31/07/2025
Safar is the second month of the Islamic calendar. It is marked with many important events in Islamic history but one of the most important of these is Arbaeen (20th Safar). In Arabic language it means forty and in Islamic history it marks the 40th day of mourning period following Ashura, the 10th of Muharram when Hussain ibn Ali (AlaihisSalam), the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (ṣallā llāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) was killed and beheaded along with his family members and companions by the army of Yazid in 61 Hijri. In this month, millions of people from around the globe gather in Iraq’s holiest city of Karbala to commemorate Arbaeen and to pay tribute to the martyrs of Karbala. Arbaeen pilgrimage or Arbaeen walk is widely recognised as the single largest annual peaceful gathering in the world where people swarm together and walk towards the shrines of Imam Husain (AlaihisSalam) and Hazrat Gazi Abbas (AlaihisSalam) to pay tribute to their greatest sacrifice. The son of Bibi Fatima (AlaihisSalam) and Imam Ali (AlaihisSalam) left an everlasting legacy 1378 years ago which is still inspiring the mankind and will keep on inspiring till the existence of this world. This is not an ordinary journey and neither those people are ordinary who get the opportunity to take a part in this spiritual walk. The people who take part in this walk are called Zair-e-Imam Hussain (visitors of Imam Hussain) (AlaihisSalam). Arbaeen is marked with long walks – from Najaf ul Ashraf or Basra to Karbala-e-Moalla. People come from different parts of the world belong to different colours, cultures, races and sects. They make their journey on foot. The journey from Najaf to Karbala is almost 85kms and it takes about 3 to 4 days, whereas from Basra it is about 500kms. Zaireen (pilgrims) coming from Najaf-al-Ashraf start their journey from the shrine of Imam Ali (AlaihisSalam) In this human crowd marching towards Karbala there is no discrimination of rich or poor, young or old, men or women. Children walk with parents in short steps, elderly who can barely walk cover this journey on wheelchairs, even the disabled hobble along, step-by-step, supported by nothing but crutches and an iron will to voyage and to salute Imam Hussain (AlaihisSalam). The only one thing which is common in all these people is that every eye is moist, every heart is torn with grief and they are all chanting ‘Labbaik Ya Hussain (AlaihisSalam)’ in one voice. They all believe that Imam Hussein (AlaihisSalam) is a universal, borderless, and meta-religious symbol of freedom and compassion.
During Saddam's era this pilgrimage was banned. At that time people used to perform it secretly and their number was too low. It was revived when his government was toppled in 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟯 and since then the number of Zaireen started to increase every year. Last year this number was more than 𝟐𝟎 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧even against the threats of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). This year it is estimated that more than 𝟐𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐙𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧
are visiting Karbala. Under ordinary conditions, it seems impossible to make arrangements for more than 20 million people travelling this long. But surprisingly, thousands of local people gathered to help these visitors and the level of service they provide is unprecedented. They set up thousands of tents with makeshift kitchens to serve these Zaireen. These tents are called Mawakebs which are devised with the aim of providing accommodation, food, beverage, medical services and practically anything the pilgrims could possibly need to complete their spiritual journey. Dwellers render their services without any charge and try to provide maximum comfort to the Zaireen. If someone gets tired mid way, then the houses on way open their doors to comfort him and the owners feel themselves privileged to be at their service. These houses and Mawakebs have the best facilities to fulfil the needs of Zaireen.Zaireen do not need to carry anything on this journey except the clothes and shoes they wear. What is more astonishing is that Mawakeb organizers beg these pilgrims to accept their hospitality. They intercept their path and plead them. They provide them every minor thing like tissue paper, tooth pick etc. Their cloths are washed and ironed, shoes are mended and all of course complimentary. Those who have nothing to offer, serve them by massaging their feet and legs. In short they do not leave even a single opportunity to serve them. They consider the acceptance of their offers as a bestowing honour on them. After witnessing such love and passion of these service providers one is left in bewilderment that either these are humans or angels disguised as service providers.Arbaeen is no doubt a revolution. It is a revolution to demonstrate the whole world that Islam is a religion of peace, love and care for others. It is an occasion where one can witness doctors and physicians serving for free, scholars sitting on the sand and guiding the youth, poor are feeding the hungry and sick people are serving the healthy. It is an event where women are walking with pride and dignity despite of being exhausted and children are enthusiastic in taking long strides with smile on their faces. One can witness hope, love, kindness, truth and sacrifice. One war-ridden and wounded nation is embracing the whole world in the name of one who is slaughtered in the desert of Karbala after being kept thirsty and hungry for three days. There are lessons to learn from this spiritual walk. It is an event in which people participate regardless of their sect, profession and social status. There is no one who asks about religion or sect. Every Zair is honourable and treated like royalty. If someone wants to witness the unity of Muslim Ummah and wants to know about the teachings of the Holy Prophet being followed he can take part in the walk of Arbaeen.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝟑𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐙𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐞𝐞𝐧.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐞𝐞𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐧. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐣𝐣 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐚𝐚𝐛𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫. 𝐃𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦, 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐰𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠, "𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐦. 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐦, 𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐬."
