The Semantic Construction of Arbaeen Pilgrimage Rituals (Presenting a Grounded Theory)

Document Type : The Quarterly Jornal

Authors

1 Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Unit, Tehran-Iran.

2 Department of Sociology and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Ilam University. Ilam.Iran

3 Department of History of Religions, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, Tehran University of Science and Research

10.22081/jiss.2023.67656.2040

Abstract

One of the common phenomena in recent years in Iranian society, examined in this article, is the "Arbaeen Walking Rituals." The aim of the present study is to understand the ideas that pilgrims construct for themselves through these rituals. This qualitative research is based on Grounded Theory. The informants of this study were 49 pilgrims participating in these rituals from various cities across Iran. The main findings revealed that the causal conditions affecting the occurrence of the phenomenon of "Arbaeen Walking Rituals" include: desire for religion and expression of Shiite solidarity; contextual conditions: religious concerns and the attractiveness of the destination; intervening conditions: political factors and propagation; strategies of pilgrims: self-restraint and gaining trust; and outcomes: Iran's power display, religious reproduction, and
the development of origin and destination, which are depicted in a paradigmatic model. The findings of this study led to the discovery of a theory entitled "Political Will as a Sufficient Condition."

Keywords

Main Subjects


Aaron, R., & Raymond, R. (1987). Basic Stages of Thought in Sociology (B. Parham, Trans., 4th ed.). Tehran: Islamic Revolution Educational Publisher. [In Persian]
Aron, R. (1970). Main Currents in Sociological Thought (Vol. 2). Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Bani Asad, R. (2020). Ethnography of the Arbaeen Pilgrimage Culture: Analyses and Decision-Making Strategies in the Institutions of the Islamic Revolution. Journal of Religion and Communications, 27(57), pp. 57-95. [In Persian]
Bates, D., & Plog, F. (2003). Cultural Anthropology (M. Thalasi, Trans., 2nd ed.). Tehran: Scientific Publications. [In Persian]
Davis, C. (2008). Religion and the Making of Society: Essays in Social Theology (H. Mohaddesi Gilvayi & H. Bab al-Hawaiji, Trans.). Tehran: Yadavaran Publishing Company. [In Persian]
Doroudian, M. J. (2018). The Spiritual Perspective of the Arbaeen Pilgrimage Event. Manzar Journal, 45, pp. 56-65. [In Persian]
Durkheim, E. (1915). The Elementary Form of the Religious life. London: Allen and Unwin.
Eftekhari, L. (2019). Walking the Arbaeen: A New Horizon in Achieving the New Islamic Civilization with Emphasis on the Supreme Leader’s Statements. Third International Conference on Innovation and Research in Educational Sciences, Management, and Psychology. [In Persian]
Eidi, M. (2016). Project Title: Identifying Entrepreneurship Opportunities in the Arbaeen Pilgrimage at the Mehran International Border. Ilam: Ilam University, Elite House of the Basij Scientific, Research, and Technology Organization of Ilam Province. [In Persian]
Fakouhi, N. (2007). History of Anthropological Thought and Theories. Tehran: Ney Publications. [In Persian]
Farasatkhah, M. (2016). Qualitative Research Methods in Social Sciences: With Emphasis on Grounded Theory. Tehran: Agah Publications. [In Persian]
Farhadi Mahali, M., Chavoshian, H., & Yaghoubi, A. (2018). Phenomenology of the Arbaeen Pilgrimage Experience. National Conference on Social Development. [In Persian]
Farrokhi, M., & Angooti, Z. (2019). Reasons for the Presence and Participation of Iranian Women in the Arbaeen Pilgrimage. Quarterly Journal of Strategic Studies of Basij, 25(58), pp. 29-58. [In Persian]
Fayyaz, E., & Rahmani, J. (2007). Mourning Rituals and Collective Conscience in Iranian Shi'ism. Sadigh Journal, 14(2), pp. 101-119. [In Persian]
Flick, U. (2017). Introduction to Qualitative Research (H. Jalili, Trans.). Tehran: Ney Publications. [In Persian]
Ghafari Hashjin, Z., & Aghaei, M. (2018). The Arbaeen Pilgrimage as a Social Movement. Scientific-Research Quarterly Journal of Political Science, 14(27), pp. 1-21. [In Persian]
Ghiasvand, A., & Azadarmaki, T. (2002). Sociological Analysis of the Religious Practices of Youth from a Formless Perspective. Research Journal of Humanities, 35, pp. 11-148. [In Persian]
Giddens, A., & D. (2007). Sociology (H. Chavoshian, Trans., 1st ed., 4th ed.). Tehran: Ney Publications. [In Persian]
Givian, A., & Amin, M. (2017). A Study of the Nature, Functions, and Structure of the Arbaeen Pilgrimage from the Perspective of Ritual Communication. Journal of Religion and Communications, 24(2), pp. 167-194. [In Persian]
