Women and demons : cult healing in Islamic Egypt / by Gerda Sengers.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sengers, Gerda, author.

Series:

International studies in sociology and social anthropology ; 86.

International studies in sociology and social anthropology ; 86

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Spiritual healing--Egypt.

Spiritual healing.

Healing--Religious aspects--Islam.

Healing.

Zār--Egypt.

Zār.

Women--Egypt--Cairo--Social conditions.

Women.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Place of Publication:

Leiden, The Netherlands ; Boston : Brill, [2003]

Summary:

This rich ethnographic study describes the nearly impossible challenge of the daily existence of women in the poor neighbourhoods of Cairo. When these women fall ill they often put the blame on beings from an invisible world that invaded their body (possession), and they seek the help of traditional healers in the Zar ceremony or Koran healing. This book examines in detail the links between cosmology, power and gender. It tackles questions such as 'what is possession, what is being said with it, and what does society have to do with it?'. The author, who lived a long time in various poor areas of Cairo, attended many sessions of Koran healing and participated in the Zar ceremony. She observed and interviewed many possessed women, as well as healers and other 'demon specialists'.

Contents:

Preface

Transcription and Pronunciation of the Arabic Script

I. Living and Working in Cairo

Research

Cairo

The structure of this book

II. Local Cosmology

Aspects of contemporary cosmology

Influences

Jinn and other non-human beings

Magic

Aspects of Islamic methods of healing

III. Anthropological Approaches to Possession and Healing

Research into possession

Zar Research

My own research

IV. The Zar

General description

Interpretation: zar as transition rite

V. Koran Healing

Men, jinn and magic

Interpretation: Koran healing as transition rite

VI. Possession as a Central Element in Local Cosmology

Vulnerability

Semotiotic Structure

Zar and Koran healing

VII. A Kaleidoscopic Picture of Egyptian Society

Fatiha

Salma

Umm Mustafa

Umm Harbi

Iman

Huda

Reda' (and others): visit of the jinn

VIII. Concluding observations

Appendix.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

90-04-47598-2

OCLC:

654421885

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004475984 DOI