My First Visit of Karbala as a Walker Pilgrim in Arbaeen 2014 - The Best Journey in Life

In Arbaeen 2014, I had the opportunity of traveling to Iraq for the first time and participating in the largest peaceful walking in the world. Definitely this travel was my best journey during my life. A spiritual trip with many hardships but full of love for Imam Hussein (AS). About 20 millions pilgrims, 15 millions from within Iraq and 5 millions from outside, marked this Shia religious ritual. Almost all pilgrims fed up for free by thousands of volunteers in places called Mookeb... Unfortunately, news agencies were absent in this great procession, but in fact every pilgrim was a medium and InshaAllah very soon the whole world will hear the sound of Labbaik Ya Hussein! (O Imam Hussein! we are with you and in your path untill the appearance of Mahdi (ATFS). )

The following photos are taken during my 6 days visit of Iraq and walking in the road of Ya Hussein between Najaf and Karbala with 85 Km length: (Click on images for larger resolution. If you want better resolutions, contact me through comments. For more images see Photos of Arbaeen 2014 in my personal blog)

Inside haram of Amir Almo'menin Imam Ali (AS) in Najaf

 

Millions of pilgrims towards Hussein (AS) 

 

A 100 Years Old Man Walks Towards Imam Hussein (AS) Holy Shrine

Millions of Shia pilgrims outside Haram of Imam Hussein during Arbaeen 2014

Imam Mahdi(as) from Sunni point of view

Even if the entire duration of the world's existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left before Doomsday (Day of judgment), Allah will expand that day to such a length of time, as to accommodate the kingdom of a person out of my Ahlul-Bayt who will be called by my name. He will then fill out the earth with peace and justice as it will have been full of injustice and tyranny before then. Sahih Tirmidhi along with 24 other Sunni sources

This narrative is very similar to those of Shiites but Sunnis think that Imam Mahdi (AS) is not alive and it may not be born yet. We on the other hand say that Mahdi (AS) is alive and he is son of Imam Hassan Askari (AS) the 11th Imam of Shiites. This confirms the above narrative that emphasizes Imam Mahdi is from Ahlul-Bayt.

Read more about Imam Mahdi here