Mawkib

Mawkib is an organization for holding Husseini mourning ceremonies among Arab Shias. Mawkib (plural form: Mawakeb) is a popular organization for holding religious mourning ceremonies in Arabic Shia culture and can be considered equivalent to "Heiat" organization in Iran.

Background

There is little information about the precise history of Mawkib foundation. By considering political difficulties in organizing Husseini mourning ceremonies amongst Arab Shias, and also the complex nature of labor division in organizing a Mawakeb tent, the establishment is probably related to modern period.

Structure

The structure of each Mawkib consists of: the principle and the main authorities, the preacher and the orator, eulogist and sometimes special poet and other servants. Mawakeb work on religious occasions and particularly during Muharram. Some of Mawakeb are based in their special places called Husseinieh. They generally have religious names and sometimes they are named after their founder or their main activists. Ethnic groups and guilds have their own individual Mawakeb. Mawakeb sometimes are going out from their seating for gathering and moving in public places. They also provide various services for pilgrims such as welfare services, health, food etc. mostly in different routes leading to the city of Karbala during Arba’een pilgrimage.

source

shiite mourning encyclopedia, mohsen hesam mazaheri. 2016.