somali christian is it a fact or a fiction

[Chimera]

Nur Salaam

 

Somalis were allready practicing monotheistic religions before Islam came hence why it was so compatible for our ancestors to adopt the new religion, another factor that explains why Islam won so many followers is because of the ancient commercial network that connected the Indian Ocean,Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea which came under the Caliphate's influence after the collapse of the Persian Empire and the weakening of the Byzantines. Somali merchants were a intregal part off this trade network:

 

After the Roman conquest of the Nabataean Empire in the 1st century BC and the Roman naval presence at Aden to curb piracy, Arabian merchants barred Indian merchants from trading in the free port cities of the Arabian peninsula because of the nearby Roman presence. They however continued to trade in the port cities of the Somali peninsula which was free from any Roman threat or spies. The reason of barring Indian ships from entering the wealthy Arabian port cities was to protect and hide the exploitative trade practices of the Somali and Arabian merchants in the extremely lucrative ancient Red Sea - Mediterraean Sea commerce. The Indian merchants for centuries brought large quantities of Cinnamon from Ceylon and the Far East to Somalia and Arabia. This is said to have been the best kept secret of the Arabian and Somali merchants in their trade with the Roman and Greek world. The Romans and Greeks believed the source of cinnamon to have been the Somali peninsula but in reality the highly valued product was brought to Somalia by way of Indian ships and through Somali and Arabian intermediaries Indian cinnamon was exported for far higher prices in North Africa, the Middle East and Europe which made the cinnamon trade a very profitable revenue maker, especially for the Somali merchants through whose hands the largest quantities were shipped across the ancient sea and land routes.

 

^The above is only an abstract of a larger article i'm currently writing on Ancient Somalia supported by various sources, but it's enough to help me explain why the conversion of the ancestors of the Yemenis and Omanis played a large role in the conversion of the Somalis. There was never a Futuh al Somal because the introduction of Islam was gradual and peaceful and the result of commerce.

 

Somalis had a good system in place that resembled the ancient greek city states, with Islamic centers widespread and port cities flourishing, but this was before their territories were ripped apart and given away to undeserving parties who never controlled it. Then we were told to be happy with the crumbs, i admire our past presidents for rejecting the colonial borders because Ethiopia is literally a thorn in our side(just look at the map) but this has largely contributed to our current ills, i would bet my savings (if that was halaal) that modern Somalia would not be in a civil war if it wasn't forced to fight it's neighbours in a legitimate quest of helping our brethren trapped across the borders

 

Somalia in 2006 saw a turning point and it doesn't matter how much it's enemies - wether through soft power or brutal force - are seeking to return Somalia to the warlord/anarchy era it's not going to happen, i'm very confident that we will get through this Insha-allah!

[Fabregas]

The above comments remind of the companions when they started to pour liqour down the streets of Medina as the ayat prohibiting alcohol was revealed.Sahabas were so willing to part with an ancient arab custom simply because they understood that "la-ilaha-ilalaah" meant one had to subordinate/dISCard their own personal desires, aspects of their forefathers cultures, their friends and family, in line with what the creator had legislated, and not human beings. It also meant that sahabas were willing to undergo persecution, migration, loss of wealth and many other difficulties just for the sake of those words.

 

 

On the other hand, many people were willing to exhaust all avenues to combat the companions message, as they were deemed to be insulting the culture and religion of their forefathers. Some knew that Islam was the truth in their hearts, yet they rejected it due to fear of/ or pride in their customs. In fact, if you read the stories of the quran- you'll find that one common theme and defense of those who rejected the prophets' call was:

 

They said: "O Shu’ayb! Does thy (religion of) prayer command thee that we leave off the worship which our fathers practiced , or that we leave off doing what we like with our property? truly, thou art the one that forbeareth with faults and is right-minded!"

