A maqam of the Sikah family whose tonic is Iraq (B half-flat), built in the documented description from Jins Sikah on Iraq followed by Jins Bayati on Dukah (D).

Maqam Iraq belongs to the Sikah family, but it is not Sikah itself. Its tonic is Iraq (B half-flat), and its identity emerges from the position of the tonic, the lower structure, and the sayr.

Maqam Iraq belongs to the Sikah family, but it must not be confused with Sikah itself. Its identity rests on the fact that the tonic is not Sikah (E half-flat), but Iraq (B half-flat). For that reason it retains the general Sikah color while differing clearly in the position of the tonic, the lower structure, and the sayr. In the documented description it is built from Jins Sikah on Iraq (B half-flat), followed by Jins Bayati on Dukah (D). Its sayr may be ascending or ascending-descending: it begins from the tonic, unfolds toward Dukah (D) and above, then returns to establish Iraq as the final center of attraction.

• Iraq (B half-flat): the tonic and final center of attraction of the maqam
• Dukah (D): an important secondary point of rest, because it is the place of the Bayati jins in the documented structure
• Its auditory color remains related to the Sikah world, but the final point of repose is established on Iraq rather than on Sikah

• The difference from Sikah is not cosmetic, but structural, because the center of gravity moves from Sikah to Iraq
• Iraq is not understood well from listing the scale alone, but from the way the upper region is opened and the way the return to the tonic is handled convincingly
• Any unstable intonation of Iraq (B half-flat) may pull the ear toward nearby Sikah-family maqamat
• The maqam’s identity appears more in phrase, sayr, and cadence than in a classroom theoretical diagram alone

• Establish Iraq (B half-flat) as the tonic of the maqam
• Show the Sikah jins on the tonic within the lower structure
• Expand toward Dukah (D) through Jins Bayati
• Complete the path in an ascending or ascending-descending treatment as needed
• Return to the tonic while confirming that Iraq is the natural final resting point of the maqam