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Tatbir

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10th of Muharram, 19th-century painting by Fausto Zonaro

Tatbir (Arabic: تطبير, romanized: Taṭbīr) is a form of self-flagellation rituals practiced by some Shia Muslims in commemoration of the killing of Husayn ibn Ali and his partisans in the Battle of Karbala by forces of the second Umayyad caliph Yazid I (r. 680–683).

The ritual is practiced in the Islamic month of Muharram, usually on Ashura. Tatbir involves striking oneself with chains or swords. It has been considered haram ("forbidden") by some of the Shia clergy, who cite it as self-harm.

Practice

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Performance of Tatbir in Iran. An image from Brooklyn Museum. The image is taken between 1876 and 1933.

Tatbir, also called Zanjeer Zani or Qama Zani,[1] is practiced by some Shia Muslims on the day of Ashura on the 10 Muharram of the Islamic calendar and on the 40th day after Ashura, known as Arba'een (or Chehelom in Persian) by Twelver Shias around the world.[2][3] Some Shia may also perform tatbir on other occasions as well.

The practice of Tatbir includes striking oneself with a talwar, a type of sword, on the head, causing blood to flow in remembrance of the pain felt by Husayn ibn Ali. Some also hit their back and/or chest with blades attached to chains.


Fatwas

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Tatbir are contested among Shia clerics.[4] While some traditionalist clerics allow believers to indulge in tatbir, modernist clerics deem it impermissible because it is considered self-harm, thus haram in Islam.[5] Most religious authorities associate all forms of self-flagellation and blood-letting as ways to relate to painful deaths during the battle of Karbala by Imam Husayn and supporters.[6]

Fatwa of Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei on tatbir by Grand Ayatollah Ishaq al-Fayadh
# Image Marja' Fatwa Description
1 Ruhollah Khomeini "No problem in performing this act (tatbir)."[7] "There is no obstacle if it doesn't cause harm, but it shouldn't be practised today."[8]
2 Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei permissible Many Grand Ayatollahs state that Ayatollah Khoei allowed tatbir like: Mirza Jawad Tabrezi,[9] Safi Golpaygani,[10] Muhammad Shahroudi,[11] Mofti al-Shia,[12] Sadiq Hussain Shirazi[13] and Taqi Tabatabei Qomi.[14] In a question asked about tatbir with the assumption that it does not cause harm he replied: "There is no problem in performing such act in itself according to the assumption in the question".[15]

"If blood matam and hitting oneself with chains, which are practiced in Muharram, cause serious harm, or harm or ridicule the religion and sect then it is impermissible."[16]

3 Mohammad Ali Araki Permissible if it does not cause harm "If it doesn't cause any harm to the body or that there is no danger of dying from this act, then it is permissible (allowed)".[17]
4 Ali Sistani Did not given any fatwa on Tatbir. Refer to another Marja for guidance on this issue[18] "Reviving Hussaini traditions is Mustahabb but one is not allowed to harm the body or the noble reputation of the faith."[19]
5 Ali Khamenei Forbidden Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran has stated that Tatbir is forbidden.[20] "Tatbir is a wrongful act ... Tatbir [Qame Zani] is also a fabricated tradition ... Do not practice it, I do not approve. If someone does anything to display their desire to practice Tatbir, I will be deeply disappointed in them."[21]
6 Naser Makarem Shirazi Forbidden Muslims should avoid actions that display weakness in the Shia religion and damage the body.[18]
7 Mohammad Fazel Lankarani Forbidden Tatbir shows the harsh face of mourning of Husayn ibn Ali and it harms Shiism.[18][22]
8 Abdollah Javadi-Amoli Forbidden It is not permissible to insult Islam and the desecration of mourning. Therefore, it is better to avoid Tatbir and things like that.[18]
9 Mohammad-Taqi Bahjat Foumani Forbidden It should be avoided; every act that would be an insult to the Shia.[18]
10 Hossein Noori Hamedani Forbidden Should be avoided as actions that weakens the Shia religious.[18][22]
11 Hossein Mazaheri Forbidden When Wali e Faqih (Guardian Jurist) orders to avoid something, all people have to avoid it, even if they do not follow Guardian Jurist.[18]
12 Kazem al-Haeri Impermissible Tatbir is a superstition that causes the defamation of Islam and Shia Islam in particular.[18]
13 Mohaqiq Kabuli Forbidden There is no allowance to practice Tatbir or self-flagellation or something else that is considered as self-harm.[citation needed]
14 Muhammad al-Fayadh Permissible if it does not cause serious harm to the body Tatbir is permissible, if it does not cause serious damage to the body.[23]
15 Muhammad Saeed al-Hakim Recommended if it does not cause harm to the soul or the body.[24] Tatbir as one form of the mourning of Husayn ibn Ali is permissible. It is permitted under the intention of sympathy with God and trust-seeking, to promote searching for trust. [citation needed]

