Kumhar (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

Kumhar (Muslim traditions)
Photo Source:  Copyrighted © 2024
Abhishek Sah - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source:  People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
People Name: Kumhar (Muslim traditions)
Country: Pakistan
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 3,946,000
World Population: 4,029,000
Primary Language: Punjabi, Western
Primary Religion: Islam
Christian Adherents: 0.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: New Testament
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

There are two basic Kumhar communities in Pakistan. One group is made up of local Pakistani Kumhars and the other migrated from India. Both have their roots as a caste of potters. Though caste is a Hindu phenomenon, it has rubbed off on Muslim cultures both in India and Pakistan.

What Are Their Lives Like?

In Pakistan, many Kumhars are now landowners who farm for a living Others remain in their traditional role making goods out of ceramic clay or glass. They sell their goods to their neighbors and in markets.
Muslim Kumhars practice adult marriages. They do not allow for divorce.
Muslim cultures are usually patriarchal, where property is passed down from father to son. Among Kumhar landowners in Pakistan, sons inherit the property when the father dies. At that time the oldest son takes charge of the family estate.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Though there is a large Hindu community among the Kumhars, Islam is more dominant in Pakistan. They worship at the same mosques as other ethnic groups, fast during Ramadan and pray five times a day if they have the spiritual discipline. Those with adequate means make the pilgrimage to Mecca. For hundreds of years all Kumhar people were Hindu. Hinduism taints Islamic beliefs both in India and Pakistan.

What Are Their Needs?

The law of the Koran will never save them or give them abundant life. These Muslims need to put their hope and identity in the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Prayer Points

There are no known followers of Christ among the Muslim Kumhar people, so pray for the Lord to make a way for them to have their first church planting movement.
Pray that God will give Muslim Kumhars dreams and visions leading them to salvation and abundant life.
Pray that gospel materials on the internet will lead them to Jesus Christ.
Pray for entire Muslim Kumhar families to have the chance to hear and respond to the person, Jesus Christ.

Text Source:   Joshua Project