Iranun in Malaysia

The Iranun have only been reported in Malaysia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

In the 16th century, there was a sea-based kingdom called Uranen. The people who came from this kingdom we now call the Iranun. They were led by a sultan (Islamic political leader), and the kingdom exerted power in Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines and what is now Brunei and Malaysia's state of Sabah.

Today we associate the Iranun people with Mindanao Island, but some are also in Malaysia. Since the economy of Malaysia is stronger than that of the Philippines, some Iranun people have migrated to Malaysia to earn a living. We call these people the Sabah Iranun.


Where Are they Located?

There are Iranun people in the southern Philippines and also in Sabah, Malaysia.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Iranun are engaged in fishing, while the rest raise food crops along with their neighbors. Their socio-political organization is governed by traditional and customary laws. They have their own headman. The headman acts as a mediator of dispute and as a facilitator of discussions and meetings.

Those who live in Malaysia probably have low-paying jobs.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Iranun are Muslim and common like all Muslim groups, they believe in the five pillars of Islam. The Iranun observe these pillars but they are relatively more relaxed about them. The Iranun also believe in spirits and are in constant fear of them. Thus, there are many animistic rituals that they also observe in addition to Islam.

The Iranun people have resisted every effort to introduce Christianity to them. Their attitude towards Christianity is still marked by indifference. Efforts to reach them in the Philippines have not yielded much in the way of results. There are probably no efforts at all to reach the Sabah Iranun people in Malaysia.


What Are Their Needs?

The Iranun people need adequate work in Mindanao so they do not have to leave their families to be gainfully employed.


Prayer Points

Pray for protection, wisdom, strength, and encouragement for those ministering to the Iranun.
Pray that God will provide opportunities for the gospel to be shared with the Iranun people in Malaysia as well as the Philippines.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to open the hearts of the Iranun people and turn their hearts to the King of kings.
Pray for a disciple making movement among the Iranun in both the Philippines and Malaysia.


Scripture Prayers for the Iranun, Sabah in Malaysia.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12209/RP
http://iranunnation.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-does-some-of-iranun-tribe-of.html
http://gerakbudayapenang.com/shop/malaysia/the-iranun-of-sabah-language-and-culture-of-an-endangered-minority-in-sabah/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranun_people


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Iranun, Sabah
People Name in Country Iranun, Sabah
Natural Name Iranun
Alternate Names
Population this Country 34,000
Population all Countries 34,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 20962
ROP3 Code 117614
Country Malaysia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 49  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Sabah: Kota Belud district, 24 villages; Kudat district, Indarasan Laut village; Lahad Datu district, Tungku.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Malaysia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 49  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Sabah: Kota Belud district, 24 villages; Kudat district, Indarasan Laut village; Lahad Datu district, Tungku..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
25.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
75.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Iranun (Malaysia) (34,000 speakers)
Language Code ilm   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Iranun (Malaysia) (34,000 speakers)
Language Code ilm   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Iranun (Malaysia)

Primary Language:  Iranun (Malaysia)

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Started

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Sharif Putra - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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