Moor in Belgium

Introduction / History

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 until the end of the colonial era.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The level of poverty in Mauritania and other African nations has caused many to risk their lives to reach Europe in a desperate attempt to find employment. The number of Moors in Belgium is very small. They are mainly from the Black Moor groups. These people have held demonstrations in Brussels regarding the problem of slavery in Mauritania. There has been a long history of White Moors enslaving Black Moors in that country.

What Are Their Beliefs?

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 Belgium, they would have to do separate church planting efforts among each of these two groups.

What Are Their Needs?

The Moors need job training so they can contribute to Belgium's modern economy.

Prayer Points

Pray that the Moors in Belgium 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.

Text Source:   Joshua Project