By: Kayhan International

   

These days all eyes are on Iraq as millions of local people joined by many more millions from around the world have assembled to commemorate on 20th Safar the anniversary of the grand triumph of the unbreakable spirit of resistance over tyranny of one of the most inhuman regimes in history.

The peaceful gathering of 20 million-plus devotees every year in Karbala is the world’s largest assembly and a tribute to the faith, patience, prudence, valour, steadfastness, forbearance, and foresight of Imam Husain (AS), on the 40th day of the heartrending tragedy of Muharram 10 (‘Ashura’).

Known ever since as ‘Arba’een’ (‘forty’ in Arabic), it is the day on which the survivors of the heartrending tragedy, led by the Martyr’s sister Hazrat Zainab (SA) and son Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS), stopped briefly in Karbala on their way home to Medina, after having shattered the inflated egos of the Godless perpetrators in Kufa and Damascus.

This grand display of the indomitable spirit of resistance of the Ahl al-Bayt or the Blessed Household of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) to defeat killers and oppressors has continued to inspire the conscientious throughout history.

This is the reason pilgrims from the four corners of the globe, including non-Muslims (Christians, Zoroastrians, Hindus, and Jews (not the Godless Zionists) flock to Karbala for homage to Imam Husain (AS). 

They endeavour to acquaint themselves with the humanitarian values of faith, freedom, and fairness the Chief of Martyrs espoused, as well as the piety, prudence, and patience displayed by his bereaved family during captivity as part of their unconquerable resistance to shatter the myth of invincibility of the usurper Omayyad regime.

These immortal values reformed and revolutionised freedom and justice loving societies throughout history, and continue to be the inspiration today for the righteous and the patriots confronting the satanic forces of usurpation and occupation.

Examples galore. The Islamic Revolution that triumphed in Iran in 1979 over domestic despotism and foreign (US) hegemony, and which continues to decisively defeat every devilish American, Israeli, and terrorist plot, is indebted to the uprising of Karbala. 

The most prominent non-state group inspired by the heroism of Ashura and the indomitable resistance that flowered on Arba’een, is Lebanon’s legendry anti-terrorist movement, the Hezbollah (literally ‘Party of God’ – a Qur’anic term for the ultimate victors),

Since its foundation over the past forty years, the Hezbollah has stabilized Lebanon, driven out the Zionist occupiers from the southern parts of the country, saved Syria from an intricate decade long US-Zionist-Arab reactionary plot, and are confronting Usurper Israel’s persecution of Palestinians.

Yemen’s popular movement ‘Ansarallah’ (Helpers of God as the Qur’an addresses Jesus’ disciples) has also emerged on the regional scene as those inspired by the values of Ashura and Arba’een to challenge the illegal presence of the US military in the region and its involvement in the Gaza genocide.

The long oppressed Palestinian people ( tired of sectarian bias and betrayed and back-stabbed by the pro-US Arab regimes), have of late become conscious of Karbala and the immortal sacrifice of Imam Husain (AS), as is evident by the terminology used by Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, during the current holocaust – with high hopes of eventual victory.

Imam Husain (AS) symbolizes justice and freedom for the people of Bahrain, Kuwait, the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Turkiyeh, Nigeria, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and many other lands where the masses, including non-Shi’a and non-Muslim fervently commemorate Ashua and Arba’een.

Last but not the least, words of thanks to the people of Iraq, who during the pilgrimages, especially Arba’een, give a grand display of hospitality, aided over the past few years by the elected government in Baghdad following the end of the tyrannical Ba’th minority rule, and emergence of the famous ‘Hashd ash-Sha’bi’ (Popular Mobilization Units – PMU).

Of course, Iran as the paramount power of the region with its system of governance based on Islamic values and the dedication of its masses to Imam Husain (AS), not just sends at least five million pilgrims for Arba’een, besides providing secure passages for pilgrims from several other countries, but also joins the brotherly Iraqis in safeguarding security.

The highlight of the Arba’een Pilgrimage is the 80 km walk by most pilgrims from the holy shrine of Imam Ali (AS) in Najaf to the holy shrines of his sons in Karbala – Imam Husain (AS) and Hazrat Abbas (AS) – with 1,452 poles spaced 50 meters from each other, lining the route to help guide the devotees.