AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The 6th International Arbaeen Pilgrimage Scientific Seminar was started by the Karbala Center for Studies and Research in cooperation with Iraqi institutions and universities.
The opening ceremony of the Seminar was held on the Friday morning, September 23, 2022, in the Khatam al-Anbiya Hall of the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussein (a.s.) in Karbala.
The theme of the 6th scientific and international seminar of Arbaeen Pilgrimage is “Arbaeen; perseverance on the path, the sign of identity”.
The ceremony was attended by many Shiite and Sunni scholars, presidents of Iraqi universities, scholars and writers, administrative and military officials, tribal sheikhs, managers of scientific-research institutions, and a group of educated women.
Mr. Hassan Khakarand as the representative of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly of and Hojat al-Islam Hosseini Aref as the representative of the Ashura International Foundation participated in this scientific and religious seminar.
Arbaeen pilgrimage, symbol of Shiism in today’s world: Hakim
The first speaker of the seminar was Hojat al-Islam Sayed Riaz Hakim, the son of late Grand Ayatollah Sayed Mohammad Saeed Hakim (r.a.), who was invited to the stage as a representative of the seminary.
Considering the Arbaeen pilgrimage of Imam Hussain (a.s.) as an important phenomenon with many dimensions, he briefly mentioned some of these features.
Among the issues addressed by Hakim were: “numerous hadiths from Imams (a.s.) about Arbaeen pilgrimage as evidence of this pilgrimage”, “communication between believers through this pilgrimage”, “emphasizing the values for which Imam Hussain (a.s.) sacrifice his life”, and “Arbaeen as a symbol”.
Arbaeen pilgrimage, uprising against those who continue the Umayyad tyranny: Al-Abayeji
The second speaker of the ceremony was Mr. Hassan Rashid Javad Al-Abayjei, the Secretary-General of the holy shrine of Imam Hussain (a.s.).
According to a hadith of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.), Arbaeen pilgrimage is a sign of faith,” he said, “Today, the Arbaeen Walk is the continuation of the uprising of Imam Sajjad (a.s.) and Lady Zainab (a.s.) against the Umayyad tyranny, that is, the uprising of truth against falsehood, and the uprising against those who continue the same tyranny.
Ashura epic, Arbaeen pilgrimage, assist Islamic society to resist against Western cultural invasion: Al-Quraishi
The third speaker of the 6th International Scientific Seminar of Arbaeen Pilgrimage was Mr. Abdul Amir Aziz Al-Quraishi, the head of the Karbala Center for Studies and Research, who is the director of this seminar.
Al-Quraishi stated, “Progress in various scientific fields and techniques has not been able to improve human ethics. Rather, these sciences are used against humanity. Westerners have a plot to degenerate the ethics and thought of Muslims and impose their evil will on Islamic societies.”
“This is an ideological war. It is obligatory for Muslims to confront conspiracies with full strength,” continued the director of the seminar.
“In this path we have to get help from some elements. The two most important elements that can help us in this battle are Ashura epic and Arbaeen pilgrimage. Because Arbaeen pilgrimage is not just crying and mourning. Rather, it is a school that teaches us freedom, independence and resistance,” Al-Quraishi expressed.
Further he presented a brief report on the activities of the Karbala Center for Study and Research, as well as the submitted articles in the 6th seminar from different countries. He also expressed his gratitude to all those who assist the center in organizing the seminar.
All Iraqi universities are present in Mowkebs of Imam Hussain (a.s.)
The fourth and fifth speakers of this seminar were professors of two Iraqi universities.
First, Dr. Ali Zaalan, the representative of Al-Safwa University Faculty, announced that the faculty is one of the participants in holding this seminar and stated, “I hope this seminar will be a service for the path of the Arbaeen of Imam Hussain (a.s.).”
Following in the opening ceremony, Dr. Bassem Khalil Al-Saadi, the president of Karbala University, in a report on the service measures of Iraqi universities during the Arbaeen pilgrimage, expressed, “All Iraqi universities are somehow involved in the Mowkebs of Imam Hussain (a.s.), whether in transporting pilgrims from the borders to Karbala, in receiving and hospitality, in aid and medical stations, or in Arbaeen scientific activities, such as the current seminar.”
Then, Dr. Aref Al-Saadi recited an ode in praise of Imam Hussain (a.s.) and the shrine of His Holiness.
The session “Arbaeen pilgrimage, confronting the challenges of soft war” was held at the end of the opening ceremony
At the end of the opening ceremony, a session was held titled “Arbaeen pilgrimage, confronting the challenges of soft war”.
Mr. Dr. Anwar Al-Haidari from Iraq and Dr. Ilyas Halim Al-Hashem from Lebanon spoke in this session. The secretary of the session was Dr. Hayat Afif Al-Rahavi from Lebanon.
Among the issues that were raised in this session were “strategic objectives of the Arbaeen pilgrimage such as social unity and identity building”, “cultural invasion of the enemy and the creation of sectarian wars”, “the meaning of soft war”, “peace and affection in the Arbaeen pilgrimage”, “absolute freedom is rejected”, “disgust with sexual anarchy and military brutality of the West”, “West’s boycott on the truth”, “Imam Khamenei’s interpretation of soft war is creating doubt in the hearts and minds of the people”, “American and English policies to create division between clans Muslim”, “the necessity of protecting values of humanity and AhlulBayt (a.s.)” and “examples of elements in Arbaeen culture for use in soft war”.
A series of international scientific seminars on Arbaeen Pilgrimage
Every year, the call for scientific and international seminar of Arbaeen Pilgrimage is announced by the Karbala Center for Study and Research at Iraqi universities, as well as scientific societies abroad, and it is held in Karbala before Arbaeen Day.
But this year, due to some incidents in Iraq, it was not feasible to hold the 6th seminar before Arbaeen Day. Therefore, the seminar started on Friday 24, September, six days after the anniversary of the Arbaeen of Imam Hussain (a.s.).
It is worth mentioning that the Karbala Center for Study and Research is the research branch of the Office of Imam Hussain (a.s.) Holy Shrine, and has extensive activities in scientific, research, publishing and cultural fields.
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