Iran’s Leader marks Arbaeen in private to observe coronavirus protocols

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei attended Imam Khomeini Mosque in Tehran on Thursday to mourn Arbaeen without a public reception to observe health protocols set by the national anti-coronavirus headquarters.

Arbaeen marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the third Imam of Shiite Muslims and the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS), who was martyred in the battle of Karbala in 680.

Ayatollah Khamenei attended the Husseiniyeh (Mosque) of Imam Khomeini where a reciter read the Arbaeen Supplication, a prayer for Imam Hussein to be read in the day of Arbaeen, in Leader’s presence, Khamenei.ir reported.

Every year, Muslim pilgrims from across the world congregate in Iraq in the weeks leading to Arbaeen and walk toward Karbala on foot to mark the occasion. Last year about two million Iranian pilgrims visited Iraq for Arbaeen. However this year, Iran has called it off due to the coronavirus pandemic which has killed over one million people worldwide since its outbreak in December 2019.

Due to the spread of the fatal virus, this year’s Arbaeen mourning ceremonies are different from the previous years. According to the National Coronavirus Combat and Prevention Headquarters, all Iranians are advised to hold their religious rituals at home.