"Religious rituals that Shias perform to mourn the tragedies of the Imams of the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) and to present the oppressions that they suffered are recommended. However, it is obligatory to avoid what causes harm to the soul or the body. If it does not result in harm, it remains being recommended. One should avoid performing them in a place where the reputation of the Shias is damaged."[25]

Imams did not "shed their own blood because of their sadness and grief for what happened to Imam Hussein".[26]

17 Hossein Vahid Khorasani Not Forbidden[27] "The Ayatullah also goes over the Fatwas (verdicts) of previous scholars on the Mourning rituals and he even states that shedding blood for the sake of mourning Ahlulbayt is Halal (lawful)."[28]
18 Bashir al-Najafi Not Forbidden "Tatbir is permitted until it describes sorrow for Imam Hussain".[29]
19 Shamsodin Vaezi Not forbidden "Tatbir is permissible (allowed) and the issue is described in detail in our book Al-Husseini rituals".[30]
20 Jawad Tabrizi Permissible "Tatbir is permissible (allowed) and it is a Mustahab act, this is due to some narrations which state that: When sayyida Zainab saw Imam Hussain's head, she smashed her head into a rock and blood flowed from her head"[31]

"The inclusion of the aforementioned (acts like tatbir) under the category of recommended grief for what occurred to the Master of Martyrs is problematic/doubtful."[32][33]

