Arbaeen Walk: A life-changing journey of love

By the Cultural Centre of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Zimbabwe

Every year millions of, Shiites, Sunnis, and even non-Muslims travel on foot for days to arrive at the holy city of Karbala in Iraq to participate in Arbaeen; one of the world’s largest annual religious events.

The event is regarded as one of the foundational moments of Shia Islam, and it was estimated that in 2022 more than 21 million people had participated in this annual pilgrimage from across the world, including Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Indonesia, and also some Western countries.

The experience is phenomenal, overwhelming, and unfathomable; seeing oceans of people, men, women — young and old — and even children walking for miles and even moving on wheelchairs towards Karbala and the holy shrines of Imam Husain (AS), his son, brothers and devoted companions.

Even though the Arbaeen walk is quite challenging, especially during summer days when the temperature ranges between 36 and 41 degrees Celsius, it does not stop the zealous pilgrims from moving towards their destination.

To facilitate the walk, many locals as well as a number of foreigners, set up rest tents, popularly known as mawkibs, along the roads to provide the pilgrims with essentials such as food, water, beds, and even medical services free of cost. These mawkibs are mainly organised by Iraqi citizens and are fully managed by them, and the Iraqi government has almost no role in organising them.

Arbaeen is an Arabic word and it means ‘the Fortieth’. In Shia culture, this word refers to the Fortieth day of Imam Hussain’s (AS) martyrdom, who was martyred in Karbala on the 10th day of Muharram (the first month in the Hijri lunar calendar), which is known as the Day of Ashura.

According to historical accounts, on the 40th day (20th of Safar, the Second month in the Hijri lunar calendar) after his martyrdom, the survivors of the Ashura event, namely, Imam Sajjad (AS), Hazrat Zainab (SA), and other relatives of the martyrs of Ashura, returned to Karbala and went to the tombs of Imam Hussain (AS) and other martyrs.

The pilgrimage of Imam Hussain (AS) continued on Arbaeen day in the following years.

The revered Shia Imams, through their eloquent discourse, effectively encouraged their devoted followers to embark upon this sacred pilgrimage.

Consequently, a significant number of Shia Muslims were persuaded to undertake the journey to Karbala on Arbaeen day so as to pay homage at the shrine of Imam Hussain (AS). It is noteworthy that this venerable tradition of Arbaeen pilgrimage has endured throughout generations until present times.

Historically, The Iraqi Shia mostly went on this pilgrimage on foot, however, over time, this tradition was abandoned. About a 100 years ago, efforts were undertaken in Iraq to revive this cherished tradition.

Unfortunately, during Saddam Hussein’s rule in Iraq (1979-2003), the Arbaeen Walk was prohibited and people who were going to Karbala on foot sometimes faced hostile reactions. According to some reports, Saddam’s government used to amputate the legs of those walking toward Karbala. Nonetheless, despite such oppressive measures imposed by the authorities at hand, devout Shias secretly upheld this profound tradition by navigating through palm groves under cover of darkness.

After the fall of Saddam, the Shias started making pilgrimage freely on foot from all over the country towards Karbala. Meticulous planning is undertaken by these pilgrims to ensure their arrival in Karbala coincides with the sacred occasion of Arbaeen or its proximate days.

Most pilgrims who travel to Iraq from other countries to attend the Arbaeen Pilgrimage start their walk from the city of Najaf, where the holy shrine of the first Shia Imam, Imam Ali (AS) is located. The distance from Najaf to Karbala is about 80 km, so pilgrims who want to be in Karbala on Arbaeen day start their journey on the 16th of Safar.

The Arbaeen Pilgrimage, which was held in the year 61 AH with the presence of a limited number of Imam Husain’s (AS) family members, is held today with the presence of millions of pilgrims and lovers of Imam Hussain (AS) and has become a source of inspiration for those who cherish truth, justice, and dignity.