There is no need for mental gymnastics as it is pretty evident that they influenced us just like how Somali Xalwad is a borrowing from the Middle Eastern Xalwa, and Baasto is from Italian Pasta. The cuisine of the traditionally pastoral Maxa Tidhi Somalis was never as rich as that of the Yemen due to the simple fact that Yemenis are mainly a settled, seafaring folk who had greater cultural exchange with places as far apart as India and Indonesia. Their culinary culture is obviously richer as a result of these influences and their more settled urban culture. Tell me what quintessentially Somali dish found in nomadic or semi/nomadic Maxa Tidhi Somali settlements historically used Xawash? The use of Xawash is a relatively modern Reer Magaal innovation due to Yemeni influence on our culinary culture. It ain't no different to Macaawis which originates in Indonesia but was introduced to us via Yemen.
Are you full Somali?
Where are your sources apart from stating that Xawaij and Xawaash sound similar. How do you know they didn't borrow the word from us? You haven't given one evidence apart from "I feel like" or "I think."
You're mentally defeated for thinking we copied it from them without any EVIDENCe.