Shafaqna English- “Atlas of Shia” is a Persian-language book authored by Rasul Jafarian, published in Tehran in 2008. This 743-page research work, divided into 12 chapters, aims to provide a geographical and historical overview of Shia Islam from its inception until the early 3rd millennium AD. “Atlas of Shia” has received the Book of the Year Award from the Islamic Republic of Iran and has been translated into Arabic as well. Shafaqna international news agency has translated excerpts from this precious book into English for enthusiasts.
Imam Hussain (AS) and the uprising of Ashura
The monumental event of Ashura, following the mission of the Messenger of God (PBUH) and significant events like Ghadir, is considered the most important historical event for Shia. This event has influenced Shia Islam in various dimensions.
The clearest impact of Ashura is the mourning for Imam Hussain (AS), which stands as the most powerful religious tradition in all Shia communities throughout history. Such mourning, in this style and context, is unprecedented among the communities we know.
This event has also played a crucial role in defining the Shia identity and has been the most distinguishing feature of Shia communities from non-Shia communities throughout Islamic history. It is noteworthy that in some periods, past and present, non-Shia communities have also been inclined to hold these ceremonies under the influence of Shia.
Another significant aspect in the historical thought of Shia concerning Ashura is its glorification as a line of Tawalla And Tabarra in preserving the pillars of religious observance within Shia Islam. This is exemplified by ancient sources attributing a speech by Zuhair ibn Qain, one of Imam Hussain’s (AS) companions, on the morning of Ashura, which holds great significance from this perspective. Addressing the opponents of Imam Hussain (AS) who had come to the battlefield on the side of the Umayyad party, the official defenders of Islam of that era, he said:
“We have been brothers up till now, upon one religion and one community, as long as the sword has not come between us and you are people of counsel for us. But when the sword is drawn, the covenant is broken, and we are one people, and you are another people.” (Al-Tabari, 426.5-427)
It should also be noted that Ashura, like a canopy over the Shia community, has preserved it through many changes and transformations in history, reaffirming the allegiance of Shia to the Ahlul-Bayt (AS).
In Shia belief, all the Imams (AS) are infallible, and Imam Hussain (AS), as a prominent and sacred figure, is recognized as a guarantor of Shia religious faith. One of the most important signs of this sanctity among Shia is the manner in which the events of Karbala and the countless hardships endured by Imam Hussain (AS) are viewed, even in the most difficult moments.
From the Shia perspective, Karbala is not merely a historical event. It is a special event with divine dignity and status. Another importance of Ashura in Shia literature is evident in Arabic and Persian literary works, demonstrating its qualitative depth and impact on Shia thought in all dimensions.
The influence of Ashura is such that it is sometimes considered alongside jurisprudence and religious law as a pillar, although religious justifications have clarified that Imam Hussain (AS) fought for the revival of the law and religion. However, an interesting point is that Shia communities far from the scholarly centers that lack many necessary Shia knowledges, or have been kept at a distance due to oppression and pressure, have only preserved the memory of Shia through preserving Ashura, the name of Imam Hussain (AS), and Hussaini rituals. Exaggeration in this matter has sometimes damaged Shia’s religious and jurisprudential reputation.
The high credibility and importance of Ashura in Shia communities have caused parts of this historical event to become entangled in stories and texts that, while seemingly historical, are steeped in folklore and storytelling. Such transformations about Ashura, which belong to the masses, are normal. However, religious scholars have always tried to analyze the reality of this event both historically and analytically, referring to this phenomenon as purification from distortions of Ashura.
Interestingly, the process of storytelling about Karbala, not only in Shia communities but also in a society like 9th and 10th century Khorasan, which was a mix of Sunni and Shia, emerged more than in other periods and Karbala was presented to the people as a long narrative under the title of “Roza Al-Shuhada” (Garden of Martyrs), which was fully accepted; so much so that henceforth in the Persian-speaking world, the term “Roza” became synonymous with various forms of mourning for Imam Hussain (AS).
After a long historical period where Ashura was mostly discussed as a slogan and in literary texts, albeit non-historical ones accompanied by incorrect analyses of the event’s essence, a new perception of Ashura emerged on the eve of the victory of the Islamic Revolution as an anti-oppression and anti-dictatorship political phenomenon, defending religion and freedom. This event has also been used as a model for martyrdom throughout the struggles that Shia communities have faced in recent decades in any corner of the world.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that the event of Ashura is not merely a historical event at a specific time. While subsequent Imams defined their own specific political course in line with their times, it was precisely their enduring teachings that kept the ceremony of Ashura steadfast in Shia society, a tradition that remains to this day.