SUFI POETRY IN SOMALI

34.

his pupils and sets the moral tone for the nomadic communities.

Moreover, the xer maintains some of the ideals of pastoral-

ism, in that they endure great hardships, behave with

restraint and dignity and enrich oral culture with edifying

stories and poetry. With the aid of oral literature, the

xer instils the essential aspects of the Islamic culture

in the nomadic population.

The Impact of Sufism on Somali Secular Poetry

I have already mentioned that the Sufi shaikhs and their

pupils engage themselves in teaching the Islamic ideals

and practices to the pastoral nomads. The sustained

presence of the itinerant seminaries and their continuous

teaching makes a deep impression on the nomads and strengthens

their devotion to Islam. The pastoralists strongly believe

in the Unity of God and conceive their Creator as a Supreme

Being, Eternal, All-powerful, All-wise, All-merciful, in

whose presence men are rendered powerless and weak; and

hence beseech Him in moments of distress and praise Him in

times of joj. To the Somali nomads, God's Will reigns

supreme over the world and all that it contains. Con-

sequently, all laws which govern their lives assume a

religious character. This strong attachment to Islam and

its precepts is reflected not only in the Sufi poetry in

Somali, but it is also a familiar feature of the Somali

secular poetry. The vast stock of themes drawn from the

realities of Somali life, culture and environment is