# Superstition and Tradition in Veiled Women

> Theme guide for Veiled Women by Marmaduke Pickthall.

Folk beliefs, such as the crow legend, zar ceremonies, and sorcery, are woven into the story, contrasting with both Islamic orthodoxy and Western rationalism, and revealing the persistence of ancient customs in the harem.

## Where it surfaces

- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/i): The women's crow ritual and belief in a divine petition for marriage rights illustrate traditional superstitions and folk practices.
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/viii): The consultation with the sorcerer Abu Sumûm and the planned use of magical potions and poison illustrate the deep entanglement of superstition and traditional beliefs in the characters' lives.
- [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xiv): Fitnah Khânum's reliance on charms, garlic, and a donkey's thighbone for healing, and her view of the Frankish doctor as a heartless infidel, highlight the tension between traditional remedies and modern medicine.
- [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xix): The chapter details numerous superstitious practices: protective ceremonies for the infant, the belief in El Carînah, and the zâr exorcism performed by Fitnah Khânum.
- [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xx): The arrival of Tâhir is seen as a rapturous surprise; the women's excitement and the ritual of Ramadan fasting and breaking the fast are depicted.
- [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxii): The cemetery visit, the hiring of mourners, and the distribution of alms illustrate deep-rooted traditions and superstitious practices surrounding death.
- [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxiii): Umm ed-Dahak's belief in witchcraft, amulets, and charms contrasts with her worldly wisdom, illustrating the persistence of superstition in daily life.
- [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxiv): Umm ed-Dahak's explanations about blood sacrifices and the fatalistic acceptance of child mortality reflect superstition and tradition in the harem.
- [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxv): The belief that children should be kept untidy to avert ill-fortune, and the ritualistic elements of the wedding and Tâhir's oath.
- [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxviii): Servants claim demonic possession, Umm ed-Dahak revises prophecies after the favorite's death, and Fitnah recommends marriage as a cure for devils, reflecting superstitious beliefs.
- [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxxii): The conscripts are described as being driven mad by religious shouting and harangued by holy men, highlighting the role of religious fervor and manipulation in the war effort.
- [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxxiv): Barakah's plan to die on her son's grave and pray for mercy in Christ's name reflects a blend of Islamic and Christian traditions.
- [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxxv): The fear of jinn, the belief in afrîtah (spirits), and the robbers' superstitious flight from Barakah's mad charge highlight the role of superstition.
- [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xl): The slave-girl performs the crow ritual, and the ladies discuss the legend of the crow from the days of Noah. Superstition flourishes despite Frankish influences.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/themes/superstition_and_tradition
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/themes