Ghami in Tajikistan
Send Joshua Project a photo
of this people group. |
Send Joshua Project a map of this people group.
|
| People Name: | Ghami |
| Country: | Tajikistan |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 33,000 |
| World Population: | 33,000 |
| Primary Language: | Tajik |
| Primary Religion: | Islam |
| Christian Adherents: | 0.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.00 % |
| Scripture: | Complete Bible |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | Tajik |
| Affinity Bloc: | Persian-Median |
| Progress Level: |
|
Introduction / History
Between 1920-1955 there was an administrative district in central Tajikistan known as Ghami. They people living there were known as Ghami Tajiks. They are also described as a Tajik clan, partly because they speak Tajik. After 1955 they were forced to migrate west to the Vakhsh River Valley in Tajikistan. During that time they had no opportunities to hold government positions, which were reserved for ethnic groups with more political clout.
After Tajikistan gained her independence in 1991, Ghami Tajiks joined an opposition group that got on the wrong side of the new Tajik government. They were targeted for death, and many of their villages were burnt. A year later they were expelled from their homes and they sought refuge in neighboring Afghanistan. Those remaining in Tajikistan were subject to heavy fighting between government and rebel groups.
What Are Their Lives Like?
Most likely the Ghami people still lack political power in Tajikistan. Most live a rural lifestyle which faces the challenge of a lack of clean water.
What Are Their Beliefs?
The Ghami people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.
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.
Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.
In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.
What Are Their Needs?
The Ghami people need the chance to hear and respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is very difficult in light of living in a Muslim country.
Formerly, the economy was based on cotton. They need to diversity their economy.
Prayer Points
Pray for loving workers to take the gospel to the Ghami community.
Pray the Lord will prepare the hearts of the Ghami to understand and to believe the gospel.
Pray for the Lord to bless the Ghami people with adequate potable water, education and medical facilities.
Pray for the Lord to bless the Ghami people so abundantly that they will see he is the only one worthy of praise and worship.