Faifi in Saudi Arabia

Map Source:  People Group location: Ethnologue / GADM. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.
People Name: Faifi
Country: Saudi Arabia
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 53,000
World Population: 53,000
Primary Language: Faifi
Primary Religion: Islam
Christian Adherents: 0.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Translation Needed
Online Audio NT: No
Jesus Film: No
Audio Recordings: No
People Cluster: Ethio-Semitic
Affinity Bloc: Horn of Africa Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Faifi is a language spoken by a small number of people in Saudi Arabia. It is an ancient language spoken in Jabal Fayfa.

What Are Their Lives Like?

This language is being replaced by more prominent languages in that country: Hejazi, Nejdi and Standard Arabic. Those who speak Faifi tend to be elderly. Younger people who speak this language are being educated in other languages, and they often move elsewhere for employment. This situation will contribute to the demise of the Faifi language.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Saudi Arabia prides itself in being the world's center for Sunni Islam. Saudis are conservative; Faifi speakers are exceptionally conservative. Sunni Islam is a central part of the identity of these people who speak an ancient language. As far as we know there are no Christian believers nor has there ever been any among this people group.

What Are Their Needs?

Even by Saudi standards the Faifi speakers are unreached. They have remained relatively isolated by geography.

These people need to put their hope and identity in the King of kings and Lord of lords. How will the hear if there is no one to preach to them? Perhaps radio and gospel recordings in the Faifi language will reach them.

Prayer Points

Pray for workers to go to the Faifi people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their savior.

Pray for families of believers loving and serving others to grow reproducing churches.

Pray for a chain reaction of families reaching families that results in thousands of new believers who share their faith with others.

Pray for grace and truth expanding into their entire society as all believers learn to love others.

Text Source:   Joshua Project