit property. As Muslims, they will not eat pork.
The Shaikhs profess Islam and have both Sunni and Shia traditions among them. Both groups 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.
There has been much ministry activity among the Shaikh in India. Unfortunately, these efforts have brought few Shaikh into God's kingdom. Shaikhs who live in rural villages often lack access to modern medicine, electricity and clean water. Teams of believers can help meet these needs.
Ask the Lord to open the hearts of the Shaikhs so they will receive the good news.
Pray for a disciple making movement that will bless the Shaikhs this decade.
Pray for the Lord to send workers to the Shaikhs to tell them about Jesus or Isa.
Scripture Prayers for the Shaikh unspecified in India.
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
People Name General | Shaikh |
People Name in Country | Shaikh unspecified |
Pronunciation |
shayk
|
Alternate Names | Bengali Muslim (in Bangladesh); Faraji; Jhiwar; Shaik; Sheikh; Shekhzade; शैख़ |
Population this Country | 72,220,000 |
Population all Countries | 219,883,000 |
Total Countries | 9 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1444 |
People ID | 18084 |
ROP3 Code | 113585 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Muslim - Shaikh |
People Group | Shaikh |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Muslim - Shaikh |
People Group | Shaikh |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 16 (only 15 largest shown) |
Abbasi 227,000 | |
Bani Israil 42,000 | |
Milki 31,000 | |
Bahlim 21,000 | |
Kidwai 21,000 | |
Khurasani 12,000 | |
Ulwi 12,000 | |
Jafari 8,900 | |
Hashimi 8,700 | |
Shaikhzada 7,700 |
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 on file | 36 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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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 | 36 (only 20 largest shown) |
West Bengal 21,474,000 | |
Bihar 11,663,000 | |
Uttar Pradesh 11,095,000 | |
Assam 7,710,000 | |
Maharashtra 7,467,000 | |
Karnataka 4,695,000 | |
Jharkhand 3,269,000 | |
Rajasthan 3,235,000 | |
Andhra Pradesh 2,879,000 | |
Telangana 2,783,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 2,253,000 | |
Gujarat 2,081,000 | |
Delhi 1,290,000 | |
Haryana 1,032,000 | |
Tamil Nadu 779,000 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
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 | Urdu (50,206,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 64 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Urdu (50,206,000 speakers) |
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 64 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Bengali 23,110,000 | |
Assamese 2,097,000 | |
Gujarati 1,518,000 | |
Marathi 1,266,000 | |
Bhojpuri 1,103,000 | |
Telugu 1,042,000 | |
Marwari 986,000 | |
Kannada 786,000 | |
Maithili 706,000 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 582,000 | |
Tamil 473,000 | |
Dhundari 417,000 | |
Magahi 187,000 | |
Shekhawati 186,000 | |
Awadhi 117,000 | |
People Groups | Speaking Urdu |
Primary Language: Urdu
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1747-1894) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1758-2000) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1843-2022) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source |
(Representative photo) Mikhail Nilov - Pexels |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Keith Carey |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |