People group profile · PG047002
The Rushon of Afghanistan
The Rushon of Afghanistan, numbering about 6,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Pamiri people of northeastern Afghanistan's Badakhshan region. They inhabit remote mountain communities, speak a Rushani variety of Shughni, and are predominantly Ismaili Shia Muslims with a distinct Pamiri cultural identity.
They are a diaspora people in the Tajik people cluster of the Persian-Median Peoples. Their primary religion is Shia Imami Ismaili Islam, and they primarily speak Shughni.
Fast facts
- Country
- Afghanistan
- Population
- 6,000
- Affinity group
- Central Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Tajik
- Primary language
- Shughni (sgh)
- Primary religion
- Shia Imami Ismaili Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Northern Badakhshan Province, across the Panj River
Where they live
Gospel status
The Rushon 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 No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Rushon
- 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 Imami Ismaili Islam · Islam
99% adherents
Primary language
Shughni · Indo-European family
100% speak Shughni
Gospel resources in Shughni
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings 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 Rushon
- 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.
- 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.
Rushan in other countries
The same people (ROP3 116094) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rushon | Tajikistan | 17,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.