Iranian Envoy, Ammar Al-Hakim Discuss Facilitation of Pilgrimage to Iraq on Ashura, Arbaeen
The two discussed the latest political developments in Iraq and the region and expansion of relations between Tehran and Baghdad, Baghdad Today reported.
Hakim said stability in Iraq would benefit the whole region, stressing the need for efforts to establish stability in the Arab country.
The Iranian envoy, for his part, highlighted the role of religious leadership of Iraq in mobilizing people to confront terrorism in the country.
They also exchanged views on measures to facilitate of trips to Iraq’s holy cities by Muslims from different countries to take part in mourning rituals in the first ten days of the lunar Hijri month of Muharram leading to Ashura and the Arbaeen season.
Ashura is the culmination of a 10-day annual mourning period in the lunar calendar month of Muharram for Imam Hussein (AS), who was martyred along with his 72 companions in the Battle of Karbala in southern Iraq in 680 AD after fighting courageously for justice against the much larger army of the Umayyad caliph, Yazid I.
The Muharram ceremonies symbolize the eternal and unwavering stance of truth against falsehood and humanity’s struggle against injustice, tyranny and oppression.
Each year on Ashura, the mourners, dressed in black, march in mass processions, listen to elegies and hold noon prayers, with benefactors distributing votive foods.
The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
It marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS).
Each year, pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located.
After two years, restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic on participation of foreign pilgrims in the Arbaeen march have been lifted.
Some five million are expected to take part in this year’s Arbaeen march.
