Prayer bump

A zebibah (Arabic: زبيبة‎ zabība, "raisin"), also known as a zabiba or zebiba, or prayer bump, is a mark on the forehead of some Muslims, due to the friction generated by repeated contact of the forehead with the prayer mat during daily prayers. Owing to its societal significance it is also known as the devout sign.[1]

A pilgrim with prayer bump photographed outside Masjid al-Haram.

Islam requires its adherents to pray five times a day (known as salat), which involves kneeling on a prayer mat and touching the ground (or a raised piece of clay called Turbah by the Shia) with one's forehead. When done firmly for extended periods of time, a callus can develop on the forehead - the 'prayer bump' - which may be considered as a sign of piety and dedication. Some Muslims also believe that on the Day of Judgment, this bump will fluoresce with an immense white light.[2] However, "Riya" (showing-off) is prohibited in Islam; if the prayer bump may result in riya (showing-off piety), it is recommended to take precautionary measures to stop a bump forming, as worship may be deemed void due to riya. Therefore, showing-off piety should not be a reason for deliberately creating a prayer bump.

In extreme cases, the callus can be thick enough to create a noticeable bump that protrudes from the forehead. They may also develop due to frequent prayer on hard surfaces such as stone floors (or as mentioned, on the turbah, for Shiite Muslims).

A zebibah can be a type of acanthosis nigricans, which is a sign of insulin resistance usually from type 2 diabetes. In Egypt, where zebibahs are common, the rate of diabetes was 10.2% in 2000 with a much higher incidence rate within certain groups such as women aged between 45–64 years old (21.9%). Additionally, it was estimated that up to 56% of men and 64% of women are clinically obese; many of these can be pre-diabetic.[3]

gollark: I might be.
gollark: > brb resetting modmod?
gollark: Why?
gollark: What do you mean "once [I] [am] dead"?
gollark: Or -3.

References
  1. Bhargava R & Bhargava M (12 March 2018). "Devout Sign (Prayer Mark)". Austin Publications LLC.
  2. Magdi Abdelhadi (23 June 2008). "Signs of division on Egypt's brow". BBC News. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
  3. Diabetes mellitus in Egypt: risk factors, prevalence and future burden
  4. Rushdie, Salman. Shame. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
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