KARACHI: With the advent of Rabiul Awwal, the Ayyam-i-Aza — or mourning period dedicated to remembering the suffering and philosophy of Imam Hussain, his faithful supporters and imprisoned family members — draws to a close.

Throughout the months of Muharram and Safar and the first week of Rabiul Awwal, the faithful remember the Imam’s sacrifice at Karbala and pledge allegiance to his cause through attending majalis and participating in mourning processions across the city. But the event that caps the mourning period in Karachi is known as Chup Tazia, observed on the eighth of Rabiul Awwal (this year falling on Feb 12).

There are two major Chup Tazia processions taken out in the city. The first occurs after Fajr prayers, following a majlis at Nishtar Park. It culminates at the Hussainiya Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar, where all other major mourning processions of the city terminate. The second major procession is taken out from Qasr-i-Musayyab in Nazimabad after Zohrain prayers and concludes at Martin Road.

According to Sardar Hussain of the Scouts Rabita Council, mourners perform matam accompanied by nauha khwani (recitation of elegies), though there is no zanjeer zani, which some mourners perform during other processions. He said though people’s participation in the Chup Tazia procession isn’t as great as in other such processions during Muharram and Safar, it is increasing every year.

The Chup Tazia seems to be a feature distinct to the mirasim-i-aza, or mourning culture of the subcontinent, as such a procession is not taken out in Iraq, Iran or other states with significant Shia populations. It seems to have its origins in Lucknow.

In the Middle East the mourning period is usually observed till Arbaeen (Safar 20), or the chehlum of the Imam. As for the significance of the date, the eighth of Rabiul Awwal is considered the day of martyrdom of Imam Hasan Al Askari, the eleventh Imam.

As for the name of the procession (Chup Tazia is usually translated as ‘silent tazia’), some say it is so termed because the matam performed by mourners is more sedate compared to the Ashura or Arbaeen processions. However Maulana Ali Murtaza Zaidi, a leading religious scholar, offers an interesting explanation.

“As per the Shia perspective, the date marks the martyrdom of Imam Hasan Al Askari. But it also marks the commencement of ghaybat-i-sughra [minor occultation of the Twelfth Imam]. Perhaps it is termed Chup Tazia to symbolise the quietness of the Ahlul Bayt after the ghaybat-i-sughra”.—QAM