Abu Tabila .. Iraqi Ramadan weather resisting modernity and extinction

Alaa Kooli-Dhi Qar

Every year of the holy month of Ramadan, Ahmed Nasser, 20, is preparing to go back to the drums during the holy month of Suhoor and awaken people on a long evening tour through alleys, streets and neighborhoods. "He said.

Ahmed insisted that he be a scout, a marsheri or a abuila, as he is called locally by these multiple labels, despite the alternatives that exist and the evolution of life and the survival of people late at night and the existence of cafes and restaurants until dawn.

"Despite my young age, I find myself doing something positive for my city and I am doing the task of awakening people to wake me up. This is for me a ritual and an important part and we usually love it with the coming of Ramadan, but we wait eagerly for it. "Through which the alleys and residential neighborhoods before the constipation to inform people of the time of Suhur," says Ahmed Aljazeera Net.

Over the past years, the mascara has begun to decline significantly because of the changing nature of life, the introduction of modern technology and means, and the weather conditions that are rising in temperature.

History
There is no specific date for the use of the drum to awaken the fasting, but the drums to celebrate the arrival of Ramadan is known since ancient times, and was mentioned in the journey of Ibn Jubayr (614 e-1217), says Al Jazeera Net researcher and academic d. Judge Kazem.

The magistrate added that the profession of the mascara appeared in the era of the Prophet peace be upon him, and practiced by Bilal bin Rabah, who was roaming the streets and alleys of Medina to awaken people with his soft voice, and then developed the profession in its methods and introduced drums and musical instruments in the performance of the mascara.

The people of Baghdad - as confirmed by the judge - performing the song accompanied by a special kind of poetry called (Goma) known by this name because the mascara says at the end of this poetry, "a people of Suhur." It is said that the Abbasid caliph al-Nasir, the religion of Allah, entrusted a person to awaken him at the time of suhoor, called Abu-dot. The caliph was impressed by the safety of his taste and the kindness of his signs. He recites at the time of Suhoor.

In other historical references, it was said that the Masharati had appeared in the Fatimid state in Egypt, and the soldiers were in charge of it, after which was appointed a man who became known as Alasahrati was carrying a large drum and knock it, and says, "O people of God,

Later, the Ramadan custom moved to Iraq in the year 1300, and remained confined to large cities, and then over time reached the villages and the countryside.

He used to wait until the first day of the Eid, and he went to the houses with his usual drum, and the beatings on his drum during the day of the feast brought people with money, gifts and sweets and exchanged greetings for Eid al-Saeed.

Today, the gifts and money that people give to mascara are usually before Eid al-Fitr, where the mascara comes in the final days of the month of Ramadan and beats his drum to alert people by the end of the month and the end of his work, to give him some money and gifts.

Exhaustion
Even for a few years, Al-Mashhrati did not usually write in such a way. Some areas of Dhi Qar governorate have seen the absence of Al-Masarji, who is roaming the areas. He disappeared completely from the scene and people continued to rely heavily on modern means of waking up, As the citizen Mustafa Adel of the island Net.

Years ago, I did not see Abu Tabila. I thought he had disappeared from the other cities as well. There were previously specific people known in the city to knock drums at the time of Suhur, but they did not. They inherited it for their children and scattered in his small town, which lies south of the center of the province.

waiting
Despite the chaos and many machines brought by the mascara today, Sahira Mohammed, a 42-year-old housewife, says she likes the sound of the drumming of the drums near the alley of her house. It is still the old way that long ago was waiting for a passing time Abu Tabila.

She and her children have to wait for Abu Tabila, almost every day, even though they do not sleep at night, but their children eagerly await the drummer as they pass through their alley so the children can enjoy the scenery of the marshes.

The presence of the mascara, as you tell us, is a special feature of Ramadan. The days of time and even today are part of the heritage that people have always been accustomed to seeing in this holy month, despite the modernity that has swept people's lives.

She agrees with Ahmed to love and revive this tradition inherited hundreds of years ago, and the memories of Al-Masherji remains an ancient Iraqi heritage that gives a religious and heritage impression of the month of Ramadan in the southern cities.