Akbar S Ahmed

Willayat’s eldest sister, Taleh Bibi, divorced and living with her brother, lost one daughter in the incident. She herself survived because she was in the trunk that did not sink. She, too, believes the miracle will continue through a male member of their family. In relation to the Islamic concept of death, it is significant […]

Those who believed in the miracles immediately agreed to the proposition. Willayat was the first to agree: he would lead the party. There was no debate, no vacillation. They would walk into the sea at Karachi and their faith would take them to the holy city of Karbala. Since revelations began, Willayat had spent about […]

Local Shiah religious leaders and lecturers (zakirs) acknowledged Naseem and visited her regularly. Of the three most regular visitors one, Sakhawat Hussain Jaffery, was particularly favoured. Naseem claimed that she had been specially ordered by the Imam to single him out. They were often alone for long periods. Naseem began to organise azadari regularly. These […]

The relationship between attitudes to death and the social order is examined through a recent case study from Pakistan. In February 1983, 38 Shiah Muslims entered the Arabian Sea at Hawkes Bay in response to revelations received by one of their numbers. 18 of them died. Various social factors, which may help explain the incident […]