The Waaqle Ancient Somali Sky God Magaca Waaq iyo Sidey Somalidii Hore Illaheey ugu Yaqaanen Macgaca Waaq. Qabiilada Somaliyeed ee Waaq logu Magac Daray

Pre-Islaamic Somali beliefs (incipient research)

Disclaimer: The structure of this post is still in its infancy, so bear with me for the lack of a solid structure. It is an unfortunate fact that little to no research has been dedicated to the pre-Islaamic beliefs of ancient Somalis. Whilst lack of empirical evidence contributes to that fact, it is still a fascinating topic that should not be shunned at all. This piece of blog post is a starting point that requires constant refinement. Anyone who is willing to contribute to this neglected topic; your contributions are widely welcome!

Prior to the advent of Islaam, Somalis alongside the Oromos and Afars worshipped a monotheistic Supreme deity that had several names, the oft-used name being Waaq (cf. Oromo: Waaqa). Thus it can be rightfully claimed that Waaq was the Cushitic archaic word for God.

The Sufi thinker Ibn Arabi (d. 1240) writes:

In respect of the fact that the Truth (Al-Haqq) is the Speaker. He mentions Himself by names … These names themselves have names with us in the language of every speaker. In the Arabic language, the name by which He named Himself in respect of being the speaker is “Allaah”, in persian “Khuday,” in Habashi “Waaq” in the tongue of the Franks “Creator” and so on in every language…. (al-Futuhat al-Makiyya II 683.29)

وتركيب حروفها بحسب اللسان والمعنى الموجب للإسم معقول عند المخلوقين فيقول العربي يا الله للذي يقول له الفارسي أي خداي
ويقول له الرومي أيشا ويقول له الأرمني أي أصفاج ويناديه التركي أي تنكري ويناديه الأفرنجي أي كريطور ويقول له الحبشي واق (al-Futuhat al-Makiyya II 683.29)

Other names used are: Ebbe (often in the pronominal suffix Ebbahay ‘my God’) and Baall. Ebbe stands for Father, Master or Lord whilst in the Oromo language (part of Cushitic language branch) it means grace; bless divine favour. The original root meaning is ebis or eba meaning to bless.  Conversely , the Somali world magan,  which stands for grace; favour bears a different meaning in the Sidamo and Kambaata languages (both Cushitic languages): namely God. Baall, although used as one of the names of God, does not have a meaning attached to it.

The etymological word of Waaq is ambiguous; it has its roots in the ancient Cushitic religion as well as Semitic languages. Waaq is mentioned in the Qur’aan on one occasion (13:37). When we break it down, it is derived from the Arabic root word W(a)-Q(a)-Y(a) which means to ‘guard against’. Waqin in this context therefore means a guardian or a protector. When Allaah (Exalted is He) says in the Qur’aan: ” … ma laka mina Allaahi min waliyyin wala waqin” (Ar-Rad 13:37), it denotes that one will neither have a protector or a guardian/defender (Waqin) against Allaah. Allaah is al-Waqin (the Guardian).

Ancient Somalis believed that mankind were Waaq’s creatures subject to His Will and must live in constant fear of Him and praise Him always. They believed that Waaq stands at the centre of His universe as its Supreme Powers and Creator.

Several remote communities uninfluenced by Abrahamic religions have been documented where they follow a monotheistic religion akin to the Abrahamic religions save the obvious dissimilar names. There is a famous hadith (albeit classified as weak in terms of the number of prophets mentioned but the gist is solid as it is corroborated by (Surah an-Nahl 16:36)):

From Aadam to me, Allaah sent a hundred and twenty-four thousand Prophets ,of whom three hundred and fifteen were messengers. (Musnad Ahmed, 21257)

It is therefore a major possibility that Somalis – in the pre-Islaamic epoch – followed a monotheistic belief that they inherited from one of the many callers sent by Allaah to each community. Albeit the principal message has been perverted in due course as with every pre-Islaamic community, several aspects of the traditional monotheism has been unadulterated.

This general monotheistic attitude that the pre-Islaamic Somalis practiced facilitated the easy transfer from discarding their previous religion and adopting the Islaamic faith without any hurdles; as many of their perceptions of a Supreme deity; afterlife; good-and-bad spirits, etc, seemed to go hand-in-hand with the true religion (i.e. Islaam).

For instance, the ancient Somalis use to believe in jinns such as the Saar which by means of special rites is incarnated in some persons or, vice versa, and is obliged to leave the body of one possessed.

Another jinns, indicated as ‘good spirits’ were Ayaan and Guul which in the pre-Islaamic Somali society were seen as minor protectors. Another interpretation given is that they were angels that acted as mediators between God and mankind. Ancient Somalis held the belief that the serpent was one of the main animals the spirits (jinns) might be incarnated. This is similar to the Islaamic belief that one particular type of the Jinn comes in the forms of serpents and dogs (Mushkil al-Athaar, 4/95).

Regarding the word Baall; Somalis until this day still seem to sing a formula to evoke Baall.

Eeho Heebaallow haaya waaye
Hoobaallayey Hoobaallayey
Hoobaallayey Hoobe
Ey hoobaallaayow HooBaall
Ey hoobaallaayow HooBaall
Hoo Baalley.

