ʿĀšūrāʾ as a Female Ritual Challenge to Masculinity Presented by: Elhassan ROUIJEL

Outline Introduction ʿĀšūrāʾ in Orthodox Islam. ʿĀšūrāʾ for Shi’a. Moroccan ʿĀšūrāʾ rituals and Islam. ʿĀšūrāʾ and the Female Wish for Emancipation. Symbolic emancipation through effigy burial (Bābā ʿAyšūr and the death of the patriarch). Magic powers and the lust after emancipation. Āšūrāʾ and the fertilizing effect on women. Female Purifying Rituals in ʿĀšūrāʾ and the Magical Control of Destiny. Purification through burying impurities (tābʿa). Purifying the dead through washing and painting tombs. Purifying the money through giving alms (zakāt). Purification through warter wars (zemzem). Conclusion

Introduction ʿĀšūrāʾ in Orthodox Islam. The Prophet met the Jews in Medina fasting on ʿĀšūrāʾ and asked them about it. “They told him that the day was a great day (Yom Kippur) since God saved Moses from his enemy. The Prophet replied that he was much closer to Moses than the Jews and so decreed to his disciples to fast on that holy day” (as cited in al-Buḫārī, Muslim, Abū Dāwūd

ʿĀšūrāʾ in Shiism

ʿĀšūrāʾ for Shi’a ʿĀšūrāʾwould undergo a turning point in its historical trajectory as a result of the murder of the Prophet’s grandson al-Ḥusayn, slayed by Yazīd b.Muʿāwiya in Karbalāʾ on a ʿĀšūrāʾ day in 61 A.H. Commonly, the Shiites observe ʿĀšūrāʾ in mourning and woe for the death of al-Ḥusayn. Condolence gatherings recruit a number of actors and skillful reciters performing the sacred drama of al-Ḥusayn’s martyrdom composed of narration, pantomime, lamenting poetry, texts stirring intensive emotions, and the practice of self-flagellation.

Self-flagellation

Moroccan ʿĀšūrāʾ rituals and Islam. European writers’ debate pigeonholed Moroccan popular culture as antagonistic to higher Muslim beliefs and values. ʿĀšūrāʾ as an example of Islamic rituals has been explained in terms of pagan survivals (Westermarck). The thesis is that the Islamic ceremony has been adopted by the Berbers to commemorate the ancient practice of burial and resurrection of the vegetation deity.

ʿĀšūrāʾ and the Female Wish for Emancipation Symbolic emancipation in songs: Bābā ʿAyšūr we are not under any rule, oh lalla! The Prophet’s birthday festival is under men’s rule, oh lalla! BābaʿAyšūr ma ʿlinā bi-ḥkām a lālla ʿīd l-milād bi-ḥkām rigā̌ l a lālla Symbolic emancipation through effigy burial (Bābā ʿAyšūr and the death of the patriarch). Magic powers and the lust after emancipation. ʿĀšūrāʾ and the fertilizing effect on women.

Female Purifying Rituals in ʿĀšūrāʾand the Magical Control of Destiny. Purification through burying impurities (tābʿa). Purifying the dead through waching and painting tombs. Purifying the money through giving alms (zakāt). Purification through warter wars (zemzem).

Conclusion. Although it was a religious event in the beginnig, Ashura is celebrated in Morocco thourgh rituals outraging Islamic teachings. The rituals depict leftovers of Pagan and Jewish tradition. (Zemzem and the allusion to Moses and Pharao).

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