Tatbir

Quality 0.50 · 2 views · Updated 2 months ago

Self-flagellation ritual practiced by some Shia Muslims

title: "Tatbir" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["mourning-of-muharram", "shia-fiqh", "islamic-terminology", "islam-related-controversies", "self-harm"] description: "Self-flagellation ritual practiced by some Shia Muslims" topic_path: "society/religion" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatbir" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Self-flagellation ritual practiced by some Shia Muslims ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/10_Muharram.jpg" caption="''10th of Muharram'', 19th-century painting by [[Fausto Zonaro"] ::

Tatbir () is a form of self-flagellation rituals practiced by some Shia Muslims in commemoration of the killing of Imam Husayn ibn Ali and his partisans in the Battle of Karbala by forces of the second Umayyad caliph Yazid I ().

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 ar ("forbidden") by some of the Shia clergy, who cite it as self-harm.

Origins

It can be firmly traced to the 19th century in Iran, where it was first introduced by Qizilbash tribes as a cultural practice – since engaging in self-flagellation was seen in Central Asia at the time as a way of mourning, which they likely inherited from the Scythians. Scythic peoples were previously recorded as having engaged in self-flagellation on the deathdate of Buddha, the Zoroastrian hero Siyavash, and the Scythian hero Targitaos. Another plausible theory pertains a Christian origin, due to the similarities in Christian Catholics who practice self-flagellation as a reenactment of the death of Christ.

The uncommonly character of this ritual was apparent in 19th-century Tehran, where Iranian cleric Fazel Darbandi became known for his "peculiarities", leading to his banishment from various shi'i cities:

Practice

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Brooklyn_Museum_-_Ghamezani_Muhharran_One_of_274_Vintage_Photographs.jpg" caption="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, 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. 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

Tatbir are contested among Shia clerics. 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. 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.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Fayyaz.jpg" caption="Grand Ayatollah Ishaq al-Fayadh"] ::

::data[format=table]

#ImageMarja'FatwaDescription
1[[File:Portrait of Ruhollah Khomeini.jpg150px]]Ruhollah KhomeiniPermissible, but discouraged, later changed to Forbidden
2[[File:Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei (7738).jpg150px]]Abu al-Qasim al-KhoeiPermissible, later changed to impermissible, then Forbidden
3[[File:Hossein Borujerdi.jpgframeless188x188px]]Husayn Borujerdi
4[[File:Mohammad Ali Araki 01.jpg150px]]Mohammad Ali ArakiPermissible, if it does not cause harm
5[[File:Ali Sistani edit1.jpg199x199px]]Ali SistaniNot allowed
6[[File:Ali Khamenei crop.jpg150px]]Ali KhameneiForbidden
7[[File:Naser Makarem Shirazi.jpg150px]]Naser Makarem ShiraziForbidden
8[[File:Mohammad Fazel Lankarani - January 1984.jpg150px]]Mohammad Fazel LankaraniForbidden
9[[File:Abdollah Javadi-Amoli 01.jpg150px]]Abdollah Javadi-AmoliForbidden
10[[File:Ayatollah-Mohammad-Taghi-Bahjat-Foumani.jpg150px]]Mohammad-Taqi Bahjat FoumaniForbidden
11[[File:Hossein Noori Hamedani.jpg150px]]Hossein Noori HamedaniForbidden
12[[File:حسین مظاهری.jpgframeless178x178px]]Hossein Mazaheri Isfahani
13[[File:Ayatollah Kazem Haeri.jpg150px]]Kazem al-HaeriImpermissible
14Mohaqiq KabuliForbiddenThere is no allowance to practice Tatbir or self-flagellation or something else that is considered as self-harm.
15[[File:Kamel Asaad and Fadlallah 01.jpgframeless210x210px]]Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah
16[[File:Yaqoobi Muharram 1433.jpgframeless224x224px]]Mohammad Yaqoobi
17[[File:Kamal al-Haydari 2018.jpgframeless198x198px]]Kamal al-Haydari
18[[File:Morteza Motahhari (9279).jpgframeless219x219px]]Morteza Motahhari
19[[File:السيد محسن الأمين.jpgframeless211x211px]]Mohsen al-Amin
20[[File:Abu l-Hasan al-Isfahani.jpgframeless199x199px]]Abu l-Hasan al-Isfahani
21Muhammad al-FayadhPermissible, if it does not cause serious harm to the bodyTatbir is permissible, if it does not cause serious damage to the body.
22Muhammad Saeed al-HakimRecommended, if it does not cause harm to the body.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.
23[[File:Hossein Vahid Khorasani, mourning martyrdom of Imam Ali in Qom (41545).jpg150px]]Hossein Vahid KhorasaniNot Forbidden
24Bashir al-NajafiNot Forbidden"Tatbir is permitted until it describes sorrow for Imam Hussain".
25[[File:Ayatollah Shamsodin Vaezi.jpg150px]]Shamsodin VaeziPermissable
26Jawad TabriziPermissible"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"
27[[File:Mohammad jamil hammoud al amili.pngframeless]]Mohammad Jamil Hammoud al-AmiliPermissible, even if causing death
::

Criticisms

  • There are different opinions 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 that Tatbir reflects poorly on Shia observers, so they typically advise avoiding 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.
  • 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.
  • Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine established a blood bank in Najaf to donate blood on Ashura day to patients who need it.

