Arbaeen, Journey of Zealous Hearts (5)

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Welcome to the 5th episode of this series.

One of the amazing scenes of Arbaeen epic marching is the participation of neo-Muslims and non-Muslims among those who march on foot toward the shrine of Imam Hussein (AS).

Marching on foot toward Karbala is usually done on the days leading to Arbaeen or 40^th day of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom. According to the acknowledgement of friends and foes this is the unmatched and unprecedented gathering of human beings in the history of mankind. Iraq, a country that lacks many basic security standards and living conditions, hosts tens of millions of loving people who cover the roads leading to Karbala. The western media boycott this epic. This is while the so-called mainstream media in the west stir immense ballyhoo if a Jew somewhere on planet earth gets the slightest injury in his body.

14 centuries have passed since the first pilgrim of Arbaeen Jaber ibn Abdullah Ansari traveled to Karbala on foot and reached Imam Hussein’s tomb on the 40^th day of his martyrdom. Ever since, this tradition has been carried out although at times it was very dangerous and pilgrims would lose their life or be mutilated. Ayatollah Khamenei says, “The start of the Husseini magnet is on the day of Arbaeen. It raises Jaber ibn Abdullah from Medina and takes him to Karbala. This is the very magnet that exists in my and your heart after the lapse of consecutive centuries.”  

Walking on the roads toward Karbala, we can see faces of neo-Muslims who have embraced Islam in recent years or even non-Muslims who have found Hussein as the symbol of every good characteristic. Imam Hussein is the end of perplexities and destitutions. These people are not content to change the dusty roads leading to Karbala with the luxury, welfare, comfort and wealth of their rich countries. How can one solve this contradiction? Fed-up with the colorful world in the west, these neo-Muslims and non-Muslims are astonished and happy with the plainness of their hosts as they have found the Ark of Salvation and Beacon of Guidance, Hussein.

A Dutch lady, who has become Muslim a few years ago, describes pilgrimage of Karbala as her great wish. She says, “This time Imam Hussein invited me. This trip is an invitation from him.”

This Dutch lady is walking along with her husband and little playful child. The dust of the road has covered the child’s face and he takes his little steps faster to help his mommy reach her great wish better. She continues, “You cannot find such a thing in Holland. Over there the government has a lot of money and helps you with this money … but I like living here more. For me it is not important that the welfare facilities here are very few. In Holland life is really very very cold and I like to have the warm and sincere life of here.”

In another corner of this huge gathering there is a Ukrainian youth called Roman. He is not a Muslim but he has come to see this epic event with his Muslim friends. He had come just for watching but now this Husseini magnet has attracted him. His eyes are astounded by the lovers who illustrate the scenes of humanity and ethics in the most beautiful way. He asks himself, “Really who is this Hussein and how can he create such a current after 14 centuries?” Roman, in response to the questions of the onlookers, says, “What have surprised me are the kindness, generosity and magnanimity of the Iraqi Muslim nation. This has changed my view of the Shias. Quite contrary to what the western media say about the Shias they are kind people and alien with war and enmity. In this journey I got to the certainty that the pure Mohammedan Islam is the religion of sacrifice and selflessness and I’ve decided to announce my Islam at the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS).”

Igor Slobodnik is another neo-Muslim from Ukraine who had participated for the first time in the Arbaeen march. He says, “When we came to Najaf and arrived at Imam Ali’s shrine we were so amazed at the serenity and safe atmosphere of the place. And the affection and nice hospitality of the people here and the officials of the shrine is exactly opposite what we are told about the situation in Iraq. I will relate to my family and the people of my country what we witnessed and will tell them that I found the real meaning of Islam in the legacy and knowledge of the Ahl al-Bayt and their lofty shrines.”

Roman and Igor shouldn’t be looked at as mere individuals but they represent a new current which will join the wave of love of Hussein (AS) in the world. The multi-million strong march of Arbaeen is the great wave that will, Insha Allah, crush the empires of deceit and falsehood in the world with shining the light of truth in the hearts of the enthusiasts everywhere in the world.

Ms. Claudia Borgia is an Italian photographer who had held the gallery of Ashura photos in Rome a few years ago. She is a Catholic Christian who has photographed beautiful scenes of Iranians’ love of Imam Hussein to show it to the Italian people. She had participated in the Arbaeen epic march last year. She says, “Imam Hussein has invited me. I have just realized that Imam Hussein is not an individual but it seems that he is a way and style for living, living for truth. And I love this and I want to seek such kind of life; i.e. to do the best possible thing for right and justice.” This Italian photographer believes that marching on foot helps one to find new things about oneself and Imam Hussein (AS). Claudia Bargio, who has joined the lovers of Ahl al-Bayt with full hijab and a headband of “Ya Hussein”, continues, “Here is the best things I have ever attained in my life.” Claudia is not an individual but she represents a great number of people who have bowed down before the grandeur of Hussein although they are not Muslim.

This episode was dedicated to the neo-Muslims and non-Muslims who have replied positively to the call of Imam Hussein and set out to follow his path. But one should not forget the great contribution rendered by a big number of Shia Muslims who are less known and heard of. They are the Shias of Nigeria; a country in the west of Africa which had a small minority of Shias some 40 years ago. But within 3 decades over 10 million people of the country have professed the School of Ahl al-Bayt as a result of the Islamic Revolution led by Imam Khomeini and through the strenuous efforts of such figures like Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky. Sheikh Zakzaky, the leader of Nigerian Shias, has been imprisoned for almost a year without trial. Many of the Nigerian Shias cannot participate in the Arbaeen epic in Karbala due to the long distance and financial problems. Therefore, a few days before Arbaeen they set out on foot toward the city of Zaria, the center of Sheikh Zakzaky’s activities, to reach the ceremony of Arbaeen mourning at the Hussainia of the city. Over 8 million lovers of Ahl al-Bayt walk several kilometers toward Zaria. But alas, this epic phenomenon is also boycotted by the media conglomerate in the west. The noteworthy point is that these pure-hearted people take this journey of love despite threats posed by Saudi-sponsored terrorists like Boko Haram and other western-backed outfits.

RM/AS