Tatbir () is a form of self-flagellation rituals practiced by some Shia Muslims in commemoration of the killing of Imam Husayn ibn Ali and his partisans in the Battle of Karbala by forces of the second Umayyad caliph Yazid I ().
The ritual is practiced in the Islamic month of Muharram, usually on Ashura. Tatbir involves striking oneself with chains or swords. It has been considered ("forbidden") by some of the Shia clergy, who cite it as self-harm.
It can be firmly traced to the 19th century in Iran, where it was first introduced by Qizilbash tribes as a cultural practice â since engaging in self-flagellation was seen in Central Asia at the time as a way of mourning, which they likely inherited from the Scythians. Scythic peoples were previously recorded as having engaged in self-flagellation on the deathdate of Buddha, the Zoroastrian hero Siyavash, and the Scythian hero Targitaos. Another plausible theory pertains a Christian origin, due to the similarities in Christian Catholics who practice self-flagellation as a reenactment of the death of Christ.
The uncommonly character of this ritual was apparent in 19th-century Tehran, where Iranian cleric Fazel Darbandi became known for his "peculiarities", leading to his banishment from various shi'i cities:
Tatbir, also called Zanjeer Zani or Qama Zani, is practiced by some Shia Muslims on the day of Ashura on the 10 Muharram of the Islamic calendar and on the 40th day after Ashura, known as Arba'een (or Chehelom in Persian) by Twelver Shias around the world. Some Shia may also perform tatbir on other occasions as well.
The practice of Tatbir includes striking oneself with a talwar, a type of sword, on the head, causing blood to flow in remembrance of the pain felt by Husayn ibn Ali. Some also hit their back and/or chest with blades attached to chains.
Tatbir are contested among Shia clerics. While some traditionalist clerics allow believers to indulge in tatbir, modernist clerics deem it impermissible because it is considered self-harm, thus haram in Islam. Most religious authorities associate all forms of self-flagellation and blood-letting as ways to relate to painful deaths during the battle of Karbala by Imam Husayn and supporters.