“Being a “True” Shi’ite: The Poetics of Emotions among Belgian-Moroccan Shiites

This article explores the poetics of emotions among Belgian-Moroccan Shiites, and
considers how the emotional disposition of sadness is nurtured through the shedding of tears, in order to develop a specific Shia morality based on God’s justice (ʿadl). Once Shiism is embraced, Moroccan Belgians dedicate themselves to cultivating sadness.
I argue that emotions are primordial in the socialisation process of Moroccan Belgians into Shia faith. They recognise that crying is a specific Shia disposition that is initially quite hard to attain, but it is fundamental if one wants to be a “true” Shiite.

Keywords:Shia Islam – emotions – sadness – morality – God’s justice (ʿadl)

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