Critical Discourse Analysis of Tenor in Ziarat-e-Ashura

Ziarat-e Ashura, a central ritual of Shia Islam, holds significance in determining the nature of the relationships formed between the pilgrim, God, and Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions. This relationship, often called "tenor," plays a crucial role in fully understanding the complex power dynamics and social implications embedded in the text. This research uses a critical dis-course analysis (CDA) method to explore the Tenor found in the Ziarat by using Fairclough's three-dimensional framework and integrates it with Eggins' model 2004. To reach the research goals, a qualitative methodological design was selected, which consisted of analysis of the communicative function of the pilgrim as well as his face strategies regarding other entities at the beginning, middle and final sections of the Ziarat. In the initial passages, Imam Hussain and his companions are addressed as the vocative and addressee while God Almighty is referred to in the third person, which implies a close and intimate relationship, as well as a sense of equality between the pilgrim and Imam Hussein, while a distant, intermittent, and unequal relationship with God. However, the change in the status and roles of the characters becomes apparent espe-cially at the midpoint and reaches its peak at the end of the pilgrimage. This change, along with the use of affirmative face mechanisms towards God on the part of the pilgrim, marks a devel-opment toward divine proximity as represented in the recitation of this Ziarat. This strongly sug-gests that seeking refuge and establishing closeness to the infallible Imams at the beginning of the human evolutionary process is instrumental in attaining proximity to the Almighty God at the end of this process.