Imam Reza Shrine Enhances Support for Arbaeen Pilgrims Inside and Outside Iran

According to SAEDNEWS, Mohammad Hossein Ostad Agha, the CEO of the Karamat Razavi Foundation, highlighted the extensive services that will be extended to Arbaeen pilgrims both within Iran and beyond its borders.

“Our main duty is the provision of services to the pilgrims of Imam Reza; alongside this, we will collaborate with benefactors and donors to support Arbaeen pilgrims,” Ostad Agha stated.

He detailed that numerous Arbaeen Mukibs, or pilgrim service stations, will be established for this purpose, saying, “Some 160,000 servants are set to serve pilgrims during Arbaeen.” These stations will operate not only in Iran but also on the eastern borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan, in addition to those located along the western borders with Iraq.

As pilgrims embark on their journey to the revered Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, they can expect a range of services, including accommodation and medical assistance, particularly along the western and southwestern borders.

Ostad Agha also mentioned Arbaeen Mukibs managed by Sunni Muslims on southeastern borders, emphasizing that this initiative reflects the unity of Muslims in Iran.

Last year, the foundation provided approximately 600,000 meals to pilgrims, a generous effort that is expected to continue this year as well. Services will be available to pilgrims until August 27.

According to statistics from the previous year, around 3.5 million pilgrims crossed land borders into Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, which amounted to about 7 million when considering the return journey.

Arbaeen is recognized as the largest annual public gathering in the world, commemorating the pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad and the third Shia Imam. Observed on the twentieth of Safar, or Arbaeen, millions of devotees journey to Karbala, often on foot from Najaf. This significant event marks the culmination of mourning for Imam Hussein, who was martyred during the Battle of Karbala on Muharram 10, known as Ashura.