Record Attendance: 21.48 Million Muslims Gather in Karbala for Arba’een Commemorations

According to SAEDNEWS, A senior official at the Hazrat Abbas (AS) shrine in Karbala has confirmed that at least 21.48 million Muslims from many countries gathered in the city to commemorate Arba’een, which marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed (PUBH) and the third Shia Imam.

"The total number of Arba’een pilgrims... reached 21,480,525," said the managing institution responsible for counting at the Abbas mausoleum. Among the total, roughly 3.5 million pilgrims were reported to be from Iran.

Arba’een is recognized as one of the largest religious gatherings in the world and holds great significance for Muslims. Pilgrims traveled to Karbala from countries including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and others, journeying to the site located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) southwest of Baghdad.

The pilgrims had a chance to touch the gilded grille surrounding Imam Hussein (AS)’s tomb and slipped messages through the bars. Many carried their belongings in bags or on their heads as they moved toward Karbala on foot.

Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas ibn Ali are interred in two grand mausoleums facing each other in Karbala. This year’s events were marked by notable displays of Palestinian flags by pilgrims, coinciding with Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

In a resolute statement, the message from the Arbaeen Walk emphasized, "The path to Al-Quds passes through Karbala." Millions of people from around the globe walked approximately 80 kilometers from the holy city of Najaf to gather in Karbala for this significant observance.

The current conflict has seen Israel launching a brutal war on Gaza since October 7, following a historic operation by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas. The violence has resulted in the deaths of at least 40,334 Palestinians, including many women and children, along with over 93,356 injuries.