* RELIGION AND BELIEFS
Tanaghmelt is 100% Muslim and is well known for its rich history and
belief system. The people of Tanaghmelt traditionally have a good reputation
because of their sense of honesty, openness and generosity.
Zaouit
Tanaghmelt is often referred to as “Zaouit Tanaghmelt” because of the
characteristic white dome, or shrine of Sidi Moussa, who is considered to be a
saint. During the time of Sidi Moussa, the Zaouit served several functions,
especially for pilgrims that were traveling through the countryside. It was the
home of Sidi Moussa, the mosque, a public hammam, school for Koranic studies,
and a hostile for travelers. It was customary for people of all kinds to travel
to this Zaouit to be in the presence of Sidi Moussa for advice, to gain
enrichment in life, to settle conflicts, to get healed and to enhance spiritual
and religious beliefs. The poor, insane, sick and those seeking refuge were
welcomed to stay at the Zaouit for as long as they needed.
Sidi Moussa, the original settler of Tanaghmelt, was a Shiek, or Wali
(saint), who possessed special supernatural knowledge, known as Karimat.
Karimat is something granted to people by the Profit. He was a key religious,
political and social leader that is said to have had supremacy over
nature. This is because his role was
that of Moses from the Koran, which gave him the ability to control plants and
animals. In addition, he had healing powers, the ability to serve as an
intermediary with the supernatural (Baraka), was a teacher of the Koran, played
the role of a peacekeeper to resolve conflicts between people and served as a
judge to reconcile tribes that were at war.
Because the level of Islamic knowledge is not the same with all people,
it is not uncommon for people to have differing views on the roles of saints.
For instance, the functions of Karimat are often confused with paganism, which
is not recognized by strict Muslims. The role of Sidi Moussa has varying
degrees of importance based on individual beliefs.
Sidi Moussa is buried at the Zaouit in Tanaghmelt and to this day people
visit the shrine to pray or give tribute to his greatness. The remains of the
house of Sidi Moussa are in tact, but have not been preserved very well. There
is evidence of the enormity of the home through the remaining rooms and the
kitchens that still contain several ovens and fire places. The family of Sidi
Ali, the village Imam, inhabits the Zaouit today.
Daily Prayers
Within a day, from sunrise until after sunset, there are a series of
five prayers. Friday is considered a holy day for Muslims and many people
observe slightly different religious rituals on this day. In Tanaghmelt, men
are able to enter the mosque at any time to pray but women are only permitted
on Fridays and special religious holidays. Friday is traditionally the day for
a cous cous lunch and often times people will gather in larger groups than
usual for a Friday feast. Friday is also a special day because many of the
women who generally do not leave the home, will venture out to visit friends
and family while the men are at the mosque praying.
The following are the prayers observed in Tanaghmelt on a daily basis:
1st Prayer before sunrise- Lfjr
2nd Prayer at noon – Do’Hurruh
3rd Prayer
between noon and sunset - Laﻉsser
4th Prayer at sunset – El-Margarub
5th Prayer after sunset - Laﻉsha
The Islamic Calendar
The Islamic calendar dates from the year 622 A.D. when the Prophet
Mohammed left Meca for Medina to escape persecution. It is in Medina that
Mohammed started a new religious belief system known as Islam. This calendar
has a total of twelve months and is based on the cycle of the moon. The lunar
cycle has either 29 or 30 days making a year 354 or 355 days.
Arabic
|
Tamazeight
|
Religious Holidays
|
Muharram
|
Achour
|
10th–Achoura
|
Safar
|
Seachour
|
|
Rabia-el-awal
|
Lemilad
|
12th–Aied-el-milud
|
Rabia-etani
|
Shﻉa
Lemulud
|
|
Jumada-el-ula
|
Ikin Izgorn
|
|
Jumada-etania
|
Wisin Ikniﻉwn
|
|
Rajab
|
Aeyour Nigorramen
|
|
Sha’aban
|
Sha’aban
|
30th –Shaabana
|
Ramadan
|
Ramadan
|
27th night–Laylat-el-qadre
|
Shuwal
|
Laﻉd
|
1st-Aied Essaghir or Aied El-fitr
|
Du-el-qiada
|
G-Laﻉd
|
|
Du-el-Hijja
|
Tafaska
|
10th-Aied Elkbir
|
Religious Holidays
Achour
Achour, or Muharram, is the Muslim New Year. Those who would like to,
fast on the 9th and 10th days of the month. On the night
of the 9th, which is known as Boykordasn, the dried intestines of
the animal that was slaughtered for Aied Elkbir are eaten over cous cous. The
10th day is known as Achoura. On this day, people get water thrown
at them. It is especially important for male newlyweds to be splashed several
times during the day.
Ramadan
The ninth month of the Muslim calendar is known as Ramadan. Depending on
the moon, Ramadan can be 29 or 30 days long. During this time, it is imperative
that all believers of Islam partake in a daily fast that lasts from sunrise to
sunset. There are only exceptions for those who have medical conditions or
mothers who are pregnant or nursing. It is not expected that children or
menstruating women fast. If someone is not able to fast during the month of
Ramadan, they will generally make up the days missed during the following
month.
Because Ramadan is considered one of the five pillars of Islam, it is
observed with great pride. For many people it is a time of rest, reflection,
prayer, and tranquility. Daily activity continues as usual, but it becomes
evident that people move at a slower pace and are much more subdued than normal
during the day. Many women will partake in activities such as rug-making to
pass the day. In general, people tend to focus more on their faith and may pray
more than normal or visit the mosque more regularly.
In Tanaghmelt, Ramadan is
regarded as one of the most important times of the year and the entire village
takes on a whole new personality. The people are always kind, generous and
welcoming, but this particular holiday binds the community in a way that is
difficult to describe. It is as if the village becomes but one family and is
willing to share among all its brothers and sisters equally and without shame.
