Zebibah
A zebibah (Arabic زبيبة zabība, "raisin") is a darkened area of callused skin on the forehead. Muslims sometimes acquire one from pressing the head to the ground during daily prayers. Because they come from this act of religious observance, they can be seen as a mark of piety.[1]
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. However, it was much larger for certain groups. For instance, the rate of diabetes was 21.9% for women aged between 45–64 years old. In addition, it was estimated that up to 56% of men and 64% of women are obese. Many of these obese people can be pre-diabetic.[2]
[edit] In popular culture
In the West there are not a lot of famous people with a zebibah. Possibly the closest was artist Wesley Willis, though his callus did not come from Salat but rather from headbutting audience members and other people as a greeting. [3]
[edit] References
- ^ Fashion and Faith Meet, on Foreheads of the Pious: A New York Times article on the phenomenon in Egypt.
- ^ Diabetes mellitus in Egypt: risk factors, prevalence and future burden
- ^ Aminzade, Dan Maynes. "Project Portfolio: Wesley Willis". http://www.monzy.org/wesley/. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
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