Festivals and Entertainment (continued)

Part III. Rites of Passage throughout One's Life -

Events during a family's history such as births, weddings, circumcisions, even funerals were also celebrated or commemorated (remembered as an important event) by Muslims of the Middle Ages. Each culture that became part of the World of Islam added their traditional celebrations and mixed them with Islam. Weddings, for example, were celebrated in different ways across the world of Islam, but there were similarities. Reading from the Qur'an was always done. Henna (dyeing of the hands) was a common Muslim and Indian ceremony.

Lives were also influenced by the culture and class into which the child was born. For example, wealthier families would celebrate differently than poor families. A Muslim living in Turkey would have a very different life from a Muslim living in Arabia or Persia. And a woman would have a very different life from a man. Such are the influences of culture, class, and gender during the Middle Ages.

But yet Islam had a tremendous unifying effect across the whole of the Islamic World from India to Spain and beyond.

A. Birth

A baby was usually born in the family's home with the help of a midwife (woman who helps deliver babies). In some cities there were hospitals that women could go.

Families usually preferred to have a male child. This is because the sons would stay with the family and take care of the parents. Daughters usually left home to move in with the husband's family. So the birth of a son, especially, was cause for a great celebration.

 

B. Naming

1. Arabic Names

Muslim children grew up influenced by Islam from the day of their birth. Throughout their lives they were expected to gain greater knowledge of Islam. The child's name was selected often to identify him/her as a Muslim. For boys this might be the name of a famous person or prophet in the Qur'an: Musa (Moses), Suleyman (Solomon), or a name that might show an Islamic or cultural ideal - like: Abdul-Raheem = Servant of the Most Merciful (Allah), or Ali = "Noble, Excellent", Yasir = "Wealthy", Amir = "Prince", and Omar = "Long life". For women, a name might also be for a famous person in the Qur'an: Fatima, the Prophet Muhammad's daughter; or something charming: Basma = "A smile", Ghaydaa = "Young and delicate", Izdihaar = "Flourishing, Blossoming", and Jameela = "Beautiful".

When a name is selected in Turkey, it is given by an imam (religious leader) or an elder person in the family by holding the child in the direction of Mecca and reading from the Qur'an into his left ear and repeating his name three times into his right ear.

 

2. Last names and lineage

The last name of a child was often the first name of the child's father. For example, Ibn Battuta really means "son of Battuta". Fatima bint Muhammad really means "Fatima, daughter of Muhammad" or "Aisha bint Abu Bakr" means "Aisha, daughter of Abu Bakr". From names we can learn much about the person's lineage. For example, the Prophet Muhammad's full name was Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim ." (His lineage, it is said, can be traced back to the Prophet Abraham.). In some cases, we know people from history from the place they were from. For example, Al-Farghani was a famous astronomer. His name means "the person from Farghan" and Al-Idrisi, the famous map maker, was "the person from Idris". Al- also means, "the one who is", like the Prophet Muhammad was called "Al-Ameen" which means "the Honest one" in Arabic. The "Al-" in front of a name is like a nick-name.

C. Circumcision

 

Circumcision was practiced in most Muslim cultures. Circumcision was common in the Middle East before Islam from the time of Abraham.

Muslim boys were circumcised between the ages 2-14 by special surgeons. The circumcision ceremony introduced the child to his religious society as a new member and was part of a transition to manhood.

Circumcisions were generally celebrated by the family and whole community. Boys got presents. There was a big feast in the village with musicians and entertainment.

[Note: Circumcision is not required nor mentioned in the Qur'an, but Muslims generally follow this tradition which Arabs and Jews followed, at least since the time of Abraham. Circumcision is removing the foreskin of the penis, an ancient tradition, long before Islam. It was believed this prevented diseases and infections later in life.]

 

Learn more about Birth and Childhood in Turkey and the Turkish Circumcision ceremony for boys about age between 2 - 14 years old.

D. Education

Education was highly valued by the Muslims. Education was primarily (mostly) about religion and the text was the Qur'an. The Qur'an had to be memorized, a task that took from one to two years, depending upon the student.

When a child became seven years of age and if he showed respect to the school and understood ritual cleanliness, he was allowed to go to the religious school (masjid). But if the child was not prepared or misbehaved, it might be later. The Prophet Muhammad said, 'When the child is seven years old, order him to say prayers and when he is ten years old, chastise (make, threaten with punishment) him to do so.' (Hadith: Mishkaat).

"When a student completed memorizing of the Qur'an, there was a special celebration and the child became the center of attention. The student was showered with gifts and sweets in a celebration which lasted for as long as one week. During the celebration, the students and teacher would go around the village reciting prayers and hymns and the families of the village would come out to greet them. The proud parents would prepare all sorts of foods, and a sheep was usually slaughtered for this important occasion." Abridged from Traditional Islamic School at Motawa'a (UAE).

