{{Short description|Self-flagellation ritual practiced by some Shia Muslims}} {{italic title}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} [[File:10 Muharram.jpg|thumb|''10th of Muharram'', 19th-century painting by Fausto Zonaro]] '''Tatbir''' ({{langx|ar|تطبير|translit=Taṭbīr}}) is a form of self-flagellation rituals practiced by some Shia Muslims in commemoration of the killing of Imam Husayn ibn Ali and his partisans in the Battle of Karbala by forces of the second Umayyad caliph Yazid I ({{Reign|680|683}}).
The ritual is practiced in the Islamic month of Muharram, usually on Ashura. ''Tatbir'' involves striking oneself with chains or swords. It has been considered {{Transliteration|ar|haram}} ("forbidden") by some of the Shia clergy, who cite it as self-harm.
== Origins == It can be firmly traced to the 19th century in Iran,<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Tatbir |title=Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation |url=https://tatbir.org/ |access-date=2025-10-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> where it was first introduced by Qizilbash tribes as a cultural practice – since engaging in self-flagellation was seen in Central Asia at the time as a way of mourning,{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}} which they likely inherited from the Scythians.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Zaykov |first=Andrey |title=Alcman and the Image of Scythian Steed |url=https://www.academia.edu/3302624/Alcman_and_the_Image_of_Scythian_Steed |journal=Pontus and the Outside World: Studies in Black Sea History, Historiography, and Archaeology}}</ref> Scythic peoples were previously recorded as having engaged in self-flagellation on the deathdate of Buddha, the Zoroastrian hero Siyavash, and the Scythian hero Targitaos.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Le Coq |first=Albert von |url=http://archive.org/details/diebuddhistische00leco_0 |title=Die buddhistische spätantike in Mittelasien, VI |last2=Waldschmidt |first2=Ernst |last3=Preussische Turfan-Expeditionen (1904) |date=1922 |publisher=Berlin, D. Reimer [etc.] |others=Duke University Libraries}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=January 2026}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=::{{!}} Culture of IRAN {{!}}:: Muharram & Martyrdom of Imam Husayn |url=https://www.cultureofiran.com/muharram.html |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=www.cultureofiran.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=آسیب شناسی فرهنگ سیاسی عاشورا |url=https://hawzah.net/fa/Article/View/13061/%D8%A2%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A8-%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%87%D9%86%DA%AF-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A7 |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=hawzah.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-15 |title=شهیدان جاوید: از سیاوش تا امام حسین (ع) |url=https://nagoftehayetarikh.com/2024/07/15/%d8%a7%d8%b2-%d8%b3%db%8c%d8%a7%d9%88%d8%b4-%d8%aa%d8%a7-%d8%a7%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%85-%d8%ad%d8%b3%db%8c%d9%86/ |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=ناگفته های تاریخ |language=fa-IR}}</ref> Another plausible theory pertains a Christian origin, due to the similarities in Christian Catholics who practice self-flagellation as a reenactment of the death of Christ.<ref name=":02" />
The uncommonly character of this ritual was apparent in 19th-century Tehran, where Iranian cleric Fazel Darbandi became known for his "peculiarities", leading to his banishment from various shi'i cities:<ref>{{Cite web |title=DARBANDĪ, MULLA ĀQĀ |url=https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/darbandi-mulla-aqa/ |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=Encyclopaedia Iranica |language=en-US}}</ref>{{Blockquote|text=He would weep violently, lacerate his face [i.e with knives], throw off his turban, and sometimes even throw himself from the minbar to the ground.|author=M. A. Modarres|title=Rayḥānat al-adab}}
==Practice== [[File:Brooklyn Museum - Ghamezani Muhharran One of 274 Vintage Photographs.jpg|thumb|Performance of Tatbir in Iran. An image from Brooklyn Museum. The image is taken between 1876 and 1933.]]
