There are various types of walks for causes or walkathons in the world and I’m pretty some of you have even joined them like the walk for the cure of breast cancer for example. Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Series is the largest, most successful education and fundraising event for breast cancer in the world.

Other walks include the Aids Walk, which is held in several US states annually.

Now walkathons like these are fundraising events that seek to gain media attention and donations to support their certain. It is a pretty nice and effective way if done properly.

But in this article we want to talk about a different walk, a walk like no other.

This walk only happens once a year and in one place.

It actually started just a few days.

It is the eternal walk towards Imam Hussein on the Day of Arbaeen.
 

Now what is Arbaeen?

The Day of Arbaeen marks forty days after the Day of Ashura, the day Imam Hussein was martyred in the Battle of Karbala.

The Arabic word ‘Arbaeen’ translates to forty (i.e. fortieth day). Millions of people around the world mark the Day of Arbaeen by mourning the tragedy that befell Hussain ibn Ali, his family and his companions.

History of Arbaeen

After the family of Prophet Muhammad remained in captivity for about a year in Damascus by Yazid, the Umayyad Caliph, and after the cruel ruler was defied in his own courtyard by Sayyida Zainab and Imam Zain al-Abideen through famous sermons, Yazid had no choice but to free the captives as word spread across the region of the crime he had committed against Hussein ibn Ali and his family.

Sayyida Zainab said to Imam Zain al-Abideen that she wanted to go back to Karbala to mourn her brother and all the martyrs of Karbala. The same was desired by other women of the caravan and Imam Zain al-Abdieen directed them towards Karbala.

As the Ahlul Bayt were approaching Karbala, there were a few people already at the grave of Imam Hussein, lamenting and grieving his martyrdom. The individual, who had been a great companion of Prophet Muhammad and who used to narrate traditions from the Messenger of God - Jabir ibne Abdullah al-Ansari (who at that point time was blind) - along with his assistant Atiyya bin Saad.

Jabir ibne Abdullah al-Ansari called out to his Imam, "I testify that you are the son of the Seal of the Prophets, the son of the Master of the Faithful, the son of the inseparable ally of piety, the descendant of guidance."

His servant, Atiyya bin Saad noted to him that he could see a caravan of people from a distance and they were approaching this sacred site. As they approached, they realized that this was none other than the caravan of the Imam they are lamenting!

The historians note that at this point, Jabir and his assistant moved out of the way so that the women of the Ahlul Bayt and the others could show their grief at the sacred grave in privacy and according to reports, the heads of the martyrs were also buried at this point in time.

So these two men, led by the great companion Jabir ibn Abdillah al-Ansari, had made the walk from Medina to the place of martyrdom of the Imam. Hence, they are the first to commemorate the Arbaeen walk.

Just to mention, there are differences of opinion concerning the date of Arbaeen whether it was in the year 61 AH after the tragedy in Karbala, or in the following year.

The Day of Arbaeen, today

Today, almost 1400 years later, the Day of Arbaeen is mourned by millions of people around the world. It is marked as a day to pay tribute to the sacrifice of Hussain for social justice. On this day, people organize large marches in cities across the world to symbolize the eternal nature of Hussain’s revolution and to show they stand for social justice, honor and peace.

In recent years – after the fall of the Saddam regime – a tradition of walking 80km from Najaf to Karbala has been reignited. The journey takes about three days by foot. Other pilgrims walk from even farther in Iraq, sometimes covering hundreds of kilometers on foot. Right now we have pilgrims walking from Basra, 500km away from Karbala.

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 continuous threats of terrorists 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.

The sayings of the Infallibles, peace be upon them all, have insistently guided the believers to be present in Karbala to mark the 40th day after the tragedy of Karbala and in fact, the 11th successor to the Noble Prophet of Islam, Imam Hasan al-Askari has actually considered this act as being one of the clear and apparent signs of a true believer when he said:

علامات المؤمن خمس: صلاة إحدى وخمسين، وزيارة الأربعين، والتّختّم باليمين، وتعفير الجبين و جهر ببسم الله الرحمن الرحيم.

The signs of a true believer are five:

1. 51 rak’at of Salat (per day – 17 of which are the obligatory prayers and 34 which are the recommended daily prayers)

2. Ziyarat Arba‘een;

3. Wearing a ring on the right hand (an Aqeeq ring);

4. Placing the head on the earth (during sajad in the Salat);

5. Openly pronouncing “بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم” (Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem) when reciting the two surahs in the Salat.

So why do we walk to Imam Hussein on Arbaeen?

We told you guys earlier the walk of Arbaeen isn’t like a walk for an illness to gain funds or media attention. In fact, it is the complete opposite. In the pilgrimage everything is served for free, people actually insist that you receive free services and foods from them.

Also, go do a quick search and see how many media platforms have covered this great event.

The walk of Arbaeen is an exceptional pilgrimage that expresses the extent of love and loyalty to the personality who sacrificed his life and his family’s so that we can live free of oppression.

The journey is just getting started, you still have time. If you are able to make it, go ahead and experience it as it will be an experience you will never forget.