Why Arbaeen – the Shiite Muslim pilgrimage of mourning – has a deep significance that brings millions to Iraq each year
Each year, millions of Shiite Muslims walk to Karbala to honor Husayn, the prophet’s grandson, whose death continues to shape their faith.
Every year, millions of Shiite Muslims journey from the deserts of southern Iraq to the holy city of Karbala for Arbaeen, one of the world's largest religious pilgrimages. This pilgrimage takes place 40 days after Ashura, a holiday commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in 680 C.E. Arbaeen marks the end of the 40-day mourning period that begins during the Islamic month of Muharram.
As a scholar of religion and politics specializing in Shiite communities, I find that Arbaeen reveals much about Shiite Islam through its theology of sacrifice and focus on injustice. The pilgrimage brings together millions of people, embodying the enduring struggle between good and evil and the importance of upholding a moral code despite powerful opposition.
The roots of Arbaeen lie in the events of 680 C.E. when Husayn, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, refused to recognize the unjust rule of Yazid, a Umayyad caliph. Husayn led a small group of family and followers, who were met with a much larger army near Karbala and were subsequently killed. The women and children were taken captive to Damascus. Shiites view this as a sacrifice to preserve true faith and oppose unjust rule.
The remembrance of Husayn's martyrdom reminds Shiites of the prophetic teachings and the ongoing struggle between good and evil. It serves as a reminder to uphold a moral code, even in the face of powerful opposition. Following the battle, the survivors stopped at Husayn's grave, joined by a disciple of the Prophet, who is believed to be the first pilgrim to visit the grave.
Today, the main pilgrimage route runs approximately 48 miles from Najaf, where Ali's tomb is located, to Husayn's shrine in Karbala. Along the way, volunteers set up "mawakib," providing pilgrims with free food, tea, medical care, and accommodation. The pilgrimage culminates in the convergence of millions of believers at Karbala's Imam Husayn shrine on August 5, 2026.
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