RNA – During his Friday prayer sermon delivered to a large and fervent crowd of believers in the Iraqi holy city of Karbala’s Holy Shrine of Imam al-Husayn, Hujjat al-Islam Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbala’i referred to the upcoming commemoration of Arba’in, which marks the fortieth day after Ashura, and stressed upon the necessity of having a purpose while participating in this pilgrimage.
Arba’in is one of the largest pilgrimage gatherings on Earth, in which up to thirty million people travel to the city of Karbala, many walking for days toward the Holy Shrine of Imam Husayn. The pilgrimage will be commemorated on November 21st this year.
Referring to the fighting against the Daesh Takfiri terrorists, the representative of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani in Karbala stressed that the fighters on the frontlines of this “battle of truth against falsehood” are a true example of those who have pledged allegiance and loyalty to Imam Husayn.
Hujjat al-Islam al-Karbala’i encouraged the pilgrims to praise and remember the members of the Iraqi army and Popular Mobilization Forces and those martyred in the fight against Daesh. “During your walk [toward Karbala] keep their images in your hearts and acknowledge their everlasting heroism and sacrifices and the blood that has been shed,” he added.
His Eminence said that the Arba’in pilgrimage has global dimensions and the people from many countries throughout the world have been attracted toward the pilgrimage and said, “For this reason, God Almighty has given us a precious opportunity to introduce our circumstances and use this cause to propagate Islam and create awareness among the people of the world in regard to the humanitarian principles of Islam and to strengthen Islamic culture.”
“Thus, we must value this opportunity and take advantage of it in the best possible way,” the Iraqi cleric added.
In conclusion, Hujjat al-Islam al-Karbala’i prayed to God to grant victory to the fighters on the battlefield and save the Iraqis from the abomination of the terrorists and restore security
and stability to all throughout Iraq.
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