The term "Moor" is generally applied to any person, regardless of skin color, who speaks one of the Hassaniya dialects. Therefore, there are both black and white Moors who speak the same language. This language, in its purest form, draws heavily from the original Yemeni Arabic spoken by the Bani Hassan tribe, which invaded northwest Africa during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Traditional Moorish society is primarily nomadic and is organized into successive ranks of tribes, clans, sub-clans, and tent units. Several tribes form a tribal alliance. Their social structure resembles that of other Saharan and Arab tribal societies. Over the years, many wars, bandit raids, and organized attacks took place in this region, causing the nomads to live in a constant state of insecurity. They produced a complex social structure in an attempt to defend themselves. Today, the Moors have four basic class divisions based on heritage, race, and occupation. The White Moors form the two upper classes, while the Black Moors make up the two lower classes. Starting in 711 Arabs, Moors and Berbers invaded Spain and Portugal. They controlled all or part of this part of Europe for hundreds of years. Since that time Spain and Portugal managed to control what is now Mauritania. This part of history has made it harder for Europeans to accept migrants, legal or illegal, from Mauritania. Some of them arrive on their shores destitute and desperate for employment.

Many former French colonies in North Africa where the Moors live have been independent for many years but have not been able to escape the difficulties that most fledgling developing countries face. The fact that Mauritanian people have limited access to health care, coupled with poor living conditions and high unemployment, leaves the young people with very little choice. Many decide to embark on a dangerous journey in the hope of eking out a living in European countries like France. Some of them are met with scorn, but that is far better than facing dire poverty like they did in Mauritania.

Moors are virtually all Sunni Muslim. White Moors adopted Arab culture and Sunni Islam is part of this cultural package. The Black Moors also hold to Sunni Islam, but they are not as likely to be committed to it as the other group. Most likely, if someone were to try to reach out to the Moors in France, they would have to do separate church planting efforts among each of these two groups.

The Moors need job training to fit in with France's modern industrial economy.

Pray that the Moors in France will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings. Pray for workers who are driving by the love and boldness of the Holy Spirit to go to them. Pray for a disciple making movement among them to begin this decade.

Scripture Prayers for the Moor in France.