Tatbir, also called ''Zanjeer Zani'' or ''Qama Zani'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Fatwa on Tatbir [Qama Zani] |url=http://www.pasbaaneaza.com/Fatawa_qama_zani.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090910063717/http://www.pasbaaneaza.com/Fatawa_qama_zani.html |archive-date=September 10, 2009 |access-date=2010-07-03 |publisher=Pasbaan-e-Aza}}</ref> is practiced by some Shia Muslims on the day of Ashura on the 10 Muharram of the Islamic calendar and on the 40th day after Ashura, known as Arba'een (or ''Chehelom'' in Persian) by Twelver Shias around the world.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Szanto|first=Edith|date=2013-02-22|title=Beyond the Karbala Paradigm: Rethinking Revolution and Redemption in Twelver Shi'a Mourning Rituals|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/500163|journal=Journal of Shi'a Islamic Studies|language=en|volume=6|issue=1|pages=75–91|doi=10.1353/isl.2013.0007|s2cid=144319026|issn=2051-557X|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Szanto|first=Edith|title=Shi'a Islam in Practice|date=2018|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73653-2_8-2|work=Handbook of Contemporary Islam and Muslim Lives|pages=1–15|editor-last=Woodward|editor-first=Mark|place=Cham|publisher=Springer International Publishing|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-73653-2_8-2|isbn=978-3-319-73653-2|s2cid=158107119 |access-date=2020-12-10|editor2-last=Lukens-Bull|editor2-first=Ronald|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Some Shia may also perform ''tatbir'' on other occasions as well.
The practice of ''Tatbir'' includes striking oneself with a ''talwar'', a type of sword, on the head, causing blood to flow in remembrance of the pain felt by Husayn ibn Ali. Some also hit their back and/or chest with blades attached to chains. ==Fatwas== ''Tatbir'' are contested among Shia clerics.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Szanto|first=Edith|date=May 2012|title=SAYYIDA ZAYNAB IN THE STATE OF EXCEPTION: SHIʿI SAINTHOOD AS "QUALIFIED LIFE" IN CONTEMPORARY SYRIA|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-middle-east-studies/article/abs/sayyida-zaynab-in-the-state-of-exception-shii-sainthood-as-qualified-life-in-contemporary-syria/922A924B95D7942F714DD764A8E1DDE7|journal=International Journal of Middle East Studies|language=en|volume=44|issue=2|pages=285–299|doi=10.1017/S0020743812000050|s2cid=162260813|issn=1471-6380|url-access=subscription}}</ref> While some clerics allow believers to indulge in ''tatbir'', a large portion of clerics generally deem it impermissible, because it is considered an innovation, as well as self-harm, thus being haram in Islam.<ref name="MonsuttiNaef2007">{{cite book|last1=Monsutti|first1=Alessandro|last2=Naef|first2=Silvia|last3=Sabahi|first3=Farian|title=The Other Shiites: From the Mediterranean to Central Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_62A00tLaygC&pg=PA146|year=2007|publisher=Peter Lang|isbn=978-3-03911-289-0|pages=146–|access-date=2015-09-30}}</ref> The religious authorities who permit it associate all forms of self-flagellation and blood-letting as ways to relate to painful deaths during the battle of Karbala by Imam Husayn and supporters.<ref name="YasserSabrina2014">{{cite book|author1=Tabbaa, Yasser|author2=Mervin, Sabrina|title=Najaf, the Gate of wisdom|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cdPeBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA154|date=28 July 2014|publisher=UNESCO|isbn=978-92-3-100028-7|pages=154–}}</ref>
[[File:Fayyaz.jpg|thumb|right|Fatwa of Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei on tatbir by Grand Ayatollah Ishaq al-Fayadh]]
