Matam or the beating of the chest is a ritual Shias do during the Islamic month of Maharrum and Safar. It is one of the most confused, misinterpreted concepts in the Shia sect, after mutha of course (heh) I feel like this subject is very touchy and emotional for Shias, and for Sunnis it is very confusing. Outwardly it appears that Shias are harming themselves and the question comes up isn’t self-harm haram. I hope I can make sense of what matam is about and give my personal opinion on it. This is all from personal experience, not from any other resources I was born and raised Shia so these customs and traditions were normal to me and I never questioned it. Never had a reason to either, I believed in it and I understood why we did it. For those of you who don’t know the story of Karbala, definitely read on it, it will give you more insight. But growing up it was always tradition for me. You heard poetry in the beginning of the program then listened to a speech
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