Unfortunately, no one seems to actually know the meaning of these formulas, many tried to make sense of it or either suggest its origin. However, what is known is that some parts seem to be calling out to Baall as in Hey Baall (Oh God) or Hoo Baall (Take it Baall) perhaps suggesting an offering gesture though it is not precise known what is being offered. The ancient Hebrews (Bani Isreal) used Baall interchangeably with God until it was hijacked by the Canaanites (Phoenicians) so they distanced themselves from calling God using that name. It is not known if it is the same Baall as mentioned in the Glorious Qur’aan which is ‘Ba’al (with ‘ayn) (As-Saaffat 37:125): the pre-Islaamic idol worshipped during Prophet Ilyas’ (Peace be upon him) period.

Several theophorous anthroponyms have been used in clan-names and are found amongst a selection of northern and southern Somali clans. They are: Yabaal, Yabaalle, Baalle, Baallow, Baall-Yiri and HoomBaalle (See Table 1).  Similiarly for Waaq (see Table2 2).

Table 1. Baall in Somali clan-names

Name	Meaning	Clan
Baalle	With Baall	Ciise Muuse Habar Awal, Isaaq Reer Axmed Xuseen Mareexaan, Daarood
Baall-yeri	Word of Baall	Awesame Mareexaan, Daarood
Ya-Baall	Honouring Baall	Reer Maxamed Ogaadeen, Daarood Baahale Ogaadeen,, Daarood Reer Siyaad Xuseen Mareexaan, Daarood Ciise Muuse Habar Awal, Isaaq Agoon-dige Xawaadle, Hawiye Xasanley Mucle Habargidir, Hawiye
Hoom-Baalle	Shadow (silhouette) of Baall	Maqdaan Tanade, Daarood

Table 2. Waaq in Somali clan-names

Somali Name	Meaning	Clan
Aar-Waaq	Lion of God	Abgaal, Hawiye
Amarti-Waaq	God’s order	Majeerteen, Daarood
At-Waaq	Close to God	Abgaal, Hawiye
Bar-Waaq	Blessed by God	Abgaal Hawiye, Dhulbahante Daarood and Ogaadeen Daarood
Bidde-Waaq	Servant of God	Jidle, Hawiye
Caabud-Waaq	Worship God	Ogaadeen, Daaroood
Ciq-Waaq	Saint of God	Abgaal, Hawiye
Dal-Waaq	God’s Country	Geledi, Raxanweyn
Diinti-Waaq	Belief in God	Xawaadle, Hawiye
Guddoon-Waaq	Judgement of God	Majeerteen, Daarood
Gumar-Waaq	Plants of God	Mareexaan, Daarood
Guud-Waaq	Supreme God	Ogaadeen Daarood and Xawaadle Hawiye
Ibraahim-Waaq	?	Mareexaan, Daarood
Jid-Waaq	The path of God	Jid-Waaq Daarood
Lixda-Waaqle	The Six of God	Hadama, Raxanweyn
Magan-Waaq	Protected by God	Jid-Waaq, Daarood
Miyir-Waaq	Serenity of God	Mudulood, Hawiye
Naxariis-Waaq	God’s forgiveness	Murusade, Hawiye
Siin-Waaq	Gift from God	Ogaadeen, Daarood
Si-Waaq-Roon	The True Gift of God	Majeerteen, Daarood
Tagaal-Waaq	Follow of God	Ogaadeen, Daarood
Tala-Waaq	Consult God	Mudulood, Hawiye
Waaq-bari	God of the East	Dabarre, Raxanweyn
Waaq-Biyo	Water of God	Garwaale Raxanweyn and Shiidle
Waaq-Dhaacin	Sacrifice offered to God	Abgaal and Murusade, Hawiye
Waaq-Dheew	Supplication addressed to God	Dabarre, Raxanweyn
Waaq-Doorre	The Choice of God	Hadama, Eelay and Geledi, Raxanweyn
Waaq-Jire	Protected by God	Sacad Habar-Gidir, Hawiye
Waaq-Le	Which God	Ajuuraan and Shiidle
Waaq-Maade	Invisible God	Dabarre, Raxanweyn
Waaq-Mahadle	Gratitude to God	Jidle, Hawiye
Waaq-Mahadshe	Rewarded by God	Mareexaan, Daarood
Waaq-NuurQabe	Light of God	Majeerteen, Daarood
Waaq-Roone	Good of God	Tanade, Daarood
Waaq-Sheen	Given by God	Tunni, Raxanweyn
War-Waaq	Word of God	Habar-Gidir, Hawiye
War-Waaq-Jecle	Loves the Word of God	Mareexaan, Daarood
War-Waaq-Same	Good Word of God	Majeerteen, Daarood
Yuusuf-Waaq	?	Mareexaan, Daarood

http://www.somalimind.com/2012/08/pre-islaamic-somali-beliefs/

WAQOW HABELOW, ama WAQOW REER HABELOW SAA IYO SAAS IDINKU DHACAAN.
Marka Waaqa ey cuskanayaan, waa maxay? waa kii ey caabudi jireen oo wali afkooda ku danbeya.
erayada kale oo samaanta ah waxaa ka mid ; GAR WAAQSO, oo macneheedu yahay: garo garta xaqa ah.
WALIGAA IYO WAAQAA. oo macnaheedu yahay, waligaa inta aand nooshahay
iyo Ilaahey kula jooga. ama afka Ingliiska noqoneysa; Your enternity.