Gluckman, M. (1962). Essays in the Ritual of social Relations. Manchester: Manchester University press.
Gluckman, M. (1963). Order and Rebelion in Tribal Africa. London: Cohen and West.
Hamilton, M. (2020). Sociology of Religion (M. Thalasi, Trans., 8th ed.). Tehran: Thaleth Publications. [In Persian]
Hessam Mazaheri, M. (2010). Shiite Media: The Sociology of Mourning Rituals and Religious Assemblies in Iran, with Emphasis on the Post-Revolution Era (3rd ed.). Tehran: International Printing and Publishing Company. [In Persian]
Hoseini Mojtabai, O. (2018). Phenomenological Study of the Arbaeen Pilgrimage Experience in Iraq (Case Study: Iranian Pilgrims to Karbala, Iraq 2017). Tehran: National Conference on Social Development. [In Persian]
Kristia, F., Dykes, E., & Knox, D. (2015). Towards Karbala: An Examination of Shiite Religious Communities in Iran and Iraq (S. Ali Mousavi, Trans.). Tehran: Nasle Roshan Publications. [In Persian]
Malinowski, B. (1974). Magic, Science and Religion. London: Souvenir press.
Mir Sondosi, S. M. (2011). An Introduction to the Sociology of Religion and Types of Religious Practices. Tehran: Sociologists Publications. [In Persian]
Mirzaei, K. (2016). Qualitative Research: Research, Researcher, and Writing Research Papers (Vol. 1). Tehran: Foujan Publications. [In Persian]
Moa'ven, Z., Movahed, M., & Tabi’ee, M. (2017). Meaning-making and Religious Tourism: An Ethnographic Study. Cultural Sociology Journal, 8(4), 1-32. [In Persian]
Mohaddesi Gilavayi, H. (2010). Dualities in the Sociology of Religion. Journal of Iranian Sociology, 10(3), pp. 27-56. [In Persian]
Mohammadi, J., Salehi, S., & Nikofal, Z. (2017). Phenomenology of the Experience of Religious Tourism: A Case Study of Pilgrimage Sites in Kermanshah County. Journal of Planning and Development of Tourism, 6(20), 34-55. [In Persian]
Mohammadpour, A. (2013). Qualitative Research Method: Anti-Method 1. Tehran: Sociologists Publications. [In Persian]
Moradnejadi, H. (2018). Design and Analysis of the Value Chain in the Arbaeen Pilgrimage Event in Ilam Province. Ilam: Ilam University. [In Persian]
Pouyafar, M. R. (2018). Iranian Charitable Acts vs. Iraqi Charitable Acts: A Comparison of Charitable Activities of Iranians and Iraqis during the Arbaeen Pilgrimage. Tehran: Second National Conference on Enduring Charity. [In Persian]
Ramazani Tamijani, S. (2020). Examining the Dimensions and Cognitive Components of Collective Participation in the Arbaeen Pilgrimage. Quarterly Scientific Journal of Religion and Communications, 27(57), pp. 357-384. [In Persian]
Razavi Zadeh, N. (2017). Perception and Lived Experience of Iranian Pilgrims in Iraq. Journal of Social Studies and Research in Iran, 6(4), 595-631. [In Persian]
Rivier, C. (2000). An introduction to Anthropology (N. Fekohi, Trans., 1st ed.). Tehran: Ney Publishing. [In Persian]
Serajzadeh, S. H., Forooghi, Y., & Nabavi, S. H. (2020). Qualitative Study of the Motivations of Iranian Pilgrims Participating in the Arbaeen Pilgrimage. Quarterly Journal of Religion and Communications, 26(57), pp. 419-450. [In Persian]
Sepidnameh, B. (2018). Doctoral Dissertation in Cultural Sociology: Typology of Religious Practices of Students; Case Study: Students of Ilam University, Cultural and Social Studies Research Institute. [In Persian]
Shafi'a, S., & Daroudian, M. J. (2017). Conceptualizing Spirituality in the Arbaeen Pilgrimage Event: Based on Field Experience. First International Conference on Tourism, Geography, and Clean Environment. [In Persian]
Sharahi, I., & Zolfaqari Zadeh Kermani, M. M. (2019). Analyzing Pilgrims' Perceptions of the Behavior of Servants during Arbaeen: An Ethnographic Account of the Grand Arbaeen Pilgrimage. Journal of Religion and Communications, 26(55), pp. 115-148. [In Persian]
Shariati, A. (2003). Alavi Shi'ism vs. Safavid Shi'ism (Vol. 9). Tehran: Chapkhsh. Retrieved from https://www.parsine.com/fa/news. [In Persian]
Sorush, A. K. (1999). Types of Religious Practices. Kian Journal, (50), pp. 23-26. [In Persian]
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (2016). Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory. Tehran: Ney Publishing. [In Persian]
Talebi, A., & Baragh Ali Pour, E. (2015). Typology of Pilgrimage and Religious Practices of Pilgrims: A Meaningful Analysis of Pilgrimage Actions. Quarterly Journal of Social Sciences, 22(69), pp. 75-106. [In Persian]
Thompson, K. (2002). Religion and Social Structure (A. Bahrampour & H. Mohaddesi Gilavayi, Trans.). Tehran: Kavir Publications. [In Persian]
Varshouei, S., Behravan, H., & Sediq Ore’ei, G. (2018). The Experience of Sacred Pilgrimage: A Dual Spiritual Meaning. Journal of Cultural Strategies, 11(41), pp. 133-162. [In Persian]
Wilm, J. P. (1998). Sociology of Religion (A. Gohayi, Trans., 1st ed.). Tehran: Tebyan Cultural Publishing Institute. [In Persian]