Tuwairij Mourning: Difference between revisions

The Tuwairij mourning ceremony is widely recognized as the largest commemoration of Imam al-Husayn (a) on the [[Day of Ashura']] globally. In addition, it is considered to be the largest human gathering worldwide. Since [[Saddam|Saddam's regime]] was toppled, millions of participants from [[Iraq]] and other countries, predominantly [[Iranians]], take part in the Tuwairij mourning ceremony.

The type of mourning carried out by this procession is known as "Rakdat al-Tuwairij," during which the participants jog barefooted towards the shrine of Imam al-Husayn. This tradition, commonly referred to as the Rakda ceremony, has a history spanning approximately 150 years.

Sayyid Salih al-Qazwini is credited with introducing the Tuwairij processions in the form of jogging, according to some sources. For two years during the Muharram month, he turned his home into a place of mourning for Imam al-Husayn (a). On the Day of Ashura, Sayyid Salih recited Sayyid b. Tawus's Maqtal (the story of Imam al-Husayn's martyrdom) while tens of thousands of people participated. After having breakfast, they walked towards Karbala and arrived at Bab al-Tuwairij (an entry gate of the city of Karbala), where they performed the noon prayer before carrying out the ceremony of Rakdat al-Tuwairij towards the shrines of Imam al-Husayn (a) and ʿAbbas (a). One hour after noon, which is the exact time when Imam al-Husayn was martyred, the pilgrims entered Karbala barefooted, while Sayyid Salih rode on horseback among thousands of pilgrims. Following Sayyid Salih's passing in 1304 AH, his children continued the tradition of leading the procession. From then until the last decade of the fourteenth century AH, the caravan of Tuwairij was led by Sayyid Salih's descendants.

The Tuwairij procession was held until 1369 Sh. However, in 1370 Sh, the Ba'ath government prohibited the ceremony, despite the people's insistence on carrying it out. This resulted in the arrest and execution of some participants. The tradition was halted until after the fall of Saddam’s regime in 2003 when the Tuwairij ceremony resumed.

Sayyid Salih al-Shahristani (d. 1395 AH) states in his book Tarikh al-niyaha that the Tuwairij jogging tradition has a history of more than 300 years. Participants in the ceremony believe that it is reminiscent of Banu Asad's practice on the Day of Ashura, which took place in 61 AH.

==Story of Imam al-Mahdi’s Participation in Tuwairij Processions==

According to Sayyid Mahdi Bahr al-'Ulum (d. 1212 AH), there is a well-known story of Imam al-Mahdi participating in Tuwairiji processions. The book Imam Zaman wa-Sayyid Bahr al-'Ulum states that in 1333 AH, a Shiite scholar in Najaf mentioned that he participated in the Tuwairij mourning ceremony because 'Allama Bahr al-'Ulum had done so before him. Bahr al-ʿUlum even took off his shirt, following the tradition of other chest-beaters. When asked about his action, he explained that he had seen the Twelfth Shia Imam within the procession. This tale has been recorded in multiple sources.

The author of the book Tarikh al-niyaha (written in the fourteenth century AH) believes that Bahr al-ʿUlum saw Imam al-Mahdi (a) in Tuwairiji processions in his dream.

According to historical accounts, there is no mention of Imam al-Mahdi's participation in the Tuwairij ceremony in any written sources related to him or Bahr al-ʿUlum. Moreover, scholars argue that this claim lacks authenticity due to the fact that Tuwairij mourning started in 1303 AH while Sayyid Mahdi Bahr al-ʿUlum passed away much earlier, in 1212 AH. It is possible that the individual mentioned in the story was a descendant of Sayyid Bahr al-ʿUlum.

Muhammad Kazim Hazarjaribi, a student of Bahr al-ʿUlum who authored an essay on his teacher's virtues and supernatural abilities, admits to having no evidence that Sayyid Bahr al-ʿUlum ever met Imam al-Mahdi.