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TAUSUG 767
they may reside with the husband's family or, preferably, establish an independent
household.
Sometimes a spouse is obtained through elopement or abduction. Although
the young man must pay a fine, this costs less than obtaining a wife through
formal negotiations. A few well-to-do Tausug have plural wives who live in
separate houses. Divorce is permitted, although most Tausug regard it as a drastic
and serious decision. Probably fewer than 10 percent of all marriages end in
divorce, usually caused by barrenness, gambling, mistreatment of the children
or nonsupport.
Most Tausug consider a marriage without children a misfortune. During her
pregnancy, a woman observes dietary and behavioral taboos, such as not bathing
in the sea to prevent stillbirth. Birth occurs in the woman's residence (or in the
hospital in Jolo town), and the new infant's arrival is announced to the community
by the striking of gongs. The imam comes to pray for the new child, who may
be given an Arabic or American name. For the first several years the child is
believed to be vulnerable to harmful spirits and may wear a protective amulet.
When the child is about two years old the paggunting is held. In this ceremony,
a lock of the child's hair is cut by the imam, who then pours perfume over its
head and prays. The elaborateness of the ceremony depends upon the status and
resources of the parents.
As the children grow older (5 to 12 years of age), they may study the Quran
with a private tutor (guru), and a public ceremony (pagtammat) is held when
they are ready to recite. A son is circumcised (pag-islam) in his early teens. A
similar ceremony (pagsunnat) without surgery is held when a daughter is only
six or seven years old. Children attend public schools, although not many finish
their elementary education and still fewer graduate from high school.
It is considered improper for the two sexes to mix in public, but they do have
a chance to become acquainted at weddings, funerals and religious affairs. Among
the younger generation, especially those living in towns, this restriction on the
interaction of the sexes has weakened. Tausug women are not veiled and may
engage in commercial activities.
The Tausugs' concept of life after death is a melding of Islamic and indigenous
beliefs. They believe each person has four souls that leave the body on death.
The body of the deceased goes to Hell, where his length of punishment is
determined by his misconduct when living. Eventually, however, all Tausug
reach Heaven.
The Tausug are Sunni, followers of the Shafi school. They worship God
(Tuhan) and accept the Five Pillars of Faith, although only the elderly or pious
say their daily prayers and few can afford to make the pilgrimage to Mecca.
The imam is an important community figure, for he recites the prayers in the
mosque and officiates at the life-cycle crises. Since few Tausug understand
Arabic, most of their knowledge of Islam is gained through the oral tradition.
The Tausug recognize three categories of law. First is Quranic law, in which
God punishes violators after their deaths. Second, interpreted religious law,