The anniversary of Arbaeen (40 days after the martyrdom) of Imam Hussein (A.S.) is witnessing this year a marvelous manifestations of Ashura aspects and values.
The number of pilgrims flocking to Iraq to participate in this year’s Arbaeen march will exceed 30 million, the governor of the holy city of Karbala predicts.
This groundbreaking number of pilgrims is not the full story of this year’s event. Holy Quran topped the heads of the visitors at the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussein (A.S.) in an artistic manifestation of their commitment to the Sacred Book in face of the cases of desecration recorded recently in Sweden an other countries.
Imam Hussein (A.S.) affirmed that his revolution was aimed at preserving Islam, the religion of his Grandfather (Prophet Muhammad PBUH). Accordingly, Arbaeen event this year directly reflects this great value through defending Holy Quran.
On the other hand, Christian youths participated in the events of serving the pilgrims, providing them with food in an assertion of the universal aspect of Imam Hussein (A.S.) martyrdom.
The second international conference of Al-Aqsa Call, which is titled “Palestine and Imam Hussein (AS)”was also concluded with the confirmation of the direct link between Imam Hussein’s revolution and the Palestinian cause.
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps’ Quds Force Brigadier General Esmail Qaani visited the participants in the conference, saluting their efforts and contribution.
Arbaeen is an Arabic word that literally means the fortieth day. It falls on the twentieth of Safar, 40 days after the Day of Ashura (on the tenth of Muharram). Ashura marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) who was martyred along with his companions after an epic battle in Karbala against Yazid, the second caliph of the corrupt Umayyad Caliphate.
Through years, the Arbaeen has become a deeply rooted event in the traditions of Shiite Muslims, who yearly mark the occasion by flocking in to the holy city of Karabala and by practicing different forms of mourning, including the well-known Arbaeen Walk which is pilgrimage on foot between Najaf and Karbala.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
