# Habar Awal (Habr Awal, Zubeyr Awal, Isaaq) > The Habar Awal (Habr Awal) of the Isaaq: family tree, the Sacad Muuse and Ciise Muuse, Hargeisa, Gabiley and Berbera, sultans, elders and records. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/habar-awal/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## Name and family tree The Habar Awal are a clan of the [Isaaq](/en/society/isaaq/). Wikipedia also calls them the Zubeyr Awal, and places them in the Habar Magaadle group ([Wikipedia, Habr Awal, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habr_Awal)). | Source | Line it gives | |---|---| | Abbink 2009 | Isaaq > Habr Awal > Zubeir > Muuse, with Sa'ad and 'Iisa under Muuse ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009, p. 32](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) | | ACLED 2025 | Isaaq > Habar Awal, with Sacad Muse, Isa Muse and Abdale Abokor ([ACLED clan actor list, September 2025](https://acleddata.com/system/files/2025-10/Somalia-clan-actor-old-to-new-list_16-September-2025.xlsx)) | | Wikipedia (backup) | Zubeyr, son of Abdirahman (Awal), son of Sheikh Isaaq ([Wikipedia, Habr Awal, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habr_Awal)) | | Somali Wikipedia (backup) | Muuse, son of Subeer, son of Cabdiraxmaan (Awal), son of Sheekh Isxaaq ([Somali Wikipedia, Habar Awal, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Awal)) | See [the Isaaq tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-isaaq/). ## Main branches Somali Wikipedia lists six sons of Muuse: Afgaab, [Celi](/en/society/duduble/), Cigaale, Cabdalle, Ciise and Sacad Muuse ([Somali Wikipedia, Habar Awal, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Awal)). Wikipedia says the Habar Awal have eight sub-clans, of which the Ciise Muuse and Sacad Muuse are the two largest ([Wikipedia, Habr Awal, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habr_Awal)). | Line | What the sources name under it | |---|---| | [Sacad Muuse](/en/society/sacad-muuse/) | Cabdiraxmaan, Cabdalla, Xasan and Isaaq Sacad; under Isaaq Sacad, Makaahiil and Abokor Isaaq (Ugaadhyahan, Cabdalla Abokor and Xuseen Abokor) (Wikipedia) | | [Ciise Muuse](/en/society/ciise-muuse/) | Abokor, Aadan, Idarays and Maxamed Ciise (Wikipedia) | | Other sons of Muuse | Abbink lists Isma'iil, 'Abdulla, Idrais, Afgab and Egalla beside Sa'ad and 'Iisa (Abbink 2009, p. 32) | Each of the two large lines has its own page, with its full tree. ## Where they live No census counts Somalis by clan. ACCORD notes that Somalis often claim more members than their groups have, "in order to demonstrate strength" ([ACCORD, *Clans in Somalia*, 2009, p. 11](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1193130/90_1261130976_accord-report-clans-in-somaliarevised-edition-20091215.pdf)). | Place | What the sources record | |---|---| | Woqooyi Galbeed | The EASO says the region "is predominantly inhabited by the Habar Awal clan, in the area that stretches from the coast on the Gulf of Aden up to the Ethiopian border" ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)) | | Hargeisa | The EUAA says the Sacad Muuse and Ciise Muuse mainly live in Ibraahim Koodbuur, the 26 June district and parts of Gacan Libaah ([EUAA Country Focus 2025](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2025_05_EUAA_COI_Report_Somalia_Country_Focus.pdf)) | | Farm towns | Wikipedia names Gabiley, Wajaale, Arabsiyo and Kalabaydh ([Wikipedia, Habr Awal, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habr_Awal)) | | Sahil coast | It names Berbera, Ceel Sheekh, Bulhar, Sheekh and Daarbuduq, and the north of Burao (same source) | | Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya | It names Harshin, Hart Sheik and Wajaale in Fafan zone, Quartier 3 in Djibouti, and Kenya's Isahakia community (same source) | See [Woqooyi Galbeed](/en/regions/woqooyi-galbeed/), [Awdal](/en/regions/awdal/) and [Somalis in Djibouti](/en/diaspora/djibouti/). ## History on record - **1500s.