Although Iraq has been ravaged by wars and sectarian conflicts led by the Islamic State, the surge of the terrorist organisation has not deterred crores of Shia Muslims from flocking to Karbala in Iraq for the annual Arbaeen gathering, as reported by albwaba news .
Touted as one of the biggest religious processions in the world, the Arbaeen walk marks 40 days of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in battle against the tyranny of Yazid I . Over 2.5 crore people commemorated the martyrdom last year, and the numbers might cross three crore this year with 8500 Indians also attending.
This tremendous rise in the number pilgrims taking part in the ritual comes as defiance in the face of threats by the Islamic State, and two recent bomb blasts in Baghdad. Last year the event took place amid a similar security threat, and was also attended by Sunni Muslims as a mark of unity.
Extremists in the Islamic State consider Shia Muslims as apostates and call for their killing, and that is why the religious gathering has gained significance as a demonstration of unity and an open challenge to the tyranny of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, similar to that of self proclaimed Caliph Yazid I, against which Imam Hussain led a struggle.
In a time when IS has surpassed every limit of brutality and terror, and the sectarian divide is threatening to lead to more violence, a show of unity in a peaceful gathering holds more significance than it ever did in the course of history.
Representational image | Source: Reuters
Scroll quoted an Indian pilgrim Sakina Abbas as saying, “I am not afraid of ISIS no one can stop me from visiting Karbala for Arbaeen.”
Although dominated by people from the Shia school of thought, Arbaeen isn’t restricted by religion since people from other faiths, like Delhi’s Manoj Dutt also attend, and salute the faith in Imam Hussain’s sacrifice.