The Sama Sindhi is a small group of Muslims who live in west India. The vast majority of Muslim Sindhi moved to Pakistan during the Partition of 1947. Equal numbers of Hindi and Sikh Sindhi immigrated to India. The word Sindhi comes from the Persian word meaning those who inhabit the Indus Valley. All Sindhi were originally Hindu or Buddhist. In the early 8th century, many of these people converted to Islam with the coming of the Muslim armies. The Sindhi Sama claim to be descendants of the rulers of the Samma Dynasty. This royal family reigned over the Indus Valley and west India from the 14th to early 16th century.
Today the Sindhi are employed in many industries including entertainment, science and technology, journalism, politics, education and law.
The main languages of the Sindhi Sama in India are Kacchi and Sindhi.
The Sama Sindhi live in the Indian States of Gujarat and Rajastan.
The Sama Sindhi live diverse lives. Some are educated and occupy places of leadership and prominence in society. Others live traditional lives of pastoralists taking care of their animals. Some are farmers who live in rural villages like their ancestors.
The Sama Sindhi marry only within their group. Some Sindhi choose their own spouses, while for others families arrange marriages. Muslim priests officiate at important family event like births, weddings and funerals. Sons inherit property from their fathers. The Sindhi bury their dead.
Most Sama Sindhi are Sunni Muslims. They have been strongly influenced by Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam. Islam is a major world religion that is based on five essential duties or "pillars": (1) A Muslim must affirm that "there is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet." (2) Five times a day he must pray while facing Mecca. (3) He must give an obligatory percentage (very similar to tithes) on an annual basis. (4) He must fast during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim year. (5) He must try to make at least one pilgrimage to Mecca in his 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.
The Sama Sindhi need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. Sindhi who live in a rural setting need help in educating their children and in learning new job skills.
Pray for Sindhi families and communities to discover and embrace the free gift of life found by trusting Christ and his finished work.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to work powerfully through those ministering to the Sindhi people.
Ask God to deliver families and communities within the Sama Sindhi people from fears that hinder them from embracing His blessings.
Scripture Prayers for the Sindhi Sama in India.
globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2010/10/13
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindhis
| Profile Source: David Kugel |
