Seven million visitors reach Karbala, show figures

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: Grand preparations are being made for reception of pilgrims of Al-Imam Al-Hussein (AS) shrine in the holy city of Karbala coming from everywhere since the advent of the blessed month of Sha`ban for Zyarah Ash-Sha`baniyah in mid Sha`ban.

According to some non-official statistics the number of the visitors who are still heading to the Husseini Shrine for performance of ceremonies of Zyarah (visit) of Al-Imam Abi Abdellah Al-Hussein (AS) exceeded more than seven million.

Men, women, children, and old, some on foot while some on vehicles, are thronging in this holy city from across the country as well as other parts of the world.

Zyarah Ash-Sha`baniyah, or the mid Sha`ban visit to Al-Imam Al-Hussein (AS), is one of the most important zyaraat, according to narrations.

The night before the fifteenth day of Sha`ban (night between 14-15 Sha`ban), that witnessed birth of Savior of Humanity Al-Imam Al-Mahdi Al-Muntazar (May Allah hasten his reappearance) in the year 255 AH in the holy city of Samara Iraq, is an honorable and lofty-status night.

It has been narrated from holy Prophet (SW)’s fifth infallible descendant Al-Imam Al-Baqer (AS) that: “This is the best night after the Night of Qadr. In this night, Allah grants the servants His favor and forgives them with His blessing, so spare no effort in nearing Allah therein. This is a night wherein Allah has made obligatory for Him He would not send one, who asks him, empty handed… and this is the night which Allah has made for Us - the Prophet's progeny (Ahlul Bayt) - as He made the Night of Qadr for our Prophet ...”

Owing to significance of this big Islamic event, necessary security and preventive measure are being taken in the holy city of Karbala these days. Special arrangements have been made to facilitate the pilgrims.

As various narrations urge this visit, flocks of believers had been in practice of heading to this holy city for the visit of Al-Imam Al-Hussein (AS) shrine every year despite strict measures taken by the ousted despot Saddam regime which was used to commit atrocities against the pilgrims preventing them from going to holy Karbala this day. The devotees were used to defy tyrannical rule and persevered in performance of rituals of this visit sacrificing for this expensive and precious things subjecting themselves for security pursuit and detention many times.

In 1991 on this occasion, large number of pilgrims was martyred, went missing and detained at the hands of Baathist regime as a punishment for heading to Holy Karbala for visit of the holy Husseini Shrine.

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