Arba'in pilgrimage

An annual pilgrimage to Karbala, Iraq, culminating on Arba'in, the fortieth day after Husayn ibn Ali was killed at Karbala in 680.

Arba'in: A Shi'a Muslim observance held on the fortieth day after Husayn ibn Ali's martyrdom. The pilgrimage culminates on this date in the Islamic calendar.
Battle of Karbala: A battle in 680 in which Husayn ibn Ali and his small company were killed by forces of the Umayyad caliph Yazid I. The pilgrimage commemorates the event that made Karbala a sacred destination.
Husayni mourning rituals: Ritual practices that commemorate Husayn ibn Ali's death, including mourning gatherings, recitation, and processions. Arba'in belongs to the wider cycle of mourning for Husayn.
Iraq: A country in Western Asia whose capital is Baghdad and whose southern cities include Najaf and Karbala. The pilgrimage concentrates movement and public services in Iraq.
Ashura: The tenth day of Muharram, observed by Shi'a Muslims as the anniversary of Husayn ibn Ali's death. Ashura marks the martyrdom itself, while Arba'in falls forty days afterward.
Karbala: A city in Iraq and the site of Husayn ibn Ali's death and burial. Pilgrims converge on the city where the observance is centered.
Husayn ibn Ali: A grandson of the Prophet Muhammad who was killed at Karbala in 680. His martyrdom is the central event remembered by Arba'in pilgrims.
Twelver Shi'ism: The largest branch of Shi'a Islam, recognizing twelve divinely guided Imams beginning with Ali ibn Abi Talib. The pilgrimage is especially central to Twelver Shi'a devotional life.
Najaf: A city in Iraq that contains the shrine of Ali ibn Abi Talib and serves as a major Shi'a center. Many pilgrims begin the walk to Karbala from this city.
Hajj: The annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, required once in a lifetime for Muslims who are able. Unlike Hajj, Arba'in is centered on Karbala and is not one of Islam's five pillars.

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