I came across to [this video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euO_pTHQKl4) . Imam and people around him are flogging themselves. Why? What does this mean in Islam? any hadith or Quran to back this up? PS: I am not being funny or insulting anyone.

Allah says in Qur'an: > And do not kill yourselves. Verily Allaah is All-Merciful to you. **[Surah An-Nisaa: 29]** And He says: > And do not throw yourselves into destruction with your own hands. **[Surah Al-Baqarah: 195]** I can understand that the Shi'ites are mourning. However, this practice of harming oneself through chest beating to the point of bleeding excessively (Matam ) and striking oneself with sword (Tatbir ) seems to be something excessive and extreme that is prohibited in the light of above mentioned verses. You can see graphic images of these events all over the internet which I do not want to link here. Moreover, the Grand Ayatollahs seem to endorse it as a desirable deed . There are news of Shia scholars favoring Tatbir. However, I am not sure of its authenticity. Here are videos of some Shia scholars endorsing Tatbir (one even calling it wajib). How does the Shia school of belief justify this act when it contradicts the verses of Qur'an?

In this question, I asked justification for tatbir (Striking oneself with sword) and Matam (Self-flagellation) in Shi'ite sect. The answer I received is that tatbir and any kind of harming to body is declared haram (prohibited) as it is harming oneself by Shi'ite scholars with some links to authentic Shi'ite resources. In one of those links, I found a fatwa which does not clearly call tatbir haram rather it says " *must be avoided since enemies of Islam would not understand it* ". To quote the fatwa : > "**Q1**: I have a question about blood matam or what is known as Qama > zani or Tatbir? What is your ruling about using blades, knives, swords > and spilling blood during mourning rituals? Is it permissible? > > **A2**: The philosophy of mourning during 'Ashura, is to respect the symbols of Religion and remember the suffering of Imam Hussain (a), > his companions, and his uprising to defend Islam and prevent the > destruction of the religion by Bani Umayyad dynasty. These rites must > be done in such a way that in addition to serving that purpose, it > draws the attention of others to these lofty goals. Obviously, Qama > Zani does not have such a role and the enemies of Ahlalbayt misuse it. > So those actions which are not understandable for the enemies of Islam > and causes misunderstanding and contempt for the religion must be > avoided. " I do not see any mention of it being haram (prohibited) because it causes harm to oneself here. and one more : > **Q2**: It so happens that people beat their chests and their backs with > chains and their bodies turn red and even start bleeding. Is it > permissible? > > **A2**: It is permissible and even preferable provided that it does not > cause significant harm to the body. It says beating until bleeding starts is preferable. and this fatwa by Shia scholar Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani (It is offline now, so had to use Internet wayback machine) says: > § **Question** : What is the ruling on beating our backs with chains only > during Muharram rituals? > > § **Answer** : It is permissible. Is tatbir or extreme mourning by beating the back using chains a issue of difference of opinion among the Shi'ite scholars or is it unanimously declared haram?