Holy Drama

Mahnia A. Nematollahi Mahani worked as an editor at the Center for International Cultural Studies in Tehran, before she started her academic career in Persian Studies at Leiden University.

"This is a timely addition to the growing body of scholarship on the subject of ta'ziya, based chiefly on previously unstudied textual sources along with a masterful analysis of a central aspect of twelver Shia Islam as practiced in Iran." - Sunil Sharma Boston University

• Preface Acknowledgements Studies on Persian Passion Play Translations in European languages Introduction A Short History of Ta'ziya The Movements after '...r. and the Development of Ta'ziya Late Medieval and Modern Ta'ziya The Devotional Contents of Ta'ziya Oral Tradition in Ta'ziya Texts Ta'ziya Players and Devices Audience Participation in the Ta'ziya Zeynab in Ta'ziya '...r., the Martyrdom of Im.m .useyn A Crisis of Succession The Martyrdom of Im.m .useyn The Concept of Im.ma in Shiite Tradition Martyrdom (.ah.dat) Eschatology Islamic Eschatology Eschatology in the Ta'ziya Texts The Ta'ziya Texts Time and Setting as the Background of the Events The Theme of Day The Theme of Night Settings in Ta'ziya Doctrines and Philosophy in Ta'ziya The Legitimacy of Ta'ziya Zeynab in the Passion Play Veiling and its Supporters in the Ta'ziya Texts Zeynab as a Role Model for Iranian Women Zeynab's Sermons Zeynab, Justice and Destiny Zeynab Inspired Zeynab's Spiritual Power Zeynab the Leader Zeynab as Saviour of the Shiite Tradition and the Line of Im.ms Zeynab the Generous Zeynab and the Protagonists Zeynab and Im.m .useyn Zeynab and Sakina Zeynab as Mother Zeynab as Defender Zeynab and the Mother of Q.sem Zeynab and the Antagonists Zeynab and Yazid Zeynab and .emr Zeynab and Ibn al-Ziy.d The Transformation of History Pre-Islamic Iranian Elements in the Ta'ziya Texts Conclusion Glossary: The Ta'ziya of the Damascus Bazaar The Ta'ziya of the Damascus Bazaar Bibliography Index