A prayer callus, zabiba or zebiba ( ar, زبيبة ''zabība'', "
raisin
A raisin is a dried grape. Raisins are produced in many regions of the world and may be eaten raw or used in cooking, baking, and brewing. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia, the word ''raisin'' is reserved for the d ...
") is a
callus
A callus is an area of thickened and sometimes hardened skin that forms as a response to repeated friction, pressure, or other irritation. Since repeated contact is required, calluses are most often found on the feet and hands, but they may o ...
on the forehead present in some devout praying Muslims, mainly in Egypt. Owing to its societal significance it is also known as the "devout sign". Among notable Egyptian leaders
Anwar Sadat
Muhammad Anwar el-Sadat, (25 December 1918 – 6 October 1981) was an Egyptian politician and military officer who served as the third president of Egypt, from 15 October 1970 until his assassination by fundamentalist army officers on 6 ...
's reputation for personal piety was evidenced by a callus on his forehead from repeated prostration in prayer.
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
requires its adherents to pray five times a day (known as
salat
(, plural , romanized: or Old Arabic ͡sˤaˈloːh, ( or Old Arabic ͡sˤaˈloːtʰin construct state) ), also known as ( fa, نماز) and also spelled , are prayers performed by Muslims. Facing the , the direction of the Kaaba wit ...
), which involves kneeling on a prayer mat and touching the ground (or a raised piece of clay called ''
turbah
A turbah ( ar, تربة, lit=soil), or mohr ( fa, مهر, lit=seal), also known as khāk-e shefā ( fa, خاکِ شِفا, lit=medicinal soil, also used in Urdu) and sejde gāh ( fa, سجدہ گاہ, lit=place of prostration, also used in Urdu), ...
'' by the Shia) with one's forehead. When done firmly for extended periods of time, a callus – the "prayer bump" – can develop on the forehead which may be considered as a sign of piety and dedication. It is mentioned in the Quran as:
Some Muslims also believe that on the
Day of Resurrection
In Islam, "the promise and threat" () of Judgment Day ( ar, یوم القيامة, Yawm al-qiyāmah, Day of Resurrection or ar, یوم الدین, italic=no, Yawm ad-din, Day of Judgement),
when "all bodies will be resurrected" from the dead, ...
, this callus will fluoresce with an immense white light.
However, ''riya'' (showing-off) is prohibited in Islam; if the prayer bump may result in riya, it is recommended to take precautionary measures to stop a bump forming, as worship may be deemed void due to riya.
In extreme cases, the callus can be thick enough to create a noticeable bump that protrudes from the forehead.
References
{{reflist
External links
Reference to a prayer bump in 'Men, Women and God(s)'Mention of a prayer scarin
Middle East Report
The ''Middle East Report'' is a magazine published by the Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP). The headquarters is in Tacoma, Washington.
History and profile
MERIP began in 1971 by releasing an irregularly scheduled six-page new ...
Mention of a prayer scar in Occupation Magazine
Salah
Symptoms