Bibi Hajar, Izmam and Zamzam: Myth and Ritual Among Qashqadarya Arabs

Abstract

The present article analyses the preserved and recorded narratives of the Qashqadarya Arabs, obtained through the linguistic fieldwork of I. Vinnikov and G. Chikovani from the 1930s to the 2010s. The study sheds light on the ancient beliefs about the origin of the Qashqadarya Arabs. The meaning behind the terminology, together with references to tangible culture, has made it possible to trace a series of ancient myths. These were reborn as a female rite of passage and as an example of female adornment — the septum nose ring (izmam) — which remains the most important symbol of local Arab identity to this day. The traditional legends provide important material for dialectological research, while serving as an autonomous source of historical and cultural information. The study opens up new perspectives for further research into the cultural heritage of the Arabs of Uzbekistan and for maintaining the Russian academic tradition of Arabic studies.