In the Alevis, Muharram Mâtemi is held to commemorate and understand the pain of the Twelve Imams, especially the pain of Hüseyin in Karbala. The purpose of Muharrem Matemi is to assimilate the values of humanity and the Alevi teaching that are necessary to prevent such sufferings from happening again. During the matem, the knife and cutting tools are not touched, the sacrifice is not slaughtered and the meat is not eaten. No creature is tormented during the math. Not to break anyone’s heart, not to hurt anyone with their tongue, not to gossip about anyone is the basic principle of the Matem Fast.

Those who are in good health fast. The purpose of math is not to torment yourself, but to remember and forget for the sake of evil and massacres not happening again. Allah is also thanked for the salvation of Imam Zeynel Abidin due to his illness in the Karbala massacre and the continuation of Ali’s lineage. For this reason, Muharram matemi ends with the ashura tradition. After 12 days of fasting, Ashura Day is performed. Ashura consisting of 12 different materials is eaten and distributed.The biggest commemoration ceremony in Turkey is held at the Ashura Matem Merasimi in Halkalı, Istanbul.