Arbaʿīn 2025: Being on the Right Side of the History
Arbaeen 2025 is approaching in about two weeks, and people worldwide are preparing for this profound journey to the holy shrine of Imam Hussain in Karbala while their hearts ache for the innocent, starving people of Gaza.
So, I made this image with the flag of Palestine before the holy shrine of Imam Hussain, the prophet Muhammad’s grandson, reflecting our shared pain. In this image, Imam Hassan Al-Askari stated that Arbaeen pilgrimage is a sign of a believer [1]. But what truly is the Arbaeen’s purpose?
Undoubtedly, Imam Hussain’s sacred shrine is the destination on Arbaeen. Yet, if pilgrimage alone were the sole purpose, why would someone endure 50-degree summer heat and navigate crowds of 30 million pilgrims?! Especially when transportation is incredibly difficult on this time and tickets cost far more than usual.
The purpose of Arbaeen must be something far greater than simply performing the pilgrimage. The purpose of Arbaeen is to answer the Imam’s call. It is to stand in the army of the Imam of our time. It is to stand against arrogant powers and oppressors, to oppose the Yazid of our age. Thus, being on Arbaeen is to stand on the right side of history. This purpose is why the heat, the crowds, our jobs, our lives and everything else can not deter us from going for Arbaeen.
1.This is a part of mam Hassan al-Askari’s quote in Tahzib Al-Ahkam: V.6 , P.52
