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Ghadr Nights, Beauty vs. Ugliness

Kamangir | October 13, 2006 | Category Iran

The holy month of Ramadan is in progress. Even forgetting that Muslims are invited to “Allah’s feast” during Ramadan, this month contains three of the most holiest occasions in the Islamic calendar, at least for Shias. The three nights of Ghadr (Persian: شبهای قدر, Arabic: لیالی قدر, literally means “value”), are depicted in Quran as being worth a thousand months, each. It is mentioned that the whole Quran was sent to prophet Mohammad in one of these nights, completely, and that’s apart from its gradual inspiration to him.

The Shia ritual for Gadr Nights includes staying awake till sunrise and reciting Quran, and thinking. It is called Ahia (Persian: احیا), literally meaning “making alive”. If you go to Iranian news sources, they are packed with pictures of people gathering together and reading Quran. A part of the ritual also includes holding Quran on your head, probably as a sign of obedience and sincerity.

Looking at the pictures from the event, the stereotype of Muslim in the west, and even in Iran, looses its strength. What you see is real people, with their own western fashions and unveiled hair.

This is the good side of the story. As always, the administration tries hard to show itself as the representative of Allah on the earth. So, a top adviser to the Supreme Leader goes among the people and “mourns with them” (These nights are also the anniversary of Imam Ali’s terror).

And then, people do their own part in the dictatorship.

I wish I could finish with pictures like below and write “Iranians performed their rituals and respected others’, including children’s, right to choose freely”.

I wish it was all about a personal relationship to Allah and not a public practice of oppression.

Reader's Comments

  1. Mumin | October 14th, 2006 at 3:53 am

    Why do you seem to take such a negative attitude towards Muslims?

    Go to any country in the world. Find any father and mother practicing any religion in the world. Of course they are going to teach their children the same religion they have. They are not going to say “oh, we must respect our childrens’ right to choose religion freely. Let them stay at home and decide if Islam is right for them, they will come to the mosque.” No, obviously does not happen this way.

    Why do you describe the scenes of a bunch of people in the masjid as a “public practice of oppression”? Just because you choose not to be a strict and devout Muslim or even Muslim at all does not give you the right to classify those who do chose to do so out of their own free will as “oppressed”.

    Rather, this is the most liberating thing one can choose to do.

  2. Sina | October 14th, 2006 at 8:24 am

    Arash jan
    Your template plays up a bit, I think you need to have a look :)

  3. PersianArchitect | October 14th, 2006 at 3:47 pm

    For Mnmin: May I ask why should we not ‘respect our childrens’s right to choose their religion? and further more; ‘Go to any country in the world. Find any father and mother practicing any religion in the world. Of course they are going to teach their children the same religion they have.’So what if it is practised in other places in the world? Is that why it makes it right? Where is the logic in that?

    I am ok with explaining to children about the basic concepts of all religions in a secular manner, but I oppose and condemn any teaching which will temper with the child’s soul and mind.

    Dear, Mumin, days of religious strictness and blind devouties are coming to an end, specially in my country.

  4. kamangir | October 15th, 2006 at 1:44 pm

    Sina,
    Thanks. Which part is not working properly?

  5. kamangir | October 15th, 2006 at 1:55 pm

    Mumin,
    I refer you to PersianArchitect’s comment. I have no negative attitude towards Muslims. My problem is with oppression. Any person in the world can choose any idea that they like, given that they do not obstruct others’ rights.
    Even if all mothers and fathers are practicing oppression, that does not mean it is a rational act. Look at this, a kid is very likely to accept his parents’ belief system. Why? Because that particular religion has so much to offer or because of what you call a “universal standard”.
    I think your comment proves my point. As you say it “obviously does not happen this way”. Because, many religious people, including a large fraction of Muslims, do not tolerate letting their children think freely. I am saying this as a person who has lived in an Islamic society among Muslims for over twenty years.
    The scene is a “public practice of oppression” because no one stands up asking people why they have brought their kids. I look at it like this. I watched “snakes in a plane”, last night. I feared and laughed and had a good evening with my wife and my friends. The movie also had some adult scenes which I liked, too. Knowing that I have enjoyed the movie, does that mean I will go with my child to watch it? Obviously, not. The fact that I “like” something does not justify forcing people, whom I can control, to be a copy of me. Unfortunately, many Muslims have missed this point.
    by the way, what is “the most liberating thing one can choose to do”? Have you ever lived in Iran? The worst part of the Iranian dictatorship, to my understanding, is that it copied itself inside everyone. We all tend to practice oppression, when we can.

  6. Amin | October 17th, 2006 at 2:56 am

    Dear Arash,
    In Quran it is said that the night is better than a thousand ‘months’ not a thousand ‘years’.

  7. kamangir | October 17th, 2006 at 10:23 am

    Amin,
    Thanks for the correction. I’ll apply it on the text.

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