The Battle of Karbala

Type:

Book Chapter

Author:

Jeffry R. Halverson; H. L. Goodall; Steven R. Corman

Published:

2011

Publisher:

Palgrave Macmillan US

Thus far the master narratives we have explored lack any distinctive Islamic sectarian character, even though the extremists we have focused on so far come mostly from within the Sunni branch of Islam (broadly speaking). The Battle of Karbala, however, is a distinctly Shi'ite master narrative. It forms the basis for a decidedly sectarian and dualistic worldview upon which other Shi'ite narratives and master narratives are founded (e.g., al-Mahdi). It is also arguably the most vivid and powerful of all the master narratives examined in this book, one that has been expressed continuously over the centuries through elaborate rituals, art, poetry, and dramas. It has also been convincingly argued that the Battle of Karbala master narrative forms the basis for modern Iranian nationalism.1KeywordsMaster NarrativeSacred SiteMuslim BrotherhoodIranian RevolutionWater SkinThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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