Arbaeen
Arbaeen, meaning forty, is a major religious observance in Shia Islam that commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. It marks the 40th day after Ashura, the day of Husayn’s death, and thus closes the mourning period associated with his martyrdom.
The central act of Arbaeen is the pilgrimage to Husayn’s shrine in Karbala, Iraq. Pilgrims travel from
Along the route, communities provide food, water, and shelter to pilgrims, and processions or reenactments related
Historically, Arbaeen has evolved into a major expression of Shia devotion, with large-scale pilgrimages developing over
Globally, Arbaeen is observed by Shia communities beyond Iraq, including in Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, India, and