ARBAEEN EVENT: The Huge SHIA PILGRIMAGE Told by a Devoted Irani Writer in the Day of Khamenei Funeral
Introduction by Fabio Giuseppe Carlo Carisio – Gospa News director
A Catholic Christian newspaper as Gospa News that promotes universal brotherhood and religious dialogue is pleased to publish a devout Iranian’s account of the huge Shiite pilgrimage of Arbaeen, explaining its emotions and history.
We felt it appropriate to publish it today, Friday, July 3, on the occasion of the funeral of the Iranian supreme religious leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who was martyred during the bombings of the barbaric and illegal military aggression of the US and Israel on February 28 (more details here in the Wars Diary).
The cowardly Israeli-American Zionists believed that his death would weaken Iran, which, precisely because of the sacrifice of its religious leader, was able to demonstrate the strength of the Asian Lion in the face of the genocidal arrogance of the Israelis and Americans.
Since the first days of the conflict, we have called US President Donald Trump’s military actions in the Middle East, in deference to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (who has been charged with an international war crimes), the “War of the Antichrists.”
Because it transcends political, ethnic and religious differences. It is clear evidence of the diabolical wickedness of criminal rulers who, as call themselves Democrats, like the biblical scribes of the Synedrin:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Gospel of Saint Matthew, 23, 27-28).
DEVIL NETANYAHU’s HOLOCAUST. Explosive UN findings: “Israel DELIBERATELY TARGETED Gaza CHILDREN”
I say this and reiterate it as a Western and Christian journalist.
Now you can read below the Message of Peace from Abardeen event.
Fabio Giuseppe Carlo Carisio – Gospa News director and founder
Why Doesn’t Iran Just Surrender?
By Irani writer
All links to previous Gospa News posts have been added in the aftermath by virtue of the ties wkth covered topics
Since I was a child, I had always wanted to go to Karbala during the Arbaeen event. Every time my father went, I was filled with grief because he did not take me with him.
The first year I had the chance to go was the same year I was accepted to university. In Iran, most young people go to university at the age of 18 by taking an entrance exam. The university entrance exam is extremely difficult, and the competition is very intense. Some students study hard throughout their last three years of high school to get a better rank and be admitted to a better university, while others only study during their final year, which was, of course, my type.
Since I was a teenager, I have spent a lot of time reading English articles and news about Iran. I was really interested in knowing what others said about my country and our people. At one time, the hot topic about Iran was the JCPOA; at another, it was the protests against inflation; and at yet another, it was the conflicts in West Asia and Iran’s stance.
I was always amazed by New York Times articles that claimed to reveal governmental secrets of Iran, quoting a knowledgeable source in the Iranian government who didn’t want their name to be disclosed (I always laughed at this part).
After reading foreign English-speaking websites for more than 10 years, I do know what they think about us and how they look at us. Once, I was so pissed off by RT’s articles because they sounded like Jerusalem Post articles.
Another time, I was so mad to read unreal stories and outright lies on Al Jazeera about our President, Ebrahim Raisi. And another time, I was so pleased and happy after reading Al Mayadeen’s English publications (Hezbollah’s news outlet).
Iran were usually too far from and too different from how we lived and what we did in Iran
In all those studies, I understood one thing: the topics that were usually published about Iran were usually too far from and too different from how we lived and what we did in Iran, even the ones who claimed to have a secret source in the government! The things they said about the JCPOA, the elections, the economy, and the culture in Iran were really different from what we really experienced.
It feels as if it were yesterday that I opened the CNN application and saw a video of a black man being choked by a police officer. It was really disturbing to me. I might seem like a guy who sometimes gets on the nerves of the people around him because I tend to be too logical and let emotions influence my thoughts less. I like to see everything according to justice, humanity, dignity, and, more importantly, logic.
But I had read American history, every single day of it. I knew I wouldn’t find my values and standards in American society, nor in its mindset. I knew some people would cheer for the police officer who killed George Floyd, but I also knew that free and decent people live everywhere. I was really interested to know how American society was going to respond to this unjust and racist act.
From that day on, every news outlet in Iran, the US, the UK, and most of the other websites that I checked out at that time were talking about the protests that had been going on for such a long time. If I recall correctly, even Seattle was declared autonomous, and it was taken back by the government shortly afterward. As The New York Times estimated, between 15 to 26 million people had gone out to protest during a yearlong period, meaning about 4 to 7 percent of the total population of the USA. It might seem like a lot at first glance, but when you look at the whole picture, it’s not that much.
Iranians hold much larger events but nobody talks about them
That event made me think that we Iranians hold much larger events in which almost one-third or even one-half of the whole population participates, but nobody talks about them—not even we ourselves!