{| class="wikitable" |- !# !Image !Marja' !Fatwa !Description |- | 1 | 150px | Ruhollah Khomeini | Permissible, but discouraged, later changed to Forbidden | "No problem in performing this act (tatbir)."<ref>Istaftaat e Imam Khomeini-Vol 3 استفتأت امام خمينى</ref> "There is no obstacle if it doesn't cause harm, but it shouldn't be practised today."<ref>Estefta'at-e Emam Khomeini, vol. 3, p. 581 and 583 - [http://www.imam-khomeini.ir/fa/c12_21315/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%B3%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1/%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85_%D8%AE%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C_%D8%B3_%D8%AF%D8%B1_%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87_%D8%AD%DA%A9 Imam Khomeini's website]</ref> "If such actions bring about disrepute to the religion, then they are forbidden."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tatbir |title=Fatawa : Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation |url=https://tatbir.org/?page_id=98 |access-date=2025-10-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> |- | 2 | 150px | Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei | Permissible, later changed to impermissible, then Forbidden | | "There is no problem in performing such act in itself according to the assumption in the question".<ref>[http://shiamatam.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Ayatullah-Khui-e1475417637360.jpeg Ayatullah Khui]shiamatam.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921190903/http://shiamatam.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Ayatullah-Khui-e1475417637360.jpeg |date=21 September 2018 }}</ref> "If blood matam and hitting oneself with chains, which are practiced in Muharram, cause serious harm, or harm or ridicule the religion and sect then it is impermissible."<ref>''Al-Masa’il al-Shar’iyah, istifta’at Imam Khoei, al-Ibadat and al-Tariq al-Najah, v.2, p.445 - [http://tatbir.org/?page_id=98 Tatbir.org]''</ref>
"This action has not been mentioned anywhere in the Holy Sharia. Not only that, but in any case, it causes damage, and becomes a source of mockery for the others, it is Forbidden."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tatbir |title=Fatawa : Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation |url=https://tatbir.org/?page_id=98 |access-date=2025-10-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |3 |frameless|188x188px |Husayn Borujerdi |Forbidden |"My fatwa regarding these plays and performances that you conduct, in the manner I have heard, is that they are absolutely forbidden."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Al-Amili |title=Al-Intisar |volume=9 |pages=396}}</ref> |- | 4 | 150px | Mohammad Ali Araki | Permissible, if it does not cause harm | "If it doesn't cause any harm to the body or that there is no danger of dying from this act, then it is permissible (allowed)".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shiamatam.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Shaikh-Muhammad-Araki-e1475417537881.jpeg|title=Ayatollah Muhammad Ali Araki's Fatwa}}</ref> |- | 5 | 199x199px | Ali Sistani | Not allowed<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tatbir |title=Fatawa : Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation |url=https://tatbir.org/?page_id=98 |access-date=2025-10-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> | "One is not allowed to Harm the body, or the noble reputation of the Faith." "Those actions which are not understandable for the enemies of Islam and non-Shia Muslims, and cause misunderstanding and contempt for the religion must be avoided." |- | 6 | 150px | Ali Khamenei | Forbidden | Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran has stated that Tatbir is forbidden.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.khamenei.ir/news/4209/Tatbir-is-a-wrongful-and-fabricated-tradition-Imam-Khamenei|title=Tatbir is a wrongful and fabricated tradition: Imam Khamenei|date=7 October 2016|website=Khamenei.ir}}</ref> "Tatbir is a wrongful act ... Tatbir [Qame Zani] is also a fabricated tradition ... Do not practice it, I do not approve. If someone does anything to display their desire to practice Tatbir, I will be deeply disappointed in them."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://english.khamenei.ir/news/4209/Tatbir-is-a-wrongful-and-fabricated-tradition-Imam-Khamenei|title=Tatbir is a wrongful and fabricated tradition: Imam Khamenei|date=2016-10-07|website=Khamenei.ir|language=en|access-date=2019-05-10}}</ref> |- | 7 | 150px | Naser Makarem Shirazi | Forbidden | Muslims should avoid actions that display weakness in the Shia religion and damage the body.<ref name="tebyan">{{cite web|title=opinions of the Maraj'e in regard to using Qama|url=http://www.tebyan.net/newindex.aspx?pid=189137|access-date=19 October 2015|archive-date=26 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026073133/http://www.tebyan.net/newindex.aspx?pid=189137|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | 8 | 150px | Mohammad Fazel Lankarani | Forbidden | Tatbir shows the harsh face of mourning of Husayn ibn Ali and it harms Shiism.