Muharram Should Not Be Turned into a Venue for Ostentation and Extremism
Muharram should be an opportunity for contemplation on the human and ethical values for which Imam Hussain stood
Muharram, the month commemorating the sacrifice and selflessness of Imam Hussein and his companions in Karbala, is one of the most significant religious occasions for Muslims. However, it must be ensured that observing Muharram does not descend into violent and extremist acts that undermine the essence of its message. I strongly oppose practices such as self-flagellation and chain-beating, which lead to bloodshed and more closely resemble brutality and savagery rather than honoring the courage and self-sacrifice of Imam Hussain.
Why should we commemorate the martyrs of Karbala through violent and aggressive methods? What distinguishes this from extremism? Therefore, one night, with the aim of learning and increasing my awareness, I went to the mosque to listen to the sermons of a cleric. This cleric, likely educated in seminaries in Iran, recited elegies in Turkish and Persian, admonishing the people.
However, with each passing moment, he became more engrossed in storytelling and exaggeration about Imam Hussein and the events of Karbala. Instead of strengthening faith and awareness, these words leaned more towards distorting reality. Over time, my disappointment grew. I told myself that perhaps this one night's experience is sufficient for ten years of Muharram because what I heard was mere exaggeration and unreal stories.
Meanwhile, some of our compatriots were busy taking photos and posting on Facebook without paying attention to the cleric's message. It seemed that many of them had not understood what the cleric was saying at all. This experience showed me that instead of reflection and learning, many individuals are more concerned with showing off and seeking attention during the mourning days of Ashura.
Everyone tries to assert themselves in some way, but ultimately, they do not learn anything deep about the significance of Muharram and the messages of Imam Hussain. I used to think that our people who migrated to European countries became more aware of religious and spiritual matters and approached topics with research and thoughtfulness. But what I witnessed was highly disheartening. Like many others, they are more focused on display and self-promotion rather than gaining a profound and genuine understanding of the concept of Karbala.
Muharram should be an opportunity for contemplation on the human and ethical values for which Imam Hussain stood. However, this remembrance only holds meaning when accompanied by sincerity and truth, not by mythical storytelling and hypocritical ostentation. The Muharram ceremony should not be transformed into a venue for self-promotion and mere extremism; rather, it should be an opportunity to return to real values and profound lessons from this historical event. Only then can we benefit from Muharram as a source for increasing awareness and ethical growth.
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