In a recent episode of Zolm el Mastaba, audiences witnessed a dramatic and unsettling scene where characters portrayed by Riham Abdel Ghafour, Eyad Nassar, and others were subjected to the ritual of Al-Bisha’a—a centuries-old practice believed to determine whether someone is lying.

While its inclusion in the series adds historical and cultural depth, it also raises a crucial issue: Al-Bisha’a is not just a relic of the past. It is still being practiced in parts of Egypt today, often with devastating consequences.

More alarming is the way some media outlets have covered this topic, treating it as a mere curiosity or traditional practice without addressing its dangers.

Instead of critically examining its role in contemporary society, they have provided a platform for its practitioners to defend it without scrutiny—a dangerous oversight when discussing a ritual that has caused irreversible harm to many individuals.

This isn’t just about a scene in Zolm el Mastaba. Al-Bisha’a is a real practice that has been used for centuries, and disturbingly, it hasn’t disappeared.

While many believe it’s a relic of the past, there are still cases in Egypt today where people are subjected to it—sometimes with life-altering consequences.

So let’s talk about what Al-Bisha’a really is, why it’s still happening, and why it should have no place in a society that values truth and justice.

What is Al-Bisha’a?

Al-Bisha’a is a traditional lie detection ritual that has been practiced for centuries, particularly among some Bedouin tribes in Sinai, Upper Egypt, and parts of the Levant. It is based on the belief that fire can reveal truth and expose deception.

How Does It Work?

• A metal object, often a spoon or a knife, is heated over an open flame until it becomes red-hot.
• The accused must lick the burning metal three times in front of witnesses.
• The outcome is determined by the state of their tongue after the test:
  • If their tongue remains unscathed, they are declared innocent.
  • If they suffer burns or blisters, they are considered guilty.

The rationale behind this is that a truthful person will remain calm, allowing saliva to protect their tongue, while a liar’s anxiety will cause dry mouth, making them more susceptible to burns.

However, this belief has no scientific basis, making Al-Bisha’a a deeply flawed and dangerous method of determining guilt or innocence.

Al-Bisha’a Has No Religious Basis

One of the most misleading aspects of Al-Bisha’a is the false notion that it has religious significance.

Islamic scholars have repeatedly stated that Al-Bisha’a has no basis in Islam. It is not mentioned in the Quran or Hadith, nor does it align with Islamic principles of justice. In Islam, establishing guilt or innocence relies on evidence, witnesses, and due process—not arbitrary physical trials.

Many religious institutions, including Al-Azhar, have condemned the practice, emphasizing that justice should be based on clear, verifiable proof, not superstition.

Despite this, some media outlets have given a platform to “Bisha’a practitioners,” allowing them to falsely claim that their work has religious legitimacy—without any challenge or fact-checking.

It is essential to separate cultural traditions from religious principles, especially when harmful customs are wrongly presented as having divine approval.

The Harsh Reality: Al-Bisha’a is Still Practiced Today

Despite its clear lack of credibility, Al-Bisha’a has not entirely disappeared. There have been real cases in Egypt where individuals have been forced to undergo this ordeal, sometimes leading to wrongful punishments, physical harm, or even death.

Recent Cases of Al-Bisha’a in Egypt

The 2024 Habiba Al-Shamaa Case

Just last year, a defendant in the high-profile “Habiba Al-Shamaa” case requested to undergo Al-Bisha’a to prove his innocence.

The fact that this was even discussed in a legal matter highlights the disturbing reality that some people still regard this practice as a legitimate form of justice.

Al-Bisha’a in Tribal Justice

Reports show that some Bedouin communities in Sinai and Upper Egypt still use Al-Bisha’a to settle disputes, particularly in cases of theft, adultery, and personal conflicts.

Instead of legal courts, they rely on a “Mubesha” (Al-Bisha’a practitioner) to decide someone’s fate.

Historical Cases Leading to Wrongful Punishments

While exact numbers are difficult to verify, historians and legal experts believe that thousands of individuals have been wrongfully accused and punished due to Al-Bisha’a over the years.

Some were exiled, physically punished, or even executed based on nothing more than the state of their tongues after a fire test.

The Scientific and Legal Reality: Why Al-Bisha’a is Dangerous

Al-Bisha’a is not only unscientific—it is actively harmful.

1. It Has No Scientific Basis

• Anxiety and stress can cause dry mouth, which means even innocent people can fail the test.
• Some people naturally produce more saliva, allowing them to avoid burns even if they were lying.
• The temperature of the metal and the duration of contact can vary, completely altering the outcome.

At its core, this is not a test of truth—it’s a test of physical reaction to heat.

2. It Can Lead to Serious Physical Harm

Burning the tongue is not a minor injury. Severe burns can cause:

• Long-term damage to the ability to speak or eat.
• Infections that, in severe cases, can be fatal.
• Psychological trauma, especially when individuals are forced to undergo the test under duress.

3. It Undermines Legal Systems and Due Process

• Egypt has a legal system, forensic science, and a judiciary designed to determine guilt or innocence through evidence—not a fire ritual.
• Relying on Al-Bisha’a in legal or social matters weakens the rule of law and puts innocent lives at risk.

The Role of the Media: Irresponsible Coverage is Making Things Worse

One of the most alarming aspects of Al-Bisha’a’s resurfacing is how some media outlets have chosen to cover it.

• Instead of condemning the practice, some media platforms have simply “reported” on it without questioning its legitimacy.
• They have featured Al-Bisha’a practitioners as so-called experts, giving them a platform to defend the ritual without any pushback or fact-checking.
• By treating it as a “trending” cultural topic rather than a human rights issue, these outlets risk normalizing a practice that should have been abandoned centuries ago.

While a TV series like Zolm el Mastaba can depict such traditions for historical accuracy, it is the responsibility of news and media platforms to present the full picture—and that includes exposing the dangers of Al-Bisha’a.

Why Al-Bisha’a Must Be Abandoned

Tradition should never come at the expense of justice, human rights, and basic safety. While some customs are worth preserving, Al-Bisha’a is not one of them.

Key Takeaways:

• It is completely unscientific.
• It has no religious basis.
• It has led to wrongful punishments and irreversible harm.
• It has no place in a modern legal system.

Egypt has laws, courts, and forensic experts. No one should ever have to prove their innocence through fire.

The fact that Al-Bisha’a is still practiced is not a cultural quirk—it’s a human rights issue that needs to be addressed.