The Indian Muslims of South Africa

The Indian Muslims of South Africa, numbering approximately 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 mostly adhere to Sunni Islam and English is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Indian - Muslim

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: South Asian Peoples
Country: South Africa
People Cluster: Other South Asian
Primary Language(s): English (eng)
Primary Religion(s): Sunni Islam
Population: 167,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG048044

Pray for the Indian Muslims of South Africa

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Sunni Islam
Religious Affiliation: Islam

100%
%
Sunni Islam Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: English
Language Family: Indo-European

100%
%
English Speakers

Media Resources in English:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Indian Muslims are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

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

Pray specifically for the Indian Muslims of South Africa

But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
readPsalm 130:4

Pray that God will bring those who have hard hearts to repentance and trust in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.
readActs 13:48-49

Pray that the gospel will spread throughout this whole region and that many will believe and embrace the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

And God is able to make all grace about to you, so that having sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
read2 Corinthians 9:8

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will see that God provides for their needs and be content in His provision so that they may excel in every good work.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
readEphesians 6:12

Ask God to give those He sends to cross cultures the discernment they need to recognize the spiritual battle they are fighting. Pray God will protect their faith as they abide in Him.

Indian (English) (Muslim) Across Countries (ROP3 - 114983) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

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