The Role of Popular Ashura Traditions in the Development of Ashura Culture in Iran (907-656 A. H)

Abstract

Identifying Ashura traditions among ordinary people and the role of these traditions in the formation of Ashura culture in different historical periods is of significance. Accordingly, the following article has been compiled to answer this question on what the popular Ashura traditions are from the fall of the Abbasid Caliphate by the Mongols (656 A. H) until the rise of the Safavids (907 A. H) in Iran. And what role it has played in the development of Ashura culture in accordance with the political and social developments of Shiites during this period. Relying on the conceptual framework of rituals in the analysis of historical statements related to this issue, the article has identified the following four traditions among the masses of people including the prevalence of reciting the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt, similarity and identification between people and everyday events with the event of Ashura, changing the style of covering of groups of people under the influence of the Ashura event, and pilgrimaging the shrines of the imams. These four traditions played a role in the development of Ashura culture in the geographical, civilizational and cultural limits of Iran in accordance with the developments of Shiism in this era, i.e. the expansion of social political activity of Shiites after the invasion of the Mongols, the desire and tendency of some rulers towards Shiism, and the closeness of Sufism and Shiism.

Keywords

• ashura traditions
• ashura culture
• social history
• history of iran
• mongol era