Mumbai devotees reach Iraq for Arbaeen walk in honour of Imam Hussain

Millions of people from across the world are gathering for an 80-kilometre walk from Najaf to Karbala, commemorating Arbaeen - the 40th day following the martyrdom of Imam Hussain ibn Ali (a.s), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Among these millions worldwide, hundreds of devout individuals from Mumbai have commenced their Arbaeen Walk, embarking from the revered shrine of Imam Ali (a.s) in Najaf, with the aim of completing the 80-kilometer journey in 3-5 days.

The Arbaeen Walk holds great significance for Shia Muslims. They visit the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in remembrance of Imam Hussain (a.s) and his father Imam Ali (a.s). During the Arbaeen Walk, the pilgrims, also called as the Zaereens of Imam Hussain ibn Ali (a.s), remember the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (a.s). The Arbaeen Walk encapsulates the message that Imam Hussain stood for 1400 years ago.

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Mumbai devotees embark on the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage

Sayed Zamin Ali, a resident of South Mumbai, is once again making his pilgrimage to Iraq for the Arbaeen of Imam Hussain (a.s) this year, marking yet another addition to his multiple participations in the Arbaeen Walk over the years. Speaking from Najaf on September 1, Zamin shared his thoughts with mid-day.com as he embarked on his latest Arbaeen Walk journey."

He said, "It is always a wonderful experience to join one of the world's largest peaceful gatherings. People from all walks of life and all corners of the globe make the journey. People speak different languages, and they have different ways of living but here, at Arbaeen Walk, all are united with one name- Imam Hussain (a.s).

Along the 80 km stretch from Najaf to Karbala volunteers distribute free food, fruits, juices, and water to those undertaking the pilgrimage. Arbaeen Day is now one of the largest annual peaceful gatherings in the world.

Zamin added, "Hundreds from Mumbai visit here for pilgrimage and to join the Arbaeen Walk. The walk is planned by the Zaereens well in advance and some even reach Najaf a week before to perform other Ziyarats in Kazmain and Samarrah and then return back to Najaf from where they begin the Arbaeen Walk. Mostly people who visit here with their families and friends perform the Arbaeen Walk in groups."

He said, "We are six of us in a group, all friends, we began the Arbaeen Walk on September 1 and have planned to complete the 80-kilometre walk in 3 to 4 days. We will be mostly walking in the evening and until dawn. We should be reaching Karbala at least one day before the Chehlum (40th day of the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain ibn Ali (a.s). After we reach Karbala, the first thing to do is to visit the holy shrine of Imam Hussain (a.s) and remember his sacrifice, pain and the injustice done to his family by Yazid and his armies."

Another Mumbai resident, Vasi Sayed, the chief of Guldasta-E-Matami, a Mumbai-based Anjuman, who reached Najaf for the Arbaeen Walk told mid-day.com, "This is my fifth year of Arbaeen Walk. The locals here are very helpful and their hospitality during the Arbaeen Walk is remarkable. I have never faced any problem during any of the Arbaeen Walk in all these years. Moreover, there are many mawkebs (tents) of different countries including India's along the theArbaeen Walk for any help."

Some people from Mumbai planned their visit well in advance and began preparations for the Arbaeen Walk.

Vasi said, "I generally plan the visit to Arbaeen at least 3-6 months in advance. After landing in Najaf, we first visit the holy shrine Imam Ali (a.s) and then begin the Arbaeen Walk. The administration here (in Iraq) has made the Arbaeen Walk much easier. They have stationed polls with numbers on each of them at every 50 metres so the total polls stationed are 1452. These polls not only make it easier to identify the distance one has covered but also to exactly identify the location of any of the Zaereens, in case they are to be located along the Arbaeen route."

He said, "The route is very simple, from Imam Ali's (a.s) shrine one moves towards Wadi Us Salam (the world's largest graveyard) and then towards the highway that leads to Karbala. There are millions of people on the route along with their aged parents, young children, families and even friends. In all these years I have seen people from all parts of the world be it Europe, Africa or Asia taking part in the Arbaeen Walk. They are kind, generous and helpful. My conversations with many people from different countries have been about the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (a.s), his family members and companions. Some have also been in tears while remembering what happened in Karbala with Imam Hussain(a.s) and his family members."

Vasi, who has begun the Arbaeen Walk along with a group of his friends from Mumbai further said, "We will be covering the 80-kilometre distance mostly in three days. We have decided to walk at night due to the rising temperature in Iraq. Within the first two days, we have planned to cover over half of the total distance."

Some of those from Mumbai visiting Iraq for the Arbaeen of Imam Hussain ibn Ali (a.s) have opted to travel in larger groups and through tour guides who arranged for their accommodations, necessary documentation and luggage transportation from Najaf to Karbala.

Muhammad Imran Mirza, a college student from Mumbai told mid-day.com, "I reached Najaf with my friends a couple of days ago. I had heard about the Arbaeen Walk before and decided to visit here this year. I had planned to visit Najaf four months ago and accordingly prepared myself for the visit to the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala. For the Arbaeen Walk, I have a group of friends with me, some of them have completed the Arbaeen Walk in past years. My parents were happy when I first told them I wanted to go for Arbaeen Walk this year. I have done all the preparations for the Arbaeen Walk, with the help of Imam Hussain (a.s) I will cover the 80-kilometre distance as we have planned and reach Karbala a day before the Chehlum of Imam Hussain (a.s) to mark the Arbaeen of Imam Hussain (a.s)."

Why shia muslims mourn during Muharram

Over 1400 years ago in the month of Islamic month Muharram, Imam Hussain ibn Ali (a.s), as well as many of his companions and family members, were martyred by the Umayyad caliph Yazid in the year 680 CE after Imam Hussain's (a.s) refusal to submit to a tyrant regime.

Shia Muslims wear black clothes, organise majlis and take out religious processions to mark the martyrdom of Imam Hussain ibn Ali (a.s). They also distribute cooked food, water, sherbat and juices to people in remembrance of imam Hussain (a.s), his children, as young as 6-month-old and four-year-old, and his family members and companions who were martyred while being without any food and water for three days in Karbala.

Many locals in Iraq, in remembrance of Imam Hussain ibn Ali (a.s), his family and companions, travel hundreds of kilometres and reach the Arbaeen Walk route to serve free food, water, first aid and medical services to Zaereens during their Arbaeen Walk. People From different countries of the world participate in matam at different intervals at the holy shrines of Imam Ali (a.s), Imam Hussain ibn Ali (a.s) and Maula Abbas ibn Ali (a.s), the younger brother of Imam Hussain (a.s). Several People from different countries also set up Sabeels across the Arbaeen Walk route from where food, juices, fruits and water is distributed to the Zaereens. These are in remembrance of Imam Hussain ibn Ali and his children who were refused even water in Karbala around 1400 years ago.

Special arrangements are also made for medical treatments across the Arbaeen Walk route.

During Muharram and Safar, Shia Muslims also refrain from attending and celebrating joyous events in remembrance of Imam Hussain (a.s) and his family members.

Arbaeen procession in Mumbai

Meanwhile, people from across the state participate in the Arbaeen processions in Mumbai. Several people walk from Thane, Mira Road, Saki Naka and even Kurla to join the Arbaeen procession that starts from Masjid-e-Iranian in south Mumbai and ends at Shia cemetery (Rahmatabad Qabristan) in Mazgaon.

Meanwhile, among the Zaereens, some are first-timers for the Arbaeen Walk.