Moor in Belgium


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The term "Moor" is generally applied to any person, regardless of skin color, who speaks one of the Hassaniya dialects. Therefore, there are both black and white Moors who speak the same language. This language, in its purest form, draws heavily from the original Yemeni Arabic spoken by the Bani Hassan tribe, which invaded northwest Africa during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Traditional Moorish society is primarily nomadic and is organized into successive ranks of tribes, clans, sub-clans, and tent units. Several tribes form a tribal alliance. Their social structure resembles that of other Saharan and Arab tribal societies. Over the years, many wars, bandit raids, and organized attacks took place in this region, causing the nomads to live in a constant state of insecurity. They produced a complex social structure in an attempt to defend themselves. Today, the Moors have four basic class divisions based on heritage, race, and occupation. The White Moors form the two upper classes, while the Black Moors make up the two lower classes. Starting in 711 Arabs, Moors and Berbers invaded Spain and Portugal. They controlled all or part of this part of Europe for hundreds of years. Since that time Spain and Portugal managed to control what is now Mauritania until the end of the colonial era.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The level of poverty in Mauritania and other African nations has caused many to risk their lives to reach Europe in a desperate attempt to find employment. The number of Moors in Belgium is very small. They are mainly from the Black Moor groups. These people have held demonstrations in Brussels regarding the problem of slavery in Mauritania. There has been a long history of White Moors enslaving Black Moors in that country.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Moors are virtually all Sunni Muslim. White Moors adopted Arab culture and Sunni Islam is part of this cultural package. The Black Moors also hold to Sunni Islam, but they are not as likely to be committed to it as the other group. Most likely, if someone were to try to reach out to the Moors in Belgium, they would have to do separate church planting efforts among each of these two groups.


What Are Their Needs?

The Moors need job training so they can contribute to Belgium's modern economy.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Moors in Belgium will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings. Pray for workers who are driving by the love and boldness of the Holy Spirit to go to them. Pray for a disciple making movement among them to begin this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Moor in Belgium.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Moor
People Name in Country Moor
Pronunciation moorh
Alternate Names Bidan; Bidan Maure; Bithan; Hassaniya; White Moor
Population this Country 1,500
Population all Countries 4,709,000
Total Countries 12
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 13592
ROP3 Code 106417
Country Belgium
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Belgium
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Hassaniyya (1,500 speakers)
Language Code mey   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Hassaniyya (1,500 speakers)
Language Code mey   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Hassaniyya
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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