Millions Gather to Mark Arba’een and Honor Imam Hussein

KARBALA: Millions of Muslims around the world are observing Arba’een, which marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia Imam and grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

Every year, millions of pilgrims from different countries travel to the Iraqi city of Karbala to visit the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS). Many pilgrims walk around 80 kilometres from Najaf to Karbala as part of the annual Arba’een pilgrimage.

Imam Hussein (AS) and his 72 companions were martyred in the Battle of Karbala in southern Iraq in 680 AD while standing against the army of the Umayyad ruler Yazid.

The Arba’een Walk is considered one of the world’s largest annual peaceful gatherings, attracting millions of people, particularly from Iran and other countries.

The pilgrimage is seen by observers as a way to keep alive the message of Karbala and its values of standing against oppression, terrorism, fascism and despotism.

Iranian officials said nearly three million pilgrims had crossed the country’s borders to travel to Iraq for the Arba’een pilgrimage. Iran’s Traffic Police chief Brigadier General Ahmad Karami-Asad said 2.947 million pilgrims had left Iran through various border crossings as of Saturday.

In Tehran, people also took part in a symbolic march to the shrine of Shah Abdol-Azim Hasani in the southern town of Rey under the banner of “Those left behind from Arba’een.”

Participants at the march also expressed their views on recent regional conflicts and called for accountability for those responsible for the deaths of martyrs.