Al-Khu’i about hurting the body out of grief

Question:

What does the Shi’a scholar Al-Khu’i think of self-flagellation?

Response:

Jawad Ibn Ali At-Tabrizi writes:

سؤال ١١٨٤ تفضلتم سيدنا بنفي الاشكال عن إدماء الرأس التطبير إذا لم يلزم منه ضرر، فقيل إنه لا يثبت أكثر من الإباحة، وعليه فهل إدماء الرأس التطبير مستحب لو نوى بذلك تعظيم الشعائر ومواساة أهل البيت عليهم السلام؟ الخوئي: لم يرد نص بشعاريته فلا طريق إلى الحكم باستحبابه، ولا يبعد أن يثيبه الله تعالى على نية المواساة لأهل البيت الطاهرين إذا خلصت النية

,,Someone asked: ,,I preferred you, our Lord, to solve the issue regarding letting blood out of the head (tatbir) as long as it does not cause harm. It was said, that nothing more is confirmed than permissibility. Is letting blood out of the head desirable (Mustahab) if we intend it to increase the customs and mourning for the people of the House (a.)?” Abu Al-Qasim Al-Khu’i replied: ,,No text has been transmitted about the custom of it, which does not provide any way to judge that it would be desirable (Mustahab), but it is not far fetched, that God rewards that one, for the intention of mourning for the pure people of the house, if the intention was sincere.” [Sirat-un-Najah, volume 1 page 432 – 433]