Berti Qur'anic Amulets

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Periodical article

Title:	Berti Qur'anic Amulets
Author:	El-Tom, Abdullahi O.
Year:	1987
Periodical:	Journal of Religion in Africa
Volume:	17
Issue:	3
Period:	October
Pages:	224-244
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Sudan
Subjects:	Koran Berti ritual objects Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Religion and Witchcraft esoteric sciences
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1580876.pdf
Abstract:	Among the Berti of North Darfur, Sudan, Islam is disseminated and taught by religious men, locally referred to as 'fugara'. As professionals, Berti religious men render a variety of services to their clients: they teach the Qur'an, preside over rituals, and treat the sick. This article discusses the provision of 'hijbat' (sg. 'hijab'), written formulas which are believed to help their owners to achieve certain objectives. The following examples of the most commonly used hijbat in the area are examined: a hijab to avoid weapons, a hijab used by merchants to attract customers, a hijab which relates to economic activities and wealth in general, a hijab which secures an easy passage in confronting adversaries, and a hijab which causes the adversary to fall asleep or lose his senses temporarily. The author describes how Berti hijbat render Qur'anic verses more relevant to practical purposes by exploiting phonetic similarities between classical Arabic and Berti words, and by shifting back and forth between literal and metaphorical meanings. Bibliogr., notes.