Millions of people march every year to\nvisit the shrine of Imam Hossein (PBUH) in Karbala to mark the fortieth day\nafter his martyrdom. The Infallible Imams (PBUT) has repeatedly emphasized the\npractice of a pilgrimage to Karbala. Apart from the general spiritual and\nethical benefits that lie in visiting of the graves of Holy men and women, a\npilgrimage to Karbala has additional benefits. \nCommemorating Ashura every year preserves the tragic events of the day\nof Ashura in the hearts of the lovers of the Ahlul-Beit (PBUH) and allows them\nto use this passionate outlet to strive in the path of righteousness and devote\ntheir lives to God and His religion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In spite of the bans imposed by the\nUmayyad and Abbasid caliphs on visiting Karbala, the infallible Imams (PBUH)\nnevertheless, emphasized and encouraged the pilgrimage, stating the numerous\nblessings involved for the pilgrims of the grave of the Master of Martyrs\n(PBUH). They strived to keep this center\nof spirituality, epic, and passion alive and prominent. They considered it to be a sign of loyalty to\nthe oath with the Prophet of Islam and his household (PBUT).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The infallible Imams (PBUH) were\ninsistent on visiting the Shrine of Imam Hussein (PBUH) even during the periods\nof danger and turmoil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regarding the danger involved on the\nroad to Karbala, Imam Sadiq (PBUH) said to Mohammad bin Muslim:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026for anyone who\nfaces and feels danger on the pilgrimage to (the shrine of) Imam Hossein\n(PBUH), God will secure him from the horror and dread of the Day of Judgment.\u201d1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visiting Karbala has always been an\nopportunity to join the lovers of the Ahlul-Beit (PBUT) in unison, despite the\nrestrictions and limitations imposed on the security and freedom of the people.\nAfter the uprising of Zeid bin Ali, the son of Imam Sajjad (PBUH) in Kufah and\nhis martyrdom in year 121, restrictions to visiting Karbala increased.2 Hesham\nbin Abdolmalek placed guards to control the visitors. During the reigns of\nHaroon ol-Rashid and Motewakkel the shrine of Hossein bin Ali (PBUH) was often\ndestructed and pilgrimage to the shrine banned many times. During the reign of\nHaroon, He ordered to cut the Sedar tree that marked the grave of Imam Hussein\n(PBUH), so people would have a difficult time to find and gather there.3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the continuous restrictions of the\ncaliphs were unsuccessful, and could not detach people\u2019s connection to the\naspiring grave of Hossein bin Ali (PBUH). The guards and rulers would inform\nMotewakkel of people\u2019s gatherings in the land of Nineveh, fearing that large\ngatherings surrounding the grave of Imam Hossein (PBUH) might lead to danger.\nTherefore, Motewakkel would send his guards to disperse people, destroy the\nmarks of the grave and ambush the visitors.4 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The visit to the shrine of the\nmartyred Imam (PBUH), highly advised by the Ahlul-Beit (PBUT) reveals the\nintimacy and connection of the Shi\u2019as to the grave of the martyr of Karbala.\nThe delight of pilgrimage has always been a motivation of the Shi\u2019a in showing\naffection and Welayat to the infallible Imams (PBUT) and the martyrs of\nKarbala. This value, through the centuries and by each generation, has been\npreserved by the Shi\u2019as of Ahlul-Beit (PBUT) as a precious jewel. Therefore,\nevery year at the anniversary of the Arba\u2019in of Imam Hossein (PBUH), in spite\nof the security threats, millions of people march to Karbala passionately for\nthe pilgrimage of that Martyred Imam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Selection from\nThe Messages of Ashura by Jawad Muhadithi with minor changes)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roshd Website offers its condolences\nto all Muslims, especially you dear friend, upon the arrival of 20th of Safar,\nArba\u2019een,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
forty days after the martyrdom of Imam\nHussain (PBUH) & his companions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Bihar\nal-Anwar, vol. 98, pg. 11<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Tarikh\nalNiahah alal alImam alShahid, vol. 1, pg. 126<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Tarikh Shi\u2019a,\nalMuzaffari, pg. 89<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Tarath\nKarbala pg. 34<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Millions of people march every year to visit the shrine of Imam Hossein (PBUH) in Karbala to mark the fortieth day after his martyrdom. The Infallible Imams (PBUT) has repeatedly emphasized the practice of a pilgrimage to Karbala. Apart from the general spiritual and ethical benefits that lie in visiting of the graves of Holy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248],"tags":[20660,20315,20661,17892,20244,18418,17955,20659],"class_list":["post-4281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2016-11-20","tag-danger","tag-household","tag-imam-hussain","tag-karbala","tag-occasion-letters","tag-people","tag-the-delight-of-pilgrimage"],"yoast_head":"\n