Why it matters:
The Arbaeen trek, the world’s largest annual public gathering, symbolizes global Muslim solidarity. Nigeria’s peaceful observance highlights its alignment with Palestinian resistance amid the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.
The big picture:
Participants walked from across Nigeria, converging in Abuja to mark the anniversary of the 40th day after Imam Hussain’s martyrdom in 680 AD. The event mirrored the main pilgrimage from Najaf to Karbala in Iraq, where over 20 million gather yearly.
What they're saying:
Marchers carried Hussaini and Palestinian flags, chanting elegies for Karbala’s martyrs while condemning Israel’s genocide in Gaza as "terrorism." The walk ended at Abuja’s train station and Maraban area without incidents, despite armed security deployments.
What he is saying:
Sheikh Abdulhamid Bello (Islamic Movement in Nigeria): "This trek lets us relive the suffering of the Prophet’s family, who were dragged barefoot to Damascus after Imam Hussain’s martyrdom. The UN must act now to stop Israel’s crimes in Gaza—delays are complicity."
Go deeper:
Mass of Pilgrims Mourn Arbaeen in Karbala, Iraq
M.Majdi - Mojtaba Darabi
