Millions of Muslims across the world are commemorating Arba’een, which marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia Imam and the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Every year, pilgrims from various nations journey on foot to reach the holy shrine of Imam Hussein, located in the Iraqi city of Karbala, to honor the occasion, which is observed on Tuesday this year.
The Arba’een mourning ceremony brings together millions of people from across the world who undertake an 80-kilometer walk between the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.
Imam Hussein (AS) and his 72 companions were martyred in the Battle of Karbala in southern Iraq in 680 AD while resisting the much larger army of the despot Umayyad ruler of the time, Yazid.
The Arba’een Walk is the largest annual peaceful gathering that witnesses the participation of millions of people from different countries, most notably Iran.
Observers say it is an endeavor to keep alive the movement of Karbala, which is a movement against terrorism, fascism, and despotism.
Approximately three million pilgrims have crossed Iran’s borders to travel to Iraq for the annual Arba’een pilgrimage, the chief of Iran’s Traffic Police, said, highlighting the massive turnout for one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.
Brigadier General Ahmad Karami-Asad said on Saturday that 2.947 million Arba’een pilgrims have departed the country through various border crossings as of that day.
People in the Iranian capital of Tehran, under the banner of “Those left behind from Arba’een,” take part in a symbolic march to the holy shrine of Shah Abdol-Azim Hasani in the southern town of Rey.
Participants at Tehran’s march pledged that Iran would avenge the blood of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and other martyrs of recent US-Israel wars of aggression, saying retribution against the perpetrators is an irrevocable national demand.
