Day 17. Ansari in India (ahn-SAH-ree)
12,058,000
Urdu
Islam
Most Ansaris still live in villages like their ancestors did. The name Ansari (“helpers”) was given to the residents of Medina who helped the prophet Mohammed. After waves of migrations from the Middle East, the name was adopted by people groups becoming Muslims on the Indian subcontinent.
They have traditionally been weavers and textile sellers, but are now involved in a wide range of small businesses, agriculture and even politics. One Ansari family helped to found the Muslim Jamia Milia Islamia University in Delhi and has tried to stand up for rights of Muslims in the increasingly Hindu environment in India. Others Ansari remain poor, illiterate, could benefit from help in educating their children, learning new jobs skills, and obtaining access to clean water and electricity. Many Ansari now live in cities.
The Ansari people are Sunni Muslims with a mix of folk religion. Because the Ansari are friendly and hospitable, believers can develop friendships and find opportunities to share the Good News. In recent years, teams of believers have begun work in north India among the Ansari and some families have come to know Jesus!
Prayers for the families of the Ansari:
Lord, send Indian followers of Jesus to their Ansari neighbors to share with them Your love and Good News. Give them eyes to see how to bless Ansari families, bringing them healing, forgiveness, and well-being.
Lord, raise up Ansari leaders to study Your Word so they would understand the destiny You have for them and turn to follow Jesus. May the Ansari adults become literate and their children have access to good schools to lift them out of poverty.
Lord, bless Your Holy Scriptures in Indian Urdu. Help Ansari believers to be effective and fruitful in sowing Your Word among their families and communities. May Your Spirit give power to a movement that will spread God’s blessing of salvation and grace from household to household.
The encouragement and hope from Jesus to the Ansari: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.” (Jn. 11:25-26)