An outsider of the village visiting may feel as though he has been welcomed into
100 homes all at once effortlessly. By far the most exciting moment during
Ramadan is when the fast is broken. This is called el-fdor and takes place
immediately after the 4th call to prayer, el-margarrub. Preparation
for el-fdor can take up to several hours. The most common foods that are first
eaten are bread with oil, jam or butter, cookies or crepes, dates, hard boiled
eggs, shbekia (a sweet and sticky flour pastry), and coffee with milk.
Then there is usually a serving of Harrira (known as TaHarirt in
Tamazeight) which is generally a tomato-based soup consisting of lentils,
chickpeas, onions, parsley, cilantro, olive oil, flour and seasonings. No one
family makes identical soup.
It is not unusual for the women of the household to be making the
finishing touches for the food being served moments before the fast is broken.
Meanwhile, the rest of the family eagerly awaits for the call to prayer so that
the feast can begin. Often times, people will visit the mosque before they
arrive home for el-fdor. Some families prefer to pray together and then break
the fast all together. However it is done, this time of day is the most
invigorating and everyone gains a new sense of enthusiasm for the rest of the
evening. In a way, Ramadan helps to unify people and allows for them to set
aside the evening for socializing or enjoying the company of family and
friends. In the village it is pretty customary to stay inside and watch
television after the first meal. The city is much different because this is the
time when stores and cafes open, people walk around and socialize, and when
things in general tend to liven up.
Some families will prepare a late dinner that will come a few hours
after sunset. At the least, a family will serve tea before bed. Other families
prefer to just break the fast with a large dinner and then do not eat again
until the following day. Depending on each family’s tradition, they have the
option of waking up before sunrise and the 1st prayer (el-Fijrr) to
eat a light breakfast. This is known as SaHor. One man in the village goes
around beating his drum one hour before the 1st call to prayer in
order to wake those who wish to eat before sunrise.
The 26th day (the night of the 27th)
in Ramadan marks “the night of powers” or Laylat-al-qadre, which is said to be
the night the Koran was sent down to the Prophet. This night is geven special
observance and most men in the village will go to the mosque to pray from the 5th
prayer (Lعasha) to the 1st (el-Fijrr). The Koran
is read in its entirety before sunrise. Each family that is able will make a
tagine and bread to bring to the mosque. It is this particular day that is
supposed to be more important than any
other. Women will take special care of their homes and customarily sweep
inside and out. They will prepare a special meal for the family and burn
incense as a symbol of the significance of this night.
Since the last night of Ramadan is not pre-determined, it is always a
surprise the night before the official end of the fast. As families anticipate
the last night of Ramadan preparations are made. Everyone eagerly awaits an
announcement on the evening news that the following day will bring Laعd (Shuwal). This is
the month after Ramadan. We call the first day of Laعd “little Aied” or
“Aied el-Fitr”. Families will wake up particularly early on this day and dress
in their best. Many people go around the village visiting friends and family.
During the morning, the men of the village go up on the hill near the cemetery
to pray. Meanwhile the women who do not generally leave their homes will go
around the village visiting people knowing that they will not be seen by the
men. This day is also devoted to giving donations to those people in the
village who are less fortunate. Usually families will offer wheat or barley.
Sweets and tea are prepared the entire day for visitors but most families
gather for a special lunch and dinner. Many family members from outside the
village or people who are working away from home will take a few days vacation
to spend time with their families.
Aied Elkbir/Aied Tafaska
On the 10th day of the last month in the Muslim Calendar
(Du-el-Hijja or Tafaska) the “Great Feast” or “Big Aied” is celebrated. This
holiday is among one of the most important events during the year. People
prepare for this day by going to the hammam or cleaning themselves well and
often times the women will apply henna to their hands and feet. It is customary
for every family to sacrifice a male sheep or an animal comparable that is more
affordable. Before the animal is sacrificed each family will gather for
breakfast and get dressed in their nicest clothes. As with “Little Aied”, the
men gather on the hill near the cemetery to pray in the morning and the women
go around the village greeting friends and family. The animal being sacrificed
can not be slaughtered until the King has killed his sheep. After the animal is
skinned and hung, each family decides on how they will divide the meat. The
first meal usually consists of liver, heart, and lung that is skewered over a
fire or hot coals – these are known as snanettes. Either the first or
second eve, the best cut of the meat, known as eyshwa, is eaten as a meal
alone with a side of salt and tea. Another meal, generally the second or third
day, will be the head. The intestines are dried and kept for the 9th
day of Achour (Muharram).
In Tanaghmelt, the kids get a two-week vacation from school for this
holiday. It is customary for the young, unmarried girls to gather for lunch and
dinner for about five days following the slaughter. A new family will host the
girls each meal and after their feast they sing, dance and gossip. Each family
in the village eats their slaughtered animal until it has been finished. During
the week following the “Great Feast” it is also customary for each family to
give donations of wheat, barley, flour or other gifts to the less fortunate.
The story behind Aied Elkbir, also known as Aied Tafaska, is that a man
know as Sidna Brahim ElHalil had a dream in which God told him to slaughter his
son, Ismaiel. He told his son of this dream and explained that God was testing
him to see if he was a true believer or not. When Ismaiel heard of this dream
he was not frightened, but simply explained that if God summoned his father to
slaughter him, it must be done. One day, Sidna Brahim took his son to a far
away place, covered his eyes, and cut his throat. As he was slaughtering his
son, God sent a male sheep down from the sky and replaced Ismaiel. Because
Sidna Brahim had listened to the word of God, God in turn saved his son.
* SOURCE:
Zaouit Tanaghmelt
Community Resource Guide Danielle Asselin
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