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 Imam Hussain for social justice . In recent years centuries old tradition of walking 88km from Najaf (the resting place of Ali the father of Hussain) to Karbala has been reignited. Every year since, the number has been rising steadily from 17 million pilgrims to at least 4.5 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.
Pastor John Shuck of Southminster Presbyterian Church of Beaverton has returned from the pilgrimage of a lifetime — the Arbaeen. Shuck described his journey at a Washington County Public Affairs Forum on Monday, Dec. 3. “This is the largest peaceful religious gathering in recorded history,” Shuck said. “Yet most people in America have never even heard of it.””I was moved by the story of Hussein and those who follow him,” he said. “I wanted to be inspired by his courage.”
“When they found out that I was from America, and they found out that I was a Christian minister, they were flipping over backwards with gratitude that I came to document their story and honor them.”
“It was an amazing experience to go and realize that this is a walk for peace, justice — and resistance to tyranny wherever it may be.” “It means that every place and every day has its moments of injustice, but the call to respond is to say “I am with you, Hussein.’ This is about who will stand for justice, regardless of religion.”
For us the pilgrims, the Arbaeen walk is a journey on the road built upon the finest virtues of humanity — kindness, empathy, respect, freedom, and above all else, love. No visitor of this pilgrimage ever returns to their pre-walk existence; a spiritual transformation can be promised after the walk. It feels as if you have conquered death and discovered love — the two questions every being in this world is seeking answers for . Link