Mahra in Saudi Arabia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Arabian culture was developed by tribes of nomads and villagers who lived in the Arabian Desert. It was from there that Arab migrations began, leading to the expansion of the Arab world.

The Mahra are one of the smaller groups of Arabs in the country, composing a very small percentage of the total population. The Mahra live in the far southeastern edge of Saudi Arabia near the borders of Yemen and Oman. They speak an Arabic dialect called Mahri or Harsusi.

The southeastern section of Saudi Arabia has developed a social structure based on a tribal placement system. The tribes are classified into levels of nobility based upon genealogy, responsibility, and marital freedom. The Sunni Muslim Mahra are classified as semi-nomadic warriors, which is, by Arab standards, a position of low recognition.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Mahra Arabs operate in tribes. Each tribe is ruled by a sheik, who is considered an expert in Islam and in relating to the outside world. His responsibilities include administering justice, protecting the tribe, sustaining tribal status, and providing grazing territory for the herds. Their territory is staunchly defended, partly by controlling all of the goods and persons that pass through it.

The Mahra are divided into two main groups. The first group, the semi-nomads, can be found living in the far northeastern portion of the desert. During the winter grazing months, they stay out with their animals; and in the dry, summer months, they move into the villages. The second group, the settled Mahra, spend the year in small, semi-fortified villages raising camels and goats. Some farming takes place in these villages, and domestic animals are kept to supply milk and eggs.

Social life is extremely important to the Mahra. They share a daily coffee time while sitting on the floor and planning the next day's activities. Because wood is expensive and somewhat scarce, animal dung is used as fuel for cooking. The typical daily diet consists of wheat bread and porridge, with an occasional addition of boiled meat or chicken.

The Mahra are an endogamous tribe, which means that they only marry within a small social circle. They are also generally monogamous (one wife, one husband). In the past, marriages were arranged, but, increasingly, individual choice is becoming acceptable. Children are seen as the family's greatest asset. They receive inheritances patrilineally (inheritances are passed down through the males). In this system, boys inherit more than girls. The value of young girls is seen in their ability to have children and bond families through marriage.

Despite the teachings of Islam, traditions that uphold different social classes still persist. The manner of dress has become one of the distinguishing factors of class. Women wear veils both when they are in town and at home. When boys become men, they change their headgear and begin wearing daggers.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Being Muslims, the Mahra follow the teachings of the prophet Mohammed. They believe that the only way to God is through following the teachings of their holy book, the Koran. Their Muslim religion is a religion of works based on these five "pillars" of faith: (1) A Muslim must affirm that "there is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet." (2) Five times a day he must pray while facing Mecca. (3) He must give an obligatory percentage (very similar to tithes) on an annual basis. (4) He must fast during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim year. (5) He must try to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his life.


What Are Their Needs?

The Mahra in Saudi Arabia are virtually all Sunni (orthodox) Muslim. Presently, there are very few known believers within their communities. A profession of faith in Jesus may cost a Mahra his family, his honor, his job, and sometimes his life. Evangelization will be challenging due to the nature of the Arabs' lifestyle and belief system.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to open the doors of Saudi Arabia to the preaching of the Gospel.
Ask the Holy Spirit to call people who are willing to go and share the love of Christ with the Mahra.
Pray that God will give the small number of Mahra believers boldness to share Christ with their families and friends.
Ask God to raise up an army of intercessors who will stand in the gap for the Mahra of Saudi Arabia.
Pray that strong local churches will be raised up among the Mahra.


Scripture Prayers for the Mahra, South Arabic in Saudi Arabia.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Mahra
People Name in Country Mahra, South Arabic
Natural Name Mahra
Pronunciation MAE-rah
Alternate Names Arab Salah; Mahri; Mehri; South Arabic
Population this Country 25,000
Population all Countries 244,000
Total Countries 5
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 13220
ROP3 Code 106046
ROP25 Code 304944
ROP25 Name Mahra
Country Saudi Arabia
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 13  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Eastern Province, Najran, and Riyadh regions.   Source:  Ethnologue 2020
Country Saudi Arabia
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 13  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Eastern Province, Najran, and Riyadh regions..   Source:  Ethnologue 2020
Map of Mahra, South Arabic in Saudi Arabia
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 Mehri (25,000 speakers)
Language Code gdq   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Mehri (25,000 speakers)
Language Code gdq   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Mehri

Primary Language:  Mehri

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1902)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Rod Waddington - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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