Bide Waaq(currently named Abdikarim)

24/01/2015 

Hi
I just wanted to contribute the fact finding mission of ancient somali religion of Waaq. The other empirical evidence that can be traced back to the long lost monotheistic religion are as following:
(Wadad) the Ancient somali doctor and the Priest:
The ancient somalis had a very modified religious systems call (Dhaqan Eebe-Waaq), for example with reference to the social significance of Bari (pray) and Bar-waaqo ( a gift from God ) . Bar-waaqo was considered a gift from God to the founders and heads of the ancient Wadaads of somalia orders. It is likewise associated with major Gods Tole and Tin-cire and their clan genealogies.
The ancient somali Wadaad has power to bless, but his Bari may have potentially dangerous side effects. His curse(yua’sho) is greatly feared, and his power may harm others. When a wadaad leader visits the leader of another clan, the host’s relative receives him first to draw off some of the visitor’s power so that his own chief may not be injured. 

the Wadaad and the Ancient Somali Astronomy:

The traditional learning of a wadaad includes a form of folk astronomy based on stellar movements and related to seasonal changes. Its primary objective is to signal the times for migration, but it may also be used to set the dates of rituals that are specifically for the ancient Somali. This folk knowledge is also used in ritual methods of healing and averting misfortune, as well as for divination.
Wadaddo – help avert misfortune by making protective amulets and charms that transmit some of their Baryo (blessings) to others, or by adding the some kind of ancient writings to the amulet (Xirsi-xir) through a written passage. The Baryo or the Yu’asho of a wadaad may be obtained in the form of an object that has touched or been placed near his tomb (taalo)
Although wadaddo may use their power to curse as a sanction, misfortune generally is not attributed to curses or witchcraft. the ancient Somalis have accepted the most of these views that a man’s conduct will be judged in an afterlife by Eebe However, a person who commits an antisocial act, such as patricide, is thought possessed of supernatural evil powers (Nidir)
Wadaad the Doctor .
Certain kinds of illness, including tuberculosis and pneumonia, or symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, vomiting, and loss of consciousness, are believed to result from spirit possession call the (Nidir), namely, the wadaddo of the spirit (Ayaanlayaal ) world. The condition is treated by a human wadad, preferably one who has himself recovered from the sickness. He used to read a portions of the Faal (this was the ancient somali Book of spirits) over the patient and bathes him with perfume, which in Somalia is associated with religious celebrations.(Istunka and Bar-waaqoda )
In the case of possession by the zar, a spirit, the ceremony of exorcism used to treat it is sometimes referred to as the “zar cult.” (Mingis) The victims are women with grievances against their husbands. The symptoms are extreme forms of hysteria and fainting fits. The zar exorcism ritual is conducted by a woman who has had the affliction and thus supposedly has some authority over the spirit. The ritual consists of a special dance in which the victim tends to reproduce the symptoms and fall into a trance. The “illness” enables a disgruntled wife to express her hostility without actually quarreling with her husband.
A third kind of spirit possession is known as Mingis (entering), in which the spirit of an injured person troubles the offender. A jilted girl, for example, cannot openly complain if a promise of marriage arranged by the respective families has been broken. Her spirit, however, entering the young man who was supposed to marry her and stating the grievance, causes him to fall ill. The exorcism consists of readings from the Faal and commands from a wadad that the spirit leave the afflicted person.
Gelid-mingis is also thought to be caused by the curse or evil power of a helpless person who has been injured. The underlying notion is that those who are weak in worldly matters are mystically endowed. Such persons are supposed to be under the special protection from Eebe, and kind acts toward them bring religious merit, whereas unkind acts bring punishment. The evil eye, too, is associated with unfortunates, especially women. Thus, members of the Yibir and the Yixir tribes the numerically smallest and weakest of the special occupation groups and traditionally the lowliest socially, are the most feared for their supernatural powers.
Ancient Somalis also used in rituals that derive from in some cases resemble those of other Eastern Cushitic-speaking peoples. Perhaps the most important of these rituals are the annual celebrations of the clan ancestor among northern Somalis – an expression of their solidarity – and the collective rainmaking ritual (roobdoon) performed by sedentary groups in the south.

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[…] Ancient Somali Monetheistic religion-pre-Abrahamic-religion: The Somali god Waaq! Main source Pre-Islaamic Somali beliefs (incipient research) Alternative Source http://waaqeffannaa.org/  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waaq Prior to the […]

http://sayidka.blogspot.ca/2006/01/land-of-gods-brief-study-of-somali.html

http://beeshadireed.blogspot.ca/2011/05/somali-booron-waaqle-worship.html

SOMALI BOORON WAAQLE WORSHIP

Qoraal hore oo aan u bixiyey “Wanaagsane Afkaygoow, Waaqbaan Baryaayaa, Weydnimo ka Dheeroow” oo aan kaga hadlay wadeecada uu ku sugan yahay af-Soomaaligu ayaa akhristeyaasha qaarkood fal-celin si toos ah iiga soo direen. Waxay qaarkood wax iga weydiiyeen: Kumuu ahaa Waaq? Ma sanan buu ahaa? Iyo weydiinno la mid ah. Haddaba qoraalkan waxaan isku deyayaa inaan ku iftiimiyo arrinkan.

