Rifai Ratib (also ''Rifai raatheeb, Hadra rifaiyya'') is a spiritual mortification ritual performed by followers of the Rifa’i Tariqa. ''Byths'' or ''Ratheebs'' are sung during the ritual. There are more than twenty different ''byths'' being used. The

daf Daf (), also known as dâyere and riq, is an Iranian frame drum musical instrument, also used in popular and classical music in Persian-influenced South and Central Asia, such as in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, many ...

is the main musical instruments used in Rifa’i Ratib. During heightened states of Rifai Ratib, Rifai followers were noted to have eaten live snakes, entered ovens filled with fire and ridden on lions. Followers have been seen thrusting iron spikes and glass into their bodies. The ritual consists of acts like piercing parts of one's own body like the tongue, the ear, and the stomach with knives and sharp-edged steel tools. The followers and protagonists of the ritual believe, that even though injuries are inflicted on the bodies of the performers by

weapons A weapon, arm, or armament is any implement or device that is used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime (e.g., murder), law ...

, these do not cause pain or damage to the body. According to many masters of the Rifai sufi order, They believe that, since the ritual is performed by devotees who have received "ijazath" (permission) from their "sheikh" (saint), it will not cause injuries.Margoliouth 1997.

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Sufism