European shares soar to record highs on industrials    Egypt secures €1.8B investment guarantees from EU    China's c. bank collects $17.3b in MLF loans    US, EU split on strategy for Russia's frozen assets    Transport Minister meets with Austrian delegation to boost Egypt's railway industry    Trade Minister engages with General Motors Egypt on future endeavours, growth strategies    NCW initiates second phase of Women's Economic Empowerment in Fayoum for financial autonomy    Empower Her Art Forum 2024: Bridging creative minds at National Museum of Egyptian Civilization    Niger restricts Benin's cargo transport through togo amidst tensions    Malian MP warns of Western pressure after dialogue recommends extending transition    Egypt's museums open doors for free to celebrate International Museum Day    Egypt and AstraZeneca discuss cooperation in supporting skills of medical teams, vaccination programs    TSMC to begin construction of European chip factory in Q4 '24    Biden harshly hikes tariffs on Chinese imports to protect US businesses    Madinaty Open Air Mall Welcomes Boom Room: Egypt's First Social Entertainment Hub    Egypt, Greece collaborate on healthcare development, medical tourism    Key suppliers of arms to Israel: Who halted weapon exports?    Egypt and OECD representatives discuss green growth policies report    Egyptian consortium nears completion of Tanzania's Julius Nyerere hydropower project    Al-Sisi inaugurates restored Sayyida Zainab Mosque, reveals plan to develop historic mosques    Sweilam highlights Egypt's water needs, cooperation efforts during Baghdad Conference    AstraZeneca injects $50m in Egypt over four years    Egypt, AstraZeneca sign liver cancer MoU    Swiss freeze on Russian assets dwindles to $6.36b in '23    Climate change risks 70% of global workforce – ILO    Prime Minister Madbouly reviews cooperation with South Sudan    Egypt retains top spot in CFA's MENA Research Challenge    Egyptian public, private sectors off on Apr 25 marking Sinai Liberation    Debt swaps could unlock $100b for climate action    Amal Al Ghad Magazine congratulates President Sisi on new office term    Egyptian, Japanese Judo communities celebrate new coach at Tokyo's Embassy in Cairo    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    Euro area annual inflation up to 2.9% – Eurostat    BYD، Brazil's Sigma Lithium JV likely    UNESCO celebrates World Arabic Language Day    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Sayida Zeinab moulid draws thousands
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 06 - 07 - 2010

Tens of thousands of people have gathered in the small streets and alleyways surrounding Sayida Zeinab Square to celebrate the birth of Zeinab Bint Ali, better known as Sayida Zeinab.
Although Egyptians have long commemorated the birthdays of many holy figures, whether Muslim or Christian, these celebrations pale in comparison to the turnout for the moulid or birthday of Sayida Zeinab. Among the Prophet Mohamed's family, Egyptians reserve special reverence for Sayeda Zeinab, the granddaughter of the Prophet and daughter of Ali. Many Egyptians hold that Zeinab sought refuge in Egypt in the wake of a bloody struggle between the family of the prophet and the Umayyads over the caliphate following Mohamed's death, culminating in the killing of Hussein, Zeinab's brother.
Last year, the event came as a disappointment to many after security forces took down tents and sent vendors packing in an effort to cancel the event due to fears of swine flu. This year, by contrast, locals are happy to see the celebration back on track.
"Only half these people were here last year," explained one celebrant. "The festivities were nothing compared to what we'll see tomorrow," he added, one night ahead the final day of festivities, dubbed el-lela el-kebira (the big night).
Little girls ran around carrying dolls in tow, while women shop idly. Tents wereset up around the famous Sayida Zeinab Mosque, where members of different Sufi orders gather to meditate and dance to the voices of the morshideen, or chanters. Others danced in the street. Every time a new chanter hit the makeshift stage, a hundreds-strong crowd gathered alongside the mosque to watch the worshipers.
Meanwhile, the streets around the mosque were packed with vendors, some of whom live in the area. Others, who have come all the way from the provinces, hawked goods for sale. "The vendors in the alleyways are here all the time," explained one young woman. "But the ones on the main street by the mosque are here specifically for the moulid."
"We came all the way from Damietta," said the seller of mishabik (a waffle-like desert associated with moulid celebrations). "We come every year."
Families camped out on mats around the wall of the mosque, many of whom travel moulid-to-moulid throughout the year.
Popular tradition has it that thousands of Egyptians gathered in the city of Blbis in what is now the Sharqiya Governorate to greet Zeinab on her arrival to Egypt, and that she stayed in the city for several days to meet her well-wishers.
Egyptians until this very day celebrate the fact that Zeinab chose Egypt as her home and sanctuary. But they do not only venerate her on her birthday. Egyptians visit her tomb at the Sayida Zeinab Mosque in droves throughout the year, seeking solutions to their troubles through intercession from the "lady". The standard two prostrations in prayer are not enough for Zeinab's true devotees, however. Many of her followers pledge to feed the "lady's poor," meaning the impoverished masses gathered year-round near the mosque, in exchange for her intercession.


Clic here to read the story from its source.