Just thought i'd let you know, matam is not the same as zanjeer zani, in that all men, women and kids can do mataam. Its harmless. Zanjeer zani on the other hand, is only done (or should be) done by men.
However, in Iran, zanjeer zani with knives is totally forbidden, so people do it with small chains, and the most you get are bruises. Also, in some places, blood can be donated instead.
As for the bad impression, theres no need to rely on matam for that, theres enough things out there that should be a priority. Most know its associated only with shias and so long as we're doing it to ourselves, and not some worshipers in the mosques, there shouldn't really be any cause for concern right?
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*Originally posted by The Rainmaker: *
this thread actually raises a question: what are shia views on jihad? i mean generally we don't see shias participating in such activities like our friend pointed out the problem of 'palestinian sunnis' (sounds weird). What is their take on Palestine/Israel situation? Are the Palestinian sunnis engaged in jihad?
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Jihad is one of the pillars of Islam for shias. At present, Iran is one of the main supporter of Palestinians, be it through finance, training, weapons or education (in iranian unis). Infact it was Ayatullah Khomeini that designated the last friday of Ramazan as the International al-Quds day. Similiarly, when Lebanon was occupied, Hizbullah initially was trained, financed and armed by Iran, through syria and they were successful in chasing the Israelis out.
Also, you must've heard of the iranian revolution, it didnt come about by people just sitting around chanting slogans. Thousands were killed during the process. In iraq, in the 90's uprising, around 2/3 of Iraq had gone out of saddams control, but the uprising was crushed, as saddam was then provided chemical weapons by america, for fear of another Iran.
So you see, jihad is not something unknown to shias.
