Shia Muslims regard Ali (Ali Ibn Abi Talib) as second in importance only to Muhammad in their faith, as the first Imam. He grew up in the prophet’s household and when the prophet made public his divine inspiration, the nine-year old Ali was the first male to express his belief and become a Muslim. Later he married Muhammad’s daughter, Fatima.
On the death of Muhammad, Muslims disagreed about who should succeed him. Some believed that his successor should only be chosen by God, whose will was made known through his prophet, Muhammad, who they felt had made clear that Ali should be his successor. Others felt that the decision should come from the Muslim community, and they chose Muhammad’s second in command, Abu Bakr to be the first Caliph.
Ali later became fourth Caliph, after Abu Bakr and his two successors had died, but the arguments continued (and many of the facts are still disputed.) Muslims were split over his succession, and this led to the first Islamic civil war and formed the basis of the split between Shia and Sunni. After 4 years as Caliph, he was assassinated, struck on the head with a poisoned sword while at prayer, and dying several days later.
All Muslims venerate him as a great religious thinker, and his wisdom has also impressed many non-Muslims. His rule as Caliph has often been cited as an example of a model Islamic ruler.
The annual public remembrance of his martyrdom in London is highly intense and emotional, including considerable wailing and beating of breasts. Before this was a long session of reading, of prayers and and increasing The men stand in rows and throw their arms into the air together, bringing them down with considerable force, sometimes producing bleeding. It’s an impressive spectacle of religious devotion, but tricky to capture in a still image.
The women mourn in a separate block, and their observance is considerably more restrained, although the devotion still shows in their faces as they move their hands in time with the men.
The image I liked most came earlier in the proceedings, when the coffin was brought out and everyone rushed to touch it – at first the men, then the women came as well.
But it was the delight on the face of this young girl, lifted up high in the air, that moved me most.
More pictures on My London Diary.
