Why do Shia Matam in Muharram?
It is a symbolic practice to signify that Shias would not have hesitated to lay their lives down for Imam Hussain if they happened to be present during the battle of Karbala. It is a practice that has been followed for the past 1,400 years as a manifestation of mourning for Imam Hussain and his family.
What do Shia do on Ashura?
Shia Muslims make pilgrimages on Ashura, as they do forty days later on ʾArbaʿīn, to the Mashhad al-Husayn, the shrine in Karbala, Iraq, that is traditionally held to be Husayn’s tomb. On this day Shia is in remembrance, and mourning attire is worn.
What is Shia Matam called in English?
The Arabic term matam refers in general to an act or gesture of mourning; in Shia Islam the term designates acts of lamentation for the martyrs of Karbala.
Is Zanjeer Zani allowed?
“Tatbir is permissible (allowed) and the issue is described in detail in our book Al-Husseini rituals”. The Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Safi Gulpaygani described the Husseini rituals as a link between all Shiites around the world, including the self-flagellation rituals (Qama Zani or Zanjeer Zani).
Why do Shia wear black?
A color that was initially worn during the month of Muharram for the purpose of mourning the martyrdom of the Shia Imam, HussainIbn Ali, has now become an element of fashion. People start ordering black clothes prior to the month in order to keep their wardrobes ready.
What Sunnis do on Muharram?
Muharram Celebrations across India On the 10th day, street processions take place in which they walk barefoot, chanting and whipping their chests until it draws blood to commemorate the sufferings of Imam Hussayn. Sunnis observe this day with fasting from the first to the 10th or 11th day of the month.
Why do Sunnis fast Ashura?
Wanting his followers to show the same gratitude to Allah, Prophet Muhammad decided to observe a two-day fast, one on the day of Ashura and the day prior that is the 9th and 10th days of Muharram. These are the traditional customs of Sunni Muslims.
Why do Shias do Zanjeer?
The boys, aged 13 and 15, were forced to beat themselves with a zanjeer zani, a wooden implement with chains and blades attached, during a ceremony to commemorate the death and martyrdom of a seventh-century Shia Muslim leader.
What do Shias do?
This group was called Shia Ali, or ‘Party of Ali’, from which comes the word Shia. While the main responsibility of Sunni Caliphs was to maintain law and order in the Muslim realm, as descendants of the Prophet, Shia Imams (spiritual leaders) also provided religious guidance and were considered infallible.
Why do Shias go to Karbala?
Every year, Shiite Muslims mark the death of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Hussain with a mourning period that lasts a total of 50 days. Ashura, the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the day Hussain died. For millions of Shiites, this mourning period culminates in a pilgrimage to Karbala in Iraq.
What is the significance of Ashura for Shia Muslims?
For Shia Muslims, the commemoration of Ashura is not a festival but rather a sad event, while Sunni Muslims view it as a victory God gave to Moses. For Shia Muslims, it is a period of intense grief and mourning. Mourners congregate at a mosque for sorrowful, poetic recitations such as marsiya, noha, latmiya,…
What is Matam in Shia Islam?
matam with implements like chains, knives, swords and blades, that is, zanjeer-zani (زنجیر زنی), qama-zani (قمع زنی), etc. Matam in South Asia is the most significant and sensitive Shia identity marker, although the act is also condemned by many Shi’a religious leaders.
Why don’t Shia Muslims donate blood on Ashura?
On Ashura, very few Shia Muslims observe mourning with a blood donation, which is called “Qame Zani”, and flailing. This mourning is considered to be a way for most Shia Muslims and most of them are against this kind of mourning.
Do Shia Muslims mourn during Muharram?
Shia Muslims mourn during Muharram, although Sunnis do so to a much lesser extent. Storytelling, weeping and chest beating, wearing black, partial fasting, street processions, and re-enactments of the Battle of Karbala form the crux of the observances.