Day Two: Saudi Arabian Tribes

Be among the first to pray by name for the Shahran tribe

For the majority of Saudi Arabians their association to a tribe is a significant part of their social and cultural identity. People from Western countries have lost much of the experience of belonging to a very large extended family. For example: few Westerners can recite the names of their ancestors for 5-10 or more generations, however, it is not rare for some peoples in the Middle East to have this ability.

The Shahran Tribe

The Shahran tribe has an estimated 250,000 members, and is one of the largest in Arabia. The leadership of the Shahran tribe has belonged to the House of Mushayt for several hundred years and the tribe’s principal city is Khamis Mushayt. This is the largest city in ‘Asir province in South Western Arabia near the border with Yemen. Khamis Mushayt is the 8th largest city in Saudi Arabia with a population of about 630,000.

In 632 AD Surad Ibn Abd Allah Al-Azadi led a delegation of people from the ‘Asir region to declare their commitment to Mohammed and Islam. Mohammed made Surad ruler of the Muslims in ‘Asir, urging him to spread the Islamic faith and fight the polytheists. Surad returned to the ‘Ashir region and conquered it for Islam.

Prayer Starters

* There are very few followers of Jesus, if any at all, in this tribe at the present time. Remember the joy at your own salvation and pray along those lines.

* Pray with family and friends for opportunities for some of the Shahran to hear the Gospel through their travels abroad, through radio, internet and possibly satellite broadcasts.

* Pray for opportunities for some of the Shahran to hear the Gospel through their travels abroad, through radio, internet and possibly satellite broadcasts.

* The vast majority of this tribe are very much cut off from any significant access to the Gospel. It is illegal to proclaim the Gospel in Saudi Arabia; Many Christian internet sites are blocked and very few followers of Jesus ever travel to or live in Khamis Mushayt and the surrounding area.

The Clans:

We suggest that you actually pray through the whole list of names below. It is probable that you are among some of the first people on earth to actually pray for these clans of the Shahran tribe in Jesus’ name (Revelation 7:9).

Al-Rshaid (آل رشيد ), Al-Koad (آل كود ), Nahess (قبائل ناهس), Al-alGhmer (آل الغمر ), Banou Manbah (بنو منبه ), Banou Waheb (بنو واهب ), Banou Bejaad (بنو بجاد ), Banou Majoor (بنو ماجور ), Banou Selool (بنو سلول), Al Zelal (الزلال), Al’Hejaj (الحجاج), Al Garaeen (القراعين), Banou Qouhafah (بنو قحافه ), Al-Sarhan (آل سرحان), Banou Rash’hah (بنو رشحه), Al-Remtheen (الرمثين), Al-alSerh (آل السرح), Al-Mettair (آل مطير ), Al-alSafq (آل الصفق), Al-Na’man (آل نعمان), Al Jehrah (الجهرة), Ahel AlHaqou (أهل الحقو ), Ahel AlSha’af (أهل الشعف), Al Yanfa’ (آل ينفع), Banou Malek (بنو مالك)

Day One: Marriage in Tajikstan

A Muslim Woman’s empty dreams

Tonight, the respected businessman Sharif is going to visit Nazira’s family. On the telephone he said he wants to talk with her father about a new car, but Nazira knows the real reason for his visit. Nazira is already 24 years old and single. For quite some time her family has been looking around for a potential husband for her. However, that is not so easy. Farud, for example, who wanted to marry her three months ago, is an alcoholic, like many people in Tajikistan.

Evening came and Sharif visited Nazira’s family. Since the civil war of the 1990’s, this Central Asian country is slowly recuperating and business is steadily growing. Sharif is one who is doing well economically. His house has running water with regular electricity and he drives a German car. In Tajikistan the estimated average annual income is around 250 Euros per person, but Sharif is one of the exceptions. He already had two wives and Nazira will become his third. It seems obvious that Sharif is a good candidate. Quickly the parents agree and arrangements are made. The wedding will take place in the coming two weeks. Everyone is happy, however Nazira realises that some of her cherished dreams will not come true.

It is estimated that the number of Tajikistan workers in Russia number about one million. Since there are only seven million people in Tajikistan, this means that a large percentage of the male population is away from home. Women and children are in the majority. In the villages the women live amid tensions between old traditions, atheism and a new wave of radical Islam.

Tajikistan believers were few and far between even when there was freedom of religion. Now worries about radical Islam are being countered with new laws to restrict the rights of small religious groups. These laws also affect Christians.

Prayer Starters

* Pray for increasingly healthy and Biblically oriented families among the followers of Jesus in this nation.

* Pray for the many Tajik men in surrounding countries to be reached with the Good News.

* Pray that Tajikistan believers can develop more and more their own style of worship in their own language.

* Pray in small groups for women like Nazira, remembering many Muslim women receive dreams from Jesus.

Did you know:

LIMITED NUMBER OF WIVES
Mohammed limited the number of wives in Islamic marriage to four spouses. Previously some men had been marrying many more women than they could support financially. According to Muslim scholars women were better treated in Arabia following the rise of Islam than previously. Islam recognizes that men are especially weak in the sexual realm. The possibility of having four wives is seen as a limit on man’s sexual urges and thus gives stability to society.