Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Element Name
Ifrit Al Qurm – The Mangrove Demon
Other Names
Fattuh
Practice Environment
Coast
Practice Location
Sharjah - Kalba - Khor Kalba
Scope of Practice
All segments of society
Heritage Domain/ Category
Folk Literature
Element Type/ Subcategory
Folk Tales (Khararif)
Current Status
Endangered heritage

Ifrit Al Qurm – The Mangrove Demon

Ifrit Al Qurm, or Fattuh, is a famous mythical figure in the folk memory of communities in the eastern region, particularly Kalba. He is portrayed as an exceptionally tall, ugly, dark-skinned man with elongated limbs, fingers ending in sharp animal-like claws and eyes resembling those of a cat in their shine and yellow colour. His appearance is associated with mangrove forests, which he is said to guard, preventing people from entering or gathering their wood because he considers the forest his private property. People believed that remaining in the mangroves after sunset was a dangerous undertaking, as Fattuh appeared at that time to terrify anyone who crossed his boundaries. Several stories are told about him, including that of a man who encountered him while collecting firewood. Their encounter developed into a violent struggle ending with a tremendous scream from Fattuh that caused the man to lose consciousness. Strangely, Fattuh himself became frightened when he thought the man had died and fled the area. This irony led narrators to portray him as terrifying yet himself capable of fear, adding a human dimension and an implicit element of humour to the image of an “invincible monster.” Ifrit Al Qurm therefore forms part of the environmental memory of the region, where nature and myth intersect to define boundaries of what is forbidden and what is regarded as protected.

Criteria Applicable to Nominate Element

01

Geographical or Cultural Specificity: The element is characterized by its association with a specific geographic area or cultural group within the country, giving it a unique identity that distinguishes it from other practices. This element represents part of the social and cultural history of the community, enhancing its value as a distinctive component of local or national identity.

Customer pulse Search
This site is registered on wpml.org as a development site. Switch to a production site key to remove this banner.