February 7, 2006: Self Flagellation to the Extreme

by Laura Mansfield

If you were in Iran this week, you would almost certainly witness processions down the streets of the cities, with the marchers beating themselves bloody with whips and chains. This is how Ashura is celebrated in modern-day Iran. (This year, Ashura will be celebrated on Thursday, February 9.)

The holiday of Ashura, falls on the tenth day of the month of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. The word Ashura literally translates as “tenth”. It commemorates the death of the Imam Hussein at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.

In many ways, the recent behavior of Iran’s President appears to be self-flagellating to the extreme. Perhaps some insight into his behavior can be gleaned from a look at the Ashura holiday, and the history behind it.

When the Prophet Mohamed died, he had no male heirs; his only surviving child was a daughter, named Fatima. Without a clear line of succession, the “Companions of the Prophet” (his closest friends and relatives) agreed that Abu Bakr would succeed Mohamed as the leader of the Islamic Ummah, or community.

Abu Bakr was also the father of Mohamed’s child bride, Aisha, and had also been appointed as interim leader by Mohamed during his final illness. The Companions of the prophet, by acclaim, agreed that Abu Bakr would be the Khaliah, or “successor” to Mohamed.

So Abu Bakr took over the reigns of leadership, become the first Caliph in Islam.

But Abu Bakr was an older man, and his caliphate would be brief. To ensure a peaceful and orderly succession, Abu Bakr appointed Omar (sometimes spelled Umar or Amr) as his successor. Under the leadership of Omar, the quickly growing Islamic Empire expanded from the Arabian Peninsula into Syria, Egypt, Iraq, and Persia.

Omar ruled for ten years; after his death, a council was convened consisting of the Companions of the Prophet to elect his successor. Uthman was elected.

But although Uthman was able to add Armenia and Libya to the Empire, there were problems at home; he was accused of favoritism. Uthman was eventually killed.

By then, Ali, the son of Mohamed’s daughter Fatima, was of age, and he was appointed Caliph. But his caliphate was challenged by Muawiyah, the governor of Syria, who claimed that Ali had been placed on the throne by those responsible for the murder of Uthman. The ensuring power struggle eventually resulted in a split of Islam, with those who would eventually become known as the Shi’ite supporting Ali and his descendents as the rightful leaders of the Islamic empire, and a second group known as the Sunni’s who supported the election of the caliph.

The Prophet’s grandson Ali supported dwindled, and after his murder in 661, his supporters appointed Ali’s son Hassan as Caliph. Meanwhile, Muawiyah had been named Caliph in Jerusalem, and Hassan eventually gave up his claim to the throne, and was eventually killed as well.

Hassan’s brother Hussein led a small group of fighters to try and avenge the death of his brother Hassan and to retake the Caliphate from Muawiyah. Hussein and his followers were quickly overcome in 680 AD at the Battle o Karbala, in modern-day Iraq.

The death of Hussein continues to be commemorated each year among the Shi’ite Muslims on the anniversary of the battle, Ashura, the tenth day of Muharam.

In modern-day Iran, the anniversary is commemorated with processions of the male faithful, who march down the streets beating themselves. They commonly use whips with sharp ends and sometimes even small knives, to cause physical pain. The believers feel that only through severe physical pain and bleeding can the show the pain that was caused for the Muslim Ummah when Hussein died.

In recent years, the Ashura festivities among the Shi’ite in Iraq have been marked by violent attacks and bombings against the celebrants.

Which brings us back to Ahmadinezhad. As he continues his path of self distruction, much to the disdain of the world, baiting superpowers and hurling insults along the way. His repeated taunts of the US and Israel, including calling for Israel to be wiped from the map, combined with his comtempt and defiance of the International Atomic Energy Association with the resumption of uranium enrichment appear designed to provoke some sort of reaction.

This year, it appears that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinezhad may very well be perpetrating some sort of bizarre self-flagellation ritual, in an attempt to usher in the Messianic era that he believes in.

It's almost as if he wants the US and Israel to punish Iran.