Ka hor intaan diinta Islaamku soo gaadhin carriga Soomaaliyeed, waxa la sheegaa inay dadyowgii ku noolaa carrigani ku dhaqmi jireen, xilli xilliyada ka mid ah, diin lagu magacaabi jiray “Diintii Waaq”. Erayga Waaq waxa lagu tarjumaa Eebbahii cirka iyo uunka oo idil (si la mid ah: Rabi’l caalamiin). Waaq waa jire iyo jooge ay caabudi jireen dadyowga ku ab-tirsada sawraca Kush (Cushitic) oo ay ka mid yihiin Oromoda, Saho, Canfarta iyo Soomaalidu. Oromada iyo Soomaaliduba waxay u yaqaaniin Waaq inuu yahay lehaha (ka iska leh) iyo joogteeyaha arlada oo idil (Bartles, 1983, Lewis, 1955 1956), waxa kale oo ay rumeysanaayeen inuu yahay uumaha (abuuraha) iyo maamulaha uunka oo idil, lehna waxa ku sugan cirka (samooyinka) iyo dhulka(1) , isla markaana qaabka uu wax u uumay yahay mid dhammeystiran, maamulidda abuurtiisana si joogto ah ula socda oo aysan wahsi, lulmo iyo hurdona ka jeedinin(2). Sidoo kale, waxay rumeysnaayeen in Waaqyahay ili-ma-qabatay una qaabeysnayn wax dhisaalan oo joog iyo muuq leh (sida sanam oo kale).


Arrimahaas kor ku xusan oo idil, waxa cad in diintii Waaq ay ahayd mid sugeysa kelinimada Eebbee (at-tawxiid). Waxaanay aad uga duwan tahay diimaha kale ee lagu tilmaamo inay bilow yihiin (primitive religions ama bidaai’) ee ka jira meelo badan oo arlada siiba Afrika – diimahaas oo ku dhisan aragti falsafadeed oo ah in noole iyo ma-nooleba ay arwaaxi ku jiraan (animism). Haddaba, qaadashada fudud ama sida degdegga ah ee ay Soomaalidu u qaadatay diinta Islaamka, waxa lala xidhiidhin karaa runta ah in ay Islaamnimada uga horreysay diinta Waaq oo iyana ku dhisnayd kelinimada Eebbe (Sarree oo Korreeye), taasoo u fududeysay inay si dhib yar ula jaan qaadaan(3).

Waxa ilaa maanta af-Soomaaliga laga dhex heli karaa erayo toos loola xidhiidhin karo eraygan “Waaq”, sida: Gar-waaqsi oo muujinaysa in ay gari tahay ta Eebbe, Eebbena (ama Waaq) yahay ka keliya ee wax simi kara ama garsoor sugan sameyn kara, Ceel waaq(4), Caabud Waaq(5), waaq la’(6), weligay iyo waaqay(7), Waqal(8), barwaaqo(9) oo tilmaam cad ka bixinaysa deegaan badhaadhe ah oo ka dhashay roob wacan. Sidoo kale, bal u dhug yeelo magacyadan qabiilooyinkan: Dardaar Waaq oo badanaa loo bixin jiray ilmaha ugu dambeeya ee nin iyo ooridii, waxaana looga jeedaa ‘nimcada Eebbe kii ugu dambeeyey’, Gacal waaq (kii Eebbe jeclaa), Jid Waaq(10), Tagaal Waaq(11), Sidoo kalena erayga Waaq waxa laga dhex heli karaa hees-hawleedka dumarku ku heesaan markay cawska sameynayaan ama dareerinayaan:

Cawskanow sabool diidow,
Waaq aan suuqa lagu dhigin oo(12)
Soddon lagugu baayicin oo
Yaa sameeyey lagu odhon ee

Waxa iyana mudan in la is dul taago erayga “waqooyi” oo aan ahayn oo keliya meel-u-jeesad (jiho) bal se lagu tilmaamo dhulka waqooyiga Soomaaliya/Somaliland oo ay ku jiraan gobollada Bari, siiba dhulka buuraleyda ah. Magacan waxa lala xidhiidhin karaa magacyada faca weyn ee ah “Arladii Bunt iyo Araladii ilaahyada” (The Land of Punt and The Land of Gods)(13) oo tilmaam ka bixinaaya in waqooyiga Soomaaliya ahaan jiray dhul barakeysan oo ay xitaa ku dhaadan jireen Masaaridii hore.

Isla meel ka mid ah dhulka buuraleyda Somaliland waxa jira dhowr meelood oo magacyadaas iyo wax u eeg xambaarsan sida: Waaq-eel oo ah goob ku taalla Buurta Gacan Libaax, Waaqderiya oo iyana ku taal xeebta gobolka Sanaag Bari, oo ka sii foororta buuraleyda hodonka ku ah xabkaha beeyada iyo meydiga, kuwasoo (xabkahaas) horreyso iyo haatanba leh adeegsi diineed.

Meelaha qaarkood carriga Soomaaliyeed, ku dhaqanka diintii Waaq waa ay soo dhowaatay ilaa qarnigii hore (20aad) bilowgiisii. I. M. Lewis oo xiganaaya Cerulli waxa uu xusay in Waaq laga caabudi jiray meelo ka mid ah dhulka Soomaaliyeed, siiba Gobolka Gedo, waxana weliba intaas u dheerayd caadada ah in ay qabaa’ilka qaarkood xididka dhiigga ee xaw-xawlaha ah ee cunaha dhinaciisa ku yaal (xablal wariid am jugular vein) ka mudi jireen lo’da isla markaana ay cabbi jireen dhiigga ama caanaha ku darsan jireen sida Masayga reer Kenya(14).

Haddaba, in kastoo ay jirto in diintii Waaq aan hadda lagaga dhaqmin carriga Soomaaliyeed, haddana waxa jira dhaqammo iyo caadooyin hadhaadi ah oo weli ka fuqi la’ bulshada Soomaaliyeed oo uu ugu door roon yahay saar-ku.

