Shaikh in India and Pakistan
225,756,000 (Bangladesh: 135,161,000; India: 77,725,000; Pakistan: 12,146,000; others)
Bengali (Bangladesh); Urdu (India); Sindhi (Pakistan); Nepali (Nepal)
Sunni Islam; Spirit Belief
0.00%
0.00%
Fully available (Bengali (2000), Urdu (1998), Sindhi (1954), Nepali (2004))
Background / History The main settlement area of the Shaikh is Bangladesh. There, they are the people who determine the political life. In India, they mainly live in the eastern and northeastern states. Additionally, some live in Pakistan, Thailand, and Nepal. Many Shaikh from Bangladesh work as guest workers in Arab countries. It is also assumed that about 100 Shaikh live in Sri Lanka. The Shaikh are considered the largest unreached people group on earth, with a global population of 226 million.
In the early 1200s, Islam reached the area of present-day Bangladesh and West Bengal through a military attack by Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji. Until then, this region was dominated by local religions collectively referred to as Hinduism. Hindu kings resisted for several more centuries, during which Muslim conquerors fought for more power in Bangladesh. Historians disagree on whether the Hindus converted to Islam voluntarily or were forced. In any case, the result was a region with a common main language but two world religions: Hinduism and Islam. Over time, society saw not only a separation between religions but also economic differences. Bengali Muslims increasingly became landless laborers, while Hindus developed into landowners and community experts.
After India gained independence in 1947, the Muslim regions separated from Hindu dominance, forming West and East Pakistan. East Pakistan eventually gained independence from Pakistan in a brutal war in 1971, resulting in the creation of a new Bengali-speaking nation called Bangladesh. It mainly consisted of Bengali-speaking Muslims, although there are still members of other religions who also speak Bengali.
Bengali is the largest language block among all Muslim people groups worldwide. The term “Shaikh” originally referred to tribes of Arab descent but is now generally used for Muslims who converted from lower Hindu castes. They are divided into five main groups: Siddik, Faruki, Chisti, Abbasi, and Kuraishi. The Siddik, Faruki, and many Chisti and Abbasi generally descend from Arab colonists. Many Chisti and Kuraishi are descendants of Hindu converts to Islam. Kuraish is the name of the Arab tribe to which the Prophet Muhammad belonged. Based on the “hadith” (tradition) of the Prophet that “all converts to my faith belong to me and my tribe,” the descendants of all converts from Hinduism and other religions to Islam call themselves Kuraishi.
What is Their Daily Life Like? Most are urbanized and not tied to a specific profession; many work in business and public service. Only a few still practice traditional agriculture in rural areas. They have already had a significant influence on literature, and many famous intellectuals are among them. Their level of education in cities is relatively high. However, they feel that as a community, they have not achieved as much as they could have.
In Bangladesh, many of them are bitterly poor. Children have to work because their parents do not earn enough to support the family. They suffer, like everyone else in this country, from the floods caused by monsoon rains and the storms that sweep water from the sea onto the land. In September 2007, more than a third of the country was temporarily flooded.
Common surnames include Mondal, Siddiqui, Usmani, Faroqui, and Sheikh. The Shaikhs marry within their group. Families arrange the marriages. It is the norm to marry only one woman, but a man can marry multiple women if he can afford it. Sons inherit the property. For Muslims, there is a special variant of the Bengali language, Bangla Musalmani. This variant is enriched with Islamic religious expressions from Arabic.
What Do They Believe? The Shaikhs profess Islam. They are mostly Sunnis, but there are also Shias among them. They often mix the Muslim faith with the belief in spirits or Sufism. Sufism is a Muslim mystical and emotional practice that seeks to achieve a spiritually pure state (“fitra”). Sufis are guided by spiritual teachers in specific orders. The belief in spirits often refers to deceased individuals who were once politically powerful and are considered “saints” (“pirs”). Shaikhs visit the graves of the “pirs” years later in the hope of gaining economic benefits and/or healing from diseases through their spiritual power.
They try to follow the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad. They hope that by following the Five Pillars of Islam, they will go to heaven after their death. Allah, the supreme God of the universe, determines who goes to paradise. Sunnis pray five times a day facing Mecca. They fast during the month of Ramadan. On Fridays, they attend services at the mosque. If a Muslim has the means, he or she makes a pilgrimage to Mecca once in their lifetime. Muslims are also forbidden to drink alcohol, eat pork, gamble, steal, cheat, slander, and build idols. The two most important holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al-Fitr, the monthly breaking of the fast, and Eid al-Adha, the festival of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.
What are their believes?
The Shaikhs identify as Muslims. They are mostly Sunnis, but there are also Shia among them. Often, they mix their Islamic faith with beliefs in spirits or Sufism. Sufism is a mystical and emotional practice within Islam that seeks to achieve a spiritually pure state (“fitra”). Sufis are guided by spiritual teachers within specific orders. The belief in spirits often refers to the deceased who were once politically powerful and are considered “saints” (“pirs”). Shaikhs visit the graves of these “pirs” years later, hoping to gain economic benefits or healing through their spiritual power.
They try to follow the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad.
They hope that by following the Five Pillars of Islam, they will enter heaven after death.
However, Allah, the supreme God of the universe, decides who goes to paradise.
Sunnis pray five times a day facing Mecca.
They fast during the month of Ramadan. On Fridays, they attend services at the mosque.
If a Muslim has the means, they make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in their lifetime.
Muslims are also forbidden to drink alcohol, eat pork, gamble, steal, cheat, slander, and create idols.
The two most important holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al-Fitr, the celebration marking the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, the festival commemorating Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah.
What are their needs / How can they be reached?
Shaikhs living in rural villages often lack access to modern medicine, electricity, and clean water. Teams of believers can help meet these needs.
Traveling in Bangladesh is very difficult and dangerous, as the roads are narrow and in poor condition. There are few bridges over the many rivers in the country, and the ferries that provide connections are also in poor condition, leading to frequent ferry accidents.
How can one pray for the Shaikhs?
- Pray that God sends more loving and steadfast messengers who can clearly and accurately explain the message.
- The Bible, radio programs, audio recordings, videos, and books are all available in Bengali and Urdu. Pray that they will be read and heard!
Sources to follow…