ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES THE QATABRÉ SHEIKH, MAWLĪD CELEBRATION AND INTRA-FAITH DEBATE ON THE MAWLĪD CELEBRATION BY: AMIRA KEDIR ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY JUNE, 2014 Addis Ababa University School Of Graduate Studies The Qatabré Sheikh, Mawlīd Celebration and Intra-Faith Debate on the Mawlīd Celebration By: Amira Kedir Thesis Advisor: Ahmed Hassen Omer (PhD) A Thesis Submitted to Addis Ababa University School of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Social Anthropology Addis Ababa University June, 2014 Addis Ababa University School of Graduate Studies This is to certify that the thesis prepared by Amira Kedir, entitled: The Qatabré Sheikh, Mawlīd Celebration and Intra-Faith Debate on the Mawlīd Celebration and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Arts in Social Anthropology compiles with the regulations of the University and meets the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality. Signed by the Examining Committee Examiner________________________________ Signature______________ Date__________ Examiner________________________________ Signature______________ Date__________ Advisor_________________________________ Signature______________ Date__________ Table of Content Content Page Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................ i Preface .......................................................................................................................... ii Abstract ........................................................................................................................ iv Glossary ........................................................................................................................ v CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1.Background of the Study ............................................................................... 1 1.1.1. The Settlement of Qatbaré: Geographical Location .............................................................. 6 1.2.Statement of the Problem .............................................................................. 8 1.3.Objectives of the Study ............................................................................... 10 1.3.1. General Objective............................................................................. 10 1.3.2. Specific Objectives ........................................................................... 10 1.4.Methods of Data Collection and Analysis .................................................... 10 1.4.1. Qualitative Data Collection Methods ................................................ 11 1.4.1.1.Field Trip and Participant Observation ....................................... 11 1.4.1.2.Interviews ................................................................................... 11 1.4.1.3.Focus Group Discussions............................................................ 12 1.4.1.4.Sami Structured Interview .......................................................... 13 1.4.2. Published and Unpublished Materials .............................................. 13 1.4.3. Methods of Data Analysis and Interpretation ....................................................................... 13 1.5.Conceptual Framework ................................................................................ 14 1.5.1. Schools of Thought on the Celebration of Mawlīd ............................ 14 1.5.2. Theoretical Framework .................................................................... 16 1.6.Significance of the Study ............................................................................. 17 1.7.Scope /Delimitation/ of the Study ................................................................ 18 1.8.Limitations of the Study ............................................................................... 18 1.9.Ethical Considerations………………………………………………………..18 CHAPTER TWO: - LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1.Islam in Ethiopia .......................................................................................... 20 2.2.Islamic Reform Movements in Ethiopia ....................................................... 22 2.2.1. The Salafi Movement ................................................................. 23 2.2.2. The Jama‟at al-Tabligh Movement ............................................ 26 2.2.3. The Intellectualist Movement ..................................................... 27 2.3.The Celebration of the Birth Date of Prophet Muhammad (Mawlīd) .......................................................... 29 CHAPTER THREE: THE SITE OF QATBARÉ AND ITS ENVIRONS: THE SOCIO-RELIGIOUS SPACE 3.1.The Site of Qatbaré: The Seat Of Sheikh Issa Ibn Hamza ............................... 34 3.2.Sheikh Iss Ibn Hamza (The Qatbaré Sheikh) .................................................. 35 3.2.1. A Brief Outline .............................................................................. 35 3.3.The Teaching Center of Qatbaré: Its Madrasa ................................................ 39 3.4.The Annual Mawlīd Ceremony at Qatbaré ..................................................... 43 3.4.1. The Participants on the Ceremony .................................................. 46 3.4.2. The Overall Activities of The Ceremony ........................................ 48 3.4.2.1.Pre-Ceremonial Activities .................................................... 48 3.4.2.2.Activities During the Mawlīd Ceremony ............................... 51 A. Reading the Holy Qur‟an .......................................... 51 B. Performing the Dua‟a................................................ 51 C. Meal Offering .......................................................... 52 D. Khat Consumption ................................................... 53 E. Manzūm‟a (Muslims Panegyrics) ............................. 55 F. Dhikr and Awrād ....................................................... 57 G. Hadīth ....................................................................... 58 H. Gift .......................................................................... 58 I. Ziyarah ..................................................................... 59 3.4.3. The Values of the Activities .......................................................... 61 3.4.3.1.Religious Values .................................................................. 61 3.4.3.2.Socio-Cultural and Economic Values .................................. 63 3.5.The Qatbaré Sheikh and the Liqa ................................................................... 66 3.6.Beyond Qatbaré ............................................................................................. 73 3.6.1. The Case of Masjid Al-Nur in Addis Ababa .................................. 73 3.6.2. The Exile of The Qatbaré Sheikh to Däjän .................................... 74 3.6.3. The Qatbaré Sheikh: Post- Däjän Activities .................................... 76 CHAPTER FOUR: THE MAWLĪD AND THE INRA-FAITH DEBATE 4.1.The Debate ........................................................................................................ 78 4.1.1. Pro-Mawlīd Ceremony Debate at Qatbaré .............................................. 78 4.1.2. The Against-Mawlīd Ceremony Debate at Qatbaré ................................. 81 4.1.3. The Scenario .......................................................................................... 87 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION ........................................................................... 89 Bibliography ...................................................................................................... 92 List of Informants ........................................................................................... 102 Appendices List of Figure Figure- 1 Sheikh Issa ibn Hamza and his son Al-Hajj Shalaqa Sultan .......................................................................................... 38 Figure-2 Recent developmental activities being Performed by the Qatbaré Hadra ........................................................................... 43 Figure- 3 Female Participants in their reserved Space ........................................................ 49 Figure- 4 A reserved space for male participants ............................................................... 49 Figure- 5 Female participants while reciting the Supplication (dua‟a) ........................................................................................... 52 Figure - 6 Female Participants while preparing food ......................................................... 53 Figure – 7 Male participants on khat ceremony ................................................................. 54 Figure - 8 Male participants while reciting The manzum‟a .................................................................................................... 56 Figure - 9 Female Participants while Reciting manzum‟a ............................................................................................. 56-57 Figure - 10 Male Participants while reciting The dhikr and awrād .......................................................................................... 58 Figure -11 Male Participants while praying Salat al-Asir in Group (Salat al-Jam‟a) ....................................................................................... 63 Figure - 12 The remains of the burnt ratiba (house of hadra) At Qatbaré ........................................................................................................