The Cairo Club

[ya falaha! 0]

Yes, that's what they are..prayer scars. Although, some of them are fake...not drawn on but purposely burned there. Some ppl will go to any length to show "religiousness".

You know those men who have the black bumpy circles on their foreheads in Cairo? I asked Usama about that and he said that some men are blessed with that from Allah for praying so much. He said that he never got it though even during a period in his life where he nearly lived in a mosque. I was just curious.....do you think they're all real or do you think some of the men actually draw it on there?

This may not set right with some, but its really not as conflicting as it sounds. The "bumps" are actually caused by constant rubbing of the forehead on the ground during prayer... like an irritation that has scarred. At least that's the way it was explained to me.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Tamer also speculates that it has something to do with the surface you pray on - a lot of the mosques in egypt have hard cement floors. DH had a little one while he was in egypt, but here, he prays on our soft carpet with his soft prayer rug, so it's gone away.

[jordanianprincess 0]

So why doesn't someone come up with a prayer buddy? A small pillow or something so that doesn't happen. You would make a killing.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

So, what's everyone's favorite egyptian dish? Mine is koshari Yummy carbs!

On my first night in Egypt, 2003, I was so beat from the trip over. We made it to our apartment, and I was a little shell shocked, because although I realized egypt was a 3rd world country, I didn't realize how far the poverty permiated. DH let me stay and kinda flop down on the bed, and he went out and got us a whole chicken, fresh bread and koshari. It was love at first sight (for both my husband and the koshari, lol)!

[Aymerlu 3]

So, what's everyone's favorite egyptian dish? Mine is koshari

Yummy! I LOVE KOSHARY!!!! I made Khallid take me to a place that makes awesome Koshary in City Centre 5 times the last time I was in Egypt. He said that place was the best for koshary. I can't get enough of that stuff.

[ya falaha! 0]

Hmmm I have a few favorites...koshari, mouloukhia, and firakh meshwiyya are on the top of the list. Oooh and goolash (not to be confused with the Hungarian dish)...good stuff!

[doodlebug 3]

So why doesn't someone come up with a prayer buddy? A small pillow or something so that doesn't happen. You would make a killing.

hahahaha. you're too funny!! I got a visual of these "boo boo buddies" that I've seen at the local CVS. It's basically an icepack with a stuffed animal cloth wrapped around it. lol.

I don't think they'd sell there since it seems to be a thing of pride. I wondered why the women there didn't have these marks though.

[ya falaha! 0]

I think it's because the women tend to pray at home mostly.

Edited February 9, 2007 by moody

[doodlebug 3]

So, what's everyone's favorite egyptian dish? Mine is koshari

Yummy! I LOVE KOSHARY!!!! I made Khallid take me to a place that makes awesome Koshary in City Centre 5 times the last time I was in Egypt. He said that place was the best for koshary. I can't get enough of that stuff.

Was that the place with the stainless steel tables? He told me that was the best too but honestly this little shack of a place right by our flat in Nasr City blew doors off of that place!

[Bosco 1]

Tamer also speculates that it has something to do with the surface you pray on - a lot of the mosques in egypt have hard cement floors. DH had a little one while he was in egypt, but here, he prays on our soft carpet with his soft prayer rug, so it's gone away.

It does relate to the surface. Shia often use a clay tablet to place their heads on when they pray, and this can cause the mark on the forehead. Praying on the ground (dirt) can also leave a temporary mark. Some people consider it a sign of worship (ala ashes on Ash wednesday).

[doodlebug 3]

Tamer also speculates that it has something to do with the surface you pray on - a lot of the mosques in egypt have hard cement floors. DH had a little one while he was in egypt, but here, he prays on our soft carpet with his soft prayer rug, so it's gone away.

It does relate to the surface. Shia often use a clay tablet to place their heads on when they pray, and this can cause the mark on the forehead. Praying on the ground (dirt) can also leave a temporary mark. Some people consider it a sign of worship (ala ashes on Ash wednesday).

ok not for nuthin' but aren't we supposed to use a prayer rug? I don't get the whole put your head on concrete/clay/dirt thing.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

We're suppose to pray on a clean surface. A prayer rug provides a portable clean surface whenever we need a place to make salat.

Dirt is generally presumed to be clean. In fact, when you need to make wudu/ghusl and you don't have water, you use dirt.

If I remeber correctly, the floors of the Prophet's (saws) masjid were dirt. And that's why some shia use the clay tablets, so that their heads touch the earth, per the Prophet's sunnah.

Edited February 9, 2007 by rahma

[Together4ever 1]

Tamer also speculates that it has something to do with the surface you pray on - a lot of the mosques in egypt have hard cement floors. DH had a little one while he was in egypt, but here, he prays on our soft carpet with his soft prayer rug, so it's gone away.

It does relate to the surface. Shia often use a clay tablet to place their heads on when they pray, and this can cause the mark on the forehead. Praying on the ground (dirt) can also leave a temporary mark. Some people consider it a sign of worship (ala ashes on Ash wednesday).

This may get me boxed around the thread, but a lot of men "nuture" these scars/growths (yeah some can get huge and protrude) on purpose. Its an outward symbol of "the depth of their faith". I put that in quotation marks because as was explained to me, some who feel the need to wear such a symbol outwardly may have issues with the real deal inside. Not going any further then that for obvious reasons. Let's just say most who have them want them. (or at least as applies to Egypt)

[doodlebug 3]

Does anyone know if our ring size here is the same as ring size there? For example, if I'm a size 7 1/2 here, would I be a 7 1/2 there or do they a different system?

[jordanianprincess 0]

Does anyone know if our ring size here is the same as ring size there? For example, if I'm a size 7 1/2 here, would I be a 7 1/2 there or do they a different system?

Different system. My ring size there was a 16 and his is 30. I wear a 7 here so you might be 17? I think he would be a size 13 here.