Arbaeen Procession Should Echo Fight Against Today's Oppressors: Scholar
“The Arbaeen procession plays a significant role in spreading religious values, but we must remember the higher ideals it represents,” Hojat-ol-Islam Seyyed Kazem Seyyed-Bagheri, a faculty member at Research Institute for Islamic Culture and Thought, told IQNA.
“Imam Hussein's (AS) mission was to establish justice and freedom and to dismantle the structures of oppression and tyranny; therefore, the Arbaeen procession should reflect this fight against contemporary oppressors, especially as this year’s event coincides with the ongoing atrocities committed by the Zionist regime against Muslims in Gaza,” he added.
One of the world's largest religious gatherings, the Arbaeen Procession commemorates the 40th day after Ashura, which marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). This year, Arbaeen will be observed on August 25.
Watch:
Every year, a massive number of Shia Muslims converge on Karbala, the site of Imam Hussein's (AS) sacred shrine, to partake in mourning rituals. Pilgrims, mostly from Iraq and Iran, journey to the holy city, often covering long distances on foot.
This year’s Arbaeen is being marked amid brutal Israeli attacks against Muslims in the besieged Gaza Strip. The Israeli aggression has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people, predominantly women and children, wounding tens of thousands more, and displacing almost all of its population.
Read More:
The Arbaeen procession should foster unity and empathy among all Muslims and even non-Muslims, conveying Imam Hussein’s (AS) message to stand against oppression, Seyyed-Bagheri added.
“It should serve as a global gathering for freedom lovers to raise the banner of justice and freedom, ensuring that everyone who participates in the Arbaeen march feels empowered by this message,” he stressed.
Elsewhere, he noted that the event stands out for its popular nature, drawing together all those who love Imam Hussein (AS) from around the world, united in their search for transcendental, divine, and human values.
“It is crucial to ensure that this ceremony remains a grassroots event, free from government control, budgetary influence, and political propaganda,” he noted.
The cleric also urged pilgrims to honor the values of all faiths and sects, particularly the Sunni community, so that this event remains free from any grudges, animosity, or divisions.
4232762
