“Xaaji” Maxamed Xuseen Axmed

1951 - April 3, 1996

Xaaji* was born in 1951 at Gar-Adag in Sanaag Region. He was a quiet, thoughtful man who preferred work to leisure. When not teaching, his principal pastime was reading. He deliberately avoided wasting his time with political debates in teashops, a common Somali pastime. He acquired the nickname “Xaaji” as a child because he was quiet, well-behaved and studious, though he never actually visited the city of Mecca.

As a young adult Xaaji moved to Muqdisho and completed his degree in education at Lafoole College. He began teaching in northern Somalia, and then later taught in schools in the south, at Qoryooley and Kurtunwaarey. After more than 10 years working as a teacher, Xaaji was chosen to pursue a Master’s Degree at the University of Saskatchewan. 

When he first arrived in Canada in 1980 Xaaji was full of doubts about whether any religion was true. However, while studying at the University, Xaaji met some committed followers of Jesus Christ, and through their witness he began to read the Bible and placed his trust in the Jesus, the Messiah. Upon returning to Muqdisho in 1984, Xaaji became a Professor of Education and Curriculum Development at Lafoole College. He also attended the weekly worship of the small Somali Believers Fellowship that met in Muqdisho in those days. Xaaji also shared his faith with some of his family.

After civil war broke out in 1991, Xaaji did not return north to his home region but rather remained in Muqdisho. He worked for various humanitarian organizations, particularly in the area of education. In both 1993 and 1994 Xaaji went to Nairobi, Kenya for training courses, and returned both times to Muqdisho to resume his work in education. 

During the first two months of 1994, Xaaji often spent his afternoons with Liibaan Ibraahim Xasan, discussing various matters and topics from the Bible. Their offices were in the same part of Muqdisho. On March 21, Xaaji had arrived early for work and was sitting in a teashop near this compound when he saw Liibaan coming. Suddenly, as Xaaji watched with horror, masked gunmen shot Liibaan dead right in front of him [Hopefully Liibaan’s story will appear in a later post].

When Xaaji returned to Nairobi at the end of 1994 for another seminar, he mentioned that he was greatly concerned for his safety as jihadist activities had increased in Muqdisho. On April 3, 1996, Xaaji Maxamed Xuseen was kidnapped. His body was found the following day in an abandoned building near his house. 

At a memorial service in Nairobi after his death, one Somali Christian remembered him in this way: “There were times that I have been tempted to cover up my faith. The last time I saw him, he challenged me never to deny my belief in Christ. Now, after his death, I want to be as brave as him and, if need be, to die rather than pretend I am not a Christian.” At the memorial service another friend also remarked that he noticed that Xaaji was more concerned about threats from jihadists in the last months before his death. In terms of his spiritual life, At the same time, Xaaji had been more open in witness and fervent in prayer. Another friend had found a new position for employment for Xaaji, but this was the same week that Xaaji was martyred. 

Xaaji was the sixth Somali Christian to be killed in Muqdisho in the two years after Liibaan’s death.

Xaaji was a dedicated Somali patriot who did not allow the disease of clan-ism** to dominate his thinking or his actions. He even undertook a very sensitive research project on inter-clan relationships in 1987 with five graduate assistants. Their findings provided a clear warning to the dangers that clan-ism would bring and the disintegration to the Somali nation. After 25 years, the recommendations Xaaji wrote at the conclusion of his report are still as valid and useful as when he wrote them. If they were to be implemented, they would be very helpful to heal and rebuild Somali society.

In his academic work, Xaaji showed how he followed the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, who told his disciples to love their neighbors as much as they loved themselves, and even to love their enemies (Matt. 5:43-46). Furthermore, he demonstrated how his faith in Christ made him a good citizen, even when the government had disintegrated (Rom. 13:1-7). Xaaji was definitely a peacemaker as described by the Lord Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:9-12). Xaaji was also humble and frank about his own shortcomings, and he believed it was important for teachers to influence people when they were young, in order to see significant changes in later belief and behavior.

Source: noloshacusub.net (“New Life”)

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*Xaaji: pronounced “Had’-ji,” means “pilgrimage” in Arabic, and in Muslim belief. The “Hadj” one of five pillars of Islam, and refers to the faithful making a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest of Islamic sites. “X” in Somali is pronounced like an English “H.”

** “Clan-ism”: inter-clan warfare is what has plunged Somalia into the long, bloody, and stateless anarchy that it is still working to fully overcome.

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. … He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Rev. 2:13,17 (KJV)

A hymn: Precious Lord, Take My