Faqir in Bangladesh

Faqir
Photo Source:  Anonymous 
Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.
People Name: Faqir
Country: Bangladesh
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 5,400
World Population: 132,400
Primary Language: Bengali
Primary Religion: Islam
Christian Adherents: 0.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
Online Audio NT: Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: South Asia Muslim - other
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

This community name is derived from the Arabic word faqr, meaning poverty. Most Faqir consider the famous Sufi Abdul Qadir Jillani as their mentor, and most Faqir in Bengal thus belong to the Qadriyah Sufi order.

What Are Their Lives Like?

They often live in multi-caste villages in their own quarters, known as Faqir paras. The Faqir are giving up their age-old activity of begging and turning towards agriculture and self-employment. Their literacy rate is low.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Faqir children receive Islamic education at home and in madrasas. They have a history of being Sufi Muslims.

What Are Their Needs?

The literacy rate of the Faqir people is low. The gospel needs to come to them in audio and visual ways, perhaps by stories from scripture.

Prayer Points

There are no known believers within the Faqir community, not in Bangladesh or India or Pakistan or any country where they reside. However, pray the Lord is now preparing teachers and pastors for those he will soon call to himself. Pray this poor community will gain job skills to become productive members of Bangladeshi society.

Text Source:   Joshua Project