Shaikh Faruqi

The Muslim presence in northern India dates back to the year 711, when an Arab army conquered part of the Indus valley. In the centuries that followed, under the Islamic sultanates, teachers, jurists, merchants, and Sufi masters from the Arab world settled permanently in the region, and their descendants came to be called Shaikh, a title of honor tied to religious learning.

Within this larger group, the Faruqi claim descent from the caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab, one of the closest companions of the prophet Muhammad. Over time, the lineage spread and blended into the broader Indian society, keeping the surname as a mark of origin and status.

Marriages among the Faruqi are usually arranged by families and take place within the group itself, preserving ties of kinship and prestige. Polygamy is permitted for those able to support more than one wife, and inheritance of family property traditionally passes to the sons.

Living in rural and urban areas throughout India, many still associate the Faruqi name with a respected social standing, tied to scholarship and religious leadership within the local Muslim community. Following Islamic dietary restrictions, such as avoiding pork, is part of daily life for these families.

The Faruqi profess Islam, with both Sunni and Shia traditions present among different families in the group. They follow the five pillars of the faith: prayer five times a day facing Mecca, fasting during Ramadan, almsgiving to the poor, pilgrimage for those able to make it, and the confession that there is no god but Allah.

They celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as central milestones of the religious and family calendar. In many families, the name Shaikh still carries a reputation of closeness to Islamic learning and, in certain branches, to Sufi orders that flourished on the subcontinent over the centuries.

Urdu, the main language of the Faruqi, has had the complete Bible for more than a century and a half, along with a film about the life of Jesus and audio recordings also available in digital format. But many families also speak Bengali, Hindi, or other local languages at home, and access to these translations does not mean the message has reached the heart of a community whose identity is deeply tied to Islam.

Among the Faruqi, the surname carries family honor and a connection to generations of Muslim scholars and religious leaders: leaving Islam is seen as renouncing that heritage and shaming one’s ancestors. Because they are scattered throughout the vast Indian population, without a region or village of their own, they rarely become a direct focus of attention, which also makes it harder for anyone to present them with the gospel in a clear and respectful way.

Many Faruqi communities living in rural areas of India face a lack of medical care, electricity, and clean water, realities that weigh on families’ daily lives and make life harder in years of drought or illness. There is also an even greater need for someone who can talk with them about Jesus in a way that respects their history and their honor.

People must arise from among the Faruqi themselves who follow Christ and remain among their own, forming community, friendship, and discipleship without having to abandon their family or the place where they live.