Razihi in Yemen

The Razihi have only been reported in Yemen
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Though we think of Yemen as an Arabic-speaking nation, there are smaller languages and dialects spoken at the local level. One of these is Razihi. Linguists do not agree about whether Razihi is based on Arabic or not. This language is mutually unintelligible with modern Arabic, so the few people who speak this language must learn the form of Arabic spoken by others in Yemen.


Where Are they Located?

The few who speak this language live in the far northwestern corner of Yemen.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The people who speak Razihi live like the other people of Yemen. Most people earn their living by herding livestock and growing meager crops in a dry climate. Others work in the oil industry. Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world, and over half live in poverty as defined by the World Bank.

Yemen suffers more than just about any other country from a lack of potable water. They exacerbate the situation by growing qat, a mild stimulant that requires much water. People spend much of their time and energy with this drug.


What Are Their Beliefs?

All speakers of Razihi are Muslim. They depend on the teachings of Mohammed as spelled out in the Koran rather than the blood of Jesus Christ for their salvation.

With the high incidence of substance abuse from qat in Yemen, it is clear that many are not serious about obeying the Koran. People who have lived there say that Yemenis will accept any behavior as acceptable so long as it is done in the name of Islam. Few can read classical Arabic to learn the teachings of the Koran, so they depend on imams to teach them.


Prayer Points

Pray for Razihi speakers to seek and find new spiritual answers from Jesus Christ.
There are no Christian resources in the Razihi language. Pray for them to be able to hear His truth in a language they can understand.
Pray for Razihi speakers to start the process of finding new water sources and ending their dependence on qat.


Scripture Prayers for the Razihi in Yemen.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razihi_language
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/in-yemen-everyday-life-goes-from-bad-to-worse/
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article1963413.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-guantanamo-alrzihi-idUSBREA3O18L20140425
http://projects.nytimes.com/guantanamo/detainees/45-ali-ahmad-muhammad-al-rahizi
https://www.jstor.org/stable/41223879?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/12/clashes-leave-scores-dead-northern-yemen-151219181932601.html


Profile Source:   Global Prayer Digest  

Additional Info
Global Prayer Digest: 2018-12-13
People Name General Razihi
People Name in Country Razihi
Pronunciation RRAZH-uh-hee
Alternate Names
Population this Country 82,000
Population all Countries 82,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
People ID 20969
ROP3 Code 117678
Country Yemen
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 3  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Sa’dah Governorate: Rāziḥ district; region of Jabal Rāziḥ massif, numerous small settlements.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Yemen
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 3  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Sa’dah Governorate: Rāziḥ district; region of Jabal Rāziḥ massif, numerous small settlements..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
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 Razihi (82,000 speakers)
Language Code rzh   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Razihi (82,000 speakers)
Language Code rzh   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Razihi

Primary Language:  Razihi

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source Anonymous  
Profile Source Global Prayer Digest 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.