Shi'a Muslims Mourning Before Ta'ziya. Lucknow, India, c. 1800. [PD-US]
Ta'ziyeh Theatre
c.1760 - Present Day
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Introduction
Ta’ziyeh is a form of Islamic ritual theatre which, similar to Western passion plays, has developed from deep-rooted religious traditions. It narrates the epic struggle and tragic martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali (the grandson of Prophet Mohammad), his children, and his companions by the army of Yazid I (the second caliph of the Umayyad caliphate). This guide looks at the history of the genre and explores the typical staging, costume, and music used during performances.
Terminology
- Caliph: ruler of a caliphate, the state comprising the Muslim community in the centuries after the death of Muhammad.
- Husayn ibn Ali: the grandson of Prophet Mohammad and hero in Shiʿi Islam.
- Husseiniyeh: specially constructed buildings used as performance spaces.
- Qajar dynasty: the ruling dynasty of Iran from 1794 to 1925.
- Shi’a Islam: the second largest school within Islam, adhering to the teachings of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
- Tumâr: individual pages within a Ta’ziyeh script.
- Yazid I: the second caliph of the Umayyad caliphate from 680 to 683.
Key Dates & Events
- 626 AD - Birth of Husayn ibn Ali
- 680 AD - Husayn ibn Ali killed and beheaded in the Battle of Karbala by Yazid I.
- 1789 - 1925 - Reign of the Qajar Dynasty and golden era of Ta'ziyeh.
Context & Analysis
Ta’ziyeh performances take place in Muharram, the first month of the Islamic (lunar) calendar and the month of mourning for Shi’a Muslims. The performances are long affairs (often lasting all day) and are community events. Although Ta’ziyeh is performed throughout areas of the Middle East with large Shi’a populations (such as Iraq, Bahrain, and Southern Lebanon), the most
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Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher