Hawzah News Agency- The funeral ceremonies, held on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, saw the participation of diverse Iraqi tribes, ethnicities, and political currents, all converging to pay their final respects to the late leader of the Islamic Revolution and his martyred family members.
Mourners, waving flags and chanting religious and epic slogans, expressed profound sorrow while simultaneously renewing their allegiance to the path of resistance and the unity of the Muslim Ummah. The atmosphere was charged with emotion, tears, and prayers, with participants describing their presence as a renewal of their covenant with the ideals of Islam, religious authority (Marjaiyyah), and the Axis of Resistance.
Observers note the massive turnout in Najaf symbolizes the deep-rooted bonds between the Iraqi nation, the Shia religious establishment, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Resistance Front—a bond forged on shared religious beliefs, common history, and unified ideals.
Participants stressed the immense gathering sends a clear message that the Resistance Front continues to enjoy deep popular support and that any threats or pressure against it will be met with the cohesion and steadfastness of the Muslim nations.
Official Reception
The procession began overnight with an official reception at the airport attended by high-ranking Iraqi and Iranian officials. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaydi arrived in Najaf province to take part in the official ceremony to receive the body of the martyred leader, whom his office described as a "Supreme Religious Authority."
Major General Saad Maan, the official spokesman for the Supreme Committee for the funeral in Iraq, confirmed in a press conference alongside Najaf Governor Youssef Kanawi that all preparations in Najaf and Karbala were complete. He noted that over 3,000 journalists are covering the event.
According to the committee spokesman, an estimated 3.8 million mourners gathered in Najaf alone to bid farewell. Following prayers led by Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Taqi Hakim over the body and a ceremonial circumambulation around the shrine of Imam Ali (PBUH), the body was transferred to the holy city of Karbala.
Karbala's Historic Welcome
By approximately 5:00 PM local time, the body of the late Imam arrived in Karbala, with officials estimating the crowd there exceeded four million people. Due to the sheer density of the crowd, the vehicle carrying the body slowly made its way towards the holy area between the shrines, known as Bain-ul-Haramain.
Millions gathered around the sacred area, waiting to receive the body. Organizers broadcast the late leader's own voice reciting "Labbayk Ya Hussein" and "Peace be upon you, O Aba Abdullah," with the sea of mourners joining in chorus.
Chants of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" echoed across Karbala as the mourners accompanied their fallen leader.
A Message to the Enemy
The epic presence of the masses is seen as a direct response that Washington and the Israeli regime, despite all their tools, remain unable to comprehend. This million-strong attendance is interpreted not merely as a ceremony but as a resounding declaration of the Ummah's continued unity and the strength of the Resistance Front, rendering futile all enemy plots to sow division among the regional nations.
The Final Journey
The funeral procession in Karbala lasted for more than four hours, slowed by the staggering wave of mourners. The custodianship of the Imam Hussein (PBUH) holy shrine announced that the shrine's flag would be draped over the coffin.
Upon the arrival at Bain-ul-Haramain, the body was brought to the shrine of Hazrat Abbas (PBUH). Sheikh Ahmad al-Safi, the custodian of the Hazrat Abbas (PBUH) holy shrine, led the funeral prayer over the body of the martyred leader of the Ummah.
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