AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): In an interview with ABNA Aews Agency, Hojat al-Islam Maqsud Ali Dumki, Secretary of the Central Organization of Pakistan Muslim Unity Assembly, pointed out the great love and interest of the people of Pakistan for Immaculate Imams (a.s.). “This year, during the Arbaeen Pilgrimage – which was attended by tens of millions of AhlulBayt (a.s.) enthusiasts – about 200 thousand people from Pakistan participated in the Arbaeen Great Walk from Najaf to Karbala, to demonstrate their love for AhlulBayt (a.s.).”
Pakistan, land of AhlulBayt (a.s.) enthusiasts
“Pakistan is the land of AhlulBayt (a.s.) enthusiasts, the land of lovers of Bayt al-Maqdis, the land of zealous Muslims – the Shiites and Sunnis who always rise for Islam, Al-Aqsa Mosque and Bayt al-Maqdis,” he said.
Hojat al-Islam Dumki called on the government of Pakistan to solve the problems faced by pilgrims of the country. “Pakistani pilgrims are facing many problems. I would like to express my gratitude to the ambassadors of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Iraq who cooperated with the Pakistani pilgrims in issuing visas. However, I ask them to make this process easier and provide more facilities for the pilgrims, so that next year the AhlulBayt (a.s.) enthusiasts can reach the spiritual event of Arbaeen more easily and on time.”
Regarding the other difficulties that Pakistani pilgrims face on the way back from the holy shrines of Iraq, the Secretary of the Central Organization of Pakistan Muslim Unity Assembly remarked, “Pilgrims who arrive in Quetta returning to Pakistan, must wait for several days due to the risk of terrorist attacks. This year too, terrorist groups threw stones at some pilgrim buses. But despite this, the love and devotion of the lovers of Karbala and Imam Hussain (a.s.) in Pakistan did not decrease.”
He praised the hospitality of the people of Iran and Iraq to the Pakistani pilgrims during this year’s Arbaeen Pilgrimage and considered it a sign of the unity of the lovers of AhlulBayt (a.s.).
“Labbayk O Al-Aqsa” and “Labbayk O Gaza” are universal slogans
Referring to the atrocities committed against the people of Palestine, Hojjat al-Islam Dumki said, “These days, the hearts of all the Muslims in the world are hurting for the Palestinians; for the oppressed people who always collect the bodies of their martyrs. We have seen them, and our hearts are crying for them, and we are all sad. Shiites and Sunnis of Pakistan, side by side, support the Palestinian people.”
Secretary of the Central Organization of Pakistan Muslim Unity Assembly added, “We send messages to the Palestinians that they are not alone, and we are with them. We tell them that the whole Islamic Ummah is with them, our hearts beat for Al-Aqsa Mosque, our hearts beat for Bayt al-Maqdis, for Palestine, and Gaza.”
Considering “Labbayk O Al-Aqsa” and “Labbayk O Gaza” as universal slogans, he emphasized, “Hundreds of millions of people around the world have risen in different countries such as Japan, America, Britain, and even France. Today, new fronts are being formed between the oppressors and the oppressed in the world, and today all the people of the world are on the side of Gaza and Palestine. God willing, Palestine will be liberated, and we will pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque soon.”
At the end of the interview, Hojat al-Islam Dumki considered Arbaeen a symbol of the unity of Muslims and a path to defeat the enemies. “The Arbaeen gathering is the unity of Muslims, a symbol of Islamic unity, and for support the oppressed. God willing, we will defeat today’s followers of Yazid – the Zionists, the Americans, and the Israelis – through Muslim unity, and we will all pray in Bayt al-Maqdis.”
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