Why have you never heard of
the world’s largest peaceful gathering?
The world’s largest peaceful gathering happens every year. You’ve probably never heard of it.
The Arbaeen Walk
The World’s Largest Peaceful Gathering!
The Arbaeen walk is an event that dwarfs every other gathering on Earth. Every year, millions of people in Iraq and international visitors walk 80 kilometres (or more) from their homes in Najaf and other Iraqi cities to the town of Karbala.
The numbers will shock you:
- The official 2024 count: 21,280,525 pilgrims
- Larger than the Olympics, World Cup and Glastonbury combined
- Bigger than the population of Australia
- More than every person who visits New York City in six months
Yet most people in the West have never heard of the Arbaeen Walk.
The Arbaeen Walk
Welcome to the Road of Giving
Imagine this scenario: A country usually associated with war and conflict transforms into the world’s most generous host.
As locals and international visitors take the walk to Iraq, they will walk past more than 13,000 service stations and rest stops. These provide:
- Thousands of meals per day
- Health treatments and medical services
- Shelter
- Sanitation
- Logistical support (mobile phone charging stations, clothing repairs, etc.)
It’s all free. In fact, you’ll cause offence by trying to pay.
You can walk with nothing but the clothes on your back because everything else is taken care of.
People who set up these stops often save all year for this.
Volunteers literally run after pilgrims, begging them to accept food and their hospitality.
The Arbaeen Walk
Where the World Walks Together
The Arbaeen walk attracts people from all walks of life:
- Muslims
- Christians
- Jews
- Hindus
- Europeans
- Americans
- Africans
- Men
- Women
- Children
- Elderly
The Arbaeen walk doesn’t discriminate in who it attracts.
One American Pastor who did the walk in 2023 said:
In Iraq I saw pilgrims of all ages, genders, able and disabled all walking the same roads, at all hours of the day. I witnessed thousands of volunteers, lining the route offering free food, drinks, and a place to sleep ranging from open tents to their own homes. Hospitality is rendered as a sacred duty to complete strangers.
Over the last few years, Arbaeen has attracted the attention of several YouTube vloggers, like Doug Barnard, who have added Karbala to their bucket list of travel destinations.
The Arbaeen Walk in Media
Why does the Arbaeen walk attract limited media coverage?
The walk attracts limited coverage because it is not that well-known. It’s definitely worth covering!
- The walk began in 2003, so it’s a relatively new phenomenon
- The walk grows by millions every year
- The walk is completely peaceful despite the massive crowds
Even landmark designations, such as UNESCO’s recognition of the walk as an Intangible Cultural Heritage (2019), didn’t prompt the media to take much notice. But as the popularity grows, the media will likely take notice.
And maybe you can help by spreading the word!
About the Arbaeen Walk
One Man’s Stand. Millions Walk in His Name.
People are walking to honour a man called Hussain ibn Ali. In 680 AD, Hussain stood against the oppressors of his time in Karbala. He gave everything for justice and human dignity.
His stand wasn’t just for one faith or type of people. Rather, it was for humanity.
People walk to honour that sacrifice. They walk to say:
- I stand against any form of injustice
- I choose compassion over hatred
- I prefer unity over division
And, ultimately, I walk as a pledge to inculcate these values in my life.
Who is Hussain?
Inspired by Hussain’s timeless legacy.
This man, Hussain, who millions walk for every year, inspired us to create Who is Hussain in 2012. We wanted the world to know about someone whose stand for justice continues to unite humanity 1,400 years later.
Today, Who is Hussain operates in 90 cities across six continents. Our volunteers organise blood drives that save lives, feed homeless communities, and provide water to those in crisis.
Our volunteers come from all backgrounds and faiths. What unites us is the belief that Hussain’s message belongs to everyone. That message being: stand for justice, serve others, and choose compassion.
We are powered by the selfless actions of thousands of people.
Want to learn more about our mission?