** Wikipedia says the *Futuh al-Habasha* names the Habar Magaadle, including the Habar Awal, in the wars of Imam Ahmad ([Wikipedia, Habr Awal, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habr_Awal)). See [Imam Ahmad and Adal](/en/history/imam-ahmad-and-adal-1527-1543/). - **1800s.** It says Berbera was the chief port of the Habar Awal. It says the Reer Yoonis Nuux and Reer Axmed Nuux of the Sacad Muuse held it (same source). - **1870s and 1880s.** It says [Sheikh Madar](/en/people/sheikh-madar/) led a Sufi community that settled and farmed at Hargeisa. It says he built a mosque there in 1883 (same source). - **1949.** It says the Ciise Muuse crowned their own first sultan, Sultan Koshin (same source). - **1955.** It says Sultan Abdulrahman Deria went to [London](/en/diaspora/london/) to ask for the return of the Haud (same source). See [the Haud transfer](/en/history/haud-transfer-1954-1955/). - **1981.** It says the Somali National Movement elected Ahmed Mohamed Gulaid, of the Habar Awal, as its first chairman (same source). See [the Isaaq genocide](/en/history/isaaq-genocide-1987-1989/). - **Later figures.** Wikipedia lists [Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal](/en/people/mohamed-haji-ibrahim-egal/), [Muse Bihi Abdi](/en/people/muse-bihi-abdi/), [Gaarriye](/en/people/gaarriye/) and [Mo Farah](/en/people/mo-farah/) among Habar Awal people (same source). ## Elders and customary law Senior Somali clan leaders carry titles such as *suldaan*, *ugaas* or *issim*. Their role is "mainly judicial and representative" ([UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2002542/Somalia_-_Clans_-_CPIN_V3.0e.pdf)). Wikipedia says the Habar Awal sultan comes from the Axmed Cabdalla line of the Sacad Muuse. It says the title was *garaad* until Abdulrahman Deria took the title of *suldaan*. It describes a case in which the Ciise Muuse refused his ruling on *mag* (blood money). It says this led them to crown their own sultan ([Wikipedia, Habr Awal, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habr_Awal)). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/). ## In recent conflict records The EUAA lists Habar Awal disputes active in April 2023 to March 2025 ([EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2025_05_EUAA_COI_Report_Somalia_Country_Focus.pdf)): - with the Habar Jeclo in [Burao](/en/regions/togdheer/) district - a dormant dispute between the Gadabuursi and the Jibriil Abokor (Sacad Muuse) in Ceel Bardaale, Gabiley - the Ciise Muuse with the [Habar Yoonis](/en/society/habar-yoonis/) in Cali Saahid village, Burao district - election rivalries in Hargeisa with the Habar Yoonis and [Ciidagale](/en/society/ciidagale/), which it says "did not lead to armed violence" The EUAA says a "Jeegaan alliance" of Habar Jeclo and Habar Awal clans was active in Togdheer in 2023 ([EUAA 2025, Togdheer](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/28-somaliland/283-togdheer)). See [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/). ## Where sources differ - **Number of lines.** Somali Wikipedia lists six sons of Muuse. Wikipedia says eight sub-clans. Abbink lists more names beside [Sa'ad](/en/society/sacad-habar-gidir/) and 'Iisa. - **Ayuub.** Abbink lists Ayub and Ahmad beside Zubeir under the Habr Awal. Wikipedia treats Ayuub as a separate Habar Magaadle clan. - **Size.** Wikipedia calls the Habar Awal one of the largest Isaaq clans. No census confirms this. ## Read more - [Isaaq](/en/society/isaaq/) - [Sacad Muuse](/en/society/sacad-muuse/) - [Ciise Muuse](/en/society/ciise-muuse/) - [Woqooyi Galbeed](/en/regions/woqooyi-galbeed/) --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.