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• 10 Safar 1447

The Representative of the Supreme Religious Authority in Europe Commends the Efforts of the Iraqi People in Serving the Pilgrims of Imam Husayn (P) and Their Generous Hospitality Along the Roads to the Eternal Karbala. He States:
• The Arba'een pilgrimage is a divinely inspired, ever-renewing movement—not limited to a particular time or people, but a universal call to all the free individuals of the earth.
• Imam Husayn (P) is still being martyred, and oppression still persists. Rise to support his call, and let us be loyal guardians of this pilgrimage—not only by walking to his shrine, but with our hearts, minds, pens, and conduct. For every sincere participant is a foundational stone in the wall of divine protection surrounding it. And surely, God supports His religion, even if the disbelievers resent it.

The Arba'een pilgrimage of Imam Husayn (P) is not merely a religious ritual—it is a platform for awareness, a living embodiment of the Husayni revolution, and a collective expression of loyalty to truth and rejection of falsehood.
For centuries, this pilgrimage has drawn the ire of tyrants and oppressors. It has been a focal point of cultural, ideological, and media battles. In our modern era, the pilgrimage is increasingly targeted by attempts at distortion, suppression, restriction, and misrepresentation. How can believers confront these efforts? And, what tools are necessary to protect this divine movement from deviation or neglect?
Here is a summary of the key strategies:

1. Deepening Doctrinal Awareness of Arba'een’s Spiritual Status
It is essential to establish within the faithful—especially the younger generations—a foundational understanding of Arba'een as a divinely sanctioned and highly encouraged practice, explicitly affirmed in the hadiths of the Ahl al-Bayt (P). Among them is the statement of Imam Hasan al-ʿAskari (P): “The signs of a believer are five: performing fifty-one units of prayer, visiting Arba'een, wearing a ring on the right hand, placing the forehead on the earth (in prostration), and reciting aloud ‘Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim.’”. The community must be nurtured to understand the philosophy behind the pilgrimage and its connection to Imam Husayn’s (P) reformative mission: commanding good, resisting tyranny, and supporting the oppressed. Once this awareness is internalized, the pilgrimage becomes an act of testimony and spiritual loyalty—not merely a seasonal, symbolic, or leisure-oriented activity. In this way, the pilgrimage becomes immune to distortion and manipulation.

2. Countering Suppression with Conscious, Impactful Media
Despite being one of the largest gatherings in the world—drawing over 20 million participants—the Arba'een pilgrimage is deliberately ignored by major international media institutions. This media blackout must be met with a powerful, truthful, and professional alternative media that utilizes modern digital tools and speaks the languages of the world. This includes: Producing multi-language global content (films, documentaries, articles, etc.) that presents Arba'een from human, theological, and service-oriented angles; Inviting neutral international media to provide live, on-the-ground coverage; Activating social media platforms through organized efforts to raise awareness and break distorted stereotypes; Training media professionals from within processions and service groups to document the pilgrimage from within, using dignified, comprehensive language. With this quality-focused media, we can break the imposed silence surrounding the pilgrimage and present it to the world as the greatest peaceful and faith-based phenomenon of our time.

3. Resisting Distortion by Preserving the Authentic Spirit of the Pilgrimage
Internally, there are efforts to drain Arba'een of its revolutionary essence, reducing it to mere formality, politicizing it, or confining it to superficial appearances. To confront this, believers must commit to:
1. Remembering the goals of Imam Husayn’s (P) uprising at every step of the journey—why did he rise? What does he want from us? Are we living out his vision today?
2. Presenting Arba'een as a moral and behavioral school, not merely a religious ritual. Respecting others, serving pilgrims, upholding laws, cleanliness, and discipline are all sacred aspects of the pilgrimage—just as emphasized by the Supreme Religious Authority.
3. Rejecting political or sectarian exploitation of the pilgrimage. Arba'een transcends sectarianism; it is a unifying human project and must not be hijacked for any political or ideological gain.
4. Reviving the cultural aspect of the pilgrimage—by holding intellectual seminars along the pilgrimage routes, distributing educational materials, and conducting discussions on Imam Husayn’s reformative legacy and its relevance to today’s realities—as also advised by the Supreme Religious Authority.
5. Responding to doubts and misinformation through respectful dialogue, sound reasoning, and elevated manners. Doubts about the legitimacy of Arba'een, or claims that it is excessive or merely emotional, must be addressed by:
o Presenting convincing scholarly discourse grounded in Qur’an, hadith, reason, and history.
o Engaging in thoughtful dialogue with skeptics—free from tension—following the example of Imam al-Sadiq (P) in his reasoned debates with atheists and dissenters.
o Highlighting the spiritual and social impact of the pilgrimage in shaping souls and societies—using real-world results, not abstract arguments.
o Being a role model in conduct—the faith, selflessness, and noble service of sincere pilgrims is the most powerful rebuttal to any accusation or attack. Many volunteers we witnessed during the pilgrimage exemplified the advice of the Supreme Religious Authority through their honorable actions.
o Fostering unity and serving the Husayni cause by avoiding division—especially among Shia followers of the Ahl al-Bayt (P). Internal disputes can be exploited to undermine the sanctity of the pilgrimage. Hence, coordination among service groups should be based on cooperation, not competition, presenting to the world a unified, genuine Husayni example.
o Reviving the spirit of service, hospitality, and brotherhood along the routes—mirroring the spirit of Karbala that united al-Hurr, al-ʿAbbas, Zuhayr, ʿAli al-Akbar, John, and the rest of the noble martyrs.


It is our duty to recognize and praise the immense efforts of the Iraqi people, along with all the faithful communities surrounding Karbala, for their generous and comprehensive service to the pilgrims. They have offered the world a shining example of generosity, sacrifice, and noble hospitality—hosting guests in a manner befitting the sanctity of their station. We ask Almighty God to reward them abundantly, to protect them from the harm of enemies, and to bless every drop of sweat and ounce of sacrifice they offered in this path. Their reward lies with God, His Messenger (P), and the purified Imams (P).
“Indeed, God has purchased from the believers their lives and their wealth in exchange for Paradise. They fight in the way of God, so they kill and are killed. It is a true promise upon Him in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Qur’an. And who is more faithful to His covenant than God? So rejoice in the bargain you have made. That is the supreme success.” [Qur’an 9:111]