Regeibat in Morocco


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Regeibat comprise several tribes of Bedouin nomads in the interior of Morocco. They are one of the Sahrawi tribes. At one time they were a semi-sedentary religious tribe. In the 18th century they turned to camel rearing for their livelihood. The Regaibats were often raided by neighboring tribes. Eventually they took up arms and became successful raiders themselves. The Regaibat people had a reputation as a warrior tribe that would not compromise their independence. This tribe fought against French and Spanish colonizers. They were not subdued by the Spaniards until 1934. From the 1970s on the Regaibats have been involved with protecting the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Regeibat people in Morocco 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. 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.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Regeibat 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 with spiritual forces.


What Are Their Needs?

The Regeibat community needs to trade in their charms and amulets for the abundant life offered only by Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray for workers needed to sow God's Word into Regeibat families, healing and strengthening households with God's blessings. Pray for spiritual hunger among the Regeibat families that will lead them to embracing the sin-forgiving Savior. Pray for the Lord to bring about a movement to Christ among them soon.


Scripture Prayers for the Regeibat in Morocco.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Regeibat
People Name in Country Regeibat
Alternate Names Reguibat
Population this Country 40,000
Population all Countries 115,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 14536
ROP3 Code 108344
ROP25 Code 306988
ROP25 Name Regeibat
Country Morocco
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 24  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Widespread, south of Atlas Mountains, including Sahara port cities.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Morocco
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 24  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Widespread, south of Atlas Mountains, including Sahara port cities..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

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 Arabic, Moroccan (40,000 speakers)
Language Code ary   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Arabic, Moroccan (40,000 speakers)
Language Code ary   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Arabic, Moroccan
Photo Source Saharawi Network 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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