Arbaeen Walk: Symbol of Unity & Our Responsibility

Just like we discussed the Ahkam of Salah, the laws of Salah and just like we discussed the laws of Siyam [fast], we also should discuss such laws as well. The laws pertaining to our day to day lives, also the laws pertaining the Ziyarah of Arbaeen. Of course, the Ziyarah of Arbaeen is extremely important. Just like Salah is also important, Siyam is also important. But that does not mean we should not discuss its laws, its regulations, how people should behave there, what should be their priority.

There is so much food that is going to waste. So much money that is going to waste. While this money and this food can be given to the impoverished people of Iraq throughout the year, to the orphans throughout the year.

I personally met someone last year and Arbaeen, he told me I had eight dinners. I had dinner eight times this evening. There is no need. If you have extra money, save that money and give it in the name of Imam Al-Husayn, in the name of Sayyid ash-Shuhada, throughout the year, to those, especially to those who stood defending the shrines of the Ahl ul-Bayt, whether it's in Syria or elsewhere or Iraq or...

There is people eating and throwing their garbage. This land, this city of Karbala, is a sacred land. Some of Ulama, some of the Ulama, they don't even sleep the night in Karbala. They leave the close proximity of the city. Not to be disrespectful to the city of Imam Al-Husayn, to the sacred land.

It is not my words, it is the words of the Ma'soom. Ghibtom, says to the companion of Imam Al-Husayn. Ghibtom wa ta'bati al-ardhu allati fiha dufintom. That land is sacred. How are you throwing your garbage? For two months after the Ziyarah of Arbaeen, people are still picking up the garbage after the Zaireen. This is not right. This is unacceptable. And if we don't speak about this, then this Ziyarah is going to be the same.

So wouldn't it be better if we spend that money to hire a company, for example? There are many companies, but let's hire ten more, 20 more, 50 more that will clean up after the masses. That will remove the trash immediately.

And you know I tell you some of those pictures of the scholars, they're not to be missed. They are bigger than the Mawkib itself, literally. And you wonder what's this picture doing? Is it so if I see a bigger picture, it means that this person has more 'ilm or more piety?

What is the purpose? And I guarantee you, brothers and sisters, no Marja', no Marja' would accept this wastefulness when it comes to printing their pictures. No Marja'. Go and meet any Marja' and ask him personally. Say to him that there is x amount of money being spent on your pictures.

Do you allow this? They will tell you no. But the problem is, do we listen to the Maraji'? Yes, when it benefits us, we listen when it doesn't benefit us..

When you reach the Mawakib - the rest areas between Najaf and Karbala or Baghdad and Karbala and the different cities. Every Mawkib has put a picture of their Marja' right at the entrance.

And people walk through that Mawkib saying, I'm not going to go there. Why? Because I don't follow that Marja'. It's a rest area habibi. It's a Mawkib. You're going to go drink tea. So, is drinking tea, according to this Marja', different than the other Marja'? Or is resting, for example, different on the Fatwa of this Marja' and your Marja'?

There's about 1000 poles, rest station, stops for those who have gone to Arbaeen, for those who haven't gone inshaAllah, you will go this year. And on every pole there's about five different pictures of five different Maraji'.

And you wonder, why do we have those pictures? This impoverished country of Iraq, that has the greatest numbers of orphans, that has the greatest number of impoverished people, that has the greatest number of widows. What good do those pictures do for them?

Instead of spending $100,000, $200,000 on those pictures on the way of the Walk of Arbaeen, go and look for those people and their families who gave their lives to defend the shrine of Imam Al-Husayn, to defend the shrine of Aba al-Fadhl, to defend the shrine of Samarra'.

Thousands of young men were killed defending the cause of Imam Al-Husayn. Thousands of mothers were willing to give their sons. Thousands of young women were willing to depart from their husbands for the sake of the Ahl ul-Bayt. And now they are neglected. Now no one is asking about them.