Criticisms

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  • There are different opinion about the practice of Tatbir. Some Shia Marja believe that it is a form of self-harm, so it must be forbidden. According to some Shia Marja, it is felt Tatbir reflects on Shia observers poorly, so they typically advise to avoid it in a region where Sunnis also reside.
  • Iraqi sociologist Ibrahim al-Haidari has called Tatbir an irrational act. He states blood donations should replace Tatbir. Iraqi cleric Hussein Al-Sadr and his followers donate blood every year during the mourning of Husayn ibn Ali.[34]
  • Hassan Nasrallah, the former leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon, had also taken steps to end Tatbir. Instead of practicing Tatbir, he had offered to donate blood on Ashura day to patients who need it.[35]
  • Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine established a blood bank in Najaf to donate blood on Ashura day to patients who need it.[36]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Fatwa on Tatbir [Qama Zani]". Pasbaan-e-Aza. Archived from the original on 10 September 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  2. ^ Szanto, Edith (22 February 2013). "Beyond the Karbala Paradigm: Rethinking Revolution and Redemption in Twelver Shi'a Mourning Rituals". Journal of Shi'a Islamic Studies. 6 (1): 75–91. doi:10.1353/isl.2013.0007. ISSN 2051-557X. S2CID 144319026.
  3. ^ Szanto, Edith (2018), Woodward, Mark; Lukens-Bull, Ronald (eds.), "Shi'a Islam in Practice", Handbook of Contemporary Islam and Muslim Lives, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 1–15, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-73653-2_8-2, ISBN 978-3-319-73653-2, S2CID 158107119, retrieved 10 December 2020
  4. ^ Szanto, Edith (May 2012). "SAYYIDA ZAYNAB IN THE STATE OF EXCEPTION: SHIʿI SAINTHOOD AS "QUALIFIED LIFE" IN CONTEMPORARY SYRIA". International Journal of Middle East Studies. 44 (2): 285–299. doi:10.1017/S0020743812000050. ISSN 1471-6380. S2CID 162260813.
  5. ^ Monsutti, Alessandro; Naef, Silvia; Sabahi, Farian (2007). The Other Shiites: From the Mediterranean to Central Asia. Peter Lang. pp. 146–. ISBN 978-3-03911-289-0. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  6. ^ Tabbaa, Yasser; Mervin, Sabrina (28 July 2014). Najaf, the Gate of wisdom. UNESCO. pp. 154–. ISBN 978-92-3-100028-7.
  7. ^ Istaftaat e Imam Khomeini-Vol 3 استفتأت امام خمينى
  8. ^ Estefta'at-e Emam Khomeini, vol. 3, p. 581 and 583 - Imam Khomeini's website
  9. ^ "یا زینب کبری". 29 September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008.
  10. ^ "یا زینب کبری". 29 September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008.
  11. ^ "یا زینب کبری". 29 September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008.
  12. ^ "یا زینب کبری". 29 September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008.
  13. ^ "یا زینب کبری". 29 September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008.
  14. ^ "یا زینب کبری". 29 September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008.
  15. ^ Ayatullah Khui shiamatam.com [dead link]
  16. ^ Al-Masa’il al-Shar’iyah, istifta’at Imam Khoei, al-Ibadat and al-Tariq al-Najah, v.2, p.445 - Tatbir.org
  17. ^ "Ayatollah Muhammad Ali Araki's Fatwa".
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h "opinions of the Maraj'e in regard to using Qama". Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  19. ^ Tatbir. "Fatawa : Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation". Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  20. ^ "Tatbir is a wrongful and fabricated tradition: Imam Khamenei". Khamenei.ir. 7 October 2016.
  21. ^ "Tatbir is a wrongful and fabricated tradition: Imam Khamenei". Khamenei.ir. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  22. ^ a b "What are the opinions of the Maraj'e in regard to using Qama in the past and in present time?". Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Ishaq al-Fayyad response to Tatbir". Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid M.S.Al-Hakeem". alhakeem.com. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  25. ^ "Office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid M.S.Al-Hakeem". alhakeem.com. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  26. ^ "Office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid M.S.Al-Hakeem". alhakeem.com. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  27. ^ "نظر آیت الله وحیدخراسانی در مورد قمه زنی چیست؟". فتن. 30 October 2015. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  28. ^ "Qom's leading cleric: Shedding blood in Azadari "lawful" - Jafariya News Network". www.jafariyanews.com.
  29. ^ "Tatbir Fatawa by Shia Mujtahideen and Scholars". ShiaMatam.com.
  30. ^ "مكتب آية الله العظمى الشيخ شمس الدين الواعظي ـ دام ظله". 9 April 2010. Archived from the original on 9 April 2010.
  31. ^ "الشعائر الحسينية والعزاء - موقع فقیه مقدس استاد الفقهاء آیة الله العظمی المیرزا جواد التبریزی ره".
  32. ^ Sirat al-Najat, v. 2, Q 1404 - Tatbir.org
  33. ^ "بررسی فتوای میرزای نایینی در جواز قمه‌زنی « مباحثات". مباحثات (in Persian). 19 October 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  34. ^ Mamouri, Ali (26 December 2014). "Iraqi Shiite pilgrimage takes political turn". Al-Monitor.
  35. ^ Hubbard, Ben (5 November 2014). "Bloody and Belittled Shiite Ritual Draws Historic Parallels". The New York Times Company.
  36. ^ "Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine" (in Persian). nbo.ir.
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