You may be wondering what this image represents.
The Day of Arbaeen marks forty days after, the day Hussein son of Ali was killed in the Battle of Karbala. Hussein ibn Ali was a 7th century revolutionary leader who sacrified his life for justice and rejecting oppression. The arabic word ‘Arbaeen’ (pronounced Arr-ba-een) translates to forty (ie fortieth day). The traditional period of mourning in Islamic culture is forty days. As such, millions of people around the world mark the Day of Arbaeen by remembering the story of Hussein, his family and his companions.
Background of Arbaeen Day
Hussein ibn Ali made the ultimate stand for justice against the oppresive ruler Yazid. Yazid was a corrupt ruler who was violating the basic rights and dignity of the people. Yazid wanted Hussein to acknowledge his rule and give credibility to his corrupt leadership. However Hussein refused to do so, based on his moral values and principles, and was killed along with his family members and companions holding onto their honour and dignity.
After the Battle of Karbala, Yazid’s men took the women and children of Hussein’s family as prisoners. They were degraded as they were forced to walk in chains through many towns and cities including Kufa – where they were oppressed by crowds until they were eventually presented to Yazid in Damascus. Hussain may have died, but his movement lived on. His sister Zainab and son Ali ibn Hussein both gave powerful speeches against Yazid in front of his ministers, calling him out for his corrupt regime and unnerving Yazid’s ministers. Yazid eventually realised that if he left the family of Hussein at his palace they would humiliate him in front of his ministers even further and was forced to free them. The family of Hussein would spend their lives after the Battle of Karbala teaching people about Hussein’s message and his stand against corruption.
It is said that the Day of Arbaeen is the day on which Hussain’s family returned to the land of Karbala, to properly bid farewell to the fallen heroes and finally grieve for their loved ones. The Day of Arbaeen, today Today, almost 1400 years later, the Day of Arbaeen is remembered by millions of people around the world. It is marked as a day to pay tribute to the sacrifice of Hussain for social justice. Typically, on this day people organize large marches in cities across the world to symbolise the eternal nature of Hussein’s revolution and to show they stand for social justice, compassion and dignity.. In recent years a tradition of walking 80km from Najaf (the resting place of Ali the father of Hussein) to Karbala has been reignited.
Every year since, the number has been rising steadily from 17 million pilgrims to at least 25 million. People from all walks of life and all corners of the globe make the journey, despite the imminent threat of terrorists who have vowed to attack the pilgrims. Along the 80km stretch from Najaf to Karbala volunteers distribute free food and drinks to those undertaking the pilgrimage, as well as offering places to relax, wash and sleep. Arbaeen Day is now the largest annual peaceful gathering in the world, with numbers set to increase significantly every year.