SHAFAQNA- The most great annual human gathering of Arbaeen is taking place in Karbala. Here is ten facts about Arbaeen that you probably don’t know, but show why the great march of Arbaeen should be recorded in Guinness.
10. Ziyarat Marad-al-Ra’s
According to historical narratives and reports, the Day of Arbaeen of the Year 61 AH is the day on which the head of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) was returned to his body. According to the Martyr Ghazi Tabatabaei, the Ziyarat Arbaeen is also known as the Ziyarat Marad-al-Ra’s.
Marad-al-Ra’s means returning the head (Marad means ‘returning’ and al-Ra’s means ‘Head’).
On that day, the captives of Ashura returned to Karbala and joined the holy head to the holy body of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) .
9. Arbaeen, 850 years ago, in Spain
850 years ago, Al-Qurtubi, one of the Spanish scientist in Andalusia wrote in his book: The Shia Imamiya believes that the head of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) returned to Karbala after 40 days and joined to his holy body. This day is popular for them and they call the Ziyarat of this day, as the Ziyarat Arbaeen.
8. Arbaeen march has thousands years old
Al-Biruni, one of the greatest scientists in the world, who lived about 1000 years ago, wrote in his book Al-Athar Al-Baqiyah (The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries): On the 20th of the Month of Safar, the holy head of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) returned to his body and was buried in the same place.
Al-Biruni explicitly indicated the pilgrimage of Arbaeen, which shows this ritual has thousands years old.
7. Arbaeen ceremony in Tanzania
After Karbala, the largest and the oldest Arbaeen ceremony is held in Tanzania. The Arbaeen ceremony in Zanzibar is one of the oldest religious events in Africa and of course there was no attempt to register this event at UNESCO.
6. The biggest migration in Iranian history since the Aryan migration
Every year during the Arbaeen era, about 4 million people leave Iran for Karbala, and then return to their cities after the pilgrimage.
The returning of the pilgrims into their country is the biggest migration in Iranian history since the Aryan migration until now.
5. Safar uprising in Iraq
We all know that the pilgrimage of Arbaeen during the Saddam Hussein era was banned in Iraq. Despite this, the people of Najaf, on 15th Safar 1977, formed a caravan with 30000 members that moved to Karbala. They faced government crackdowns from the beginning of their move and some were martyred. And finally, on the Najaf-Karbala route, Saddam Hussein’s forces arrested thousands of pilgrims. Some of these detainees were executed and some were sentenced to life imprisonment. This action has been recorded as Safar uprising in Iraq.
4. Welcoming the war-torn people
The Mawkibs on the road to Karbala, are set up by Iraqi tribes and caravans. It’s interesting to know that, after the ISIS attack on the northern Iraq, many people specially Sunnis, Christians and Yazidis were forced to flee their homes. Then, despite the religious differences, these Mawkibs welcomed the war-torn people of northern Iraq.
3. No exact answer from Guinness Organization
Despite all the efforts made by the Shia communities, the Arbaeen rituals has not yet been recorded in Guinness records.
Even Fotros Media itself has taken steps to register this event in Guinness records, but so far no exact answer has been received from this Organization.
2. Distribution of seven hundred million meals per year by villagers
During the heartbreaking Haithi earthquake, the US military has registered its name in the Guinness Book of World, for distributing 6 million meals to the earthquake victims.
This superpower considers this to be its honor. But it is good to know that the food distributed by the Iraqi people to Arbaeen pilgrims is seven hundred million meals per year, which has been done by hospitable villagers, not superpowers!
1. Get rid of ignorance and misery!
In the text of the Ziyarat Arbaeen, which the pilgrims have to read after reaching Karbala, there is a wonderful statement: “And Imam Husayn (A.S) gave his life for you (God) to get your servants rid of ignorance and misery”.
This text is punished originally in a video clip in Persian by Fotros Media and is translated by Shafaqna English.
Read more from Shafaqna:
Who were the first pilgrims of Arbaeen?