Category: Shia ceremonies
Imam Ali’s martyrdom as the First Muslim, an intimate associate of the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH&HF) in his life and holy Islamic mission, the Immediate Successor to the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH&HF) and the First Holy Immaculate Imam of the Shi’a Muslims. On the 19th day of Ramadan in 661, Imam Ali (PBUH) […]
Qadr Night Among the Shia Muslims Shia Muslims observe Qadr Night, also known as ‘Laylat al Qadr,’ the ‘Night of Destiny’ or the ‘Night of Power,’ every year in Ramadan (the 9th Islamic month) and it is considered to be the holiest night of the year for Muslims. The exact date of Laylat al-Qadr is […]
The Iftar traditions among Dawoodi Bohras is unique and different from many other customs during the month of Ramadan. While most Muslims break their fast with dates and water, the Bohra community starts all edibles – even sweets – with a little salt which they believe gives protection from numerous illnesses. Each year and every […]
Yawm‐e Ali – literally the “Day of Ali” – is the birthday anniversary of Hazrat Imam Ali (a.s.) which is commemorated on the 13th Rajab. According to tradition, Hazrat Ali’s birthday is on 13 Rajab in the year 599 CE. He was Prophet Muhammad’s companion, son-in-law, and cousin who married his daughter Bibi Fatimah Al Zahra […]
In the previous article we introduced two of the most famous Shia religious rituals for Iraqi women. In this part we are going to introduce two more of the women’s ritual in this country. Chay al-Abbas Chay al-Abbas, literally “Abbas’ tea,” is one of the Shia religious rituals for Iraqi women and it is […]
Shia women’s religious rituals in Iraq are affected by the notion of a split between public and private worlds was a common paradigm in the mid–twentieth century that was used to describe the behavior of men and women in Middle Eastern society. The woman’s world was supposedly the private world, the world of the family, […]
Moharram rituals are part of a rich fabric of Shia religious activities. It is a month of intensified piety, and due to its public nature, men dominate, though both genders participate. These rituals span from public-based to domestic-based ceremonies. A while ago, a fieldwork was conducted in Aliabad (a village near Shiraz) to learn more […]
Muharram women rituals in Peshawar Pakistan has played a significant role in the Shia community of the country since Shias from various ethnic groups has strengthened their ties with each other, increasing communication and joining each other’s rituals. As a survey showed, Muharram women rituals in Peshawar Pakistan has helped them build unity and ties […]
As we discussed in the previous article, the month of Muharram is commemorated by the Bohras in numerous ways. Muharram rituals among Bohras extend for a total of forty days—the prescribed period of mourning. The first ten days are characterized by intense piety, with a tapering off for the remaining period. The Bohri mahalleh and […]
Year-round expression of popular piety is the hallmark of the Bohra sect. One need only examine their calendar to find it marked with important days of birth and death anniversaries of the Prophet, his family, and other saints and holy persons. The Month of Ramadan However, three months in the Islamic calendar see a heightening […]