“Weep, O’ People! Weep”: Tracing the Roots of Shia Community’s Weeping, Devotional Rituals and Religious Institutions in Persia and Pre-Colonial India (680-1820)

Authors

  • Ayyaz Gull Assistant Professor, Department of History, Institute of Global and Historical Studies, New Campus (KSK), Government College University Lahore.

Keywords:

Shia Community, Weeping, Devotional Rituals, Pre-Colonial India, Azadari, Emotions

Abstract

This research paper tries to trace the roots of Shia’s community azadari based weeping through the study of devotional rituals and religious institutions in Persia and pre-colonial India. By starting from the tragedy of Karbala in 680, the devotional rituals and institution such as majlis, tazia, living symbols zuljinah and imambargah evolved through various phases in Persia, Damascus and Madina. This study also explores the impact of Shias migration to India and the dissemination of the religious ritualized weeping in Indian environment. Moreover, it also highlights the role of various dynasties, Sultanates, Shia kingdoms and Mughal empire in evoking the Shia’s community weeping through rituals and religious institutions in pre-colonial India. The culture of weeping has a great significance in Shia community. By using the methodologies of the ‘history of emotions’ this study explores that weeping is one of the fundamental sources to construct and preserve Shia identity. 

Published

2025-06-29

How to Cite

Gull, A. (2025). “Weep, O’ People! Weep”: Tracing the Roots of Shia Community’s Weeping, Devotional Rituals and Religious Institutions in Persia and Pre-Colonial India (680-1820). SADIQ Journal of Pakistan Studies, 5(1). Retrieved from https://journals.iub.edu.pk/index.php/sjps/article/view/3955