Why Did the Emir of Qatar Remove His Headband at Ismail Haniyeh’s Funeral?

Social media users circulated images of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at Friday prayers followed by the funeral of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of Hamas. The funeral took place at the Imam Muhammad bin Abd al-Wahhab Mosque (Grand Mosque) in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Friday, August 2, 2024.

What caught attention was Sheikh Tamim’s decision to remove his headband during Haniyeh’s funeral—a departure from his usual practice of wearing the headband over the traditional Qatari headdress.

Why Did the Emir of Qatar Remove His Headband at Ismail Haniyeh’s Funeral?

Some social media users interpreted the Emir’s removal of his headband as a sign of mourning, indicating that he was in mourning or offering condolences, rather than being a mere mourner. This followed Haniyeh’s assassination at his residence in Tehran on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, after attending the inauguration ceremony of President Masoud Bezhkishian.

Images of the Emir of Qatar without his headband were shared with comments suggesting that it is an Arab custom for a mourner not to wear the headband, or that it signifies the person is in mourning.

Others noted that removing the headband is a traditional Arab gesture of grief or sadness, often associated with the loss of a loved one. The headband, typically a black circular band (often) used to secure the headdress, is also known as “hajal” in some Bedouin regions, or “isaba” or “rabata” in others.

Customs Related to the Headband in Arab Traditions

Investigations into this custom on local forums revealed that this practice is prevalent in the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain.

Removing the headband is associated with mourning because the headband is a symbol of adornment and appearance. In times of death or grief, the person’s appearance becomes secondary, and removing the headband often happens spontaneously.

This practice is also observed in condolences in various Gulf regions, where mourners either remove or raise the headband on their heads as a sign of shared grief.

Significance of Headband Movements in Social Settings

The headband is a symbol of authenticity in the Arabian Peninsula and carries specific meanings based on its movements and how it is worn.

Some explain that raising the headband can indicate admiration or joy, while lowering it signifies sadness.

For example, the Saudi newspaper “Al Riyadh” described old customs where a man would remove his headband in a public gathering if his pride was hurt, not replacing it until his pride and dignity were restored.

Raising the headband in someone’s face in some areas can be seen as an insult and may lead to disputes.

The Bahraini newspaper “Al Wasat” explained that the headband is like a crown on a man’s head, removed only in cases of vows, returning rights, or mourning the loss of a loved one.

It is also seen as a mark of tribal honor, explained by the well-known Arab saying “nakas ‘iqalna,” used when a tribe member performs a disgraceful act.

The Origin of the Headband in Arab Heritage

There are many stories about the origin of the headband. It is said that Arabs wore it to face the challenges of the desert while herding sheep or traveling under the scorching sun. It was used to secure a piece of cloth on the head to protect it from the sun’s heat and dust from the winds.

It is also said that after the fall of Andalusia, Arabs wrapped their heads with black cloth for a period to express their sorrow, evolving over time into different forms.