The world’s largest annual walk
Understand Arbaeen. Walk with Karbala.
Every year, twenty million people move toward one grave. This is the story of why — and, if it calls you, how to be one of them.
Arbaeen begins in
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–Hours
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… · 20 Safar — final date may vary by moon sighting
Wherever you’re starting from
Two ways in. Both welcome.
New to Arbaeen?
Never heard the word before? Start with the story — who Imam Hussain (AS) was, what happened at Karbala, and why it still moves millions. No prior knowledge assumed.
Start the story →Preparing to go?
Walking this year, or thinking about it? Jump straight to the guides, the route, the mawakib, and everything you need to prepare with confidence.
Plan your journey →The plain answer
Forty days after Ashura, millions return to Karbala.
Arbaeen means “forty”. It marks the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain ibn Ali (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in Karbala in 680 CE. For pilgrims it is a journey of remembrance, grief, love and renewal.
What began as a handful of mourners is now one of the largest peaceful gatherings on earth. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from — this is the answer to the question in our name.
Learn the story
A stand that still calls the conscience of humanity
Karbala belongs to everyone who ever chose truth over power.
You don’t have to be Muslim to be moved by it. Across faiths and centuries, humanity’s great voices have bowed to what Hussain (AS) stood for.
I learned from Hussain how to be wronged and be a winner.
In a distant age and climate, the tragic scene of the death of Hosein will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader.
No battle has earned more sympathy and admiration, nor provided more lessons, than the martyrdom of Husayn at Karbala.
The proof — service as evidence
Strangers feed you, shelter you, and ask nothing.
Along the road to Karbala, hundreds of volunteer camps — mawakib — offer food, tea, rest and medicine, entirely free. Families save all year for the privilege of serving a stranger. This is the economy of Karbala, and the most powerful thing about it.
Whoever comes to the grave of Hussain on foot — for every step, a thousand good deeds.— narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (AS), Kamil al-Ziyarat
Ready to go?
Everything you need, in the order preparation actually happens.
First-Time Guide
What to expect on the walk, and how to approach it respectfully — with no assumptions.
Start here →Plan Your Journey
Documents, visas, packing, health, money and group travel — the practical side.
Plan now →The Walk
The Najaf–Karbala route, pole markers, pacing, night walking, and crowd safety.
Walk the route →Benefits of Ziyarah
What the narrations promise those who visit Imam Hussain (AS) — sourced from al-islam.org.
Read the rewards →Karbala Guide
The two shrines, Bayn al-Haramayn, etiquette, meeting points, and managing the crowds.
Know the city →Spiritual Resources
Ziyarat Arbaeen, duas, manners of ziyarah, and reflection prompts for the road.
Prepare the heart →Already on the road?
Register, record, and find your way.
Register a moukib
Run a service camp — in Iraq or anywhere in the world? Put it on the map, free and verified by our team.
Register your moukib →Register your journey
Record the poles you walked and the years you came — your Arbaeen, kept and counted.
Register & sign in →The Mawakib App
Find every camp, your friends on the road, and rest stops — coming soon. Join the waitlist.
Join the waitlist →Be part of it
Keep this message free for the world.
Everything here — the guides, the mawakib index, the app we’re building — is free, and we intend to keep it that way. Your gift funds the guides, a stall on the road, pilgrim ID cards, and the app. Or give your time.
@whatisarbaeen
Latest from the road
Photos and updates straight from our Instagram — the most current window on the journey.
Questions Before You Go
Clear answers for curious visitors and first-time pilgrims.
What does “Arbaeen” mean?
Arbaeen means “forty” and refers to the 40th day after Ashura, when Imam Hussain (AS) was martyred in Karbala. It falls on the 20th of Safar in the Islamic calendar.
Is Arbaeen only for Shia Muslims?
No. While Arbaeen is rooted in Shia devotion to Imam Hussain (AS), the walk welcomes Sunni Muslims, Christians, Yazidis, Sabeans and visitors of every background. Many walk simply to honour a man who stood for dignity and justice.
How long is the walk from Najaf to Karbala?
The route is commonly described as roughly 80 km, lined with 1,452 numbered poles about 50 metres apart. Most pilgrims complete it over two to three days, depending on pace, weather, health and crowds.
Do I need a visa to attend Arbaeen?
Requirements change year to year. Always confirm visas, entry rules, health requirements, and local guidance with official authorities, your travel provider, and trusted organisers before booking.
About Us
Helping the world understand Arbaeen.
What Is Arbaeen is a non-profit initiative dedicated to making the message and journey of Arbaeen easier to understand — for the curious newcomer and the seasoned pilgrim alike. We share clear educational resources, practical guidance, and the story of Imam Hussain (AS) and the walk to Karbala.
Our aim is simple: help people approach Arbaeen with knowledge, respect, preparation, and love — and to carry its message of justice and service to everyone, of every background.
Don’t wait until the day before.
Whether you’re understanding Arbaeen for the first time or preparing for Karbala, this is your companion for the journey — the story, the road, and the community.