Over 21 Million Shia Muslims Participate in Arbaeen Pilgrimage in Iraq

This year, more than 21 million Shia Muslims gathered in Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, an event that marks the 40th day of mourning for Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and a pivotal figure in Shia Islam.

The pilgrimage reached its peak on Sunday, with many attendees showing their solidarity with Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict.

Arbaeen, meaning “forty” in Arabic, is one of the world’s largest religious gatherings and holds deep significance for Shia Muslims, particularly those in Iraq and Iran.

During this time, Karbala becomes the focal point for the Shia community, as it is home to the grand mausoleums of Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas, where pilgrims gather to mourn and remember the sacrifice of Hussein, who was martyred in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD by the forces of the Umayyad caliph Yazid.

This year, the pilgrimage was marked by the prominent display of Palestinian flags by many participants, reflecting the current conflict in Gaza.

According to the institution responsible for managing the Abbas mausoleum, the number of Arbaeen pilgrims this year reached 21,480,525. Among these were approximately 3.5 million Iranian pilgrims, as reported by official sources in Tehran.

Mohammed al-Tamimi, a 32-year-old pilgrim, expressed his solidarity, telling the AFP news agency that the Palestinian flags among the pilgrims symbolized “support for our brothers in Palestine and a response to the Zionists, emphasizing that Muslims stand united against Zionist actions and the atrocities occurring in Gaza.

The conflict in Gaza has seen over 40,000 Palestinians killed since October, while an estimated 1,139 people lost their lives during a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7.

Arbaeen is traditionally held under stringent security measures and last year attracted around 22 million pilgrims, with Iran contributing the largest number of foreign visitors at 4 million.