Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami:

“This years’ Arba’in pilgrimage is a military drill against Takfirism”

Rasa – Ayatollah Sayyed Ahmad Khatami spoke of the importance of this years’ pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine of Imam Husayn in Karbala, due to the massive numbers of Shi’ite pilgimages sending a powerful message to the Takfiri terrorists who have been committing horrendous atrocities throughout Iraq.

News ID: 1785

Date: 09 December 2014 - 19:51

RNA – In an exclusive interview with Rasa News Agency on the occasion of Arba’in, Ayatollah Sayyed Ahmad Khatami, Tehran’s temporary Friday prayer leader, spoke of the importance of pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine of Imam Husayn in Karbala. He added that the other Infallible Imams emphasized the importance of the pilgrimage to the place of the tragic martyrdom of the “Master of the Martyrs.”

Noting the importance and virtue of the pilgrimage on the occasion of Arba’in, His Eminence referred to narrations, saying: “The book ‘Kamil az-Ziyarat’ is one of best sources regarding the pilgrimage to the grave of the Master of the Martyrs.”

Ayatollah Khatami added that some Shi’ite narrations state that the reward of pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Husayn in Shi’ite is equivalent to the reward of one thousand Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages!

Other narrations that that the person who abandons his pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Husayn, has, in reality, abandoned the duties he owes to God because Imam Husayn was martyred on the path of God.

He stressed that this years’ Arba’in pilgrimage is a “military drill against Takfirism” and added: “This year the pilgrimage has a special meaning and position and the various caravans from every corner throughout Iraq, including areas captured by Takfiri militants, have embarked on this pilgrimage with complete bravery, courage, vigour and love for Imam Husayn.”

According to officials, so far more than 900,000 Iranians have embarked on the journey to Karbala to perform the Arba’in pilgrimage. By the day of Arba’in, it is estimated than many more will reach the holy city. As well, Iraqi officials have estimated that more than 20 million people in total will arrive in Karbala. It is likely to be the largest Arba’in pilgrimage ever.

The Arba’in pilgrimage is considered one of the largest historic peaceful gatherings of people in one place for a single event. This sends a powerful message to the ISIL Takfiri terrorists who have been committing horrendous atrocities throughout Iraq this year.

At the end of the interview, Ayatollah Khatami stated: “We pray to God that He accepts all of the virtuous and good deeds of all the pilgrims to [the shrine of] Imam Husayn.”

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