Tausug, Moro Joloano in Philippines

Introduction / History
A number of different people groups, known collectively as the South Philippine Muslims,
live on the Sulu Archipelago, an island chain between the Philippines and the island of Borneo.
By far, the Tausug are the most dominant of all the South Philippine Muslim groups. Most of
the Tausug reside on the island of Jolo, but some live scattered throughout the other islands.

The name Tausug means "people of the sea current." The Tausug probably came to the Sulu
Archipelago from northeastern Mindanao as a result of the expansion of Chinese trade in the
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. cite

The exact time Islam was introduced to the Tausug is not known. However, it may have
occurred as early as the tenth century A.D. when Arab trade was active with southern China
via the islands. Since their conversion to Islam, the Tausug have remained staunch Muslims.
They have also shown great determination in their fight for independence from Filipino
control.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The livelihood of the Tausug is based primarily on agriculture and fishing, but some cattle,
chickens, ducks are also raised. The major cash crops are coconuts, coffee, and fruit.
Fishermen, whether part- or full-time, use motorized boats in offshore coastal waters. Nets,
hook and line, and various types of bamboo traps are used.

Except in the town of Jolo and the few coastal villages, most Tausug live in dispersed
communities near their fields. Among the Tausug, the household is the smallest territorial unit.
The next largest unit is the lungan (village settlement), which often includes related family
members. Still larger is the kauman (community), which has a common name and a single
headman. Because a real sense of community is weak among the Tausug, the solidarity of the
kauman depends on several factors: the amount of intermarriage among its residents, the
effective authority of the headman, and the attendance at a common mosque.
The typical Tausug home is a timber and bamboo-walled rectangular room, raised six to eight
feet above the ground on stilts, with a thatched roof. The house is surrounded by a series of
elevated porches leading to a separate kitchen. Usually a fence is built around the house for
protection.

The ideal marriage among the Tausug is still one arranged by the parents. However, today,
courting may occur and the young people may select their own mates. First and second cousins
are favored as spouses.

Children sometimes study the Koran with private tutors. Public ceremonies are held when the
children are ready to recite the scriptures. A son is circumcised in his early teens, and it has
been reported that daughters are also circumcised when they are six or seven. Young girls help
their mothers with household duties, while the boys help their fathers in the fields or with
fishing.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Tausug are Sunni (Orthodox) Muslims belonging to the Shafiite branch of Islam.
However, like many other Asian Muslims, they have retained many pre-Islamic religious
beliefs and rituals. Their world is full of environmental spirits that are believed to cause
sickness or good fortune. Their concept of life after death is a mixture of Islamic and traditional
beliefs. For example, they believe that a person has four souls that leave the body after death.
It is thought that the body then goes to hell, where his length of punishment is determined by
his misconduct while living on earth. Eventually, however, they believe that all Tausug reach
heaven.

What Are Their Needs?

The Tausug, along with the other Muslim minority groups, are a relatively small outpost of
radical Islam in a sea of Christianity. During the Marcos regime in the Philippines, these
various groups waged a protracted and very bloody armed struggle against the central
government. This long-standing conflict has left deep hurts and bitterness that are difficult to
overcome. Sensitive Christian workers are needed to minister the love of Jesus to those who
have emotionally scars from the past.

SOURCE: https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/15295/RP