![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OBQORYOTXZLL2U4WNCW4BATO7Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=0c70fb56d4e56637ad166f3ff76f83f4a30bfbfe1fb7d8c6ef3fbbf39efe3d8e&width=400&height=225)
Former president Hosni Mubarak, left, pictured while vice president with then president Anwar Sadat in 1981. Only Sadat has a zebiba. Photo: AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WFQO5S4SJ2ZZ2XZJTTRBGRUPZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ec105414bae18d6f8d9b1e54e3877258329f5550c8e38b45ac0c17fc027f4b4&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers at Al Azhar mosque in Cairo during Ramadan. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QQJOOJAO53KXUMXD5IFB7CCGUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ce8de93af3fc4937c746abf8fcfeecf7f441aca8d582892fd1b3b7c274eab643&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers offer the taraweeh night prayer at Al Azhar mosque during the holy month. Photo: EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3O4CKDLHBQMBK7CAW2C2XJ4I4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=eeeadb1cecfddd6a2050149fb9537a7978d0faae0d6af5fb27c5ef532eb8cc6b&width=400&height=225)
Many Egyptian Muslim men develop a 'zebiba' - a dark, hardened patch of skin on the forehead caused by repeatedly prostrating themselves in prayer. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KQTIXFQ2KZGTDIJNOWS3QV5NCI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=7d6c29cef111b1f874d1a784c32244b346838b9725881cdbe48aeef0672af3b6&width=400&height=225)
But not all worshippers develop a zebiba - raisin in Arabic - or to the same degree. While Cairo garage attendant Mahmoud Nassar, 43, left, has a noticable mark, that on colleague Reda Abdelsalam, 47, is more faint. Nada El Sawy / The National
Mohammed Abu Bilal, 47, in downtown Cairo. The zebiba is a reaction to the friction of the skin against a harsh surface, such as a rough mat. Nada El Sawy / The National
Cairo Uber driver Mohammed Nour, 40, says he goes to the mosque to pray at least five or six times a day during Ramadan. Nada El Sawy / The National
Cairo accountant Ibrahim Abbas, 48, says his zebiba is due to praying frequently from a young age. Nada El Sawy / The National
Ahmed Abdel Fattah, 48, in downtown Cairo. The zebiba seems to be found mainly in Egypt and only in men. Nada El Sawy / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W6M3ZSR3ALF4X5IM7YC3LQYL6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf527ef8705c835742b084fc6c64399c80dafaf3f1be6f7b99b6ac1c264cc808&width=400&height=225)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi also has a zebiba. Photo: Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OBQORYOTXZLL2U4WNCW4BATO7Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=0c70fb56d4e56637ad166f3ff76f83f4a30bfbfe1fb7d8c6ef3fbbf39efe3d8e&width=400&height=225)
Former president Hosni Mubarak, left, pictured while vice president with then president Anwar Sadat in 1981. Only Sadat has a zebiba. Photo: AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WFQO5S4SJ2ZZ2XZJTTRBGRUPZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ec105414bae18d6f8d9b1e54e3877258329f5550c8e38b45ac0c17fc027f4b4&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers at Al Azhar mosque in Cairo during Ramadan. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QQJOOJAO53KXUMXD5IFB7CCGUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ce8de93af3fc4937c746abf8fcfeecf7f441aca8d582892fd1b3b7c274eab643&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers offer the taraweeh night prayer at Al Azhar mosque during the holy month. Photo: EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3O4CKDLHBQMBK7CAW2C2XJ4I4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=eeeadb1cecfddd6a2050149fb9537a7978d0faae0d6af5fb27c5ef532eb8cc6b&width=400&height=225)
Many Egyptian Muslim men develop a 'zebiba' - a dark, hardened patch of skin on the forehead caused by repeatedly prostrating themselves in prayer. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KQTIXFQ2KZGTDIJNOWS3QV5NCI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=7d6c29cef111b1f874d1a784c32244b346838b9725881cdbe48aeef0672af3b6&width=400&height=225)
But not all worshippers develop a zebiba - raisin in Arabic - or to the same degree. While Cairo garage attendant Mahmoud Nassar, 43, left, has a noticable mark, that on colleague Reda Abdelsalam, 47, is more faint. Nada El Sawy / The National
Mohammed Abu Bilal, 47, in downtown Cairo. The zebiba is a reaction to the friction of the skin against a harsh surface, such as a rough mat. Nada El Sawy / The National
Cairo Uber driver Mohammed Nour, 40, says he goes to the mosque to pray at least five or six times a day during Ramadan. Nada El Sawy / The National
Cairo accountant Ibrahim Abbas, 48, says his zebiba is due to praying frequently from a young age. Nada El Sawy / The National
Ahmed Abdel Fattah, 48, in downtown Cairo. The zebiba seems to be found mainly in Egypt and only in men. Nada El Sawy / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W6M3ZSR3ALF4X5IM7YC3LQYL6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf527ef8705c835742b084fc6c64399c80dafaf3f1be6f7b99b6ac1c264cc808&width=400&height=225)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi also has a zebiba. Photo: Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OBQORYOTXZLL2U4WNCW4BATO7Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=0c70fb56d4e56637ad166f3ff76f83f4a30bfbfe1fb7d8c6ef3fbbf39efe3d8e&width=400&height=225)
Former president Hosni Mubarak, left, pictured while vice president with then president Anwar Sadat in 1981. Only Sadat has a zebiba. Photo: AFP