Saharanpur, India
Sameer darts skilfully through the crowded streets, stealthily dodging ox carts, motorcycles and rickshaws laden with fresh milk and hand-carved wooden objects. He abruptly veers onto a narrow lane no wider than three men standing abreast. Only those who have run these narrow “streets” since birth could avoid falling into the open sewers on either side of the alley. Sameer advances, narrowly missing two ladies dressed in black from head to toe in the compulsory Burka. Arriving at home, Sameer quickly collects his things and goes to the Madrasa (Koranic school). There he will meet a teacher, to whom he will recite large portions of the Qur’an he has memorised in Arabic, a language he does not understand.
Saharanpur (140km north of Delhi) is a city of almost one million people in the overcrowded Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city is famous for its large Muslim community (approximately 45 per cent of the population) and its hand-carved wooden handicrafts. It is divided into Muslim districts and Hindu neighbourhoods. Because Saharanpur is a regional commercial centre, communal religious tensions are kept in check through the unspoken understanding that violence is not good for business.
In the Muslim areas, the wooden handicraft industry is present everywhere. In the labyrinth of alleyways, every third open door reveals wooden handicrafts in various stages of production. Each year millions of US dollars worth of wooden handicrafts are produced and exported to the outside world from dimly-lit rooms in Saharanpur.
The city is named after a Sufi saint, Saharun Chisti, a Muslim holy man who dedicated himself to simple living and spreading the message of Allah. These Muslim roots are deeply entrenched and Saharanpur now boasts of having about 500 mosques. The Islamic community is primarily composed of Sunni Muslims who practise folk Islam in various forms. It is not uncommon to consult Peers (Pirs) or Muslim “holy men” who are thought to have Allah’s wisdom. They are active in dealing with sickness, sterility, and financial problems. They fiercely guard the religion and culture of the Muslim community.
There are no known churches on the Muslim side of the city. Though some churches do exist on the Hindu side, few Christians have the ability to reach their Muslim neighbours. The same cultural practices and language that have made the gospel understandable and attractive to Hindus are often repulsive to Muslims. In recent years, Saharanpur has seen some Christian workers beginning to focus on the Muslim side of the city. Using unique methods to gain access into the community, they are beginning to see the unfolding of God’s plan to bring salvation to this people.
Saharanpur (140km north of Delhi) is a city of almost one million people in the overcrowded Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city is famous for its large Muslim community (approximately 45 per cent of the population) and its hand-carved wooden handicrafts. It is divided into Muslim districts and Hindu neighbourhoods. Because Saharanpur is a regional commercial centre, communal religious tensions are kept in check through the unspoken understanding that violence is not good for business.
In the Muslim areas, the wooden handicraft industry is present everywhere. In the labyrinth of alleyways, every third open door reveals wooden handicrafts in various stages of production. Each year millions of US dollars worth of wooden handicrafts are produced and exported to the outside world from dimly-lit rooms in Saharanpur.
The city is named after a Sufi saint, Saharun Chisti, a Muslim holy man who dedicated himself to simple living and spreading the message of Allah. These Muslim roots are deeply entrenched and Saharanpur now boasts of having about 500 mosques. The Islamic community is primarily composed of Sunni Muslims who practise folk Islam in various forms. It is not uncommon to consult Peers (Pirs) or Muslim “holy men” who are thought to have Allah’s wisdom. They are active in dealing with sickness, sterility, and financial problems. They fiercely guard the religion and culture of the Muslim community.
There are no known churches on the Muslim side of the city. Though some churches do exist on the Hindu side, few Christians have the ability to reach their Muslim neighbours. The same cultural practices and language that have made the gospel understandable and attractive to Hindus are often repulsive to Muslims. In recent years, Saharanpur has seen some Christian workers beginning to focus on the Muslim side of the city. Using unique methods to gain access into the community, they are beginning to see the unfolding of God’s plan to bring salvation to this people.
Prayer points
* Pray for the few missionary workers in Saharanpur who are working to proclaim Christ in this culturally closed Muslim community.
* Pray for the churches of the Hindu side of the city, that they may have courage and determination to reach their Muslim neighbours (Isa 6:8).
* Pray that those who seek the advice of Muslim “holy men” would be led to call on Jesus instead (Acts 19:18–20).
Copyright 2005 by 30-Days International. All rights reserved.
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