Guntii iyo gebogebadii, waxa ay culimada taariikhda diimaha wax ka qoraa rumeysan yihiin in Waaq aanu ahayn sanam, balse uu Eebbaha (Allaha) aynu caabudno la wadaago sifooyinka kor ku xusan sida kelinimada, uumidda uunka oo idil, maamulidda iyo ka warheynta abuurtiisa ama uunkiisa, inuu yahay ili ma qabatay aan u dhisaaleysnayn sida sanam oo kale iwm. Waxa kale oo halkan ka muuqan karta in magaca Waaq uu ka habboon yahay adeegsiga erayga ay Masiixiyiintu adeegsadaan ee ah “God” oo marmarka qaarkood la dheddigeyn karo sida “Goddess”. Waaq se waa ka geddisan yahay sidaas awgeed aanay dhibaato ku jirayn adeegsigeeda, si la mid ah erayga “Eebbe” oo kale.

Ahmed Abdi “Dalmar”
dalamarnow@hotmail.com

(1) Waxaad barbar dhigtaa aayadda Qur’aanka Kariimka ah (Eebbe waa la-caabudaha Samada iyo la-caabudaha arlada) Suurat-ul-Zukhruf: 84.

(2) Barbar dhig aayadda Qur’aanka Kariimka ah (Waa uumaha uunka maamula (Qayuum), ma qabato lulmo iyo hurdo (midna), wuxuuna iska leh yahay waxa ku sugan cirarka (samooyinka) iyo arlada). Suurat-ul-Baqara: 255

(3) Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi, Culture and Customs of Somalia (2008), Greenwood Press

(4)Waa magaalo ku taal dhulka Waqooyi Bari ee Kiiniya

(5) Waa magaalo ku taal koonfurta Soomaaliya

(6) Waa meel cidlo ah oo aaney joogin cid ama wax naftu wehelshato, oo colaad ama abaar looga dhaqaajiyey. Si kale haddii loo dhigo, dadyowgii hore ee Waaqa u hoggaansami jiray waxa ay ku tilmaami jireen meesha “waaq la’da ah” meel “ay ka maqan tahay naxariistii Waaq”.

(7) “Weligay iyo Waaqey”, ereyadan waxa loo adeegsadan jiray dhaarta. Waxaana beddelay “Wallaahi, Billaahi, Tallaahi”. Waxa se loo adeegsadaa marka laga hadlaayo arrin ugub ah, oo qofka dhahayaa ay la yaab ku tahay ama ugu horreysay. Sida: Weligay iyo waaqey isha maan saarin saan-caddaale ama nin caddaan ah.

(8) Waxa loogu yeedhaa fad (daruur) xambaarsan roob culus

(9) Barwaaqo waxay tilmaameysaa “dhibcihii Waaq”. Carruurta Soomaaliyeed waxa la baraa inayan farta ku fiigin daruuraha roobka xambaarsan, iyadoo la rumeysan yahay in ay keento ayaan-darro dhalisa in daruurtu kala yaacdo.

(10) Waa qabiilo Daarood ah oo deggan Herer barigeeda (carriga Itoobiya)

(11) Taqal-waaq, Dardaar-waaq iyo Jid-waaq waa saddex reer oo Daarood ah oo la siman qabiilka Ogaadeen, waxana u degaan ah Jigjiga iyo Diri-dhaba dhexdooda. Jid-waaq waxa ka farcama Abaskuul iyo Bartire.

(12) Eeg buugga “Saints and Somalis – Popular Islam in Clan-based Society”, ee uu qoray I. M. Lewis, The Red Sea Press, Inc, Asmara, Eritrea 136-137

(13)

(14) I. M. Lewis, Peoples of the Horn of Africa – Somali, Afar and Saho, 1955, London, International African Institute.



somali clans with wag in their name

jidwaaq
barwaaq
takalwaaq
siiwaaqroon
habartiwaaq
WarWaaq,
NaxariisWaaq
Waaqmahadle,
BiddeWaaq
WaaqJire, CiqWaaq
DiintiWaaq
DoorWaaq
alWaaq, Waaqdoor

THe proto-Cushitic word for God is Waaq and even many things in the Somali language alludes to the shared 

used of waaq as the denomination of God.

Examples:

barWAAQo = living in plentiful and content (Signify as something of god's doing)

garWAAQsan = to be convinced of something (cannotation implies testimony to the conviction of God)

WAAQdhaaco = sacrificial slaughtering (slaughter for the purpose of God)

caWAAQib = what happens to you (fate which is in the hand of God)

ku dhaWAAQ = announce or proclaim something (religious conotation implies proclaiming belief in God)

WAAQsasho = to get something lost back (testifying God's intervention in helping you recover)

Waaq in Arabic وا 02; means protector!

One of God's many's attributes is being a protector

Allah (swt) has 99 names, some of which include the attribute of being a protector and Waaq is one of the oldest 

arabic words for protector وا 02;

Caabud-waaq = worship of the protector

Ceel-waaq = the well of the protector

Jid-waaq = the path of the protector

Takal-waaq = tireless protector 

Cabud Waaq. Ceel Waaq(El Wak)

jidwaaq
barwaaq
takalwaaq
siiwaaqroon
habartiwaaq
WarWaaq,
NaxariisWaaq
Waaqmahadle,
BiddeWaaq
WaaqJire, CiqWaaq
DiintiWaaq
DoorWaaq
alWaaq, Waaqdoor 

want to know if Somalis worshipped waaq? And if you had to be galla to be a waaq worshipper?
Somalis, Oromos, and Afars and Boronas all worshiped the sky god of the heavens and the Earth before the arrival of the Abrahamic religions. Waaq is still celebrated among the Cushitic people maybe in subtle ways. Such as when Somalis say "Barwaaqo!which is a saying for goodness and celebration and happeniness. Literally it means "The Blessed Rain of Waaq" other things that have to do with Waaq are: Jidwaaq (A sub clan of Darod) and Cabud Waaq (Servent of Waaq) and Ceel Waaq (Well of Waaq), Dhaqan Waaq (Culture of Religion of Waaq). Waaq today is nonmous with Allah, he has many names like Eebe (Universal Father).

