Maatam or Chestbeating in Islam

Assalaam Alaikum dear Brothers & Sisters...

This is a much debated & confusing topic for many youngsters today!
Alot feel it is just culture and that the practice is not needed anymore.  According to some, it only creates a bad image for the Shia and that practices like Majaalis, Nauha Khwani, Maatam, Alam holding, Taboot, Zanjeer and Kama-zani is actually against religion.

Let us gather and discuss some useful information about each of these topics:

Act	Religion or Culture?	References
Majaalis	Religion	Mentioned in the Quran per Surah 58, verse 11
Nauha	Religion	114 Nauha Khwans graduated Imam Baqir’s (A.S) class and were instructed to recite poetry about Imam Hussain (A.S) in front of  him as well as the world in their beautiful voices
Maatam	Religion	1.      Bibi Sarah, wife of Prophet Ibrahim, expressed grief upon hearing the news of her pregnancy at an old age by beating her cheeks (Surah 51, verse 29) 2.     According to Ahmed ibn Hanbal in his Musnad, vol. 6, p. 274, Number 26391 (edited by al-Arnaut), Ayesha mentions at the passing away of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH&HF) that she and the other wives were beating their chests and cheeks when they heard the news of Prophet (PBUH&HF) passing away! 3.     Bibi Zaynab has been found to beat her chest and cheeks on three occasions at Karbala
Alam	Religion	Ahlulbayt at Karbala carried an Alam as a symbol of Strength! It is recommended to touch the alam and even touch your faces to an alam that was once on the Grave of Holy persons since such articles have the ability to cure!  This is signified by Prophet Yusuf and his act of sending over his shirt to Prophet Yaqoob to cure his blindness
Taboot	Culture	BUT not against religion in any way! Only an act to remember Imam Hussain and the tragedy of Karbala.  It is not against religion, therefore acceptable as a rememberance!
Zanjeer Zani	Culture	A form of remembering the whipping of the children and women after the even of Karbala by the army of Yazid.  Nothing wrong with it if you wish to do it, but depends on your Maraja-e-Taqlid and their rulings on it.
Kama Zani	Culture	A form of remembering the martyrdom of Imam Ali (A.S) in Masjid-e-Kufa Rulings on this may also depend on your Maraja-e-Taqlid.

Some very interesting points of references come to knowledge with this topic.
I am further researching the exact references of Hadith to complete this table and will update them as I unveil them inshAllah...

JazakAllah,
Zehra

Arbaeen of Imam Hussain (A.S)

Assalaam o Alaikum,

Some very interesting facts and figures came to my knowledge over the last few days.  Sparked by a friends facebook status with an image from wikipedia outlining the largest peaceful gathering on Earth. It caught my attention and so I went to wikipedia and searched the same. 

SubhanAllah.. a wonderful note appeared sharing the following:

An estimated 25 million people visited the shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala, Iraq during Arba'een on 03 January 2013.
An estimated 21 million people visited the shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala, Iraq during Arba'een on 14 January 2012.
An estimated 15 million people visited the shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala, Iraq during Arba'een in 2011.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_peaceful_gatherings_in_history

SubhanAllah!!!  What a beautiful comemoration of the Arbaeen of our beloved Imam!  Its almost as if we all respond to the call of our Imams and Bibi Zainab (A.S) that we are here to mourn for your brother and your family!  No one but us, we are here!

These types of events surely make my heart long for the day I will inshAllah be invited for Ziyarat of our 14 infalliables!  inshAllah one day... and hopefully soon...  Oh how i long to go for Hajj and Ziyaraats! and my urge only getting stronger... I hope Allah does decide to call anyone who wishes to perform the holy pilgrimage with true intent and within those, hopefully call me to visit him for Hajj soon! (inshAllah)

Came across a very nice speach by Sayed Ammar Nakshawani about the History & Philosophy of Majaalis.  Outlines some social ettiquettes of congregations and majaalis!  The peaceful gatherings in Karbala each year are a great example of ettiquettes & morality within Islam! SubhanAllah

JazakAllah
 

Interesting discussions around guests!

Assalaam o Alaikum,

I'd say a rather active community and group of individuals to speak out what they believe in!  However, very sad that the message is conveyed in an improper and inappropriate manner... 

It was definitely interesting to hear some discussions and views of the youngsters around here on inviting guests like Sayed Ammar Nakshawani and Nadeem Sarwar!  Impressive that kids so young actually have something to advice adults about "being humble" and yet they have no remorse over their very own tone of talking!  We often forget that when we point one finger at another person, the other four are pointing at us!

I was honestly very heartbroken and felt bad for these youngsters!  These are our youth of tomorrow?  These are the kids that will represent our community and our Imams (A.S) tomorrow?  Sometimes I wonder if youth so actively involved in our community thinks and talks like this, whatever will happen to those who are not active?  Is this a "lost ummah" that we are warned about?

Respecting a person for conveying the message of Imam Hussain (A.S) and the message of Karbala in my opinion is the least we can do.  Especially when many of us might not even know the extent to which these speakers/reciters go to spread the word!  So what if a person requested something special (in this situation, a microphone!) to relay a message?  I mean is it really that big of a deal of the guy asked for a good microphone/sound system a few times?  Is it really that disrespectful that youngsters, ages less than the guys experience, are standing up and literally telling adults "we will stand up against calling him back for recitation"?  SERIOUSLY?

