Marawed 85 explores folk beliefs

At the heart of this edition is a compelling cover feature titled “Folk beliefs: Heritage of fear and wisdom". Through it, contributors investigate the multilayered world of folk beliefs across the UAE, the Arab region, and beyond—tracing connections, revisiting practices that have faded or are on the brink of disappearance, and highlighting those that continue to endure despite the passage of time and changing ways of life.

Folk beliefs

Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and Editor-in-Chief, discusses the complexity of folk beliefs in his editorial. He asserts that individuals rarely discuss such beliefs candidly. Instead, they reside within individuals and emerge when prompted by instinct, uncertainty, or interaction with the intangible. He asserts that their silence frequently stems from a discord with logic, reality, and occasionally even religious convictions, leading to a conflict between their beliefs and societal norms.

Dr Al Musallam also opens the issue with his own contribution, “Folk beliefs and the sea”, setting the tone for a wider discussion on how environment and experience shape collective imagination.

Readings in folk belief

The issue brings together a series of studies that approach folk belief from different angles. Fahad Al Muamari explores how belief is shaped by geography and social awareness, while Ali Ahmed Al Mughanni examines the ideas of optimism and pessimism associated with animals in Emirati heritage.

Khalid bin Mohammed Mubarak Al Qasimi analyses the role of fear in folk belief systems, pointing out the importance of magic and envy in the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula. These contributions illustrate how fear, symbols, and the environment collaboratively influence the collective consciousness, which amalgamates local culture with global experiences.

Books and studies

Alongside these studies, the issue offers in-depth readings of several notable publications. These include The Heritage of the UAE in Travel Literature by Dr Mani Bounaama, as well as a study of the coastal region in Ibn Khaldun’s Al-Ibar wa Diwan al-Mubtada wal-Khabar, presented through insights by Ahmed Shukri. The issue also features a review written by Abeer Younes of Forts and Castles in the United Arab Emirates by Ali Mohammed Rashid Al Qasimi. Additional pieces explore works related to Al-Khwarizmi, Western travellers’ perspectives on Bedouin life, folk riddles, and the story of Nimr Al Adwan.

Heritage and cultural topics

Beyond its central theme, the issue presents a diverse range of heritage and cultural topics, from plant lore in ancient Egyptian civilisations to the mihbash (traditional coffee mortar) as a living symbol of memory and tradition, as well as a feature on Mount Yandang in south-eastern China. The magazine's engagement with human heritage reflects the breadth and richness of traditional crafts, artistic heritage, and folk narratives.