References

References

  1. Tatbir. "Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation".
  2. Zaykov, Andrey. "Alcman and the Image of Scythian Steed". Pontus and the Outside World: Studies in Black Sea History, Historiography, and Archaeology.
  3. Le Coq, Albert von. (1922). "Die buddhistische spätantike in Mittelasien, VI". Berlin, D. Reimer [etc.].
  4. "::{{!}} Culture of IRAN {{!}}:: Muharram & Martyrdom of Imam Husayn".
  5. "آسیب شناسی فرهنگ سیاسی عاشورا".
  6. (2024-07-15). "شهیدان جاوید: از سیاوش تا امام حسین (ع)".
  7. "DARBANDĪ, MULLA ĀQĀ".
  8. "Fatwa on Tatbir [Qama Zani]". Pasbaan-e-Aza.
  9. Szanto, Edith. (2013-02-22). "Beyond the Karbala Paradigm: Rethinking Revolution and Redemption in Twelver Shi'a Mourning Rituals". Journal of Shi'a Islamic Studies.
  10. Szanto, Edith. (2018). "Shi'a Islam in Practice". Springer International Publishing.
  11. 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.
  12. (2007). "The Other Shiites: From the Mediterranean to Central Asia". Peter Lang.
  13. (28 July 2014). "Najaf, the Gate of wisdom". UNESCO.
  14. Istaftaat e Imam Khomeini-Vol 3 استفتأت امام خمينى
  15. Estefta'at-e Emam Khomeini, vol. 3, p. 581 and 583 - [http://www.imam-khomeini.ir/fa/c12_21315/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%B3%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1/%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85_%D8%AE%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C_%D8%B3_%D8%AF%D8%B1_%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87_%D8%AD%DA%A9 Imam Khomeini's website]
  16. Tatbir. "Fatawa : Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation".
  17. [http://shiamatam.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Ayatullah-Khui-e1475417637360.jpeg Ayatullah Khui]shiamatam.com {{Webarchive. link. (21 September 2018)
  18. ''Al-Masa’il al-Shar’iyah, istifta’at Imam Khoei, al-Ibadat and al-Tariq al-Najah, v.2, p.445 - [http://tatbir.org/?page_id=98 Tatbir.org]''
  19. Tatbir. "Fatawa : Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation".
  20. Al-Amili. "Al-Intisar".
  21. "Ayatollah Muhammad Ali Araki's Fatwa".
  22. Tatbir. "Fatawa : Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation".
  23. (7 October 2016). "Tatbir is a wrongful and fabricated tradition: Imam Khamenei".
  24. (2016-10-07). "Tatbir is a wrongful and fabricated tradition: Imam Khamenei".
  25. "opinions of the Maraj'e in regard to using Qama".
  26. "What are the opinions of the Maraj'e in regard to using Qama in the past and in present time?".
  27. المرجعية خط احمر. (2021-08-11). "السيد محمد حسين فضل الله الإمام الحسين ع الشعائر الحسينية العراق إيران لبنان -التطبير كلاب رقية".
  28. "اللطم والتطبير".
  29. "إضاءات عقائدية وفقهية على فكر العلامة المرجع السيّد محمد حسين فضل الله {{!}} موقع يتضمّن ردوداً علميّة على كلّ ما يُنسب الى السيد(رض) من أفكار وآراء".
  30. "المرجع الديني الشيخ محمد اليعقوبي - استفتاء حول مسألة التطبير".
  31. "المرجع الديني الشيخ محمد اليعقوبي - استفتاء حول مسألة التطبير".
  32. "Ayatollah Sayed Kamal al-Haydari".
  33. Tatbir. "Fatawa : Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation".
  34. Tatbir. "Fatawa : Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation".
  35. Tatbir. "Fatawa : Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation".
  36. "Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Ishaq al-Fayyad response to Tatbir".
  37. "Office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid M.S.Al-Hakeem".
  38. "Office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid M.S.Al-Hakeem".
  39. "Office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid M.S.Al-Hakeem".
  40. (2015-10-30). "نظر آیت الله وحیدخراسانی در مورد قمه زنی چیست؟".
  41. "Qom's leading cleric: Shedding blood in Azadari "lawful" - Jafariya News Network".
  42. "Tatbir Fatawa by Shia Mujtahideen and Scholars".
  43. (9 April 2010). "مكتب آية الله العظمى الشيخ شمس الدين الواعظي ـ دام ظله".
  44. "الشعائر الحسينية والعزاء - موقع فقیه مقدس استاد الفقهاء آیة الله العظمی المیرزا جواد التبریزی ره".
  45. ''Sirat al-Najat, v. 2, Q 1404 - [http://tatbir.org/?page_id=98 Tatbir.org]''
  46. (19 October 2015). "بررسی فتوای میرزای نایینی در جواز قمه‌زنی « مباحثات".
  47. "مركز العترة الطاهرة للدراسات والبحوث / هل التطبير والقامة والزنجير في عاشوراء مسموح بهم أم لا ؟".
  48. "مركز العترة الطاهرة للدراسات والبحوث / هل يجوز ضرب الظهور والرؤوس بالقامات؟".
  49. (2014-12-26). "Iraqi Shiite pilgrimage takes political turn".
  50. Hubbard, Ben. (2014-11-05). "Bloody and Belittled Shiite Ritual Draws Historic Parallels". [[The New York Times Company]].
  51. "Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine". nbo.ir.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

mourning-of-muharramshia-fiqhislamic-terminologyislam-related-controversiesself-harm