第二天 東北非的索馬里人──Day 2 The Somali people of northeastern Africa
For English version, please refer to the latter part of this page
索馬里語的使用者，在全球未得之民中名列前茅。他們主要生活在索馬里，分布在非洲東北地區，也被稱為“非洲之角”，如埃塞俄比亞、肯尼亞、厄立特里亞，以及中東的一些國家。索馬里本身在今年的《打開門之世界觀察》全球基督徒受迫害名單中排名第二，成為基督徒生活最為困難的國家之一。
他們的主要宗教是伊斯蘭教，占 99.7%，而基督教僅占 0.3%。索馬里憲法規定伊斯蘭教為國教，禁止穆斯林改信或傳播伊斯蘭教以外的宗教，並要求所有法律遵循伊斯蘭教法的普遍原則。憲法要求索馬里的領袖政治家必須是穆斯林。
索馬里人信奉同一種信仰，承接祖輩的游牧生活方式。一個典型的索馬里家庭，有一群綿羊或山羊，由婦女和女孩照顧，還有一些負載重物的駱駝。有些人可能還有一群產奶駱駝。男人和男孩們喜歡重要的駱駝。一個人擁有的駱駝越多，他的威望就越大。
索馬里人認為自己是戰士，男人會把留在家中照顧牛群的任務交給女人，這樣他們可以訓練自己成為更有能力的戰士。他們是非常個人主義的人，氏族界限分明，其中最大的兩個是 Somaal（主要是游牧牧羊人）和 Sab（通常定居在社區中，以農民或手工藝者為主）。
索馬里人之間經常發生氏族之間的鬥爭，導致許多人死亡。
索馬里人的生活往往受到水源的限制，因為該地區極易發生干旱，降雨量極少。游牧民居住在易於折疊和移動的小屋中，可以隨著牛群的移動而搬遷，而定居的農民則住在固定的圓屋中。
在氏族之間，食物的充足供應是一種身份的像征。每個家庭定期為親戚和朋友舉行宴會。一個家庭的威望取決於宴會的頻率、受邀人數以及提供的食物的質量和數量。
生活在南部非洲的索馬里基督徒Awaale說，許多穆斯林對基督教有疑問。他說：“穆斯林面臨的主要掙扎是關於三位一體的教義。他們難以理解神有一位兒子，即耶穌基督，他們寧願將耶穌看作先知，而不是神。” Awaale解釋說，穆斯林害怕因接受任何基督教教義而背叛伊斯蘭，從而違抗安拉和伊斯蘭法，這可能導致死刑。“他們害怕放棄伊斯蘭，最終墮入地獄。”
Awaale分享了他的家人因為他改信基督教而對他非常憤怒，他們譴責他信錯了，他因此非常難過。“我不能回家探望我的家人，甚至大多數朋友，因為我可能會因為背叛伊斯蘭而被監禁甚至被處決。”根據伊斯蘭法，背叛（違抗安拉）被判定是處以死刑的罪行。“但諷刺的是，他們否認而且不理解基督教信仰的真理和盼望，這讓人感到悲傷和沮喪。”
禱告
天父，我為生活在索馬里、
被敵意和仇恨包圍的信徒祈求力量和足夠的勇氣。
在他們孤單的時刻，願他們看到耶穌是君王，已經勝過他們的仇敵。
主啊，求你保護他們。
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Day 2 The Somali people of northeastern Africa
Somali speakers are ranked among the least-reached people groups in the world. They live mostly in Somalia and are across other countries in the northeast region of Africa, also known as the “Horn of Africa”, such as Ethiopia, Kenya and Eritrea, and also in the Middle East. Somalia itself ranks second this year in Open Doors’ World Watch List of countries worldwide where being a Christian is most difficult.
Islam is the predominant religion, at 99.7%, whereas Christianity is at only 0.3%. Somalia’s constitution declares Islam as the state religion, prohibits Muslims from converting to or propagating any religion other than Islam, and requires all laws to comply with the general principles of Shariah, or Islamic law. The constitution requires Somalia’s leading politicians to be Muslim.
Somalis adhere to a single faith and share a cultural heritage that is an integral part of their nomadic lifestyle. A typical Somali family owns a herd of sheep or goats, which the women and girls care for, and a few burden camels. Some may also own a herd of milking camels. The men and boys enjoy taking care of the prized camels. The more camels a man owns, the greater his prestige.
As Somalis consider themselves warriors, the men sometimes leave women in charge of the herds, so that they might train to become more effective fighters. They are a very individualistic people, sharply divided by clans, of which the two largest are the Somaal (primarily nomadic shepherds) and the Sab (normally settled in communities and working as farmers or craftsmen). Fights often occur between clans, resulting in many deaths.
A Somali´s life is often dictated by the ability to find water, as the area is extremely drought-prone, having minimal rainfall. The nomads live in easily collapsible and movable huts, enabling their homes to be moved with the herds in search of water. The more settled farmers live in permanent round huts.
Having an abundant supply of food is a status symbol among the clans. Each family periodically holds banquets for their relatives and friends. A family’s prestige is determined by the frequency of its feasts, the number of people invited, and the quality and quantity of food served.
According to Awaale, a Somalian Christian who left his homeland and now lives in southern Africa, many Muslims have questions about Christianity. “One main struggle for Muslims concerns the doctrine of the Trinity,” he says. “They find it difficult to comprehend that God has a son, in Jesus Christ, and rather see Jesus as a prophet, not as God.” Awaale explains that Muslims fear betraying Islam by accepting any Christian doctrine, thereby disobeying Allah and the Shariah, which can result in a death sentence for conversion. “They are afraid of abandoning Islam and subsequently ending up in hell.”
Awaale shares how saddened he is by the fact that his own family is angry about his conversion to Christianity and condemns his faith, which they claim is a false belief. “I cannot return home to visit my family and even most friends, as I would probably be imprisoned or even executed for my betrayal of Islam.” The crime of apostasy (disobeying Allah) is regarded as worthy of a death sentence, according to Shariah. “The irony is that it´s so sad and frustrating that they deny and do not understand the truth and hope of the Christian faith.”
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I pray for strength and abundant courage for believers
living in Somalia, surrounded by hostility and hate. In their lonely moments,
may they see Jesus as their King and conqueror of their foes.
Protect them, Lord.
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