The Tale of Al
A Southern Pakistani Tradition
OVERVIEW
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Origin
Shapes and forms
Method of attack
Precautionary measures
Origin
● In Pakistani lore, the Al appears in Baloch and Brahui
lore.
● She is alternatively known as “Al Ana” as well.
● She is believed to be the sister of satan who attacks
women during the process of birthing.
● The figure is found in Turkish, Tuvan, Kyrgyz, and
Afghani folklore as well.
● The name ‘Al’ or ‘Hal’ in Turkish means “fire” or “evil”,
while “Ana” means “mother”.
Origin
● According to the traditions found in the near
eastern region, God created for Adam first
the Al as his consort, but being “earth-born”,
Adam could not adapt to her fiery nature.
Thus, God created Adam a new companion,
Eve, “from the earth”. This is believed to be
the reason for enmity between the Al and the
children of Adam and Eve, in particular
women.
Shapes and forms
● In Afghan folktales, the Al is known for threatening babies and young men, especially
bridegrooms
● She is known to appear in two forms: Madar-i-Al and Al-i-Dilkash
● Madar-i-Al(Al, the Mother): A hideous old woman with long teeth, nails,and glaring eyes.
She is known for attacking at night, particularly babies in their cribs. Smoke from burning
wild rue seeds is believed to protect babies from her attacks.
● Al-i-Dilkash(Al, the beautiful): Is a sinister demon who takes the form of a beautiful young
woman, which she uses to seduce her victims, in particular young men. She has limbs
made of elastic, which she uses to stretch out her arms to rip apart the chest of a sleeping
bridegroom and kill him.
Madar-i- Al
Al-i-Dilkash
Method of Attack
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In Azerbaijan and Turkey, she is famous for her wrath and
anger. She dwells in near rivers, lakes, and streams.
After stealing a woman’s internal organs during childbirth,
the Al makes a rapid escape in order to cross a body of
water, such as a brook, river etc, after which the new
mother cannot be saved. To prevent this chants, firearms,
and loud noises are used to stop the demon from reaching
a water body.
It is also believed when a woman’s condition after
childbirth worsens, it is necessary to stir the water of a
nearby brook or river incase the Al is nearby.
Method of attack
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The Al seizes human infants soon after they are conceived
and replaces them instead with her known children,
known as foundlings or changelings.
Changelings vary in appearance, some being able to pass
as humans, while other may have feature, such as sharp
teeth, which give them away.
A changeling is known for throwing fits of rage towards
individuals around it, and dreads its mother.
Other characteristics include: restlessness, extraordinary
greed, and excessive questioning
Precautionary measures
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In Iraq, Yezidi women in order to ward off the Al, have
a special deity known as Pira-Fat. Which is speculated
to be Hazrat Fatima, the daughter of the Holy Prophet
(pbuh).
Customs to protect women against the Al include
placing sharp iron objects, like a scissors, knives, and
swords, near the new mother etching a line around
the bed with object.
The following prayer is recited:
“For whom am I defending the fortress?
For Maryam and her child
May they be blessed”
Precautionary measures
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Thereafter, that object is hung above the women
and her newborn’s bed for 10 days until the latter is
given its birth bath, as per Yedizi rituals. After the
bathing, the Al is unable to harm the mother and
the child.
Other methods employed against the Al generally
coincides with those employed to exorcise demons,
such as charms, amulets, spells etc.
To prevent a child from being abducted by Al Ana, a
mother needs to dawn her child in all red, including
a piece of red lace tied around the neck, and a red
cap on its head to shield them from moon light. It is
also advised not to leave their child unattended,
especially near bodies of water.
An excerpt from Armenian lore where the Al confesses to her sins
“ I descend upon a woman in childbirth,
Singe her ear, I tear off her liver, and I torment the mother
and her child.
Our food is the flesh of the mother’s child and the liver of the
mother;
And a seven-month old child we steal away from it mother,
Deaf and dumb we bring (the child) to our king in the Abyss”
References:
● @folkloristan