Hawzah News Agency – An Arbaeen mourning ceremony for Imam Hussein (AS) was held at the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) Mosque, affiliated with the Kowsar Cultural Center in Istanbul, drawing a gathering of devotees of the Holy Household. Addressing the congregation, the Secretary-General of the Ahl al-Bayt Scholars Assembly of Turkey described Arbaeen as a symbol of resistance, solidarity, and the awakening of the Islamic Ummah.
The ceremony featured an extensive address by Yusuf Tazegun, Secretary-General of the Ahl al-Bayt Scholars Assembly of Turkey, who focused on the Arbaeen pilgrimage, regional developments, the status of the Resistance Front, and the geopolitical dimensions of this monumental movement.
Emphasizing that the Arbaeen march constitutes a popular declaration against Western hegemony, Zionism, and global injustice, Tazegun examined the political and social dimensions of the millions-strong pilgrimage from Najaf to Karbala.
Islamic Revolution Shattered the Myth of Religion's Erasure
At the outset of his remarks, Tazegun pointed to the expansion of secularism and laicism in the West at the end of the 20th century, noting that these currents sought to propagate the notion that religion had been eliminated from the social sphere. However, he stated, the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran shattered this equation and demonstrated that revelation and spirituality still possess the capacity to be present and influential in the social arena.
Recalling the famous words of Imam Khomeini (RA) that "Whatever we have is from Muharram and Safar," Tazegun stressed that the culture of Ashura and Karbala constitutes the very foundation of the Islamic Revolution's movement.
'Never to Humiliation': Arbaeen as Strategic Statement, Not Mere Ritual
The Secretary-General noted that some external observers dismiss Arbaeen as merely a ritual of mourning and tears, calling this interpretation a strategic error. "The immortal slogan of Imam Hussein (AS), 'Hayhat Minna al-Dhilla' (Never to Humiliation), is the prevailing spirit of the Arbaeen pilgrimage, and this very culture is reflected today in regional developments," he stated.
Citing the resistance of the Palestinian, Yemeni, and Lebanese nations, he added: "The nations of resistance, inspired by this very culture, have stood firm against occupation and oppression and have refused to surrender to pressure."
Rejecting Apolitical Islam: From 'American Islam' to 'English Shiism'
Tazegun strongly criticized apolitical interpretations of religion, declaring that silence in the face of the crimes and destruction in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran is impermissible. In this context, he invoked Imam Khomeini's (RA) concept of "American Islam" and the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei's, warning against "English Shiism." He asserted that the tears shed during Arbaeen must transform into awareness, a sense of responsibility, and unwavering support for the Resistance Front.
A Reflection of the Prophetic Society
In his concluding remarks, Tazegun described the solidarity and spirit of self-sacrifice witnessed during the Arbaeen pilgrimage as a reflection of the Prophetic society of the Holy Prophet's (PBUH) era. He emphasized that the voluntary and sincere services rendered by the Iraqi people to pilgrims stand as an unparalleled example of the culture of sacrifice—one that has materialized without reliance on state structures and has the potential to lay the groundwork for the realization of a justice-based society in the future.
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