AhlulBayt News Agency: An Iranian official says the Arbaeen procession, held every year in Karbala, conveys a message of enlightenment and is a “practical response” to Islamophobia.
“The central message of the Arbaeen procession is enlightenment. Today, as always, it delivers a message of steadfastness, resistance, sacrifice, and enlightenment, standing as a practical response to Islamophobia,” Head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Mehdi Imanipour.
He made the statements while addressing the closing ceremony of the 10th Arbaeen International Award, held in Tehran on Wednesday morning.
Arbaeen is a religious event observed by Shia Muslims on the fortieth day after the Day of Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the third Shia imam.
It is one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world, with millions of Shia Muslims walking to Karbala from various cities in Iraq and neighboring countries.
“Imam Hussein (AS) does not belong to any particular ideology; he belongs to humanity,” Imanipour said.
“The purpose of the Arbaeen procession is to shape a new Islamic civilization,” he said, adding, “It serves as a stage for the Islamic way of life, embodying the magnificent spirit of mutual aid, brotherhood, and faithful living. It evokes a profound sense of spirituality and showcases a way of life that has instilled fear in the hearts of adversaries.”
“We have observed that minor events often gain global attention, yet there has been a meaningful silence regarding Arbaeen,” said the cleric.
While some freedom-seeking media outlets have provided good coverage of the pilgrimage, there remains a deliberate conspiracy of silence around it, he added.
“When adversaries could not accept this faithful way of life, they resorted to distortion, falsely claiming it to be a government-sponsored initiative, even though it is deeply rooted in the hearts and efforts of the people,” Imanipour said.
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“The central message of the Arbaeen procession is enlightenment. Today, as always, it delivers a message of steadfastness, resistance, sacrifice, and enlightenment, standing as a practical response to Islamophobia,” Head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Mehdi Imanipour.
He made the statements while addressing the closing ceremony of the 10th Arbaeen International Award, held in Tehran on Wednesday morning.
Arbaeen is a religious event observed by Shia Muslims on the fortieth day after the Day of Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the third Shia imam.
It is one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world, with millions of Shia Muslims walking to Karbala from various cities in Iraq and neighboring countries.
“Imam Hussein (AS) does not belong to any particular ideology; he belongs to humanity,” Imanipour said.
“The purpose of the Arbaeen procession is to shape a new Islamic civilization,” he said, adding, “It serves as a stage for the Islamic way of life, embodying the magnificent spirit of mutual aid, brotherhood, and faithful living. It evokes a profound sense of spirituality and showcases a way of life that has instilled fear in the hearts of adversaries.”
“We have observed that minor events often gain global attention, yet there has been a meaningful silence regarding Arbaeen,” said the cleric.
While some freedom-seeking media outlets have provided good coverage of the pilgrimage, there remains a deliberate conspiracy of silence around it, he added.
“When adversaries could not accept this faithful way of life, they resorted to distortion, falsely claiming it to be a government-sponsored initiative, even though it is deeply rooted in the hearts and efforts of the people,” Imanipour said.
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