RNA – In an interview with the media, Ayatollah Abolqasem Alidoust said that the ritual of Arba’in al-Husayni contains various aspects of political, cultural, moral and religious messages and noted, “The political aspect of this walk has a political message for the enemies of the Ahlul-Bayt, especially the Wahhabis and Takfiris. The Shi’ahs and lovers of the Ahlul-Bayt resist with beautiful and authoritative unity against the enemies of Islam and the Ahlul-Bayt. With the name and remembrance of Abu Abdillah al-Husayn, this great movement has crystalized in the gathering of Arba’in.”
The member of the academic board of the Research Centre for Islamic Culture and Thought said, “Indeed, the Arba’in pilgrimage and walk, with the presence of more than 20 million pilgrims from different countries and nationalities, does not have any precedent in any other religion and sect elsewhere in the world. This is an honour for the Shi’ahs and Muslims, and even non-Muslims, who have joined this huge and roaring sea by following the lifestyle and principles of Imam al-Husayn.”
Ayatollah Alidoust noted, “In Islamic narrations, if we pay close attention, we understand that the Arba’in pilgrimage, with its great emphasis and dedication, is only attributed to the ‘Master of the Martyrs’ [Imam al-Husayn], and this is one of the special attributes of the Imam that we are invited to participate in.”
He said, “As much as the malicious people who are opposed to Islam and the Muslims and the enemies try to diminish the magnitude of this great and transformative movement, they must know that the light of God and the love and warmth of love for the Master of the Martyrs can never be extinguished, but rather they will flourish more and more every day.”
Shi’ah Muslims from all walks of life mark the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam al-Husayn, while millions of others have travelled to Iraq to honour the event at the third Shi’ah Imam’s shrine in the holy city of Karbala.
This occasion, called Arba’in, occurs 40 days after Ashura, the tenth day of the lunar calendar month of Muharram, when the grandson of Prophet Muhammad was martyred at the hands of the tyrant of the time, Yazid I, in the seventh century.
Large numbers of pilgrims travel to Iraq each year, walking the distance between the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, which houses the Imam’s holy shrine, so as to be able to be there by Arba’in.
This year, Iranians mark Arba’in on Thursday, but the occasion will be commemorated in Karbala on Friday.
Imam Husayn is a highly-venerated figure not only among Shi’ahs but also Sunni Muslims. Even some groups of Iraqi Christians join the march to Karbala.