India FOCUS: Delhi and Hyderabad

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Delhi and Hyderabad are two key cities in India that are home to a vast number of unreached Muslims. In the past and currently, both cities are key influences upon Muslims throughout North and South-Central India.

Delhi, India

The Muslims of Delhi have a long and glorious history. Delhi’s “Old City” was built in the mid 1600s by the Moghul emperor Shah Jahan, who also built the Taj Mahal in Agra. But even before his reign, the number of Muslim warriors had grown and they ruled a vast territory, which is modern-day Delhi. Muslim architecture including mosques, minars, tombs, forts and gateways throughout the city reveal the significant role these Muslim rulers played in North Indian history.

Today there are a number of strong Islamic communities found throughout Delhi. Old Delhi holds the largest mosque in India, the Jama Masjid, able to accommodate over 20,000 worshippers within its courts. The Imam, Syed Imam Bukhari, plays an important role as a mouthpiece for many of the Muslims. In South Delhi a sizeable Muslim community can be found near the tomb of the Muslim Sufi “holy man” Nizam-ud-din) and many pilgrims come to seek blessings.

Hyderabad, India

In the past, as is today, Hyderabad (along with its sister city Secunderabad) has had a long and important Islamic history. In the mid 1300’s the Muslim Bahmani Kingdom ruled throughout the Deccan Plateau. A later dynasty, the Qutb Shahis, officially founded the city of Hyderabad in 1590. Eventually the Moghuls took over, followed by an independent royalty known as the “Nizam.” The Nizams of Hyderabad ruled all the way through India’s independence in 1947 and were known for their palaces and magnificent wealth.

Hyderabad boasts impressive Islamic architecture such as the Mecca Masjid and the city’s showpiece, the Charminar. Today, Hyderabad is India’s 6th largest city.

To date, there are only a handful of labourers working in either of these cities. If a movement to Christ happened within the key Muslim communities of Delhi and Hyderabad, the impact would extend far beyond their borders, spreading throughout the Muslim people groups of North India and the Deccan Plateau.

Pray for the Muslims in Delhi and Hyderabad, India:

* Pray for the Muslims of Delhi and Hyderabad to be touched by the Spirit of God.

* Pray that their hearts would be prepared to embrace Jesus as Lord.

* Pray for more labourers to rise to the challenge of Muslim ministry in these cities. Pray that God would provide excellent training, prayer and financial support for current and new workers in these key harvest fields.

* Pray for people movements to occur - for the Gospel to spread like fire among the Muslims of Delhi and Hyderabad and then out to impact millions of other Muslims.

* Pray for the leaders of the Jama Masjid and the Mecca Mosque to come to faith in Christ.