Genuine Question for Muslims...?

Question

I saw a documentary about Islam on tele and they showed a custom that got me curious. Everyone was going up to this guy who was tapping their heads with a sword until it bled. The people were then walking around hitting their heads and chanting. Unfortunately this documentary had a distinct anti muslim slant, so the ritual was not explained.

I was hoping, therefore, that some muslims could explain the significance of this ritual and what it represents? What was the symbolism here? What were the participants seeking to achieve?

I am very curious about this as I know that many religions have rituals that may seem barbaric to outsiders but which have a deep spiritual significance to participants.

Answer 1

a groub of people once who lived in Karbolla\Iraq asked Hussain the grandchild of our prophet Muhammad to protect them from the ruler in that time and when he came to help them the ruler army fought him and they killed him with his family and the people who asked him for the protection didn't fight with him and they let him die.
this group of people became the Shia and each year in the same date of Hussain's death they do what you have mentioned as they blame their selves for not supporting the man who came to protect them,"they believe that they have betrayed him and they must suffer as he did".
it has no deep spiritual meaning for Muslims except for Shia, its forbidden in Islam, as we cannot hurt our selves and we must glorify no one but the God, what Shia have changed so many things in the religion and they do not represent Islam.
the programe you have watched didn't want you to know about Islam they wanted you to believe in what they presented.
thanks for asking.
Peace be upon you

Answer 2

This is a great question. It's unfortunate that this junk occurs and gets broadcast because it makes the other 80% look bizarro. This is strictly a Shiite ritual which my most of the Islamic world is an innovation, is a sin, and is outright ridiculous.

Obviously you can tell from my post that I am of that mindset as well. The Sunnis, or 80% of the Muslim world do not flog themselves, bleed themselves for "sacrifice" etc.

This is a barbaric ritual by uninformed people, and a terrific aid to expand the belief of the West that the Muslim world is backwards.

They do so to emulate the martyrdom of Ali (whoops, meant Hussein!). The rest of the details would take tons of time to layout, but wikipedia shiite islam and you'll get plenty of info on this silly tradition.

Answer 3

The truth is: there is no such ritual in the Islamic religion.

I was bron and bred a muslim and I have NEVER heard of anything like that. My parents are very religious and I am decout as well, and, again, never heard of it.

I've asked around and again: nobody's ever heard of anything like this in mainstream Islam. .

A few suggestions: there are a lot of cults/sects out there, just like in Christianity, so maybe this is some kind of cult/sect ritual?

Another reason might be something of the culture. It might have been a tradition or something they've developed on their own.

but again, nothing like this in Islam.

Note: In Islam, we are forbidden to do harm to our bodies. So there is NO chance this is an Islamic ritual. We are even required to eat right and exercise, so it dones't make any sense, really).

Thanks for asking!

and don't believe everything you hear!

Answer 4

The documentary you saw, is a misleading documentary that shows a minority of Muslims that belongs to Shittes as being the majority of Muslims, which is not true. This Shitte sect constitutes about 10% of the Muslim population, this sect has deviated from the normal Muslims path after the death of the Prophet PBUH due to political reasons mainly. They then started twisting some facts and interpretations of the Quran according to their desires!

Of course what you saw concerning hitting and chanting is forbidden in ISLAM and moderate Muslims are trying hard to spread awareness to the Shittes people because they are reflecting a false image of ISLAM.

Answer 5

This is a rite that is practiced by Shia Muslims. It honors the martyr Hussain, grandson of the Beloved Prophet (pbuh) by acting out, in ritual, his martyrdom. It is done in connection with a special Shia holy day. I am not Shia myself, so I cannot give you details.

I can assure you that not all Muslims practice this rite. Some simply turn as they praise God (the whirling dervishes).

Answer 6

i'm not sure if this is what you saw but during the month of Muharram, the Shia (shiite) muslims express their grief by hitting themselves. this isn't a practice done by all muslims--only by the Shia muslims. i dont agree with this practice but it is their custom. Most dont use swords but just hit their chest. people who use swords are extreme even among the shia muslims.

Answer 7

It's a practice done by Shia Muslims during the month of Muharram.

this link will go in more detail.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_of_Muharram

Peace.

Answer 8

I dont know about the Muslim one, But there is a Hindu ritual called sati where they burn widows on their husbands funeral pyres alive since they are no longer married.

Answer 9

There are two main sects of Muslims... One is Shia and other is Suni.
There is hell of difference between these two sects.. being a strict practising suni muslim i also dont understand the concept of torturing yourself in rememberance of your loved one...

Answer 10

I'm Muslim shia(shiite) and i hate it when people do that. it's 'wrong' to do that according to Islam since you're hurting yourself and it's a great sin.