Saudi Arabia is home to a number of different Arab groups. The Hijazi Arabs (more commonly known as the Saudi Arabs) form the majority of the local Saudi Arabian population and live predominantly along the Red Sea coast and in the major urban areas. They speak a language called Arabiya, or, as it is more commonly called, Hijazi Arabic.
The Arab culture was developed by tribes of nomads and villagers who lived in the Arabian Desert. From there, Arab migrations spread throughout the Middle East and northern Africa, leading to the expansion of the Arab world.
Though most of the Hijazi speakers are in Saudi Arabia, some are in Qatar, one of the smaller gulf countries.
Most of the Hijazi Arabic speakers in Qatar live and work in the urban centers, especially Doha. In accordance with their Muslim religion, Gulf Arab peoples like the Hijazi speakers only marry within a small social circle. Inheritance is patrilineal (passed down from fathers to their sons). Like other Gulf Arabs, their clothing is designed for the harsh desert climate. It is made of lightweight, light-colored fabric and is also loose-fitting, allowing for the circulation of air.
Arabia once had a large Christian population, but they were expelled when Islam gained control 1,300 years ago
The Hijazi Arabs are virtually all Sunni Muslims, but within Sunni Islam there are a variety of smaller sects. The founding of Islam in the seventh century profoundly altered the course of the history in the Arabian Peninsula where both Saudi Arabia and Qatar lie.
Few of the Hijazi Arabs in either Saudi Arabia or Qatar have accepted Jesus as their Savior. A profession of faith in Jesus will most likely cost a person his family, his honor, his job, or even his life. Evangelization of this group will be challenging, due to the nature of their lifestyle and belief system. It will take much prayer to break down the spiritual strongholds that have kept them away from the blessings of Jesus Christ for hundreds of years.
Pray that the gospel message will become widely available to the Hijazi Arabic speakers. There are gospel recordings in their language.
Pray that this people group will crave pure spiritual milk and find it in the gospel. Pray for Hijazi Arab leaders to have dreams of the risen and victorious Christ, who came to forgive us of sin and free us from the work of Satan.
Pray for a movement to Christ among the Hijazi Arabs that will last for generations to come.
Scripture Prayers for the Arab, Saudi - Hijazi in Qatar.
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
