The self-flagellation and mutilation in Muharram are not merely individual acts of contrition. They are performed collectively and publicly by the entire community. It is these Muharram rituals more than any single belief or dogma that define the Shi’ite sense of community. Muharram and its accompanying rituals in the following month of Safar, as well as the mourning processions during the month of Ramadan to mark Ali’s martyrdom, last for about two months of the year. The subliminal messages of Muharram are seared into the hearts and minds of participants, forming their worldview and sense of identity. Additionally, in a culture where saving face and concealing failure are socially important customs, the mourning rituals also have an important role in providing psychological relief and release.
According to Dr Augustus Richard Norton, a professor in the departments of political science and anthropology at Boston University, these “rituals provide a way of cementing people’s political identification”, and have also served as a focal point for Shi’ite political mobilization in Lebanon, Iraq and Iran.
Good overview of Muharram and the Shi’as on Asia Times
Bahrain is possibly the only country in the world that had the Muharram processions throughout its history, largly uninterrupted, and as it is banned or at least severely frowned upon in Saudi and other Gulf states, we get quite a number of neighbouring Shi’as commemorating Ashura in Bahrain.
The processions themselves though are not a pretty sight. If you’re squeamish, you’re advised not to go to the areas where the processions pass through. There are bloody, angry, sometimes hysterical and often emotional people around. If you are going to see the processions, you are well advised to cover up good.
I remember as a child, our house was right in the middle of the procession path. It was fantastic taking part in it as children, it was fun! We were encouraged to join the crowd, go to ma’atems and beat our chests. All this in the love of Imam Hussain and the promised reward that we’d get (from Allah) for commemorating his martyrdom.
Without a doubt, this is the greatest event in the Shi’as calendar. There is no single event that I can think of that brings people together more than grief.
To me however, Ashura is the perfect occasion not to grieve, with all due respect Imam Hussain (the Prophet’s grandson) has been martyred more than 1,300 years ago after all and he continues to be the spirit and guide to revolutionaries all over the world, Ashura itself now is a tradition, part of the culture whose purpose is to continue to remind people that you have to fight for your rights and injustices even if it means certain death. It does commemorate an ideal: the Shi’as revolutionary attitude to injustice.
Ashura is a great occasion to gel the whole community together and cement their identity and purpose.
Shi’as throughout their history have been the underdog. Castigated for their beliefs, their loyalty to “Ahl Al-Bayt” (the house of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh)), their refusal to kowtow to an authority other than their chosen leaders, their “marji'” (grand Ayatollah).
There is only one government in the Muslim world at the moment who are Shi’a: Iran. Most Shi’as would like to see Iraq become the second because I think they genuinely want someone to take care of them, their needs and aspirations and most importantly to have the power (of a state) to protect them, uphold their rights, and ease their pain where ever they live.
With Iran and Iraq being Shi’a led, Shi’as feel a lot more empowered in their own countries because they hope that just by having two huge countries behind them, they will be better treated and unprejudiced against. Maybe that’s just a pipe-dream. Internationally, no country can (nor should be allowed to) interfere in internal affairs of another, but Shi’as generally are the most optimistic people you can find. They’re still waiting for acceptance even after some 1,400 years of their founding.
They’re also quick to point the finger and blame the powers that be for their misfortune, just because they are Shi’as. There might be some truth to that, but our salvation as a people does not lie in finger-pointing nor in pessimism and acceptance, it lies within ourselves to educate ourselves, our children and everyone around us to as high a standard as we could and more and become de facto leaders in the various fields of life, thus becoming somewhat indispensable for our countries and communities.
We need to stop the blame-game and not think just with our Shi’a hats on, we have to transcend that and work hand-in-hand with everyone around us regardless of faith or sect to raise the whole community’s standard. Only then will we be a power to be reckoned with on the world stage. By being the best we can be!
Comments
Ashoora beckons…
yo mate, I may agree with some of what you said. But that photo, represents a very tiny minority and I think you know it. The fact is the majority of clerics have deemed this act as sinful since self-harm and defaming the image of Islam is totally against islamic principles. And you’re doing no one any favours by posting it up here on ur site. The beating of the chest is only symbolic (and in theory u shouldnt beat urself hard enough to inflict pain) but somehow, this is a ritual which is utilised to reflect manhood and when the testosterone gets going it gets going.
The cemmomoration of Ashura’a serves to relive the story on an annual basis, making the whole event seem very fresh and poignant arousing many emotions, 1300 years later. Such passion for something is great!! Whats wrong with that? better than reducing it to a few lines in a dusty book on the shelf. And since Hussain was the Prophet’s grandson, we should take it upon us as Muslims to keep the message of the great sacrifice going, and a role model for everyone.
Ashoora beckons…
Well said.
Re: Ashoora beckons…
Even if it represents one, we should not just sweep it under the carpet. The haider has been a part of the local culture for hundreds of years. Although it was banned for quite a number of years, it came back in the last couple of years, so we have to address it rather than ignore it.
