Ali Reza Panahian: Arbaeen and the Islamic Revolution Are Complementary Fronts

Arbaeen and the Islamic Revolution Are Complementary Fronts, Says Hojjat al-Islam Ali Reza Panahian

Shiite News: Hojjat al-Islam Ali Reza Panahian, speaking to a correspondent of Hawzah News Agency in Tehran, said that under the country’s current circumstances, the most important issue regarding Arbaeen is determining the responsibilities of believers and revolutionary forces.

He said that participation in the Arbaeen pilgrimage and remaining active in defending the Islamic Revolution should go hand in hand, arguing that the two are complementary and not mutually exclusive.

Panahian explained that no general ruling can be issued regarding whether people should or should not participate in Arbaeen, as individual responsibilities differ. He noted that some people—such as organizers of Mawakib (pilgrim service camps), caravan coordinators, or those with effective ties to Iraqi communities—have particular responsibilities related to Arbaeen. Others, however, are responsible for activities in their own cities and regions, and their absence could affect local responsibilities. Therefore, he said, each person’s duty should be determined according to their own circumstances.

He further stated that the current situation does not justify declaring participation in Arbaeen impermissible, adding that, in his view, sufficient people remain to carry out responsibilities in other areas. Based on his observations, he said that in most regions fewer than half of those who usually participate have made a final decision to attend Arbaeen, meaning that local responsibilities would not be left unattended.

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The seminary and university lecturer also said that some people regard Arbaeen merely as a recommended pilgrimage and believe it should not take precedence over revolutionary responsibilities. He argued that this perspective fails to recognize what he described as the broader significance of Arbaeen. According to Panahian, Arbaeen itself represents a global and regional arena that promotes values such as resistance, sacrifice, and solidarity, and contributes to strengthening what he described as the “Axis of Resistance.”