Millions of pilgrims, including a record number of Iranians, have gathered in Iraq’s holy city of Karbala to commemorate Arba’een, the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, the third Shia Imam.
Among the pilgrims, which usually number many million from around the world every year, many arrive in Karbala after trekking about 70 kilometers northward from the holy city of Najaf in a symbolic gesture honoring Imam Hussein.
Pilgrims enter the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala up to two weeks before Arba’een.
Foreign pilgrims from other countries also participate in the event, with tens of thousands entering Iraq notably from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Lebanon.
The pilgrims are greeted by the generous hospitality of the Iraqi people, who provide them with food, water, transport and accommodation needed for the journey.
The Love & Sprit to serve Pilgrims of #Arbaeen for free in Iraqis is really some thing U will never saw on earth other than #ArbaeenWalk
Imam Hussein was martyred along with dozens of his companions during a last-stand battle against the tyrant of the time, Yazid I, more than thirteen centuries ago.
The martyrdom of Imam Hussein has turned into a symbol of righteous revolt and social and political reform.
Imam Hussein is a highly-venerated figure not only among Shia Muslims but also among Sunnis and people of other faiths.
Protestants and Catholics paying their tribute during Arbaeen at Karbala.
Do not forget Wahab bin Qalbi one of the Martyrs of Karbala, a Christian who turned Muslim and fought for Imam Hussain (as) and died. He had got married 2 weeks before Ashura.#HussainIsForHumanity
Many observers have highlighted that despite Arba’een being the world’s largest annual peaceful gathering on earth, there has been substantially little attention from mainstream media to the major ceremony.
“The biggest gathering in the world is taking place these days, but it receives the least possible media coverage,” wrote media activist Amir Abbas Sadegi for Iran’s ISNA news agency on Friday.
Sadegi said coupled with the mainstream silence, certain groups have sought to undermine Arba’een by propagating false information.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that the Iranian and Iraqi nations are connected through faith.
Given the high number of Iranians participating in the annual event, Arba’een has consequently turned into a symbol of unity between the Iraqi and Iranian people, who both deeply venerate Imam Hussein.
