Day 7 - The Musalman Nationality 

Spread throughout Nepal's lowlands and middle hills - concentrated in the Narayani, Janakpur, Lurnbini, Sagaratha, and Kogi zones 

The Musalmans, or Muslims of Nepal, are made up of five groups: Kashmiri, Indian, Tibetan, Terai, and Hill Muslims. The Musalman are traders and monopolize the trade of bangles, beads and threads for braiding hair. Economically, there are different levels, but many Musalman have achieved a fair economic standard, especially in the plains and in Kathmandu. In other areas, however, poverty and illiteracy are chief hindrances to their development. Though many are now adapting typical Nepali clothing styles, some Musalman men wear a Turkish hat or skull cap and some women will wear a face covering. 

Musalmans follow the religion of Islam and believe in the one god Allah and his prophet Mohammed. They follow the traditional Muslim rules and rites such as Friday prayers, fasting for the month of Ramadan, etc. The celebration of Muharam, which commemorates the death of Mohammed's grandsons, is a particularly important Nepali Musalman festival. 

This growing people's group are one of the largest and least evangelized or even acknowledged of the groups in Nepal. There has been no focused effort to reach them by those with an understanding of Islam, with an indigenous approach, or through their own mother tongues. Most Nepali Musalman have heard the name of Jesus (as a prophet in Islam) and have a concept of a creator God, but very few have any understanding of the gospel message or the availability of a loving, personal relationship with God. They may be resistive to and persecute those who accept the gospel message within their families or communities, but they are actually more open to Christians than the Muslims in many other countries. This is because they share common beliefs with Christians unlike their Hindu neighbours, such as opposing idol worship, etc..

Key Prayer Points: