Contesting ritual practices in Twelver Shiism: modernism, sectarianism and the politics of self-flagellation (<i>taṭbīr</i>)

Shiis perform a number of rituals on the first 10 days Islamic month Muḥarram to mourn killing grandson Prophet Muhammad, Husayn, in Karbala southern Iraq 680CE. Among most controversial is practice blood-letting self-flagellation (taṭbīr). This article provides comprehensive discussion debates around this ritual among prominent Shii clerical figures 20th and 21st centuries. While vast majority senior clerics either sympathetic taṭbīr or retains an indifferent attitude, interventions critical it are informed by discursive parameters modernism emphasize universal moral socio-political message Husayn’s revolt. These also point at concerns over inter-sectarian relations between Sunnis efforts discard practices that could antagonize Sunni Muslims. Finally, these contain important political dimension reflecting contestations Iran’s aim exercise hegemony communities across world. The 1994 fatwa Supreme Leader Republic ‘Ali Khamenei (b. 1939) which he declared prohibited (ḥarām) has hardened existing cleavages those supporting rejecting practice, as illustrates.