But many devoted their whole lives to education. They went to some of the earliest and finest schools in the world (in Cairo, Damascus, Baghdad) to become true Islamic scholars and scientists.

E. Becoming an Adult

In most cultures, when children reached puberty they were treated like adults and were given adult responsibilities. Women could marry and many did at an early age. Men usually married a few years later. Both the young men and women (even at the ages of twelve or thirteen) would be expected to work. In fact, they may have been working much earlier! Boys were often trained in a job that their family members followed. For example, the son of a farmer would most likely be a farmer. The son of a merchant would be trained to become a merchant. Young men would be expected to join in combat if needed. There was no idea of "being a teenager" - a time of freedom from hard work and serious responsibilities, like there is today in the United States.

If the child had learned the Qur'an (usually by the age of ten) and knew the rituals, they would be allowed to go to the mosque like their fathers and mothers.

 

F. Marriage

1. Finding a Mate

Families often arranged for the marriages of their children at an early age. This was partly because family was so important. "Dating" and "Falling in Love" as we know it today did not happen. Young men and women were not given much freedom to go out into society to meet young men. Therefore, the parents usually arranged everything.

2. Marriage customs varied throughout the Islamic world, but Islam has influenced the ceremony and even the behavior of the couple before and after marriage. The Qur'an does not allow for sexual relations before the marriage and has strict behavior requirements for both the male and female about sex and adultery. [To see many marriage ceremonies, go to the next page of this website.]

Below: traditional Muslim wedding procession in Egypt. The bride is hidden in a tent on the back of a camel. Photo courtesy of Zawaj.com's site.

3. The importance of Mothers - "A man came to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) asking, 'O Messenger of Allah, who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship?' The Prophet (PBUH) said, 'Your mother.' The man said, 'Then who is next?' The Prophet (PBUH) said, 'Your mother.' And the man said, 'Then who is next?' The Prophet (PBUH) said, 'Your mother.' The man further asked, 'Then who is next?' Only then did the Prophet (PBUH) say, 'your father.' (Hadith al-Bukhari)

G. The Five Pillars of Islam Guided Adults

Being a good Muslim requires following the Five Pillars. (These are Faith, or belief in one God, and that Muhammad is His prophet; Prayer five times a day facing Mecca and going to a mosque on Friday, the holy day; Charity (giving to the poor or to mosques, hospitals, etc.); Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset; and Pilgrimage or making a trip to Mecca if possible, at least once in a lifetime.) These Pillars of Islam influenced the lives of Muslims throughout their lives. Moreover, the Qur'an and Sunna (Hadith, or Traditions of the Prophet) tell of how Muslims are supposed to lead a good life and describe in detail the traditions and practices at the time of the Prophet Muhammad.

Going on the Hajj was a religious rite of passage. The person who came back from the hajj was more respected that before, and he would often add to his name - "al haji" which meant he had made the pilgrimage. The family was very proud of their members who had made the pilgrimage and would celebrate with a great feast when they came home.

H. Death and Burial

In most Muslim societies in the past, the body was buried. There was a ritual washing of the body, then it was put in a white shroud (burial cloth wrapping). At burial, the face was turned toward Mecca and prayers were said. Muslims believe in an afterlife: heaven and hell and a Day of Judgment. The behavior in this life determines the future life. Below is a 13th century Baghdad painting of a burial (from IslamicArt), with mourners dressed in white, grave diggers, and the body in a shroud.

The Funeral (Janazah) is described (adapted and shortened from IslamicArt site, encyclopedia): "Muslims around the world bury the dead as quickly as possible, preferably before sundown on the day of death. Cremation is not practiced in Islam. The corpse is cleaned by a person of the same sex as the deceased and is given a ritual ablution (washing)... The body typically is shrouded in a winding cloth. However, martyrs (people who die for a holy cause) are buried as they died, in their clothes, unwashed, for their wounds bear testimony to their martyrdom. A funeral prayer is performed for the recently dead by the mourners and by anyone present in the mosque at the time. ... As the mourners carry the corpse (dead body) through the streets to a mosque for prayers or to its resting place, the Profession Of Faith is spoken. As the procession passes people rise, join in the chanting, and help carry the coffin for a short distance. Lying on the right side with the face toward Mecca, the body is buried in a grave. Burial is not usually in a coffin, but burials with the body only in a wrapping are typical. For several days after death, it is common to recite prayers in remembrance of the deceased (the dead person). When a deceased person is mentioned, the words rahimahu Allah (for a man) or rahimaha Allah (for a woman) are spoken. This phrase asks that God be merciful upon the deceased. Other customary practices exist but differ from community to community and from nation to nation."

Also read about death and burial in Turkish Odyssey. See a Turkish miniature painting called "Mourning of the Death of Muhammad", Siyer-i Nebi: The Life of the Prophet, Istanbul, 1595 in Topkapi collection. Below is a Persian miniature probably painted by Shaykh Zadeh, from a Khamsa of Nizami, 1494 in Herat. It is an illustration for a love story.

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