Sudanese Arabic Sharif Version — Sudanese Darija New Testament (Sudan)
Overview
The Sudanese Arabic Sharif Version (abbreviated SAB/ASV) is a New Testament translation in Sudanese Arabic (Darija), originally published in 2005 with an updated Arabic script edition released in 2024 (YouVersion ID 4090; abbreviation: APD2024), also available as the earlier YouVersion ID 153 (abbreviation: SAB). Published by SIM International (Sudan Interior Mission, now just SIM) in partnership with the International Sharif Bible Society (sharifbible.cc), with audio through Faith Comes By Hearing/Bible.is. The name Sharif (شريف, meaning "noble/honorable") was chosen as a culturally appropriate title acceptable in an Islamic context. Sudanese Arabic (ISO 639-3: apd; autonym: لهجة سودانية, Lughat Sudaniyya) is distinct from Modern Standard Arabic and is the primary spoken language of approximately 30 million Sudanese.
Language and People
Sudanese Arabic (ISO 639-3: apd) is an Afroasiatic language: Afroasiatic → Semitic → Central Semitic → Arabic → Eastern Sudanic Arabic variety. Sudanese Arabic (also called Khartoum Arabic or Juba Arabic-influenced in the south) occupies a position between the Maghrebi (western) and Gulf/Egyptian Arabic dialects, with distinctive phonological features, vocabulary borrowings from Nubian and other Nile Valley languages, and grammatical simplifications compared to MSA. The variety has also been shaped by long-distance trade contacts across the Sahel.
The Sudanese Arabic-speaking community inhabits:
- Sudan — the primary spoken language of Arabic-speaking Sudan, concentrated in the northern, central, and Khartoum areas
- Sudanese diaspora communities in Egypt, Gulf states, and Europe
Estimated speakers: approximately 30–40 million L1 Sudanese Arabic speakers, including Sudanese nationals and diaspora.
Cultural Context
Sudan is one of the world's most predominantly Muslim countries (97%+ Muslim), making Sudanese Arabic Bible translation a particularly sensitive and strategically significant undertaking. The "Sharif" branding was intentional — framing the scripture in culturally respectful terms for a Muslim audience. SIM International has long worked in Sudan through community development and healthcare alongside ministry. The 2024 digital edition update makes the scripture more accessible via YouVersion's global platform.
Publishing and Organizations
Published by SIM International (sim.org) and the International Sharif Bible Society (sharifbible.cc). Audio by Faith Comes By Hearing (faithcomesbyhearing.com).