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Tuwairij Mourning

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Tuwairij Mourning is an annual mourning ceremony held by the people of Tuwairij (al-Hindiya). They embark on a journey from their city to the Shrine of Imam al-Husayn (a) on the Day of Ashura'. The ceremony is often done through jogging. The mourners travel the twenty-kilometer distance between Tuwairij and Karbala on foot while grieving over Imam al-Husayn's (a) tragedy.

Tuwairij Mourning
Tuwairij Mourning on the Day of Ashura
Tuwairij Mourning on the Day of Ashura
Ritual information
TimeDay of Ashura'
PlaceThe route from the city of Tuwairij to the shrine of Imam al-Husayn (a)
Hymns and
Litanies		Labbayk ya Husayn • Ya la-Tharat al-Husayn • Wa Husayna • Wa wayl 'ala l-'Abbas

According to reports, there is a story that suggests 'Allama Bahr al-'Ulum (d. 1212/1798) joined the processions of Tuwairij after reportedly seeing Imam al-Mahdi (a) among the mourners. However, the authenticity of this account remains uncertain.

Sayyid Salih al-Qazwini (d. 1304/1887) is credited as the first person to incorporate jogging into the Tuwairij mourning processions. However, this form of mourning in Tuwairij is said to date back over 300 years. It is reminiscent of the men from Banu Asad from Tuwairij in 61/680 who jogged from Tuwairij towards Karbala in order to bury Imam al-Husayn's (a) corpse.

The Tuwairij mourning ceremony is widely regarded as the largest commemoration of Imam al-Husayn (a) on the Day of Ashura throughout the world.

Tuwairij Processions

The Tuwairij mourning ceremony is globally recognized as the largest commemoration of Imam al-Husayn (a) on the Day of Ashura.[1] In addition, it is considered to be the largest human gathering worldwide.[2] Since Saddam's regime was toppled, millions of participants from Iraq and other countries, predominantly Iranians, take part in the Tuwairij mourning ceremony.[3]

The Tuwairij mourning processions commence in the morning of the Day of Ashura, originating from the city of Tuwairij, situated 20 kilometers away from Karbala. The procession heads towards the shrine of Imam al-Husayn (a). Before noon, the participants halt at Qantarat al-Salam, which is approximately two kilometers away from Karbala, where they perform noon and afternoon prayers. While en route, other individuals and caravans also accompany them to Karbala. Upon reaching Karbala, the mourning procession first enters the tenting ground (al-Mukhayyam) before proceeding inside the shrines of Imam al-Husayn (a) and al-'Abbas (a).[4]

The ceremony typically lasts until the afternoon of the Day of Ashura annually.

Rakda 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 (a).[5] This tradition, commonly referred to as the Rakda ceremony, has a history spanning approximately 150 years.[6]

Background of the Tuwairij Ceremony

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 (a) martyrdom) while tens of thousands of people participated. After having breakfast, they walked towards Karbala[7] 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 'Abbas (a).[8] One hour after noon, which is the exact time when Imam al-Husayn (a) was martyred, the pilgrims entered Karbala barefooted while Sayyid Salih rode on horseback among thousands of pilgrims. Following Sayyid Salih's passing in 1304/1887, his children continued the tradition of leading the procession. From then until the last decade of the fourteenth/twentieth century, the caravan of Tuwairij was led by Sayyid Salih's descendants.[9]

The Tuwairij procession was held until 1990. However, in 1991, 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 2004, when the Tuwairij ceremony resumed.[10]

Alleged Three Centuries of History

Sayyid Salih al-Shahristani (d. 1975) states in his book Tarikh al-niyaha that the Tuwairij jogging tradition has more than 300 years of history. The ceremony's participants believe it is reminiscent of Banu Asad's practice on the Day of Ashura, which took place in 61/680.[11]

Story of Imam al-Mahdi's (a) Participation in Tuwairij Processions

According to Sayyid Mahdi Bahr al-'Ulum (d. 1212/1798), there is a well-known story of Imam al-Mahdi (a) participating in Tuwairiji processions. The book Imam Mahdi wa-Sayyid Bahr al-'Ulum states that in 1333/1914-5, a Shi'a scholar in Najaf mentioned that he participated in the Tuwairij mourning ceremony because 'Allama Bahr al-'Ulum had done so before him. Bahr al-'Ulum 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 Shi'a Imam (a) within the procession.[12] This tale has been recorded in multiple sources.[13]

The author of the book Tarikh al-niyaha (written in the fourteenth/twentieth century) believes that Bahr al-'Ulum saw Imam al-Mahdi (a) in Tuwairiji processions in his dream.[14]

Doubts about Imam al-Mahdi’s Mourning in Tuwairij

According to historical accounts, there is no mention of Imam al-Mahdi's (a) participation in the Tuwairij ceremony in any written sources related to him or Bahr al-'Ulum. Moreover, scholars argue that this claim lacks authenticity because Tuwairij mourning started in 1303/1885 while Sayyid Mahdi Bahr al-'Ulum passed away much earlier, in 1212/1798. It is possible that the individual mentioned in the story was a descendant of Sayyid Bahr al-'Ulum.

Muhammad Kazim Hazarjaribi, a student of Bahr al-'Ulum[15] who authored an essay on his teacher's virtues and supernatural abilities, admits to having no evidence that Sayyid Bahr al-'Ulum ever met Imam al-Mahdi (a).[16]

Notes

  1. ↑ A look at the Tuwairij mourning ceremony, the biggest mourning ceremony of Imam al-Hossein (a) in the world (Persian).
  2. ↑ The biggest mourning ceremony in the world on the day of martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a) in Karbala (Persian).
  3. ↑ The Tuwairij mourning ceremony was held in Karbala (Persian).
  4. ↑ A look at the Tuwairij mourning ceremony, the biggest mourning ceremony of Imam al-Hossein in the world (Persian).
  5. ↑ (What is the story of Tuwairij Procession? (Persian).
  6. ↑ The Tuwairij mourning ceremony was held in Karbala (Persian).
  7. ↑ Qazwīnī and Riḍāyī, Mawkib-i ʿazādārī-yi Ṭuwayrīj wa naqsh-i Sayyid Ṣāliḥ Ḥusaynī Qazwīnī dar iḥyāʾ wa tadāwum-i ān, p. 2-3.
  8. ↑ The Tuwairij mourning ceremony was held in Karbala (Persian).
  9. ↑ Qazwīnī and Riḍāyī, Mawkib-i ʿazādārī-yi Ṭuwayrīj wa naqsh-i Sayyid Ṣāliḥ Ḥusaynī Qazwīnī dar iḥyāʾ wa tadāwum-i ān, p. 2-3.
  10. ↑ The biggest mourning ceremony in the world on the day of martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a) in Karbala (Persian).
  11. ↑ Shahristānī, Tārīkh al-nīyāha, p. 45.
  12. ↑ Rafiʿī, Imām Zamān wa Sayyid Baḥr al-ʿUlūm, p. 194-197.
  13. ↑ A look at the Tuwairij mourning ceremony, the biggest mourning ceremony of Imam al-Hossein (a) in the world (Persian).
  14. ↑ Shahristānī, Tārīkh al-nīyāha, p. 45.
  15. ↑ Hazārjarībī, Faḍāʾil wa kirāmat-i ʿAllāma Sayyid Muḥammad Mahdī Baḥr al-ʿUlūm, p. 33.
  16. ↑ Hazārjarībī, Faḍāʾil wa kirāmat-i ʿAllāma Sayyid Muḥammad Mahdī Baḥr al-ʿUlūm, p. 50

References

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