Nanwali: Forgiveness

Nanwali: Forgiveness

Thank you all for praying. I thought I would share this very interesting thing I learned in class today. This particular class is about the culture, civilization, and history of Pakhtunkhwa- the Pashtun nation. Today in class we were discussing certain topics that are specifically part of Pashtun culture… and I was struck by the connotations of two words: ننولې (nanwali) and يرغمل (yarghamal).
The first idea is nanwali “the plea for forgiveness and peace.” The basic idea of nanwali is when there is any kind of issue, perhaps an abuse or murder, and the affected party goes to the council of elders and pleads for forgiveness and reconciliation. Then if forgiveness is accepted, the two parties come together and the guilty party gives an animal, goat or cow etc, to be slaughtered and they feast together in reconciliation. Is this not ringing with old covenant sacrifice and new covenant reconciliation?
The second is yarghamal, “the hostage”. The idea of yarghamal is when anyone commits anything terrible like a murder or abuse, and he flees for refuge to someone else’s house to escape the avenger of the wrongdoing. When the avenger comes to the house of the man giving refuge to the guilty man, he demands him to be handed over for punishment. But the host will not give him up, this is his guest, his “hostage” who fled to him for refuge, and he is kept safe from the avenger of his wrongdoing. Is this not the same as the cities of refuge against the avenger of blood described in the Old Testament? Is this not Jesus to whom we have fled for refuge and He has kept us safe from our deserved punishment?
I marveled at these two gospel concepts etched into the core foundation of Pashtun culture. I am excited to see what else lies within their core values- “pakhtunwali.”
Please pray for me as I live among the people here. Pray for my friends I am making, my classmates, hostel mates, staff, professors, etc.
Pray for me as it is difficult adjusting to not being able to go and come as I please like I did in America. Also I have been sick lately. Besides that all is fine; I am “mailmanaa”, the guest. So I am enjoying all the benefits of being so.
Please continue to pray for some paperwork confusion and dealing with incompetent bureaucracy.
Pray for all my friends back in Hamtramck whom I can video call still.
Thank you for praying,
Khoda haafiz