<ref name="tebyan" /><ref name="Quest">{{cite web|title=What are the opinions of the Maraj'e in regard to using Qama in the past and in present time?|url=http://www.islamquest.net/en/archive/question/fa772|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> |- | 9 | 150px | Abdollah Javadi-Amoli | Forbidden | It is not permissible to insult Islam and the desecration of mourning. Therefore, it is better to avoid Tatbir and things like that.<ref name="tebyan" /> |- | 10 | 150px | Mohammad-Taqi Bahjat Foumani | Forbidden | It should be avoided; every act that would be an insult to the Shia.<ref name="tebyan" /> |- | 11 | 150px | Hossein Noori Hamedani | Forbidden | Should be avoided as actions that weakens the Shia religious.<ref name="tebyan" /><ref name="Quest" /> |- | 12 | frameless|178x178px | Hossein Mazaheri Isfahani | Forbidden | When Wali e Faqih (Guardian Jurist) orders to avoid something, all people have to avoid it, even if they do not follow Guardian Jurist.<ref name="tebyan" /> |- | 13 | 150px | Kazem al-Haeri | Impermissible | Tatbir is a superstition that causes the defamation of Islam and Shia Islam in particular.<ref name="tebyan" /> |- | 14 | | Mohaqiq Kabuli | Forbidden | There is no allowance to practice Tatbir or self-flagellation or something else that is considered as self-harm.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} |- |15 |frameless|210x210px |Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah |Forbidden<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHZKh9ILT_g |title=السيد محمد حسين فضل الله الإمام الحسين ع الشعائر الحسينية العراق إيران لبنان -التطبير كلاب رقية |date=2021-08-11 |last=المرجعية خط احمر |access-date=2025-10-25 |via=YouTube}}</ref> |"I am among those who hold that Tatbir is forbidden."<ref>{{Cite web |title=اللطم والتطبير |url=https://sayedfadlullah.com/images/favicon.png |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=sayedfadlullah.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=إضاءات عقائدية وفقهية على فكر العلامة المرجع السيّد محمد حسين فضل الله {{!}} موقع يتضمّن ردوداً علميّة على كلّ ما يُنسب الى السيد(رض) من أفكار وآراء |url=https://sayedfadlullah.com/images/favicon.png |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=sayedfadlullah.com}}</ref> |- |16 |frameless|224x224px |Mohammad Yaqoobi |Not permissible |"It is not permissible in the Sharia to do any act that is irrational or harmful to oneself or requires an insult to the religion and the school of the Ahl al-Bayt."<ref>{{Cite web |title=المرجع الديني الشيخ محمد اليعقوبي - استفتاء حول مسألة التطبير |url=https://yaqoobi.com/arabic/index.php/permalink/1995.html |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=yaqoobi.com}}</ref> "As for striking the backs with sharp instruments, walking on embers, and the like, we have directed our followers and those who take our opinion to leave it."<ref>{{Cite web |title=المرجع الديني الشيخ محمد اليعقوبي - استفتاء حول مسألة التطبير |url=https://yaqoobi.com/arabic/index.php/permalink/1995.html |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=yaqoobi.com}}</ref> |- |17 |frameless|198x198px |Kamal al-Haydari |Forbidden<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ayatollah Sayed Kamal al-Haydari |url=https://alhaydari.com/en/2020/06/02/the-criteria-for-distinguishing-hussaini-rituals-from-innovations-and-superstitions/ |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=alhaydari.com}}</ref> |"None of the Imams have ever hit themselves with swords, nor have they ever advised anyone to do so, Tatbir is an innovation and thus Forbidden." |- |18 |frameless|219x219px |Morteza Motahhari |Impermissible<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tatbir |title=Fatawa : Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation |url=https://tatbir.org/?page_id=98 |access-date=2025-10-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> |"[Tatbir] does not have a rational or religious basis. It is a clear instance of deviation [...] this is a mistake.” |- |19 |frameless|211x211px |Mohsen al-Amin |Forbidden<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tatbir |title=Fatawa : Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation |url=https://tatbir.org/?page_id=98 |access-date=2025-10-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> |"[Tatbir] is from the encouragement of Shaytan.” "It is from the saddening things [...] using drums and flutes, and cutting the heads in a way that show the Shia in a barbaric way and make the others mock them." |- |20 |frameless|199x199px |Abu l-Hasan al-Isfahani |Forbidden<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tatbir |title=Fatawa : Tatbir - A Disturbing Innovation |url=https://tatbir.org/?page_id=98 |access-date=2025-10-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> |"The usage of swords, chains, drums, horns and the likes today, which have become common in mourning ceremonies on Ashura, is definitely Forbidden and against religious doctrine." |- | 21 | | Muhammad al-Fayadh | Permissible, if it does not cause serious harm to the body | Tatbir is permissible, if it does not cause serious damage to the body.<ref>{{cite web |title=Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Ishaq al-Fayyad response to Tatbir |url=http://alfayadh.org/fa/#post?type=post&id=1580 |access-date=26 October 2015}}</ref> |- | 22 |<!-- Deleted image removed: 150px --> | Muhammad Saeed al-Hakim | Recommended, if it does not cause harm to the body.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://alhakeem.com/en/question/4347/blood |title=Office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid M.S.Al-Hakeem |website=alhakeem.com |access-date=2019-05-09}}</ref> | Tatbir as one form of the mourning of Husayn ibn Ali is permissible. It is permitted under the intention of sympathy with God and trust-seeking, to promote searching for trust. {{citation needed|date=December 2016}}
"Religious rituals that Shias perform to mourn the tragedies of the Imams of the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) and to present the oppressions that they suffered are recommended. However, it is obligatory to avoid what causes harm to the soul or the body. If it does not result in harm, it remains being recommended. One should avoid performing them in a place where the reputation of the Shias is damaged."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://alhakeem.com/en/question/4365/blood|title=Office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid M.S.Al-Hakeem|website=alhakeem.com|access-date=2019-05-09}}</ref>
Imams did not "shed their own blood because of their sadness and grief for what happened to Imam Hussein".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://alhakeem.com/en/question/4350/blood|title=Office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid M.S.Al-Hakeem|website=alhakeem.com|access-date=2019-05-09}}</ref> |- | 23 | 150px |Hossein Vahid Khorasani | Not Forbidden<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fetan.ir/home/18655|title=نظر آیت الله وحیدخراسانی در مورد قمه زنی چیست؟|date=2015-10-30|website=فتن|access-date=2019-05-09|archive-date=2019-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922000725/http://www.fetan.ir/home/18655|url-status=dead}}</ref> | "The Ayatullah also goes over the Fatwas (verdicts) of previous scholars on the Mourning rituals and he even states that shedding blood for the sake of mourning Ahlulbayt is Halal (lawful)."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jafariyanews.com/2k9_news/dec/21Vahid_Khorasani_azadari_verdict.htm |title=Qom's leading cleric: Shedding blood in Azadari "lawful" - Jafariya News Network |website=www.jafariyanews.com}}</ref> |- | 24 | | Bashir al-Najafi | Not Forbidden | "Tatbir is permitted until it describes sorrow for Imam Hussain".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shiamatam.com/tatbir-fatawa/ |title=Tatbir Fatawa by Shia Mujtahideen and Scholars |website=ShiaMatam.com}}</ref> |- | 25 | 150px | Shamsodin Vaezi | Permissible | "Tatbir is permissible (allowed) and the issue is described in detail in our book Al-Husseini rituals".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wadhy.com:80/arabic/pages/estefta.php?it=1082 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409085245/http://www.wadhy.com:80/arabic/pages/estefta.php?it=1082 |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 April 2010 |title=مكتب آية الله العظمى الشيخ شمس الدين الواعظي ـ دام ظله |date=9 April 2010}}</ref> |- | 26 | | Jawad Tabrizi | Permissible, but discouraged | "Tatbir is permissible (allowed) and it is a Mustahab act, this is due to some narrations which state that: When sayyida Zainab saw Imam Hussain's head, she smashed her head into a rock and blood flowed from her head"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ar.tabrizi.org/1393/08/hosseini-aza/|title=الشعائر الحسينية والعزاء - موقع فقیه مقدس استاد الفقهاء آیة الله العظمی المیرزا جواد التبریزی ره}}</ref>
