Daq Al-Hub is a traditional practice that was commonly performed in the month of Sha’ban in preparation for the arrival of Ramadan. This custom was not limited to Qatar, but was practiced across many Gulf countries. The process of Daq Al-Hub begins with women gathering at a house, bringing the main ingredients for the task. This is followed by cleaning and purifying the grains by placing them in a “Mansaf” to be sifted. Next, the grains are crushed using a wooden tool called “Al-Madq,” which is rectangular and cylindrical in shape. This tool is used to crush the grains in a wooden container known as a “Manhaz” (some refer to it as a “Hawan”).

The process of crushing the grains is accompanied by the chanting of songs and traditional women’s chants, which add a celebratory atmosphere to the activity.