DIR SHEIKH

Don't listen these idiots who doesn't know even Islam. Jesus christ! Waaq is one of the names of Allah and it is in the Qoran. And yes, it is Oromo origin. There are many Oromo words in the Holly like" Waaq" and "Qazwara", both of the are in the holly Qoran== "

1. "Wamaa lakum minaLaahi min Waaq"=
2. "Farat min Qazwara"

The claim That "Waaq" was a pagan religion and pagan God is simply Not True Since in history We know That Waaq Means Simply The "protecter" and is used in the quran alot of times. Like in this Verse.“And thus have We sent it down to be a judgement of authority in Arabic. Were you to follow their desires after the knowledge which has come to you then you will not have any Wali [protector] or Waaq [defender] against Allah”Waaq is the pre-Arabic or pre-Islamic Somali word for God All-Mighty. So Cabud-Waaq (Abudwaaq) or Cabdiwaaq (Abdiwaaq) is the Somali version of Abdullah or Abdullahi. But some Somalis say it was the sky god of Somalis before Islam and this sky god was converted to Allah, but I believe Allah and Waq/Waaq are synonymus becuase God is many things in the Somali language: God, Elah, Ebbe, Rabbi, Allah, and Waaq.

DIR SHEIKH

THe proto-Cushitic word for God is Waaq and even many things in the Somali language alludes to the shared used of waaq as the denomination of God.

Examples:

barWAAQo = living in plentiful and content (Signify as something of god's doing)

garWAAQsan = to be convinced of something (cannotation implies testimony to the conviction of God)

WAAQdhaaco = sacrificial slaughtering (slaughter for the purpose of God)

caWAAQib = what happens to you (fate which is in the hand of God)

ku dhaWAAQ = announce or proclaim something (religious conotation implies proclaiming belief in God)

WAAQsasho = to get something lost back (testifying God's intervention in helping you recover)

Waaq in Arabic وا 02; means protector!

One of God's many's attributes is being a protector

Allah (swt) has 99 names, some of which include the attribute of being a protector and Waaq is one of the oldest 

arabic words for protector وا 02;

Caabud-waaq = worship of the protector

Ceel-waaq = the well of the protector
Before the advent of Islam among the Somalis and Oromos in the Horn of Africa. You have a Supreme deity being worshiped who was all powerful and knowing. His name was and is Waaq, he extensively worshiped by almost all Cushites before the advent of the Abrahamic religions. Waaq was the God that was all knowing and among the Somalis no idols were worshiped beside him, Somalis also already believed "Wadaado" of the other world of which we refer today as Jinni an Arabic term. Other then the almighty Waaq and the Wadaado who possessed other people at times, the Somalis also believed in the Ayaanle the Ayaanle are referred with an argument as angels or prophets, but in pre-Islamic Somalia the Ayaanle were intermediaries between the humans and Waaq. So how come a monotheistic religion was already existing among the Cushites in ancient Somalia.

The only mentioned African prophet was a man who was said from Ethiopia mentioned in the Qur'an was an Abyssinian named "Luqman" who lived in Kush or Nubia this was before Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed (SAW). Surprisingly many Somali words that are dedicated to Waaq are: Ceel Waaq, Cabud Waaq, Cabdul-Waaq (before Cabdullahi), Barwaaqo, the saying "waligay iyo waaqay ma maqlin...", etc.

Somalis also had a strange assumption of the universe and the cause of natural disasters along with that. They believed: The equillibrium of the Universe in Somali mythology was tied with the love between a Bull and a Cow. The Universe was said to balance itself on the horns of a bull, a beast forever staring at the cow tied to a pole in front of him. Whenever his love turned her eyes away from the Bull, it would result in a physical shift that caused natural disasters on Earth. Religious temples dating from antiquity known as Taalo were the centers where important ceremonies were held led by a Qallu Priest.

The Word God in Somali has many names with different origins: Elah (Arabic and Aramaic for God), Eebe (Cushitic sometimes synonymous with Waaq), Waaq (Cushitic name for God sometimes called Eebe-Waaq or Eebe Wayne, Elah-Waaq), Allah (The Arabic and Islamic name for God), etc. Another story of the Somali mythology it is said that Mythology was tied with the Love (Gacal ) and between the beloved (Gacalo) or the sky Bull and the Cow. Religious temples were also called Xeero where Somalis worshiped Waaq, Xeer is also the name of the traditional peaceful Somali law. It is mentioned that around the time of 10,00 yrs and 9000 yrs ago a lot of religions around such as in ancient Mycenae (beginning of ancient Greece) and ancient Persia and even in Egypt had a fixation on bulls and cows. Historians and astrologers say that this was the Age of Taurus were Bull worship and respect and even sacrifice to a greater God was known.