True a large number of clerics issued fatwas to ban it, but others have not, so people just go with whoever they choose to believe and follow.
Personally I think rather than encouraging or letting people do this sort of thing – haidar – swords and blood spilled on streets literally, they should just donate blood. The blood bank is open. Yes I know quite a number of people do donate blood in their hundreds during Muharram, but the haider processions should be banned BY THE CLERICS, all of them, and tell people that if they want to practice it, donate blood and that’ll be the end of it.
I totally agree and share your interpretation of Ashura, it is commemorated on an anual basis to relive the story of Imam Hussain’s martyrdom and sacrifice, and propogate the message that no injustice should go unpunished or at least addressed.
Ashoora beckons…
Being a sunni in the uk I feel confused about the differences between ourselves and shiahs. We all believe in Allah and associate no other with him. This means we are all believers, what happened at Karbalah was absolutely devastating to the whole muslim world. It shows that only a few generations had passed when the grandson of the prophet (pbuh) was horrifically killed, which means that the muslim world went into disarray very early. It was upto the people then to reject the killer and solve it peacefully. All muslims grieve greatly for this event not just shiahs. Its just that shiahs maybe take it a step to further, i dont really know. Basically to be a good muslim as long as you follow the prophet’s (pbuh) way of life and the Quran and the hadith, then you are a true muslim. Whether you want to add to that by showing a lot of grieve for the event is up to you. BUt I dont think you should harm yourself when grieving.
Also as I said we are all believers, there maybe some shiah that are better muslims than sunnis, and some sunnis that are betetr muslim than shiah, etc. What we have to do is bond better and get rid of the divide. The leaders should all try to come together, the Khilafa should be established once more, and we should have a very noble leader for all of us, that is the way forward!!!
Re: Ashoora beckons…
I agree. It is completely unnecessary, disgusting and quite idiotic. Splitting you head with a blade then patting the wound to get blood to NOT conjeal and flow all over your head, face, clothes and all those around you is quite dangerous. It should be outlawed. Same with the “sangal” or chains. I just don’t get the point of either, other than shock tactics, they serve absolutely nothing other than portray the Shi’a as a blood-thirsty lot. Especially when some mothers willingly do it to their own children.
Ashoora beckons…
i think people who do haider r supposed to b sevierlyyyyy punished because it s harraaam whats this spilling blood everywere what id the person suffers from AIDS this is Sick.
Re(3): Ashoora beckons…
Written “who said anything about repentance with the Azza/processions etc? The event is to mark and commemorate the actions of a hero against a huge injustice, and to keep the idea of fighting oppression and oppressors alive. It has nothing to do with repentance. I suggest you re-look at Shi’ism without prejudging them or their sect.
However I agree that the act of azza itself is harmful to the image of not just Islam but humanity and should be rethought. It probably would be a lot better in sponsoring cultural events, blood donation drives, donation drives etc in the name of Hussain rather than beating oneself. ”
I had always understood that the reason some Shi’a do this to themselves to is show their grief for the deaths and to show repentance for their ancestors not having done enough to stop the deaths. I have looked at the Shi’a sect and found that many of their beliefs mirror the reason I left Christianity. Everytime I see people with depictions of Hussain and Ali that they carry around as religious icons I see the same things from my youth. There is a reason why The Qur’an and the Old Testament ban such things. This, and many other things, but that is okay. I do not have to support these things nor do I have to answer for it.
It does bug me, however, when people using the headcutting and self abuse as a reason to slam all Muslims. Shi’a do not make up close to a majority of Islam, and those who do this stuff do not make up a majority within Shi’a themselves.
Getting back to basic issues, I believe that the Shi’a were right when it came to the succession of the Caliphs in the begining, but I believe this historical event was later twisted and formed itself into a new religious belief. Early Shi’a did not practice much of what is thought of as Shi’a belief today, making it another way that it matches with Christianity.
Re(1): Ashoora beckons…
This is one of the issues I have with Shi’a Islam. I know that these actions are mostly condemned by the Shi’a leaders, but these actions are completely NOT in keeping with Islam, for several reasons. First, because causing yourself unnecessary pain and suffering is Haraam, and second because the idea of collective guilt, or carrying the guilt of your fathers, is not in keeping with the faith. People are held responsible for their own sins, no one else’s, so the idea that modern Shi’a need to repent or suffer for the actions of their ancestors is nonsense.
Re(2): Ashoora beckons…
who said anything about repentance with the Azza/processions etc? The event is to mark and commemorate the actions of a hero against a huge injustice, and to keep the idea of fighting oppression and oppressors alive. It has nothing to do with repentance. I suggest you re-look at Shi’ism without prejudging them or their sect.
However I agree that the act of azza itself is harmful to the image of not just Islam but humanity and should be rethought. It probably would be a lot better in sponsoring cultural events, blood donation drives, donation drives etc in the name of Hussain rather than beating oneself.
Pingback: Peringatan Ashoora di Bahrain | Nins' Travelog