The course aims at studying the impact of the tragedy of Karbala on the religiosity of Muslims over centuries. This will be done by: tracing the origins of the conflict, looking at the noble characteristics of Imam al-Husayn a in Shi’i and Sunni sources, studying the concepts of martyrdom, and discussing the significance of the rites of weeping, wailing and ziyarah for Imam al-Husayn (a). Understanding and analyzing the utterances of Imam al-Husayn (a) at the time of Karbala’ events will also be covered. The course will close by looking at the immediate and far reactions to the events of Karbala’.
- Dates: April 3 – May 22, 2002
- Instructor: Hasnayn Kassamali