Millions of people gather each year and march towards the holy shrine of Imam Hossein (PBUH). The pilgrimage is considered as a symbol of purification and an effort for establishment of justice and divine values.
In recent years, alongside the Shia Muslims, a large number of Sunni Muslims can be seen taking part in the Arabeen ceremony.
The Arba’een gathering has played crucial role in creating unity, harmony and integration among followers of all divine religions and truth-seekers.
Each year, Millions of people take part in one of the biggest marches in the world, as they travel through holy city of Karabla
The marchers make their way to the city of Karbala for the holy day of Arbaeen, which marks the end of a 40-day mourning period following Ashura, the religious ritual that commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hossein (PBUH) and his faithful disciples.
Among the pilgrims are several millions foreigners.
Dr Mohammed Shomali, director of the Islamic Centre of England earlier told media outlets that: "For Muslims and non-Muslims, the sacrifice and noble message of Imam Hussain represents the peace and virtue of Islam, which prevented Hussain from resorting to violence or capitulation."
“This is why non-Muslims as well as Muslims of different sects and denominations have been able to gather together for this event in Iraq and globally - Hussain's decision not to submit to the will of violence is a model all of humanity can replicate."
Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic in his speeches stressed the need for preachers to promote the universal perspectives of the message of Ashura and Arba’een.
The founder of the Islamic Revolution also once said in a historic address that the months of Muharram and Safar have kept Islam alive.
The great leader of contemporary Muslim world also emphasized that the Islamic Revolution had been deeply inspired by message of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the grandson of the holy prophet of Islam.
Imam Khomeini said in one of the historic messages as following:
The Doyen of martyr (Imam Hussein (PBUH) staged an uprising with some of his companions, family members and the ladies of his household. As it was for God, they destroyed the very foundations of that wicked person's monarchy. On the face of it, he was killed, but, in reality, he extirpated the foundations of that monarchy; one that intended to turn Islam into a tyrant form. The danger that Muawiyah and Yazid posed for Islam did not lie in their usurpation of the caliphate; this was a danger less than that of their attempting to turn Islam into the form of a monarchy. They wanted to render spiritualties into a tyrant form. By calling themselves the successors of the Messenger of God, they wanted to convert Islam into a tyrant regime. This was the important issue. The two of them wanted to do, and did, so much harm to Islam that their predecessors had not. They tried to misrepresent the basic principles of Islam to the utmost. Theirs was a monarchy. There was drinking and gambling at their parties. The successor of the Prophet attending parties where wine was being imbibed? And present at gambling sessions? And the Prophet's successor would also attend congregational prayers, such things notwithstanding! All this greatly menaced Islam. The Doyen of the Martyrs averted this danger. The issue did not concern the usurpation of the caliphate only. His uprising was against the tyrant monarchy itself; the one that wanted to show Islam in a way such that; had they succeeded, Islam would have become something else. It would have become like the 2500 year old monarchy. When Islam appeared, it wanted to put an end to the monarchies and such regimes, and to establish a divine government in the world. It aimed to destroy tyrant and replace it with" Allah". They, however, wanted to remove Allah and install tyrant instead- the same issues of paganism, the same problems of the past. The Doyen of the Martyrs being killed did not constitute a defeat as it was for God; rising for Him never ends in defeat. (Sahifeh, Vol.8, Page: 10-11 Speech, May 29, 1979)
The Arbaeen marks an important turning point in the movement of Karbala.
A great significance had been attached to this day because the Ahlul-Bayt reached the land of Karbala on this day and performed pilgrimage to the holy shrines of Imam Hussein (PBUH) and his 72 companion who gave their life for the cause of Islam.
The occasion of Arbaeen reminds the faithful of the core message behind Imam Hussein (PBUH)'s martyrdom, which has been undoubtedly establishing justice and fighting injustice.
The occasion marks the final day of the mourning rituals held in memory of the suffering which Imam Hussein (PBUH) and his family as well as his companions were subjected to at the hands of the tyrant of the time, Yazid I, an Umayyad ruler, back in the seventh century.
Another important event in the lunar calendar is the 10th day of the Muslim month of Muharram, traditionally known as Ashura, when the Imam and 72 of his companions were martyred after refusing allegiance to brutal Yazid.
The event equally draws millions of pilgrims to the holy city of Karbala each year
The Arba’een has invariably served a driving force for Muslim unity in the face of attempts to create divergence, animosity, and misunderstanding.
Each year, followers of other religious groups join the journey to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad and the third Imam of Shia Muslims.