Who says you should go to Karbala whenever you are in the mood?! | Alireza Panahian

Who says you should go to Karbala whenever you are in the mood?!

What if after the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (‘a.j.), they say, “Whoever went on the Arbaeen walk, was effective in preparing for the reappearance.” If your grandchild or child asks you, “Dad, did you go on the Arbaeen walk,” what will you answer?

Making a pilgrimage is something serious. You may go to the shrine when you are in the mood. That’s nice. You liked to go. When you go to Karbala you should say, “I am ready to help you.” Suddenly, everything becomes serious!

At least you should be able to say, “If I couldn’t go myself, I sent one person and paid his way. He was young and able to go to the shrine of Aba Abdillah al-Husayn (‘a) so it wouldn’t be empty.” “I am ready to help you.” This phrase is a part of the Arbaeen supplication. I have come to help you.

If you can’t go yourself, send your child, neighbour, or colleague. Go yourself too. Say, “Imam I have come to show and announce my presence, lest my name not be recorded here.” Imam Husayn (‘a) is holding a eulogy ceremony himself for Arbaeen.

Shall I give you some strange news? A person may wonder at this until the end of time! Some religious groups hold gatherings during the year, but they don’t do anything for Arbaeen. Isn’t that interesting? They spend and work hard for their eulogy ceremonies. But, about the eulogy that Imam Husayn (‘a) holds himself, they say, “There are others who will go.” What about you?

Imam Sadiq (‘a) saw one of his friends. The Imam (‘a) said, “I have heard that there are some people who love us and follow us, who haven’t been to Karbala for four years.” The man replied, “Many people are like this!” Imam Sadiq (‘a) said, “What will these people tell the Prophet of God?” The man said, “How often should a person go on this pilgrimage?” The Imam said, “Poor people, once a year. Rich people, twice a year.”

Should one go to Karbala based on his mood and when he wants to? Where have they said this? In which tradition has this been written? A soldier should go show and announce his presence.

Because we act like this and look at it in this way, the reappearance still hasn’t happened yet. What if after the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (‘a.j.), they say, “Whoever went on the Arbaeen walk, was effective in preparing for the reappearance.” If your grandchild or child asks you, “Dad, did you go on the Arbaeen walk,” what will you answer? A soldier should go show and announce his presence.

We have advanced in spiritual matters, Itikaf, and making pilgrimages. Praise God, see how many people come to Imam Reza’s (‘a) shrine or to the Jamkaran Mosque. But friends, we still haven’t reached the needed growth. Only two million people go on Arbaeen from Iran? How do you justify this? Didn’t Imam Hasan Askari (‘a) say this is a sign of being our follower? Don’t you feel responsible? Where will you be on Arbaeen?!

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