The Nature of Religio-political Rituals and the Reason behind Performing Them

The word sha'ā'ir (rituals) in its literal sense is the plural of sha‘irah, meaning a palpable and evident sign of something, and "rituals of God" means apparent signs that make remembrence of Allah firm in the hearts. The decree of rituals, giving high importance to rituls and the necessity to perform them are confirmed in the Quranic verse 32 – Surah Hajj, Pilgrimage. Giving high importance to rituals is intended to preserve rememberance of Allah which, in turn, leads to the preserving of divine religion in society and deepening it in man's heart, because people are often inflnenced by the senses and through observation. The senses of rituals are not necessiraly limited to hajj rites referred to in the Qur’anic verses, rather they may include the practices that are palable and irreplaceable signs which deepen the rememberence of the Truth in the hearts. Also when by "the sacrted things of God" we mean rituals, the domain of divine rituals will cover a broader area. This coverage of meaning is noticed in the contents of the narrations. But this does not mean that its instances are determined by common law. Therefore, in case of the practices which are not stated in holy texts and there is uncertainty about their being rituals only those which are confirmed will do. Otherwise, they lead to the spread of superstitions and innovations.