What I feel worse about is that these youngsters are supposedly the youth that represents our mosque to the outside world!  I fear what comes next?  I truely hope that I can somehow assist them in obtaining an identity in this community and around the world as representatives of Imams (A.S) as they should be!  I am not sure how far my efforts may reach, but I certainly do not want the youth around here to be recognized as a bad identity to the community at large.  It is important in my opinion for any youth organization to realize that they can accomplish ALOT if they really structure themselves to do so.  With this thought in mind and a humble effort to assist, I will inshAllah step forwad to assist some of these kids that I have had a chance to speak with lately.

I also have a humble request to all parents, please create a polite islamic environment for your children to flourish.  It is important to teach them respect and etiquettes for interacting with the community to create their own individual identities.  One needs to develop a basis to be heard before putting forth a request in any situation.  So what if your kids are born and raised in the west, their manners and akhlaq are first and foremost representing your own family! 

JazakAllah
Zehra

Azadari with Nadeem Sarwar!

Assalaam o Alaikum,

SubhanAllah!  God Gifted voice and a wonderful experience meeting with the ever so famous and well reknowned nauha khwan Nadeem Sarwar in the Bay Area this Moharram 1434!

Despite long travel days and a hectic schedule of three consecutive Shab-e-Dari's, the guy had amazing strength to recite so beautifully at our Azadari last night.  Had a wonderful trip down memory lane listening to the all time great nauhas alhamdolilah!

He recited for about 2.5 hours or so.. and an amazing medley of consecutive 23 nauhas that I could capture!  All time favorites and very much recited by several generations.  It was amazing to see his energy and strength reciting the nauhas!  Amazingly without a break or even water!!
A great experience for me atleast listening to some of my very favorite nauhas.

The nauha's he recited, the this exact order, were:

1. Asma -e- Hasna
2. Ya Zahraa (Farsi)
3.  Farmati hain yeh dukhtar-e- Karbala (bibi Sakina A.S)
4. Abbas, meer-e-Karwan
5.  Jaanay walay Karbala ke, Karbala le chal mujhe
6.  Aa dekh mere Ghazi
7.  Abaad hui Karbobala
8.  Mera Beemar Imam
9.  Aaja mere bache
10. Zuljana digo kuja baba Hussaina
11. Abbas na ab laut ke ayega Sakina
12.  Saadaat-e-Karbala
13. Yasrab Nazar aya
14. Kufe ka aur Shaam ka manzar
15.  Haye Alamdar
16.  Ayalam afroshte barsare karbobala (Farsi)
17. Kehti thi Zainab Haye Hussaina
18. Na ro Zainab na ro
19.  Ya Hussain
20.  Achi nahi yeh baat
21.  Shabi e payambar Akbar
22. Maula Haq Imam
23. Ya Wajihan Indullah

An amazing set of Nauhas I must say!  I could see alot of people mesmerized by his voice and his nauhas!  Literally a very much awaited experience and definitely worth the wait!

Hoping inshAllah we get to have more such experiences here in the Bay Area!! 

Zehra

 

Meet up with Maulana Sadiq Hassan

Assalaam o Alaikum,

I'd say a rather interesting day today when we were invited to meet up with Maulana Sadiq Hassan.  I personally had not listened in much on his lectures.. but was aware that there were several issues with his recitation about Khums and Death... several people debated, but since I personally had not heard lectures from him, I chose to stay neutral.

Yesterday was his first majlis here in the Bay Area but with a 1 year old, it is sometimes hard to pay full attention... but the topic was mainly about Sufyani's and Dajjals in this world and Majlis was mainly about Imam Mehdi (ATF).

Today's brunch meetup was a bit interesting.  Having met with Sayed Ammar last week, expectations were a bit high on the one-on-one meetup, therefore I entered to room saying Salaam in a humble manner (as one would to a senior maulana)... to which surprisingly did not get much response... maybe since he was amidst several discussions and greetings... later came to knowledge that he responded like that to more people as well.

Some what of a disappointing introduction to him, however I was told he has immense knowledge, therefore hopes were high to learn alot during his stay and lunch.  Apart from some interesting situations around his restricted and somewhat personalized diet (he is a diabetic) there was much discussion how his morning food affects his evening majaalis (did not make any sense to me, but I have not spoken in place of these individuals, therefore cannot say much on that topic!

Further, I had some questions (keeping in mind the discussions from last week with Sayed Ammar) which I chose to ask him to seek his viewpoints on Nahjul Balagha and the sermons about women etc.  Hoping he would shed some light on basis of his research. I have to admit, I received a very disappointing response that almost shared no information.  On the other hand, all that high build up of expectations somewhat went down the drain!  I was hoping for a more humble, knowledge filled interaction with someone who I was told was very knowledgable!  Sadly, it started out as him not even talking to the ladies and literally it felt like I was back in Pakistan where it is literally TABOO to talk to maulanas!!!!

For me personally knowledge and education revolve around references, discussions and debates with some basis to understand and research on our own.  What really put me off was unfortunately that Maulana Sadiq Hasan shared some viewpoints about certain personalities (with names!!!!) which in my humble opinion he should not have done... I respect that he is a well known respected Maulana, who has the right to opinion, but I also do not believe being at that position allows you to literally badmouth anyone... If you dislike someone's style of recitation, that is an opinion, but to come out in public and say "that person should not have said...." or that "this person is known to say.." in my opinion was not a justified act no matter how knowledgable one is!

Experience with Sayed Ammar was just emphasized in my view as even better alhamdolilah.. He sat in my house talking about so many things, but not once did he mention anything negative about ANYONE!  I even spoke to him about Sayed  Modaressi, but the gentleman never mentioned the entire issue of him not being permitted on Ahlulbayt tv (Sayed Modaressi runs Ahlulbayt tv!).  What a humble and gentle human being! MashAllah.. we need more like Sayed Ammar to make the youth comfortable and answer questions. 

JazakAllah
Zehra