I am fully confident in our lineage as descendants of Shem, which indeed makes us Semitic, a fact confirmed by our Islamic scholars and historical narrations from the Prophet. Whether we are categorized as Arabs or not holds little importance to me. What truly matters is our ancestral connection to Shem, a bond that has endowed us with physical and phenotypical similarities to the original Arabs. I also understand how modern Arabs have evolved over time.
I personally don't find it essential, and my aim is to encourage this individual, who identifies as Cushitic, to simply embrace his Somali heritage. While having knowledge of Islamic history is valuable, I'm relieved that individuals with misguided beliefs tend to rely on corrupted biblical information rather than accurate Islamic sources. This approach seems to hinder their progress significantly.
Indeed, I have no connection to modern Arabs, as they do not share the genetic, phenotypical, or historical traits of the original Arabs and Semitic people. This observation also applies to modern Jews, who are believed to be descendants of the Khazar Turks from the Khazaria Empire, tracing their lineage back to Japheth, the fair-skinned son of Nuh. This lineage is often associated with people who resemble Europeans.
I'm just Somali, and that's what counts at this moment. I rely on my Islamic knowledge to respectfully engage with others and humble them.