The term "Tajik" comes from the word taj, which means "crown." This name was probably first used by the seventh century Arabs to differentiate the Persian (Tajiki) speakers from the Turkic speakers.

The Tajik have repeatedly been invaded and conquered throughout their history. The armies of Alexander the Great, the Arabs in the seventh century, Genghis Khan, the Turks, the British, and the Russian empire have all made serious impacts upon these people. In fact, the numerous invasions have been the major factor in the dispersion of the Tajik to other locations.

What are their lives like?
Most of the Tajik are mountain farmers and shepherds. Seasonal grasses create suitable pastures for raising sheep, goats, cattle, a few camels, and some horses. They also practice a remarkable system of terraced, mountainside irrigation so that wheat and barley can be grown at the higher, dry altitudes.

More and more of the Tajik have moved to the cities over the past fifty years. Most families farm during the summer period, then return to the cities for the remainder of the year. This has resulted in an unstable work force throughout the region.

A majority of the urban Tajik live in governmental housing. The rural Tajik live instead in village communities located on non-farmable, rocky land. There they build low, square or rectangular houses out of unbaked mud. Pressed mud bricks made with stone are used for the foundations. Flat roofs are made of tightly packed earth and twigs, and are supported by mat covered beams.

Women wear colorful national costumes with printed cottons and silks accented by flowered headscarves. They rarely wear veils; however, they do wear chaddors, which are multi-purpose shawls. The men wear shirts and trousers, sometimes with quilted robes and belts. They also wear embroidered skull caps, and some wear turbans or fur hats during the cold mountain winters. The upper class and city dwellers tend to wear European style clothing.

Green tea is served with most meals. Bread is a staple food, and the Tajik bake bread out of anything that can be ground into flour, including a variety of peas and mulberries. They also eat starchy foods, rice, grapes, dried fruits, chicken, lamb, and vegetable dishes.

Tajik society is patriarchal, meaning that the authority belongs to the oldest males of the extended family. Inheritance is passed down through the males. After marriage, a new bride moves in with the husband's family. Traditionally, marriages were arranged by the family. Today, however, most Tajik are free to choose who they will marry.

Villages and communities are ruled by a majlis, or council, made up of the male leaders of prominent families. A chief is elected from among them. The "kinship structure" is still dominant in social and political spheres of life. The Tajik live in tight-knit communities and are a very hospitable people.

What are their beliefs?
Most Tajik are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafite branch, but some Shi'ite exist from both the Imami and Isameli sects. Approximately ten percent are classified as non-religious. This has probably been a result of Russian atheistic pressure.

What are their needs?
Various evangelistic resource materials, such as the Jesus film and the Bible, are already available in the Tajiki language. However, the people have remained closed to the Gospel. There are currently no known Tajik believers in Kyrghyzstan and no missions agencies targeting them.

Prayer Points

• Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to Kyrghyzstan and share Christ with the Tajik.
• Pray that God will call out prayer teams to break up the soil through worship and intercession.
• Ask God to raise up long-term workers to live among the Tajik.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit will give vision for outreach and a genuine burden for the Tajik to believers living in this region.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Tajik toward Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.
• Pray that God will open the hearts of Kyrghyzstan's governmental leaders to the Gospel.
• Ask the Lord to raise up a triumphant local church among the Tajik by the year 2000.

See Also the following Tajik groups:
the Afghani Tajik of Afghanistan; the Chinese Tajik;
the Tajik of Kazakstan; Russia; China; Iran; Tajikistan; and Uzbekistan.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Tajik
• Country: Kyrgyzstan
• Their language: Tajik
• Population: (1990) 34,300
  (1995) 37,400
  (2000) 40,500
• Largest religion: Muslim (Hanafite) 85%
  Nonreligious 10%
  Muslim (Shia) 5%
• Christians: None
• Church members: None
• Scriptures in their own language: Bible
• Jesus Film in their own language: Available
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: Available
• Mission agencies working among this people: None
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 11,600 (31%) Those evangelized by local Christians: None
  Those evangelized from the outside: 11,600 (31%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 25,800 (69%)

• Country: Kyrgyzstan
• Population: (1990) 4,362,000
  (1995) 4,744,900
  (2000) 5,142,900
• Major peoples in size order: Kyrgyz 52.4%
  Russian 21.5%
  Uzbek 12.9%
  Ukrainian 2.5%
  German 2.3%
• Major religions: Muslim 65.8%
  Nonreligious 15.2%
  Christian 11.2%
• Number of denominations: 17