From Attachment to a Sacred Figure to Loyalty to a Sacred Route: The Walking Pilgrimage of Arbaeen

Abstract

Around 20 million Shia pilgrims shape one of the world’s biggest pilgrimages in Iraq, called “Arbaeen,” many of whom walk long distances to Karbala city as a part of the ritual every year. Faith in Imam Hussein, who was martyred in the battle of Karbala in 680 CE, is central among all pilgrims in this ritual, but the main question is how do the pilgrims’ faith and psychological cognitions translate into this spiritual journey with different meanings during the Arbaeen pilgrimage? The present study aims to discover the different social and psychological reasons for pilgrims’ feelings of attachment to Imam Hussein and to the Arbaeen pilgrimage route. Through 57 semi-structured in-depth interviews with pilgrims in two phases, Arbaeen 2014 and 2019, four different perceived roles for Imam Hussein including beloved, interceding, transformative, and unifier figure were found, leading pilgrims to feel an attachment to him. The current study mainly contributes to the literature by presenting an empirical analysis of Muslims’ experiences and perceptions of Islamic theology, and their loyalty to a sacred route through attachment to a sacred figure.

A Framework for Crowd Management during COVID-19 with Artificial Intelligence

“…The Kumbh attracts tens of millions of devotees in the space of five to six weeks. Another crowded event, which also attracts millions of faithful, is Arbaeen [33]. There are many other regular, periodic, or irregular events that attract large crowds, an account of which can be found in [19].…”

“…is Arbaeen [33]. There are many other regular, periodic, or irregular events that attract large crowds, an account of which can be found in [19].…”

Strategi Baru Penyebaran Pemikiran Politik Syi’ah Melalui Kegiatan Kepemudaan Internasional “Arbaeen Peace And Justice”

“…Adapun salah satu hari peringatan tersebut ialah Arbaeen Walk, yang mana pertama kali muncul di negara Iran yang juga merupakan negara dengan penganut ajaran Syi'ah terbesar di dunia. Arbaeen Walk merupakan suatu hari peringatan bagi kaum Syi'ah dalam empat puluh hari wafatnya Husein bin Ali bin Abi Thalib, yang juga merupakan Imam yang sangat diagungkan oleh kaum Syi'ah, secara tragis saat terjadinya perang Karbala di wilayah Karbala yang terletak di negara Irak melawan pasukan Yazid bin Muawiyah pada tahun 680 Masehi (Djamra, Nurus, 2011;Mutawali, 2020;Nikjoo et al, 2020). Hal inilah yang menyebabkan kaum Syi'ah menjadikan hari ke empat puluh usai tanggal 10 Muharram di setiap tahunnya sebagai hari peringatan yang dilakukan dengan berjalan kaki menuju salah satu makam Husein bin Ali bin Abi Thalib di wilayah Karbala tersebut.…”

“…Adapun perayaan Arbaeen yang dilakukan dengan cara melakukan ziarah dengan berjalan kaki menuju makam Sayyidina Hussein bin Ali ini dilakukan dengan semangat yang mereka ciptakan melalui kepercayaan bahwa barang siapa melakukan ziarah dengan berjalan kaki makam Imam Husein, maka ia akan mendapatkan ganjaran sebagaimana seribu kali ibadah haji dan seribu kali menunaikan ibadah umroh, yang tentu saja hal tersebut tidak dapat ditemukan sebagai sabda Rasulullah SAW sendiri dalam hadisnya (Nikjoo et al, 2020). Di sisi lain, perayaan dengan melakukan perjalanan kaki menuju makam Imam Hussein ini selalu dilakukan dengan melantunkan syair-syair pada ajaran kaum Syi'ah yang ditujukan pada Imam Hussein sebagai Imam yang sangat mereka agungkan sepanjang perjalanan mereka, serta kekerasan fisik yang mereka lakukan sendiri pada tubuh mereka yang mereka yakini sebagai pelepas segala duka yang telah dirasakan oleh Hussein bin Ali saat perang Karbala berlangsung (Fauzi, 2011).…”

Global Husaini; Identity Formation at Shrinescape

“…Starting in Imam Ali's shrine in Najaf and ending in Imam Husain's has been seen as the ultimate testimony of loyalty upon imam Husain's cause. [1] When examining this perception, I find that previously the Arbain walk was done from several starting points, including Najaf but also Baghdad and Samarra even some pilgrims would walk several weeks from their respective homes (such as from southern Arabia and western Iran) in order to reach Imam Husain's shrine in Karbala. It is not only bacause the importance of the two shrines being made as the pathway of the walk that made the change appear, but also because the strategic decision made by Iraqi security apparatus to get maximum effectiveness in protecting the pilgrims from any dangers.…”