Dr. Bushra Hanon Mohsen / College of Islamic Sciences – University of Karbala
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the best of the messengers, Abu al-Qasim Muhammad, and his family and chosen companions.
The Arbaeen pilgrimage has resonated worldwide, occupying a significant place in the hearts of the believers and lovers of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn (peace be upon him). At the very least, it can be described as a grand demonstration, a significant display, and a meaningful gathering of the passionate followers of Imam al-Husayn (peace be upon him). It is a journey of love and a symbol that reflects unity and solidarity between Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The Arbaeen visit embodies the true meaning of unity among Muslims in Iraq, as it created a kind of common ground for all Iraqi components, both ethnic and religious, and formed a suitable foundation for agreement on a (religious-historical-humanitarian) common cause.
Freemen everywhere share a symbol that unites them, such as Imam al-Husayn (peace be upon him). He unites Shia through love and allegiance to the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), unites Sunni Muslims through loyalty and belonging to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), and unites followers of other religions through human connection for common goals: achieving justice, fighting oppression, and supporting the oppressed. Year after year, signs and manifestations of unity become more evident in the Arbaeen pilgrimage through the various activities that everyone participates in to welcome the crowds of visitors from inside Iraq and from all over the world, heading toward Karbala to commemorate the pilgrimage as an act of support for the principles for which Abu al-Ahrar rose up against the tyrants of every era.
Anyone who strives to achieve great goals can make use of this massive pilgrimage to spread awareness, call for the intellectual, cultural, and spiritual development of individuals, establish a culture of peace and moderation, confront extremism, violence, and terrorism, and stand against those who try to sow division and strife.
In conclusion, there are questions that arise: What made the Arbaeen pilgrimage so significant? What has the Arbaeen march achieved for different segments of Muslims that causes them to come in increasing numbers? This journey, which has become a path to human integration in the fields of virtue, can it create a generation characterized by this integration, or is it a temporary unity that ends with the conclusion of the pilgrimage?
