In such cases...

In such cases, mere common sense will say that the All-Merciful Lord will not only tolerate the well intentioned excess but love the expression of the extreme devotion to His cause.

Thus the breast-beating in mourning for the great martyrs in the way of the Lord is not condemnable but tolerably commendable, for hurting of one's self is prohibited if that be for any worldly cause besides God's and when it is in the cause of the Lord Himself, the SHIA ULEMA do not spare exhorting the enthusiasts to control their emotions while expressing their love and devotion in this regard, and since the action does not affect any of the fundamentals of Islam and the intention is not to violate any law which rather in a way strengthens the bias for devotion to a godly cause, it is not stopped by forces.

Such a toleration is illustrated in the historic even popularly reported about the great devotee of the holy Prophet OWAIS-E-QURANI, who, with his own hands pulled out his teeth and this action is praised by the ULEMA from the pulpit while they speak of the love and devotion to the holy Prophet. Why should the same and identical action by the SHIAS for the AHLUL BAIT be seriously considered and unsparingly criticized instead of issuing a similar to admiration the one given to OWAIS.

There is an apt example in the practical and every day life of man to know how far such actions are ingrained in the native endowments in man. WHAT IS ALAM? The ALAM wrongly called, the 'PANJA' in Southern India, is an emblem or the copy of the holy Banner of the holy Imam.

It is installed in the houses of the devotees of the holy Imam and also in separate apartments called the 'ASHURKHANAS' or the IMAMBARAS and is respected and honored as the standard of a king, loyal, respected and honored by him faithful subjects. The Brute YAZID lowered the one standard of Truth which the holy Imam held in KARBALA but today God alone knows how many millions of such token standards of the holy Imam are made and honored in the world by his devotees.

It should be remembered that the ALAM is not at all an idol in any sense of the word. It is never held either in the place of God or in the place of even the holy Imam. It is only a copy of the holy Standard of Truth carried by the holy Imam when he fought against Falsehood. The 'ALAM' is held in high esteem and honor as stated above and it is never in any way worshipped.