In the Qajar era, which coincided with the first waves of modernization and the unwritten dialogue between traditional Iran and the modern West, the city of Kashan had become an important center for holding the Muharram mourning ritual due to its location on the highway, religious context, and the presence of prominent scholars; however, historical sources of this period, generally due to the obviousness of the functions of the aforementioned ritual or the focus on the narrations of the funeral rites, have not provided a written report on the social, cultural, and political functions of this religious phenomenon; while European tourists, as transnational and Western observers, have contributed to the historical reinterpretation of the dimensions of this ceremony with field and objective observations.Therefore, the main goal of this research, which is based on qualitative content analysis and theoretical framework, is to explore the fundamental question of how the reading of European tourists' documents can be described from the perspective of the hidden political aspects, social elements, and cultural identity-building of these rituals?
The findings show that the Muharram mourning ritual, from the perspective of European tourists, is not simply an orientalist narrative, but a mirror that reflects the identity functions related to traditional Iranian society; so that in their interpretations, Muharram mourning in Kashan, contrary to the prevailing religious view, has played a greater role. As in the social arena, it has played a role as an informal institution in the redistribution of wealth and neighborhood solidarity.In the cultural sphere, it has been able to transmit the teachings of Ashura to future generations through Ta'ziyyah, music, and visual symbols. Politically, it has served as a tool to redefine the legitimacy of the ruling classes, while challenging the authority of local rulers