Major Deities



Eebe


Eebe is the Somali word for God and was synonymously used for the ancient Cushitic Sky God Waaq. According to Somali Legend Eebe lived in the Heavens and whenever the Somalis successfully prayed for rain it was known as Bar-waaqo (God's rain)

Ayaanle The Ayaanle in Ancient Somalia were known as the good spirits or Angels and acted as mediators between God Eebe ) and Humans. They were said to be bringers of luck and Blessings from Eebe in somali what they call today is Ayaanlayaal

Huur Huur or Xuur was the messenger of Death and had the form of a large bird. The deity was akin to Waaq of and played a similar role in the ancient Somali society.

Nidar
Nidar was the righter of wrong. He was considered the champion of those that were exploited by their fellow humans. The deity has survived in modern Somalia as a popular saying; Nidar Ba Ku Heli ("Nidar will find and Punish you")


Xuur by the way was the Somali version of Horus and like in ancient Egypt was represented by a bird a hawk or a falcon sometimes a crow. Surprisingly the Somalis also believed in an afterlife, but this afterlife was quite different then todays Islam. Eebe it was said that he will judge you as the ultimate judge and if one commits evil he will be in heaven, and if one commits evil he is punished by Nidar who was the punisher of the evil ones and the righter of wrong.


The ancient Somali Devil was called Nidir and if someone was found evil and punished by Nidar and Judged by Eebe he would be possessed and live with the Nidir the Evil One. The ancient Cushitic names for the Somali Devil was:

1) Nidir = The Devil in Ancient Somali

2) Sharwad-de

3) Shaanbiye

4) Shuqube

6) Shar-moo'de

7) Gura-c

The Names/Attributes for God was:

2) Bare

3) Barbaariye

4) Samaan-doone

5) Sharma-arke

6) Bar-waaqe
Azania


he ancient Somali Devil was called Nidir and if someone was found evil and punished by Nidar and Judged by Eebe he would be possessed and live with the Nidir the Evil One. The ancient Cushitic names for the Somali Devil was:
1) Nidir = The Devil in Ancient Somali
2) Sharwad-de
3) Shaanbiye
4) Shuqube
6) Shar-moo'de
7) Gura-c
The Names/Attributes for God was:
2) Bare
3) Barbaariye
4) Samaan-doone
5) Sharma-arke
6) Bar-waaqe


I heard father of Ayaan Xirsi (xirsi magan) tried to translate prayer (alsalat) and Aadaan into Somali, just changing Aadaan alahu akbar, alahu akbar into "Waaq baa weyn... Waaq baa weyn. Changing ashahadu an laa ilaaha ilalaah...ashadu an laa ilaaha ilalaah into "waxan qiraya in ilaah xaq lagu caabudo uusan jirin ila alle mooyaane" and as he finished with everything, he was asked what to translate at the end of prayer "Asalaamu caleykum waraxma tulah, asalamu caleykum waraxmatulah" after ataxyad is finished, he translated asalamu caleykum waraxmatulah and asalamucalaykum waraxmatulah into "waar bal iska warama.... Waar bal iskawarama turning ur face to right and second time to left saying waar bal iska warama instead of asalamucaleykum waraxmatulah in arabic, he said.



('' Somalidii hore intii aysan Diinta Islamka soo gaarin, waxa ay Illahey u yaqaneen magacyo kala du'duwan sida:

Waaqle
Guule
Weyne
Uume

Hal magac oo guud oo ahaa Waaqle ayaa si aad caan uga ahaa geeska afrika oo ay isticmaali jireen ummada Somaliyeed iyo ummadah kale ee Oromada iyo Cafarta, magacaasina wuxuu ahaa Waaqle.

Oromada Itoobiya dagta waxaa ay u yaqaaneen Ilaahey Waaq, sida Somalidii horena waxaa ay rumeysnayeen in uu Waaqle samada xageeda jiro.

Dadkan Kushitiga ah waxaa ay rumeysnayeen in Waaqle uu mid yahay, uuna isagu kaliya dunida abuuray, kaligiina dunida xukumo.

Waxaa ay xoola dhaqatadii hore ee Oromada iyo Somalida sidaan sheegnay rumeysnayeen in waxa walba oo dhaca uu Waaqle awoodisa ku dhacan isaga kaliyana la weydiisto wax alaala wixii ruuxu u bahan yahay.

Wali dadka Somaliyeed manta waxaa laga helaa kalmado fara badan oo Waaqle loo adeegsado sida magaca Illahey. Tusaale ahaan Waxa uu noo Soo Gudbiyay nin Direed oo loo yaqaano Warsame Awad Liskaan dheer oo tilmaaamaya sidii ay Somalidii hore u istacmali jireen :

Qabiilo fara badan ayaa jira oo magacoodu ku jiro magacan Waaqle:

Gacal Waaq (Dir Gurgure)- Kuwii Illahey Jeclaa.

Siwaaq Roon (Daarood)- Waa kuwii sida Illahey jecelaa ama u roonaa.

Jidwaaq (Daarood)- Kuwii jidka Illahey raacsanaa iyo Tagalwaaq.

Waaqle (Ajuuraan)- Kuwii Illahey lahaa.

Sinjiwaaq (Dir)

Abdul-Waaq- adoonkii Illahey

Magaaloyin Somaliyee ayaa jira oo lagu magacaabo Ceel-Waaq iyo Cabud Waaq


Dhanka kale Somalidu waxa ay Istacmaalaan kalamado fara Badan oo tilmamaya in ay Illahey u aqoon jireen Waaqle oo ay ka mid yihiin:

GarWaaqso- Garta Alle garo ama wixii xaq ah garo oo qaado.

Waligaa iyo Waaqa- oo ah kalmad ay macnaheedu tahay Waligaa iyo Allahaa.