We go out into the streets on the 22nd of Bahman (Iranian calendar) to celebrate the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution every year. We also go out on the last Friday of the month of Ramadan (Islamic calendar) to support Palestine, and that day is called Quds Day. We have been doing that for more than 47 years! Many countries started holding demonstrations in support of Palestine after Al-Aqsa Storm (you may know it as the recent Israel–Gaza War), but we have been doing that for more than 47 years! We go out while we are fasting.
Iran condemns Aqsa Mosque Zionist Incursion: “Israelis seek to Escalate Tensions in region”
In the most recent demonstration on the 22nd of Bahman, it was estimated that between 22 and 26 million Iranians participated, while the general population is roughly 90 million. It might seem amazing and interesting, but it’s not that surprising for us, because we have gotten used to such events. I want to tell you about an event that is amazing and overwhelming even for us!
Arbaeen is the 40th day after the Ashura event
That event is called Arbaeen. In Arabic, it means “fortieth” or “the 40th day.” In Shia religion, the official religion of Iran, Arbaeen is the 40th day after the Ashura event. Ashura is the day that Imam Hussein stood against a corrupt ruler and was finally martyred (killed, in your language) along with 72 of his soldiers and followers.
Imam Hussain was a 7th-century revolutionary leader who stood against the hegemony of oppression and the corruption of the ruler Yazid. Yazid was a corrupt ruler who violated ethical, moral, and humanitarian principles in broad daylight.
Yazid wanted Imam Hussain to acknowledge his rule and give legitimacy to his corrupt leadership. However, Imam Hussain refused to do so and stood against corruption and immorality. He was martyred along with his companions, holding onto their honor and dignity. On that day, the total number of Imam Hussain’s army was about 72 soldiers, while Yazid had an army of 30,000 soldiers.
After the Battle of Karbala (a city in Iraq where this war happened), Yazid’s men took the women and children of Imam Hussain’s family as prisoners. They were degraded as they were forced to walk in chains through many towns and cities, including Damascus and Kufa—where they were shown to crowds until they were eventually presented to Yazid and placed in prison.
Imam Hussain’s sister, Hazrat Zainab, and his son, Imam Sajjad, both gave powerful speeches against Yazid in front of his court, calling out his corrupt regime and unnerving Yazid’s ministers. Yazid eventually realized that if he kept the family of Imam Hussain at his palace, they would humiliate him even further in front of his court and the people, and he was forced to free them. The family of Imam Hussain spent the rest of their lives after the Battle of Karbala teaching people about Imam Hussain’s message and his stand against corruption.
The Day of Arbaeen is the day on which Imam Hussain’s family returned to the land of Karbala to properly bid farewell to the fallen heroes and finally grieve for their loved ones.
The Day of Arbaeen is remembered by millions of people around the world
Today, almost 1,400 years later, the Day of Arbaeen is remembered by millions of people around the world. It is observed as a day to pay tribute to the sacrifice of Imam Hussain for resisting oppression and tyranny and for supporting freedom. Typically, on this day, people organize large marches in cities across the world to symbolize the enduring nature of Imam Hussain’s revolution.
In recent years a tradition of walking 80km from Najaf (the resting place of Imam Ali the father of Imam Hussain) to Karbala has been reignited. Every year since, the number has been rising steadily from 17 million pilgrims to at least 25 million. People from all walks of life and all corners of the globe make the journey.
Along the 80 km stretch from Najaf to Karbala, volunteers distribute free food and drinks to those undertaking the pilgrimage, as well as offering places to relax, wash, and sleep. These services are called Mowkeb in Arabic (we call them the same). Arbaeen Day is now the largest annual peaceful gathering in the world, with numbers expected to increase significantly every year.
But Arbaeen is much different for the Iranians and Iraqis; most Mowkebs belong to these two nations. I have experienced both the 80 km walk and providing service in Mowkebs in Karbala and along the travel route. It is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced in my entire life. Every year we prepare ourselves and look forward to this event. If one wants to walk from Najaf to Karbala (the usual route), it takes on average about four days if you rest at night and walk during the day. Those who have children or elderly companions often travel by car, or it takes more days. And if one wants to provide services in Mowkebs, they mostly start 15 to 20 days before Arbaeen, so they are ready to serve when pilgrims arrive.
Iraq is one of the hottest countries in the world, and Karbala is the same. The weather in Karbala in spring and summer is extremely hot, and in fall and winter it is very cold. It’s really hard to walk in either of these weather conditions, but thanks to Mowkebs, whenever one wants to pack their bag for the journey, they should only take necessary things, like clothes, personal equipment, and probably proper shoes. You don’t need to pay for anything on that 80 km route, which is called Tariq (meaning “path” in Arabic) or Mashaya. Everything is provided in large amounts and for free: food, water, restrooms, washing areas, and whatever you might need on a long travel even medicine and medical care.
