The Kawsaj
الكوسج
The mule-rider of Adharmah's first day in Iraq and Fars — gorged for days on walnuts, garlic and fat meats, he is doused with cold water unfazed and cries 'garma garma' (warm, warm) in Persian; a Persian festival joy unknown in Syria, Egypt or Yemen 1.
At a glance
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Sacred timeTradition versus culture
Overview
The kawsaj, according to al-Masudi, is a man who comes out on the first day of Adharmah riding a mule, in Iraq and the land of Persia, but not in Syria, the Jazira, Egypt, or Yemen. 1
The practice
He reports that for some days people eat walnuts, garlic, fatty meat, hot foods, and heated drinks. The kawsaj appears as something that drives away the cold; then cold water is poured over him and he feels no pain. He cries out in Persian "kurma kurma," which means "hot, hot." 1
The occasion
Al-Masudi says that this is the time of the festival of the non-Arabs, in which they rejoice and show gladness. It is a Persian custom with no bearing on worship in Islam. 1
People and things also explored
The Night of the Ghatās (Epiphany)· Mihragan· al-Nasīʾ (Intercalation)· Nayruz· Mawlid al-Nabi (birthday celebrations)· The abjad letters named for Madyan's kings· al-Anwāʾ (Star Rains)· Jahiliyya names of days and months
Sources
- Muruj al-Dhahab — al-Masʼudi, p. 507
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “The Kawsaj”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/kawsaj/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-17.