The Revolutionary Research

The Revolutionary Research

The Impact of the Ashura Discourse on the Formation of Collective Identity and Justice-Oriented Movements in the Contemporary World: A Sociological Study Based on Shia Foundations

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Mohammad Marefat
Associate professor, Department of Theology and Islamic Studies, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/fademo.2025.547208.1145
Abstract
This study aims to examine the impact of the Ashura discourse on the formation of Shia collective identity and its role in inspiring justice-oriented movements in the contemporary world, employing an interdisciplinary approach combining sociology and theology. The main research question is: How does the Ashura discourse contribute to the reinforcement of Shia collective identity and the development of contemporary justice-oriented movements? The sub-questions focus on the Qur’anic and theological components, the relationship between Ziyarat Ashura and collective identity and social capital, and the interdisciplinary reinterpretation of Ashura in social action. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology of the interdisciplinary type, integrating the analysis of religious texts, Ziyarat Ashura, and sociological sources. The findings indicate that Ashura, as a socio-religious discourse, consolidates key elements of collective identity, including justice-seeking, allegiance to the Imamate, and martyrdom, while the symbolic and ritual reproduction in Ziyarat Ashura generates symbolic and social capital. This capital plays a pivotal role in mobilizing and guiding both domestic and transnational justice-oriented movements, such as the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Shia movements in Iraq and Bahrain. The study concludes that an interdisciplinary rereading of Ashura, combining Qur’anic teachings and Ziyarat Ashura with sociological theories, provides a novel framework for analyzing collective identity and justice-oriented action, effectively elucidating the role of religion in contemporary social transformations.
Keywords
Ashura
Collective Identity
Justice-Oriented Action
Ziyarat Ashura
Sociology of Religion
Contemporary Movements
Shia Foundations
Subjects
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The Revolutionary Research
Volume 3, Issue 6 - Serial Number 6
December 2025
Pages 127-154

  • Receive Date 15 September 2025
  • Revise Date 21 October 2025
  • Accept Date 03 November 2025