An old proverb said “YAJAALHA MADFEN WA LA MASQUIN” Make it a cemetery and not a residence. It is obviously about the city Kairouan

The themes of death is always omnipresent in the spirit of people. Death is everywhere in the daily live of everyone.

The nebbah (public announcer) which announces in the downtown the death of somebody contributes to it in a big part. People remember the late one immediately and do not miss the occasion to present their condolences to his family either at the cemetery, or at his house on the “Fark” (2nd day) and at the 40th day "Arbaine”.

What makes the funeral processions to be always a true sway in the crowd. People go there mainly for the “Thawab” (divine rewards).

The people of Kairouan are characterized with a collective and positive attitude with respect to death.

When a person of the city of Kairouan meets a known person in the street, he should must immediately activate his memory and activates to remember the first name of a relative deceased and says to him without risk to be mistaken in sharp voice “Yarham Zohra” (Zohra being the first name of his/her mother) or “Yarham am salem” (Am Salem being the first name of a deceased father).

In the case he could not remember any name, he will say quite simply “Yarham Ammi or yarham Khali” (uncle is usually said for older people as a respect) or if it is about a woman “Yarham Amti-Yarham Khalti” he says “Yarham haj-Yarham Hajja” (the ones who made pilgrimage to Mecca).

Foe better approach and to have more affinities with the contacted person one will say “yarham obey salem” (obey affectionate term used to designate the father). Currently, rising generation finds the term “obey” rather old-fashioned and they replaced by that of “baba” which is very tendency. “yarham ommi zohra” (ommi: literally my mother) “ommi” was also replaced by “mama”.

Finally if he does not know anybody he “Yarham waldik” (your parents) or “yarham Lkoll” (all parents) or if he wishes to shorten and put everyone in the same phrase, he will say quite simply “Yarham lkoll fi lkoll” (everyone).

The other person will answer “Taïche” (may God keeps you alive) then he gives him the counterpart “Yarham” followed by the first name of one his deceased.

To even prove its sincerity when it swears, major people in Kairouan will always do it on the head of a nearest relative deceased such as for example “Wa rahmat ommi” (on the head of my mother). Do not believe it especially on words when it insists too much. It is obvious.

Thus in Kairouan you hear often the word “yarham” in the funeral as people remember their dead as these latter are ressuscited.

Others more smart and cool will tell you an expression of origin “merci alik” (literally thank you!).

In the final analysis, people in Kairouan believe that death is not a purpose like any other one. But it is an active and always alive relation between alive or already dead beings.

Then if you know a person from Kairouan, try to find the name of one of his deceased relatives and tell him “Yarham…” he will be very grateful to you.

It is the unconscious expression of a collective sensitivity of the people of Kairouan with respect to death that you do not find elsewhere.

It is also an inheritance which is forwarded orally.

Mohamed Rebai
info@kairouan.org