People group profile · PG024078
The Mussulman Tat of Azerbaijan
The Mussulman Tat of Azerbaijan, numbering about 14,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Persian-descended people resettled by the Sasanian dynasty in the 5th-6th centuries, divided between Sunni Muslims in northern Azerbaijan and Dagestan and Shia Muslims further south, distinguished from Judeo-Tat Mountain Jews by faith and script.
They are an indigenous people in the Persian people cluster of the Persian-Median Peoples. Their primary religion is Shia Islam, and they primarily speak Muslim Tat.
Fast facts
- Country
- Azerbaijan
- Population
- 14,000
- Affinity group
- Central Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Persian
- Primary language
- Muslim Tat (ttt)
- Primary religion
- Shia Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Western Asia, Asia
- Location
- Balakan district: Surakhan region on Apsheron peninsula; Baku, Quba, Sizan, and Vartashen cities; Afruja, Chichi, Dagkushu, Genvab, Konakhkend, Lakhij, and Matrasa villages; widespread in mountains near Qonaqkend
Where they live
Gospel status
The Mussulman Tat are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Mussulman Tat
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Shia Islam · Islam
99% adherents
Primary language
Muslim Tat · Indo-European family
75% speak Muslim Tat
Gospel resources in Muslim Tat
- Bible available, published 2011
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Mussulman Tat
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
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