Romani, Halebi in Egypt

People Name:	Romani, Halebi
Country:	Egypt
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	1,000,000
World Population:	1,000,000
Primary Language:	Arabic, Egyptian
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	0.05 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Domari
Affinity Bloc:	Persian-Median
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Halebi is an Egyptian name for Romani. The Halebi reside in the Nile delta in four tribes. They claim to come from Yemen or Syria, but this is uncertain. Traditionally, the men trade in horses and the women practice folk medicine, fortune-telling and divination. They also performed music for weddings. There are three main Romani subgroups in Egypt: the Nawar, Ghagar and the Halebi. Some migrated to Sudan because of economic hardship.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Today the Halebi Romani have low status in Egypt just as they did in generations past. For that reason, most have low income jobs. Some try to disguise their identity.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Halebi Romani in people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the 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 with spiritual forces.

What Are Their Needs?

The Halebi Romani people need to put their identity and hope in Jesus Christ, who provides for all spiritual and physical needs.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to demonstrate his love and power by providing for Halebi Romani families. Pray for the Lord to give the Halebi Romani a sense of spiritual need. Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers to the Halebi Romani people in Egypt. Pray for Halebi Romani disciple to make more disciples.