Somali Christian Passes Away in Addis Ababa

Last Updated on 17 January 2019

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Rev. 21:4

Abdi Mizan Ahmad, 70, one of the most recognisable Somali Christians in Addis Ababa, passed away peacefully on 14 January 2019. Abdi was hospitalised about 20 days before succumbing to the fatal stroke that robbed him of his vitality. Abdi died after 7 days in coma.  

Abdi became a disciple of Christ in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in 1983 after he was witnessed to by an American expat they met in Jeddah. Abdi has been a faithful follower of Christ since then, and he was known for his bold witness.

Abdi was a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Abdi and his family have been living in Addis Ababa as refugees for over a decade. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees recognised Abdi and his family as refugees in 2015, and a resettlement program has been put in place for them. Abdi’s family will now leave Ethiopia without Abdi.

His wife, Anab survive Abdi, and ten adult children four of whom have been missing since 2012. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren also survive Abdi.

The Somali community of faith in Ethiopia, especially in Addis Ababa, are mourning because of the loss of this wonderful man of God.

While Abdi was a man of few words, he was known for his smile and funny jokes.

Please pray for the family Abdi left behind. May the heavenly Father comfort his physical and spiritual families.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” 
Psalm 34:18

A Legendary Somali Christian Goes to Heaven

SFJ, 14 October 2018
Updated 15 October 2018, 07:00 AM, GMT
Kismayo, Somalia

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

Ali Sharif Ibrahim, 65, has peacefully passed away in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the early hours of 13 October 2018. He leaves behind in Addis Ababa a widow, two sons and a daughter. He is also survived by seven grown-up kids who live in three different continents.

Ali Sharif, as he is popularly known, was an author, hymnologist, evangelist, apologist and above all, a born-again disciple of Christ.

Ali Sharif was born and grew up in southern Somalia under the tutorage of his famous Muslim cleric, Sharif Ibrahim. Ali Sharif was a madrassa teacher in Mogadishu, and one of the most well-known Somali Sufi Muslim clerics in Addis Ababa before the Lord found him a decade ago.

Ali Sharif, a scholar of classical – Quranic Arabic and a fluent speaker of modern Arabic was larger than life figure in the Somali church in Ethiopia; his sermons are available online (mainly YouTube and Facebook) and was a respected expert on Christian – Muslim relations. Ali Sharif’s apologetics have led several Muslim fanatics to the Lord in Addis Ababa and beyond.

A house church pastor in Baidawa, southern Somalia, described Ali Sharif as her spiritual father who encouraged her in her walk with the Lord. A Mogadishu based church leader said that "the Somali church is like an orphan without Ali Sharif's earthly presence, but we will survive this huge loss because of the Lord." A Somali Christian with Somaliland’s Secret Service chronicled how Ali Sharif encouraged him in his faith when they both lived in Addis Ababa 7 years ago.

Somalis for Jesus received within 24 hours of Ali Sharif's passing 81 condolence messages mainly from Somali Christians in Somalia. Ali Sharif will be remembered for his in-depth knowledge of Islam, eloquence, courage, and a great sense of humour.

We belong to Lord Jesus Christ and to Him we return.     

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Gabay: Markhaatifur

Anigoo dhawaan safar dhulka ah kaga soo baxay Hargeisa kuna sii jeeda Berbera ayaan waxaan ku leexday tuulada Macalinkeed Disho oo aan habeen ku hoyday. Anigoo hurdadu meel wacan ii marayso ayaan riyo ku arkay walaashay, xagga ruuxa, Dr. Maryan Cabdullaahi Macalin Maxamed, oo 14 October ee sanadkan ku geeriyootay kharixii ka dhacay Zope. Waxay isoo fartay gabaygan in aan gaarsiiyo Soomaalida.

Dib u eegistii 1aad, 02 November 2017

Maryan ma ahayn Masiixi iyo waxaan, maqlayay maalmahan

Uu maqaal ku soo qoray Bashiir[1], meel walbana geeyay

Ii masabidaayaan gartaa, maalinya habeene

Milgaheeda yaan doonayaa, inaan mar uun sheego

I dhegaysta anigaa murtida, Eebbe igu miisay

Maro kuma xirna oo Bashiir, wuu mutuxan yahay

Ma wakiil ayuu iga yahoo, wuu i matalaayay?

Mindirraacintiisiyo bal eeg, iyo miraafkiisa

Is miidaamintiisan arkaa, meelna loo dayine

Miyuu gacan madoobaadayoo, waa musallif ruuxu?

Muslim Shaaficiya yaan ahaa, aan mala lahayne

Afar sanno mar laga joogo yaan, raacayna Masiixa

Magaciisu iga mayr dembigi, waanan mahadshaaye

Ku mutaystay jannadaan hedeer, aan mushaaxayaaye
Eebbaan ku mahadinahayaa, maqaamka aan joogo

Ina Maxamad aabbahy hadduu, Muslim igu sheegay

Magaciis ha raagee haddii, murugo ay saaqday

In Islaamku uu yahay muquuf, waa mid uu garane

Muqdishuu ku noolyahoo haddeer, la is muquunshaaye

Muslim laaya Muslimiinta yaa, meel walbaba taagan

Ehelkayga mid yaan oranayaa, werefku meermeershay

War Masiixa aamina intaan, maydku idin taaban

Maxamaddiyaddu diin maahine, maqla digniintayda

Waxaa lagu mutaysanahayaa, moolkii naareede

Ka soo baxa mirifkeeda oo, raacana Masiixa

Soomaali Maxamaday i maqal, haygana mashquulin

Muunad beel waxaa idinku riday, madax adayg baase

Hadaad Maxamad diidaan mar hore, raacdaana Masiixa

Muusannawgu wuu hari lahaa, Eebbe maragtiiye

Nabad iyo muwaafaqo ayaad, mudan lahaydeene

Sayiddii Masiixii ayaan, joogaa midigtiisa

I maashayday farxadoo ma qabo, murugoo idile

Maqsuud yaan runtii ahay hadeer, waana loo marage

Muslimnimo kumaan dhimanine, Eebbe mahadiise

Anigoo Masiixiya ayuu, mawdku i haleelay

In Masiixi aan ahay anigu, mar hore cadaystay

Mana dafarin weligay, anigu Macalin Nuurkeeye

Maskax yaanse leeyahoo runtii, aan miciin sadaye

Marinada  lamaan taagnahayn, milladda taydaaye

Garaadkaynu magansanuu na baray, Macalinkeenniiye

Rev. Sabaah Mohamed Omaar

Somalia Director, Somalis For Jesus

Somalisforjesus@yahoo.com

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[1] Bashiir M. Xersi. Maryan Ma Ahayn Masiixiyad. Caasimada.net. 2017. Waxaan daalacday 01 November 2017.