Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks during a meeting with mourning student congregations in Tehran on Wednesday on the occasion of Arba’een, which marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)’s grandson in the holy Iraqi city of Karbala.
“As you walked firmly on the Arba’een march, you should be strong and resolute in the path of divine rule and always live like Imam Hussein (AS) and follow his path,” the Leader told the young people who participated in the million-strong Arba’een procession.
He also said that the youth should not be diverted from the direct path by “satanic attractions”.
“If you resist, then you will conquer the mountaintop,” Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized, adding that every young person can be “a light torch” on his surroundings.
Raeisi: Arba'een carries message of freedom, independence
Also on Wednesday, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raeisi said the annual Arba’een commemoration relays a message of “freedom and independence” to all generations and keeps the memory of Imam Hussein (AS) alive.
“Arba’een is a flag to keep Ashura alive and conveys a message of freedom and independence. It reminds the people that they should always live with [the memory of] Imam Hussain (AS),” he told a crowd of people in Birjand, the capital of the eastern South Khorasan Province.
Imam Hussain (AS) was martyred to rid the world of ignorance, which also persists in a modern form on the back of military power and media empire, he said.
The Arbaeen pilgrimage is considered the largest annual public gathering in the world. Each year, it is marked with mass walks to Karbala.
Millions of Muslims from across the world take part in the Arba’een march to express their love for the third Shia Imam and his sacrifice at Karbala.