What and when is Arbaeen?
Introduction: The World’s Largest Peaceful Gathering You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Every year, tens of millions of people, men, women, and children, walk for days through the heart of Iraq to the city of Karbala. They come from different countries, cultures, and even religions. They travel on foot, sleep under the stars, and are fed by strangers along the way.
This event is called Arbaeen, and despite being the largest annual peaceful gathering on Earth, many outside the Muslim world have never heard of it.
At its heart, Arbaeen is about remembering a man who stood against injustice more than 1,300 years ago: Imam Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
What Does “Arbaeen” Mean?
The word Arbaeen means “forty” in Arabic. In Islamic tradition, forty days marks the end of an intense mourning period.
For Shia Muslims, Arbaeen is the 40th day after Ashura, the day when Imam Hussain and his small group of companions were killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. They had refused to submit to the tyranny of Yazid, the ruler of the time, even though they were vastly outnumbered and faced certain death.
Imam Hussain’s stand is seen not just as a religious event, but as a timeless example of courage, moral integrity, and speaking truth to power.
How Did the Arbaeen Tradition Begin?
The first Arbaeen commemoration is believed to have been carried out by Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari, a companion of Prophet Muhammad. On the 40th day after the tragedy of Karbala, Jabir visited the grave of Imam Hussain.
That same day, Hussain’s surviving family members, who had been taken prisoner, returned from Damascus and came to the grave. This became the first known Ziyarah (pilgrimage) for Arbaeen.
When is Arbaeen?
Arbaeen is held every year on the 20th of Safar, the second month in the Islamic lunar calendar.
Because the Islamic calendar is shorter than the Gregorian calendar, the date of Arbaeen changes each year.
In 2024, Arbaeen will be observed around August 25, although the exact date may vary depending on moon sighting.
The Arbaeen Pilgrimage: A Journey of Love and Solidarity
Today, Arbaeen is marked by a massive pilgrimage to Karbala, where Imam Hussain is buried. The most famous route is the 80 km (50 mile) walk from Najaf to Karbala, which takes about 2–3 days.
Along the route, pilgrims pass numbered poles that help them track their progress, there are 1,452 in total between Najaf and Karbala.
What Makes This Pilgrimage Unique?
It’s Free: Volunteers set up thousands of service stations (mowkebs) to provide free food, water, shelter, and even medical care.
It’s Open to All: While rooted in Shia Muslim tradition, people of all backgrounds, including Sunnis, Christians, and others, take part.
It’s a Cultural Mosaic: You’ll hear languages from around the world, Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, English, Swahili, and more.
One participant once described it as “a moving city of compassion.”
Why Do People Still Walk After 1,300 Years?
For Shia Muslims, visiting Imam Hussain on Arbaeen is more than honoring a historical figure. It is a way to:
Renew commitment to justice and truth
Reject oppression in all forms
Remember the values of compassion and sacrifice
In the words of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq, a descendant of Imam Hussain:
“Whoever comes to the tomb of al-Hussain walking, Almighty Allah will record for him one thousand rewards, erase one thousand of his sins, and raise him one thousand ranks for each step he takes.”
The Spirit of Arbaeen
What truly sets Arbaeen apart is not only its scale but its spirit. In a world often divided by politics, economics, and identity, Arbaeen creates an environment where:
Strangers serve each other without expecting anything in return.
The wealthy and the poor walk side by side.
Acts of kindness, like offering a cup of tea, a place to rest, or even washing a pilgrim’s feet, become the norm.
For many, the walk to Karbala is also a time of reflection, prayer, and self-discovery.
Conclusion: More Than a Pilgrimage
For those who have never heard of Arbaeen, it might be surprising to learn that the world’s largest annual gathering is not for a concert, sporting event, or political rally, but for a message.
That message, carried for over thirteen centuries, is simple: Stand for truth, even when you stand alone.
At Futrus Media, we believe stories like Arbaeen matter, not only for their historical importance but for their ability to inspire unity, compassion, and moral courage in our world today.