As the upcoming Arbaeen ceremonies approach, which honor Imam Hussein Bin Ali, the third Imam of Shia, Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad S. Al-Sudani stresses the necessity of carefully planned measures to ensure the safety and success of the event in the holy city of Karbala.
The Prime Minister’s office released a statement stating that Al-Sudani had a meeting with important individuals responsible for organizing the Arbaeen ceremonies. During the meeting, he was briefed on the progress made in planning, programs, and services. The focus was on ensuring that necessary arrangements were made to enable millions of people from Iraq and other parts of the world to participate in this important event.
In 680 AD, the battle of Karbala took place resulting in the martyrdom of Imam Hussein and his devoted companions and family members. After bravely standing up to Yazid’s force of over 30,000 warriors for ten days, Imam Hussein became an enduring symbol of courage and unwavering devotion to the essence of Islam.
Every year, numerous followers visit the holy city of Karbala in present-day Iraq to show their respect to the shrine of Imam Hussein. This gathering reaches its peak during Arbaeen, a significant event that involves a collective walk across Iraq as millions make their way to the revered city. The Arbaeen march is considered one of the most important pilgrimages globally, even surpassing Hajj, which had around 2.5 million participants in Mecca in 2023.
In Karbala during Arbaeen, followers of Imam Hussein gather wearing black mourning attire, a symbol of their grief. They engage in solemn chants and threnodies to honor Imam Hussein. The action of raising hands and thumping chests is a universal gesture of mourning for him.
It’s amazing to see how the Arbaeen march has gained more and more popularity over the years. In 2016, the event drew in an impressive number of participants, with 17 million people taking part over several days. This was a significant increase from the 17 million attendees in 2014. What’s even more remarkable is that the numbers continued to rise, despite the challenges posed by ISIS’s invasion of Iraq.
