Religious Events: Ruling on Self-Harm Practices Like Qameh Zani and Fire-Walking on Ashura

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Religious Events: Ruling on Self-Harm Practices Like Qameh Zani and Fire-Walking on Ashura

English:

Question #1450:

In commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Ḥusayn (a.s.) on the tenth of Muḥarram, some people hit themselves with a machete, or walk bare-footed on fire. Such actions defame Shi‘ism and put it in a bad light, if not undermine it. They cause bodily and spiritual harms on these doing it as well. What is your opinion in this matter?

Answer #1450:

Any practice that causes bodily harm, or leads to defaming the faith, is ḥarām. Accordingly, the believers have to steer clear of it. There is no doubt that many of these practices besmirch the image of Ahlul Bayt’s (a.s.) School of Thought which is the worst damage and loss.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Religious Events