I want to know is the difference between sunni and shia because here wher I stay there are a lot of shias and I am a sunni
And is matam allowed in islam if not then why do shias beat themselves.

1) Shiah or Shia, noun.1. one of the two great Moslem sects, centered in Iran, which regards Ali, the son-in-law of Mohammed, as the true successor of Mohammed and rejects the first three caliphs and the Sunnite book of tradition handed down under their protection.
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2) Sunni, noun, pl. -ni or -nis.
1. an orthodox Moslem; a Sunnite.
2. the Sunnites as a group.
Ex. The Sunni... compose about 90 per cent of present-day Islam (Newsweek).
You should know all about Sunnites, if you are one yourself.
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3) Mätam, the term used (mostly in South Asia) for the act of self-flaggelation during the Shia Remembrance of Muharram .

Please see:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A4tam

Salaams Abdul Kadir,
"Matam", if you mean self harm, this is not allowed in Islam in any form.Shia followers practice this even though it is not permitted.

There are many other rituals that some muslims practice which are actually prohibited in Islam.Self harm is one such practice.


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Originally Posted by firmbeliever

Salaams Abdul Kadir,
"Matam", if you mean self harm, this is not allowed in Islam in any form.Shia followers practice this even though it is not permitted.

There are many other rituals that some muslims practice which are actually prohibited in Islam.Self harm is one such practice.


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I agree, to me when other muslims do things such as this it seems to have it's roots in cultural practices and not islamic..

I am a shia but I use my own sense to carve my course. I do matam but lightly and I cry like we grieve for our relatives remembering the atrocities perpetrated on the family of the Prophet PBUH. It's a good fitness exercise and if done within limits is healthy. It was started by Imam Zain ul Abideen , the only male survivor of Battle of Karbala. The activities done by Shias are to remember the spirtit of sacrifice and truthfulness displayed by the grandson of the Prophet PBUH and to adopt it in their personal lives. It also gives softness in mind, mercy, and righteousness. It is just like Qurbani of Hazrat Ibrahim which all muslims celebrate every year. The house of Yazid also has his proponents in the modern times who try to produce a heartless, cruel Islam in which people are slaughtered in the name of purifying Islam of bidats(bad practises). They deliberately underplay and undervalue the role of Prophet and his family so that they can protect their worldly thrones.

Shia and sunni are very similar. With on major difference. When the Prophet passed away, no one was quite sure who to follow. Should it be the Prophets descendant? Or should it be his most devout follower and most capable of the position.

Sunni believe the leadership of Islam should fall to the most capable and able.

Shia however, believe that leadership should have gone to his next of kin. Sort of a Monarchy style.