All of these are done only and especially for the love of Imam Hussain. I love it so much that I never like to talk about its hardships, but when you look from afar it seems to be a very hard travel; from the inside, however, it is the best thing one can experience in their entire life.
In the years that Saddam ruled Iraq, he wouldn’t let any gathering to be crrating for Arbaeen, maybe because he to be so close to Yazid. Anyoen who wanted to go, Saddam’s regime (mostly called Ba’th regime here) maimed them to stop them, the people weren’t stoped even back then.
From Iran’s Islamic Revolution to Khamenei martyrdom
Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979 is inspired by Ashura and that historic event. Maybe that’s why Iranians weren’t crushed by sanctions, coups, engineered civil wars, economic pressure, and finally war. The US and Israel (ISISrael, I say, but for your convenience let’s be less strict) have tried many plans to destroy and divide Iran. They tried coups, sanctions, giving money to their own armed groups in West Asia like ISIS to attack Iran, planning to overthrow the government from within by the Chicago Boys, and many more efforts.
Their efforts in the last Iranian year include two wars and one attempted coup. In the first war, which is called the Iran–Israel 12-day war, about 1,200 lives were lost. In the heavily armed coup that the US and Israel controlled on the 18th and 19th of Dey (which is January 8th and 9th, 2026), 3,500 Iranians were murdered in the streets in only two days, most of them police officers and ordinary people. Israel and the US were the main actors in those two bloody nights.
I watched videos of how people were slaughtered in the streets, images and scenes I can never forget. In Iran, holding arms of any type is illegal for ordinary people; only the US-backed terrorists had guns, weapons, long knives, and specialized equipment that is only produced in American and Israeli factories. I am not old enough to have seen the early days of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, but I have seen catastrophic crimes of ISIS in neighboring countries, and I have read about mass assassinations in the early years of the revolution by the communist MEK, which was supported by the US (oh really, the communists?).
The last war, which is called the Ramadan War in Iran (because it started in the month of Ramadan), is the continuous war between Iran and the US. 24 hours after the start of the war, we realized that our beloved leader, Ali Khamenei, was martyred.
No one could believe such a thing; it was so far from our worst nightmares, but it was real. From that day on, for about 120 nights, we have gone out into the streets. We wave Iran’s flag, sing epic poems, call for the revenge of our leader, and for the defeat and destruction of the intruders.
I never thought that one day Arbaeen’s long walk would come to our homes
I never thought that one day Arbaeen’s long walk would come to our homes, the route would become our streets, and Mowkebs would be held on every corner. According to surveys, more than 67 percent of Iranians believe these night demonstrations should continue as long as the war continues and Iran has not reached its goals. Meanwhile, more than 30 percent of the population (about 25 million people) participate in the walks on every or most nights, and they are still continuing—I do not know until when. Tonight, as I am writing this article, it is the 120th night.
The interesting part is that the gatherings are held in almost all of the major squares in all cities across the country, not just on one street or only in large cities. In the capital city, where I live, the 8-kilometer route between two major squares is filled with people every night, and almost the entire route is lined with Mowkebs.
Even news of a ceasefire and a probable agreement did not stop people from going out every night. We go out to show our support for our Islamic Republic government, to support our new strong leader, to prevent another bloody coup from happening, to demand the continuation of the war until the complete destruction of the evil and the intruder, and to ensure that our politicians adhere to our national principles.
The gatherings start from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. (depending on the city you live in), and most of the participants are women! Who would have thought that in Iran, women would become the leaders of the biggest political movement in the country’s entire history? I say the biggest political movement in history, and you will see its proof in just a few years. I have to admit it’s really hard to be at work from morning to evening and then go out for a walk for one, two, or even more hours at night—for 120 nights? Or even more?… But it’s worth it. It’s about the country, the homeland, the religion, and our beliefs!
Imam Hussain has a very famous quote on the Day of Ashura. He says, “Someone like me never swears allegiance to someone like Yazid.”
It means that free human beings will not accept the hegemony of a corrupt man like Yazid. Mr. Ali Khamenei also recalled this quote in one of his speeches after the 12-day war and during a period of intense threats from the United States.
He said, “Iran’s nation says that a nation with such a rich culture, history, and profound lessons and thoughts will never surrender to the corrupt and tyrannical leaders of the United States.”
Thank you for reading. I hope to see you on this year’s Arbaeen walk. Only 31 days remain.
By Irani writer
RELATED POSTS
