Urdu in Iraq

Introduction / History

Urdu, now the national language of Pakistan, is an Indo-Iranian language that developed from the Hindi language. It is heavily laden with Persian and Arabic words and is written in the Persian script. The term "Urdu" does not adequately describe the Urdu people as such but is merely a language distinction. Urdu-speaking Muslims are not an ethnic group in the strictest sense but are rather a collection of ethnic groups who have been widely dispersed geographically. They possess a sense of "group identity" based on cultural and historical factors: the Islamic religion, a Persian cultural tradition, the Urdu language, and the tradition of Muslim supremacy in northern India.

Most Urdu speakers reside in Pakistan and northern India. Recently, many Urdu-speaking Muslims have migrated to the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, and even Iraq in search of economic opportunities. Skilled laborers and highly educated professionals have also moved to Western Europe, North America and the British Commonwealth countries.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Urdu-speaking Muslims are in every level of Iraqi society. They are the illiterate and the educated, the poor and the money lenders, the landlords and the religious leaders.

Some are students, others are businessmen. In the summer of 2024 there were thousands of Shia Muslim pilgrims who came to Iraq from Pakistan, and the government lost track of them. It’s very possible they went to Iraq to take low paying jobs. As it stands, they were in Iraq illegally since they came on tourist visas but intended to take jobs.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Almost all Urdu speakers are Sunni Muslims. They believe the teachings of the Koran and the Hadith, but they also often lean on pre-Islamic spiritual forces for their daily needs. A faithful Muslim will pray five times a day, fast during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, go on the pilgrimage to Mecca, and obey what their imams teach them.

What Are Their Needs?

Urdu speakers almost never accept the abundant life Jesus offers. They remain Sunni Muslim, either by force or because it’s all they know. The famous 18th century missionary, William Carey, referred to such people as “no choice” people. They are not given the choice of accepting the blessings of Christ.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to thrust out Holy Spirit anointed workers to Urdu speakers in Iraq.
Pray for persons of peace among the Urdu people who will accept Christ's ambassadors.
Pray for a massive movement to Christ among Urdu speakers leading to spiritual and physical blessings in Christ.
Pray for resources like the JESUS Film and Urdu language broadcasts to become widely and easily available.

Text Source:   Joshua Project