"The inclusion of the aforementioned (acts like tatbir) under the category of recommended grief for what occurred to the Master of Martyrs is problematic/doubtful."<ref>''Sirat al-Najat, v. 2, Q 1404 - [http://tatbir.org/?page_id=98 Tatbir.org]''</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mobahesat.ir/8997|title=بررسی فتوای میرزای نایینی در جواز قمهزنی « مباحثات|website=مباحثات|date=19 October 2015 |language=fa-IR|access-date=2019-05-09}}</ref> |- |27 |frameless |Mohammad Jamil Hammoud al-Amili |Permissible, even if causing death |"It is permissible, and even Mustahabb, since it falls under glorification (sha‘ā’ir), so long as the person performing it does not intend to destroy his own life."<ref>{{Cite web |title=مركز العترة الطاهرة للدراسات والبحوث / هل التطبير والقامة والزنجير في عاشوراء مسموح بهم أم لا ؟ |url=https://www.aletra.org/subject.php?id=1471 |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=www.aletra.org}}</ref> "If one strikes his head or body with a blade or chain, without intending to kill himself, and dies for the Master of Martyrs and his noble family, then without doubt he is rewarded and blessed, and has entered eternal bliss."<ref>{{Cite web |title=مركز العترة الطاهرة للدراسات والبحوث / هل يجوز ضرب الظهور والرؤوس بالقامات؟ |url=https://www.aletra.org/subject.php?id=162 |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=www.aletra.org}}</ref> |}
== Criticisms == * There are different opinions about the practice of ''Tatbir''. Some Shia Marja believe that it is a form of self-harm, so it must be forbidden. According to some Shia Marja, it is felt that ''Tatbir'' reflects poorly on Shia observers, so they typically advise avoiding it in a region where Sunnis also reside. * Iraqi sociologist Ibrahim al-Haidari has called ''Tatbir'' an irrational act. He states blood donations should replace ''Tatbir''. Iraqi cleric Hussein Al-Sadr and his followers donate blood every year during the mourning of Husayn ibn Ali.<ref name="Al-Monitor">{{cite web|last1=Mamouri|first1=Ali|title=Iraqi Shiite pilgrimage takes political turn |url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/12/arbaeen-iraq-and-political-connections.html#|website=Al-Monitor|access-date=<!-- December 2014 -->|date=2014-12-26}}</ref> * Hassan Nasrallah, the former leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon, had also taken steps to end ''Tatbir''. Instead of practicing ''Tatbir'', he had offered to donate blood on Ashura day to patients who need it.<ref name="Nytimes">{{cite news | first=Ben | last=Hubbard | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/world/middleeast/bloody-and-belittled-shiite-ritual-draws-historic-parallels-in-iraq.html?_r=0 | title=Bloody and Belittled Shiite Ritual Draws Historic Parallels | access-date=<!-- November 2014 --> | newspaper=The New York Times Company| date=2014-11-05 }}</ref> * Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine established a blood bank in Najaf to donate blood on Ashura day to patients who need it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nbo.ir/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A2%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%91%DB%8C%D9%86__a-198.aspx |title= Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine |language=fa |publisher= nbo.ir }}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Shia Islam}} * Battle of Karbala * Criticism of Twelver Shia Islam * Mourning of Muharram * Self-flagellation * Shi'ite iconography
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://tatbir.org/ What is Tatbir?] * [https://english.khamenei.ir/news/4209/Tatbir-is-a-wrongful-and-fabricated-tradition-Imam-Khamenei Tatbir is a wrongful and fabricated tradition]
{{Mourning of Muharram}}
Category:Mourning of Muharram Category:Shia fiqh Category:Islamic terminology Category:Islam-related controversies Category:Self-harm