h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The Marsh Arabs - A751880
Author: Ashley - U276



A humble little entry on a great people.

I hope you enjoy it

I'm sure I have something to add. Hopefully the material is here and not boxed awaiting transit in Northern Ireland.

Fascinating!

How about a couple of small but perfectly-formed nuggets of information - on J Baillie Fraser (who he?), and on the distinction between Shia and Sunni.

Also the issue of private prayer vs. the urban Muslims. Do you mean they pray singly and alone, or that they don't have mosques? And is this because they are Shia not Sunni, or because of where and how they live?

And I wasn't sure what you meant about urban Muslims resorting to fanaticism. Does this refer to religious fundamentalism and the doctrine of jihad, or something else?

I feel a little more info would go a long way.

...Just a few meek thoughts on a terrific entry.

FWIW

Bels

That one of the things I was going to give him the difference.

I will provide a footnote on the difference between the two denominations (it will be basic as there have been volumes written on it)...

And a little more on private prayer should go in -

Thank you guys

I've expanded those points and included a link to a page that fully explains the difference between the two denominations.

I'll happily change the link if anyone can find a more appropriate one.

These web sites!

I found this in my dictionary:

Sunni: one of the two main branches of Islam, commonly described as orthodox, and differing from Shia in its understanding of the Sunna and in its acceptance of the first three caliphs.

Sunna: the traditional portion of Muslim law based on Muhammad's words or acts, accepted (together with the Koran) as authoritative by Muslims and followed particularly by Sunni Muslims.

Shia: one of the two main branches of Islam, followed especially in Iran, that rejects the first three Sunni caliphs and regards Ali, the fourth caliph, as Muhammad's true successor.

Caliph: the chief Muslim civil and religious ruler, regarded as the successor of Muhammad.

James Baillie Fraser was a Scottish traveller and novelist (1783 - 1856)

FWIW

Bels

Nice one indeed!

I had a look past the main link to get a look at the 'mudhif' and I noticed that the link spelled it this way and not 'midhuf'. It would be nice, I think to give the name for the reed boats - 'mashuf'. The picture was impressive.

I'd heard of marsh Arabs, but not known anything about them, so this is really interesting.

Wonderful entry Ashley!

Take an out of petty cash.

- X

Hey!

Thank you for all the feedback - I've added the extra info about Baillie and corrected the 'mudhifs' inconsistencies.

I've deliberately left the description of the difference between Sunni and Shiia as it is a huge theological debate that has haunted me since my uni days. It's a theological minefield that involves Fatima, the role of women, and several wise men, and thus way beyond the scope of my humble little entry.

Jimi, I'd love a but Mark has drunk the petty cash dry..

Yeah, theological stuff can certainly be a minefield - I'm sure it's wise to avoid it in this case.

I'd be curious to know where you came across the Baillie Fraser quote.

I think it is on the AMARA website...

Thanks, Ashley. I couldn't find it there at a quick glance, but then I wasn't looking very hard, so not to worry.

Some of these intrepid British 19th C globetrotters had very interesting lives... but this is drifting off-topic. Sorry.

Excellent entry, Ashley - interesting and sensitive.

One question. Is it true that the Marsh Arabs have been in Mesopotamia for 5 millennia? In which case, are they ethnically Arabs or related to the Sumerians or some other Semitic stock?

Jack

Great entry on a subject that was completely unknown to me.

In the thread it says you have resolved this prob:

>>
'Mudhifs'. We knows these midhufs
<<

...but there still seem to be two spellings in the text.

You may not think this is necessary, but I wondered if you could include a *very* brief history of this culture's history pre-1980. Surely there were all kinds of wars and things over the centuries that must have affected the MAs. The Sumerians, Babylon, Israel, the hittites, etc. Maybe even Alexander! Just an idea. And I *do* realise it would have to be a very potted history, but perhaps an extra para....

Anyway, looks guideworthy to me as it stands, good luck with it.

seeya
spiff

Hey Spaceman,

I've added that extra paragraph, let me know what you think.



Ashley

Yeah, nice one, .

Looks good to me.

seeya

Interesting entry!

It's just that it somehow seems... Unbalanced. Not in content, in structure. The entry feels like it's just getting going when it stops! I think it's the second to last paragraph that does it- it doesn't feel like it's the end, but the last paragraph is a separate matter, so there's no definate conclusion.

Oh, maybe it's just me Never mind, forget I spoke

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Congratulations Ashley