The Izarguien are Saharan Arabs, a sub-group of the Tekna tribe. The Tekna is a tribal confederation of Berber and Arab origins in southern Morocco and parts of northern Western Sahara. The Tekna tribes speak the Hassaniya Arabic and Berber Tamazight languages. Their traditional lifestyle was partly nomadic, based on camel and goat herding, and partly sedentary, controlling important routes of the Saharan caravan trade.
The Izarguien people in Western Sahara are in a state of transition. Their nomadic past is in jeopardy, but they do not have a clear path before them. What will be their livelihood in the future? Tight knit clans dominate their social lives. Their family structure is patriarchal; inheritance and most of the decision-making power comes from the father's side of each family.
The Izarguien people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the One, Supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship. The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah. Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will. In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them deal with spiritual forces.
It would be very dangerous for an Izarguien to become a follower of Jesus Christ; such a person would probably be ostracized by his clan, leaving them isolated and vulnerable. They need the chance to embrace the only savior. Workers need to try to win their elders to the foot of the cross.
Pray for the Izarguien tribe to be able to provide adequately for their needs. Pray for the widow, the orphan and the elderly to have their needs met. Pray these people will be able to adjust to the changing requirements of the modern era. Pray Izarguien believers will be firmly grounded on the truths of Scripture, not mixing the grace offered through Christ with a religion of good works. Pray they will understand the priority of living a life obedient to Christ as an expression of thanksgiving.
Scripture Prayers for the Izarguien in Western Sahara.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Izarguien |
People Name in Country | Izarguien |
Pronunciation |
ee-ZAR-ghee-en
|
Alternate Names | Aita; Foikat |
Population this Country | 35,000 |
Population all Countries | 54,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 12303 |
ROP3 Code | 104134 |
ROP25 Code | 303289 |
ROP25 Name | Izarguien |
Country | Western Sahara | ||
Region | Africa, North and Middle East | ||
Continent | Africa | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Country | Western Sahara |
Region | Africa, North and Middle East |
Continent | Africa |
10/40 Window | Yes |
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 (35,000 speakers) |
Language Code | mey Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Hassaniyya (35,000 speakers) |
Language Code | mey Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Hassaniyya |
Primary Language: Hassaniyya
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (2002-2005) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes |
Bible-Complete | No |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Audio Recordings | Audio New Testament | General / Other |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories | One Story |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation | Create International |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Hassaniyya | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Bible for Children | Bible for Children |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Scripture Earth Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2024 Imeduard - Shutterstock All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |