Fanny Colonna

"Serving as arbiters among the "secular," acephalous tribes, where power is by nature unstable, and as mediators with universal Islam, the city, and the Prince, as descendants of the Prophet and “incarnate Word,” that is, carriers of the uncreated Word of God, the Qur’an."

"As for Masqueray, Montagne, and Maunier prominent names in the early sociology of the Maghreb they belonged to the dominant theoretical tradition of Durkheimian sociology in the nascent social sciences."

"Too honest as observers to deny the importance of Islam, they nevertheless produced theoretical constructions that shifted the focus to other elements of social organization (the city, intertribal pacts, customary law)."

"It is indeed with the tālib that one must begin."

"Dedicated to the learning and memorization and recollection of the Qur’an, he had privileged access to the Word."

"He was present at births, and his presence was also required this time in a group to accompany the deceased."

"He acted as an arbiter in cases of marital disputes and family conflicts."

"In the Aurès, he played a decisive role in the summer pilgrimage ritual, in the cult of the minor saints, and in the sacrifice that was then performed."

"His presence legitimized the ceremony, through the role he played in channeling the sacred."

"He therefore held a liturgical function, something that the schoolteacher would never assume thereafter."