Dhanka kale marka ay Somalidu tiraahdo meeshu waa meel Barwaaqo ah waa meel macnaheedu uu Illahey ku mineystay roob ama Bartii- Waaqle roobka dhigay.

Waxaa kale oo uu sheegay Mudane Warsame, in ay Somalidu u istacmaali jireen kalmada Waaqle siyaabo kale oo ay ka mid yihiin:

Waqal daruureed- Roob weyn
Waaqooyi- Jiihada danka waqooyi oo xitaa ay Booranta aan muslimka aheyn rumeysan yihiin in ay Qibla oo kale u tahay.


Qoraaga Weyn ee loo yaqaan Cerrullie oo ahaa talyaani ayaa sheegay in gobalada dhex 1930 kii ay dadku ku dhaaran jireen "Waa igu Caq Waaq". Halka waqooyiga Somaliyana ay reer waqooyigu ku dhaaran jireen "Waa igu tin niixi, waa igu tin waaq" oo ilaa hada aan macnaheeda la aqoon. '')


Isku jecel gar iyo waaq = loves equally Justice and God (and also here garwaaq is also a modern word in itself which means "to be convinced". Notice the two words of Justice and God together mean being convinced.



Hoh! iyo caku iyo hiif ninkii,hawkar galay baa leh.
Halaaka iyo laandeyr ninkii, marin habaabaa leh
Hinji iyo habaar waaq ninkii, huray astaadkaa leh

http://www.golkhatumo.com/hanfi.htm

Hinji iyo habaar waaq ninkii, huray astaadkaa leh = The teacher owns the one who incurs the shake and curse of God



From the Qur'an, as used in cannotation with religious evocation.

Image

“And thus have We sent it down to be a judgement of authority in Arabic. Were you to follow their desires after the knowledge which has come to you then you will not have any Wali [protector] or Waaq [defender] against Allah”



And as being the root of many Somali words that have religious signifance/cannotation

barWAAQo = living in plentiful and content (Signify as something of god's doing)

garWAAQsan = to be convinced of something (cannotation implies testimony to the conviction of God), also is related to the dispensing of justice

WAAQdhaaco = sacrificial slaughtering (slaughter for the purpose of God)

caWAAQib = what happens to you (fate which is in the hand of God)

ku dhaWAAQ = announce or proclaim something (religious conotation implies proclaiming belief in God)

WAAQsasho = to get something lost back (testifying God's intervention in helping you recover)

In Somali place names:

Caabud-waaq = worship of the protector

Ceel-waaq = the well of the protector

Jid-waaq = the path of the protector

Takal-waaq = tireless protector

Conclusion; there is nothing Oromo of origin of Waaq, Oromos are just among one of many Cushitic communities who used it and the cannotation is similarly used in other Afro-asiatic languages like Arabic which is Semitic. It is just Somalis have lost the usage of it because they are completely Muslim adopting the traditional "Allah" while only a 1/3 of Oromos are Muslim so the orignal usage of Waaq for God has been kept alive by the rest who are not.

Jid-waaq = the path of the protector

Takal-waaq = tireless protector

The Myth of Waaq: Waaq was a powerful celestial being he lived in the sky, where he originated from. He was the Father of the universe and the creator of everything. He created the first man and woman Adan and Hawwo, and then the human population grew.

However Waaq wanted to choose a certain people as his chosen people, they were the earliest ancestors of what we know today as: Afars, Somalis, Oromos, etc. They were in misery, they had no culture, language or religion so he took pity on them. Waaq descended down from his abode to Earth to teach his chosen people everything. The religion was known as: Diinti-Waaq, the Culture was known as: Dhaqankii Waaq, and the Laws were called: Gartiga Waaq: the Wisdom of Waaq.

Waaq demanded that his people worship him and that they must tribute and they also most importantly name themselves after him. So the Darod were called: Siwaaq Roon, Jidwaaq, Dagalwaaq, etc. And the Waaqle/Waaqtiire (Hawiye, Ajuuran), Sinjiwaaq (Dir), Gacalwaaq (Dir Gurgure), etc. Waaq after he established everything and taught the early Cushite about life, he left and descended to his celestial abode, promising to return to his children in their time. "

Another Somali tradition says that their was a path or a celestial road between Waaq and his chosen people, but after all the evil things that people committed Cushites have lost their connection with the heavenly God.

The strange is thing that the story of Waaq resembles that of many ancient cultures, especially the MesoAmerican ones: Quetzalcoatl who came from the East a white, tall, bearded man who brought civilization to the Aztecs, Olmecs, and Mayans and after that he left promising to return on a certain date. Another funny thing is that Waaq descended from the sky to teach the Cushites.

It is the same with Quetzalcoatl who also descended from the sky to teach man. Many pre-Buddhist religions in Asia talk about how their gods descended from the sky on fire breathing dragons. The Inca god Viracocha which is an Incan version of the Mexican god Quetzalcoatl, also says that he was a foreigner who was white descended from the sky on a fiery serpent.

The same thing is mentioned in Sumerian texts who say that the Annunaki descend from the heaven and created the "Adamu" or people. It is surprising that world cultures have the origin of the first man or people:

Sanskrit: Adima and Heva
English: Adam and Eve
Sumerian: Adamu
Spanish: Ad`an and Eva
Arabic: Adam and Hawwah
Somali: Aden and Xaawo
Hebrew: Adam and Khevah

Extra-terrestrial enthusiasts that the early gods of mankind and the angels of the bible are extra-terrestrial beings. Waaq might have been an extra-terrestrial being?