Arbaeen: A Lens into a Sacred Journey

Arbaeen: A Lens into a Sacred Journey documents this event, intertwined with poetic expression of the emotions a Zaa’ir may feel and observe throughout the various stages of visitation.

It follows the annual journey undertaken by millions of people as they walk eighty-kilometre from Najaf to Karbala and the final culmination of forty days of mourning.

The aspiration of documenting this journey is to enable further coverage of the annual phenomenon. Due to the scarcity of current reporting, this book is published with the hope that more photographers, journalists and authors will share their work and, in particular, provide more detailed accounts highlighting the experiences of the people of Iraq.

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Arbaeen Book

Arbaeen: the world’s largest peaceful gathering where up to twenty-five million people reach the city of Karbala to mark the occasion. The event commemorates the fortieth day after the brutal martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the beloved grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

On the Day of Ashura in 680 CE, Hussain, together with his seventy-two close family members and companions, was murdered in Karbala at the hands of the caliph, Yazid and his army of thousands for protesting the legitimacy of Yazid’s tyrannical rule.

Open Book Image of ‘Arbaeen: A Lens into a Sacred Journey’

Book Image of ‘Arbaeen: A Lens into a Sacred Journey’

The Arbaeen pilgrimage has survived a number of political bans; most recently when it was ordained illegal during the decades of Saddam Hussein’s regime. Pilgrims who dared march towards Karbala for the event would ‘disappear’ – detained, persecuted and murdered by government forces. However, Arbaeen once again surpassed efforts to repress the immense spirit of this sacred occasion, when it commenced in full force following the fall of Saddam in 2003. In the heightened reverence of his commemoration, Hussain’s eternal presence takes precedence and rules over mourning hearts as black flags are raised in salute across the country.

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Arbaeen Book

Thanks to sister Saarah Bokhari and Brother Ayaz Ali for the copy of the new Arbaeen photo book “ A lens into a Sacred Journey”
It’s an amazing collection of high-quality images in addition to lucid poetic words describing the walk of “Wilayah”
It gives us a glimpse of what the lovers of Imam Husein (as) ‘’experience’’ when they make the walk from the holy city of Najaf and to the holy city of Karbala.
This year, as many of us give this amazing walk of love a miss, maybe an opportunity to present this wonderful book to our loved ones to ensure the legacy of Imam Hussain (as) is not kept to us only, but universally disseminated as well.

Shaykh Nuru Mohammed

Religious Scholar

8th October 2020

An exquisite book of a photographic essay on Arbaeen of Imam Husayn by Ayaz Ali and Sarah Bokhari which captures the activity the culture and the glory of pilgrimage – deserves to be widely disseminated!

Sajjad Rizvi

Associate Professor of Islamic Intellectual History at University of Exeter

24th August 2020

I’m pleased to receive this new Arbaeen photo book by Ayaz Ali and Saarah Bokhari.
It’s a beautiful collection of high-quality images as well as lucid poetic words describing the walk of love and freedom: Arbaeen.
This year, as many of us have missed out, maybe an opportunity to present this book to our friends or colleagues to ensure the legacy of Imam Hussain (a) is not kept to us only, but universally disseminated as well.

Shaykh Mohammed Al-Hilli

Religious Scholar

5th October 2020

I know that this book is like no other.
It tells a story of a tragic narrative that happened almost 1,400 years ago – before cameras existed – about people who probably never imagined that their story would be told in this way.
It gives us a glimpse into what people today “experience” when they make the 75 km walk from Najaf al-Ashraf to Kerbala al-Muqaddas to pay their respects to the Father of Free Men – Aba Abdillah al-Ḥusayn, peace be upon him.
It leaves me longing for the day that I am invited to make the same walk that millions make every year.
It leaves me desirous for the day that I can personally experience the words which Sr. Saarah Bukhari has left in my heart.
It leaves me anxious for making “the walk” that Br. Ayaz Ali has so poignantly captured in Arbaeen: A Lens into a Sacred Journey.

Full Book Review

Shaykh Saleem Bhimji

Religious Scholar

1st October 2020