 

They said, 'Have you come to us to make us worship Allah alone and abandon what our fathers used to worship? Then bring us what you have promised us if you are telling the truth.' (7:70)

 

They said (to Musa), 'Have you come to us to turn us from what we found our fathers doing, and to gain greatness in the land? We do not believe you.' (10:78)

 

ABU- DIABY...........my opinion on christianity is that modern day "christians" follow the teachingS( or at least what is attributed to him in the bIBLE) of a man who never met Jesus and claimed to have miraclously been contated by him, Paul or Zaul, and not the monotheistic teachings of cISA(CS). maybe i'll write something up on that one time..........got to run salamucalaykum...... ......

[Fabregas]

Adam;

 

Somali religion might have been monotheistic in many aspects, but it still had(we are guessing) large similarities with other shirk religions that Ancient Egyptians, Oromos, Arabs and many peoples practiced.

 

So, they might have professed to believe in a monotheistic GOd.

HOWever, at that same time, they also had a range of intermediaries, evil spirits, sorcerers, pious ancestors who were supplicated to, fertility enhancing rituals, magic, etc.

 

Some of these rituals have been modified and given an Islamic name in many nations. For example, the Somali cult of venerating and giving powers to dead sheikhs can be said to merely be a revision of ancient Cushitic religion, where ancestor veneration held a high place.

 

Islam never came to make Christians, Jews or Arabs to believe in Allah or the existence of a creator, as they already did. It came to tell them to stop setting up intermediaries, intercessors and giving unworthy powers to the creation, which only Allah was capable of carrying out. Today, hindus, christians and sikhs claim to believe in a single creator, yet they associated partners with Allah in worship. In a nutshell, Islam came to direct all methods of supplication and worship to only ALlah. Allah said of the Quraish:

 

"Most of them do not believe in Allaah except while joining partners to Him."38

[Indhoos]

Originally posted by Nur:

Indhoos

 

We appear too quick to force others to experience our faith, which is also normal under the circumstances. But like Shabeel said, faith is a calling, it is dormant within us, it can be triggered from outside when favorable conditions exist, when a person is ready to adopt a faith, all roads will lead to satisfy that faith. But, like a plant, it takes time, or it may never see the light, either way, we need to engage our non Muslim guests in this forum without proselytizing to respect their choice of faith and lifestyle.

 

Nur

Oh I had no intention of forcing someone into our faith or any other faith in that matter... May be my comment came out that way. Sherban, apologies if that is what you read as well.

[Nur]

Adam

 

Thanks again for an interesting account of Islamic history if Somalia. Trade has always been a venue for the spread of Islam in Somalia as well as other far east countries like Indonesia and Malaysia.

 

Your conclusion:

 

Somalia in 2006 saw a turning point and it doesn't matter how much it's enemies - whether through soft power or brutal force - are seeking to return Somalia to the warlord/anarchy era it's not going to happen, i'm very confident that we will get through this Insha-allah!

 

 

Baarkallahu Feek! wise observation that sums it all up for the present and near future.

 

 

Indhoos

 

I didn't mean that you were forceful in this instance, it was a general observation about us Somalis, we usually get ahead of ourselves in excitement when we encounter a non Muslim who has an interest in our faith, coming across, at times, unintentionally forceful.

 

 

Zayla bro.

 

 

Islam never came to make Christians, Jews or Arabs to believe in Allah or the existence of a creator, as they already did. It came to tell them to stop setting up intermediaries, intercessors and giving unworthy powers to the creation, which only Allah was capable of carrying out. Today, hindus, christians and sikhs claim to believe in a single creator, yet they associated partners with Allah in worship. In a nutshell, Islam came to direct all methods of supplication and worship to only ALlah. Allah said of the Quraish: "Most of them do not believe in Allaah except while joining partners to Him."38

 

Jazakallahu Kheiran for clarifying an important point in faith in Allah, its not a mere belief EXCLUSSIVITY OF WORSHIP TO THE CREATOR is the differentiating feature in ISLAM.

 

Nur

[Chimera]

Salaam Nur your welcome! and Abu Zaylaci i concur!

[Sherban Shabeel]

Here is a religious song from my country. Tell me how it sounds:

 

http://www.youtube.c om/watch?v=8Bt76H642 Rk

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

its funny somalis care about somali christians and they think a somali christian is bad because he somali a white christian they dont mind every one should believe what he wants.