Gergai'aan
What is Gergai’aan
Gergai’aan: the celebration of the birth of the first grandson of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) and the first son of Imam Ali and Lady Fatima, Imam Hassan.
Gergai’aan: the celebration of the birth of the first grandson of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) and the first son of Imam Ali and Lady Fatima, Imam Hassan.
The word ‘Gergai’aan’ is essentially “Qurat Al-A’ain,” which literally means ‘acknowledgement of the eye,’ but translates to what one encounters with much pleasure to the point where the eye does not aspire to anything other than what is encountered.
God says in the Holy Quran,
God says in the Holy Quran,
﷽
وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
“Lord, let our spouses and children be the delight of our eyes and ourselves examples for the pious ones [25:74].”
The Roots of Gergai’aan
The origin of Gergai’aan goes back to the birth of Imam Hassan. His birthday is in the midst of the holy month of Ramadan (15th of Ramadan) on either the second or third year of Hijra*.
The prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) hurried to his daughter’s house filled with the utmost joy as soon as he heard the news of his grandson’s birth. He called for his beloved grandson to smell and kiss him, and to recite the athan (call for prayer) and the eqama (Islamic accommodation) in his ears as well. During which, Angel Gabriel descended from the heavens to be the first to congratulate the prophet and to inform him of his grandchild’s name, chosen by God Almighty, Hassan.
The Roots of Gergai’aan
The origin of Gergai’aan goes back to the birth of Imam Hassan. His birthday is in the midst of the holy month of Ramadan (15th of Ramadan) on either the second or third year of Hijra*.
The prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) hurried to his daughter’s house filled with the utmost joy as soon as he heard the news of his grandson’s birth. He called for his beloved grandson to smell and kiss him, and to recite the athan (call for prayer) and the eqama (Islamic accommodation) in his ears as well. During which, Angel Gabriel descended from the heavens to be the first to congratulate the prophet and to inform him of his grandchild’s name, chosen by God Almighty, Hassan.
When word went around about the sacred birth of Imam Hassan, the believers rushed to the prophet’s home to congratulate him. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) handed out sweets and candies to all whom visited, especially the children, and so it became a tradition to hand out candies on Imam Hassan’s birthday to this very day.
The Tradition
For hundreds of years, it has been a tradition for children to wear traditional, colorful attire, carry bags or pouches, gather with friends and family, and together, in groups, go around the neighbourhood from one house to another reciting a song in exchange for candy.
The Tradition
For hundreds of years, it has been a tradition for children to wear traditional, colorful attire, carry bags or pouches, gather with friends and family, and together, in groups, go around the neighbourhood from one house to another reciting a song in exchange for candy.
One of the Gergai’aan songs:
Gergai’aan… Gergai’aan
Comes between the month of Shaaban and Ramadan
May you be able to fast Ramadan for many years to come
May you witness it for more years to come
Oh God save this kid
Oh God protect him for the sake of his mother
May he never get sick
May his mother never feel sorrow for him
(x2)
Oh God save their kid, protect him for his mother
(x2)
May you repeat and fast [Ramadan] every year
(x2)
Gergai’aan… Gergai’aan
Comes between the month of Shaaban and Ramadan
May you be able to fast Ramadan for many years to come
May you witness it for more years to come
Oh God save this kid
Oh God protect him for the sake of his mother
May he never get sick
May his mother never feel sorrow for him
(x2)
Oh God save their kid, protect him for his mother
(x2)
May you repeat and fast [Ramadan] every year
(x2)
*Hijra: the migration of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) from Mecca to Medina in A.D. 622
Sources
- http://www.islam4u.com/ar/almojib/%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%87%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%9F
- https://lyricstranslate.com/en/gergaiaan-lyrics.html
- Figure 1&2: https://picbabun.com/shiacalendar_en
- Figure 3: https://www.sayidaty.net/node/317046/%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B9/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B9/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B6%D9%8A-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%B6%D8%B1#photo/7
