Journals / İmgelem / 2026 / Sayı: 19

From Lament to Resistance: Theopolitical Mourning in Shia Islam and Biblical Traditions

Ağıttan Direnişe: Şii İslam ve Kitab-ı Mukaddes Geleneklerinde Teopolitik Yas

Hacer Ayaz(İNÖNÜ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İLAHİYAT FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0003-0665-4286
Cezary Korzec(University of Szczecin)0000-0002-8719-2927
Journal
İmgelem
Pages
348–373
Publication Date
2026-05-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The article further argues that the transmission and ritualization of mourning contribute to the formation of a shared ethical grammar across historical contexts and sectarian differences.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This article compares mourning and lamentation in Biblical religiosity and Shia Islam within this essay.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Biblical mourning is examined as a form of moral protest and theological questioning through a conceptual analysis of sacred texts and ritual performances.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The article further argues that the transmission and ritualization of mourning contribute to the formation of a shared ethical grammar across historical contexts and sectarian differences.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Teopolitik Yas · Kitab-ı Mukaddes ve Şiî Ritüeller · Kutsal Acı

Abstract

This article compares mourning and lamentation in Biblical religiosity and Shia Islam within this essay. This study moves away from the tendency of academics to see grief as a mere psychological reaction to death. Instead, as a practice, it sees grief as theological, social and political. Based on ritual theory and the continuing bonds approach, the present article builds on earlier work in arguing for mourning and memorialization as a tool to preserve memory and to protest ethically. Biblical mourning is examined as a form of moral protest and theological questioning through a conceptual analysis of sacred texts and ritual performances. In addition, Shia mourning a collective act of ritualized ethical and political devotion through, for example, ta’ziyeh and matam, positions the sacred suffering of Imam Hussein as a source of justice. A discussion of Biblical and Shia Mourning indicates that both practices of lamentation negotiate divine silence and political exile; further, both practices allow believers to strengthen their ties with the dead and collective identity. This paper adds to our understanding of mourning by regarding grief as an affective performative. Ritualized mourning practices in both traditions, therefore, are counter-discursive responses against the dominant power. In other words, in both Biblical and Shia mourning, the use of grief must definitely be considered as an instrument of political and ethical unpacking of death and suffering in the margins ascertaining the dignity of the victim. The article further argues that the transmission and ritualization of mourning contribute to the formation of a shared ethical grammar across historical contexts and sectarian differences.

Özet

Bu makale, Kitab-ı Mukaddes dindarlığı ile Şiî İslam’daki yas ve ağıt pratiklerini karşılaştırmalı olarak ele almaktadır. Çalışma, akademide yaygın olan, yasın ölümü takip eden yalnızca psikolojik bir tepki olarak görülmesi eğiliminden bilinçli biçimde uzaklaşmaktadır. Bunun yerine yas, bir pratik olarak teolojik, toplumsal ve politik boyutlarıyla ele alınmaktadır. Ritüel kuramı ve süregiden bağlar (continuing bonds) yaklaşımına dayanan bu makale, yas ve anma pratiklerini hafızayı muhafaza etmenin ve etik bir itiraz geliştirmenin aracı olarak değerlendiren önceki çalışmaları temel almaktadır. Kitab-ı Mukaddes’te yas, ahlaki bir protesto ve teolojik bir sorgulama biçimi olarak ele alınmakta, kutsal metinler ve ritüel performanslar kavramsal bir analizle incelenmektedir. Buna ek olarak, Şiî yas pratikleri örneğin taʿziye ve matem aracılığıyla etik ve politik bağlılığın ritüelleştirilmiş kolektif bir eylemi olarak ele alınmakta ve bu pratikler İmam Hüseyin’in kutsal acısını adaletin kaynağı olarak konumlandırmaktadır. Kitab-ı Mukaddes ve Şiî yas pratiklerinin karşılaştırmalı tartışması, her iki gelenekte de ağıt pratiklerinin ilahi sessizlik ve politik sürgün deneyimleriyle ele aldığını ve ayrıca bu pratiklerin inananların ölülerle olan bağlarını ve kolektif kimliklerini güçlendirmelerine imkân tanıdığını göstermektedir. Bu çalışma, yası duygulanımsal ve performatif bir pratik olarak ele alarak yas olgusuna dair anlayışımıza katkı sunmaktadır. Dolayısıyla her iki gelenekteki ritüelleşmiş yas pratikleri, egemen iktidara karşı karşı-söylemsel tepkiler olarak işlev görmektedir. Başka bir ifadeyle, hem Kitab-ı Mukaddes hem de Şiî yas pratiklerinde kederin kullanımı, mağdurun onurunu teyit eden, ölüm ve acıyı marjinal alanlarda politik ve etik açıdan açımlamanın bir aracı olarak mutlaka değerlendirilmelidir. Nitekim makale, yasın ritüel yoluyla aktarılmasının, tarihsel süreçler ve mezhepsel farklılıklar boyunca ortak bir etik gramer geliştirdiğini ileri sürmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Ayaz, H., Korzec, C. (2026). From Lament to Resistance: Theopolitical Mourning in Shia Islam and Biblical Traditions. İmgelem, Sayı: 19, 348–373. https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1860658

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