People group profile · PG048044
The Indian Muslims of South Africa
The Indian Muslims of South Africa, numbering about 167,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a South African Muslim community descended from Indian indentured laborers and merchant migrants, especially from Gujarat and other parts of British India, who developed a distinct identity within South Africa while maintaining Islamic traditions.
They are a diaspora people in the Other South Asian people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak English.
Fast facts
- Country
- South Africa
- Population
- 167,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Other South Asian
- Primary language
- English (eng)
- Primary religion
- Sunni 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 Africa, Africa
- Location
- diaspora communities are typically concentrated in urban areas in search of economic and social opportunities
Where they live
Gospel status
The Indian Muslims 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 Indian Muslims
- 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
Sunni Islam · Islam
100% adherents
Primary language
100% speak English
Gospel resources in English
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
- JESUS (English, North American Indigenous)
Bibles
- American Standard Bible · text
- English Standard Version® - Hear the Word Audio Bible · video, text
- English Version for the Deaf · text
- Holy Bible, New International Version ® · video
- Holy Bible, New International Version ® - LUMO Christmas Film · video
- Holy Bible, New International Version ® - LUMO Easter Film · video
- King James Version · video, audio, text
- New American Standard Bible (NASB) · text
- New Life Version (Easy to Read) · text
- New Living Translation®, Holy Sanctuary version · audio
- Revised Version 1885 · text
- World English Bible - Winfred Henson · audio, text
- World Messianic Version · text
- Wycliffe Modern · text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Indian Muslims
- 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.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
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