The Zar spirit and its associated rituals, represent a blend of indigenous and religious beliefs. Zar, the spirit, is predominantly practiced in the Horn of Africa and parts of the Middle East. While it exists within these cultures it’s generally considered a folk tradition and not a religious theological practice.
Zar is a type of jinn/spirit believed to possess individuals, in particular women. The possession starts when the person is having some sort of illness. Generally, symptoms include headaches, lethargy, infertility, mental confusion, or sudden changes in behavior.
To remove the Zar from the possessed person, rituals are performed, mostly healing rituals, that include music, drumming, ecstatic dancing, food, incense, perfumes and special clothing jewelry.
When people, mostly women, gather to perform this ritual it is a supportive community, where they can express their distress, find understanding, and build social bonds. These ceremonies are guided by women known as sheikhs who are, basically, Shaman.
This bonding and empowerment are seen as providing an outlet for those who may face social or familial pressures. It allows them to express desires or frustrations that might not be permissible in everyday life as the demands are attributed to the spirit.
The woman who is possessed by a Zar spirit will speak her mind about things that bother her and ask for things that are luxurious. In this situation she can get away with it in a way that couldn’t happen in everyday life. This has created some skepticism around the spirit, and it explains why many Orthodox Islamic religious people don’t support or believe in the Zar.
This is folk tradition versus mainstream Islam. It is criticized for incorporating pre-Islamic animalistic beliefs which more resemble magic or divination then aligning with the strict Islamic monotheism which emphasizes seeking help directly from God.
Keep in mind, while Islam acknowledges the existence of jinn spirits the specific practices around the Zar are not accepted. Despite religious reservations the Zar remains a deeply ingrained cultural phenomena in many regions. For many practitioners, it’s a legitimate and effective way to address afflictions.
