Hawzah News Agency- Delivering his Friday sermon in Baghdad on August 7, 2026, Ayatollah al-Moussawi, who also teaches at the Najaf seminary, emphasized that Arbaeen has evolved into an exceptional, trans-regional phenomenon that defies purely material explanations. He said the mass presence of pilgrims amounts to both a "religious obligation" and a "spiritual remedy" for restoring dignity and shattering the defeatist mindset among the Muslim Ummah.
In detailed remarks, the senior cleric pointed to the unprecedented number of Arbaeen pilgrims this year, stating that the figure has crossed 22 million, with estimates suggesting that those unable to reach the city center due to severe overcrowding outnumber that count several times over.
"This multimillion-strong gathering has surpassed even the world's largest religious congregations," he said, adding that the extraordinary generosity and hospitality displayed by the Iraqi people has drawn the attention of researchers and representatives of various faiths.
Ayatollah al-Moussawi also pointed to a profound behavioral transformation among Iraqis. "Even those known to be short-tempered, and those who are tight-fisted with their wealth, melt away in the honor of serving the pilgrims," he said.
He attributed this conduct to the deep doctrinal bond the people share with Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), describing it as one of the "secrets of the universe" that drives such sacrifice.
The Baghdad Friday Prayer leader further addressed the phenomenon of the Arbaeen march, undertaken despite severe weather hardships, asserting that it cannot be explained through material metrics alone. He said it is rooted in spiritual and unseen dimensions, as pilgrims feel Imam Hussein is watching over them with divine grace. It is with an indescribable fervor, he said, that they embark on the journey, undeterred by life's hardships.
Mass Gatherings a Religious Imperative
Responding to critics who question the effectiveness of such gatherings, Ayatollah al-Moussawi stressed that "numbers and congregation" represent a religious obligation, with the holy Quran and Islamic rulings underscoring the importance of assembly.
He cited the obligation of Friday prayers and the Hajj pilgrimage, calling the latter the "greatest assembly" of Muslims.
"The divine wisdom behind such massive gatherings is the creation of a psychological shield against the feelings of weakness and isolation that great powers impose on nations," he stated.
He described mass congregations as a "real remedy" for spiritual ailments such as fear and cowardice. "A sense of weakness drags a person into depression and hopelessness. But when one sees themselves amid a sea of pilgrims, hearing the dignified and epic slogans of Imam Hussein, the spirit of defeatism vanishes and transforms into a spiritual power that elevates one's worship and connection with God."
Warning Against Foreign Plots to Disrupt Arbaeen
In another segment of his address, Ayatollah al-Moussawi warned against foreign schemes to sabotage the religious rite, accusing the United States of attempting to obstruct the Arbaeen pilgrimage through political and security pressures.
He asserted that efforts to create insecurity and launch attacks have been thwarted by the vigilance of the Iraqi people, adding that the massive public turnout for Arbaeen signals a decline in American influence in the region.
Alert on US Schemes to Divide Iraqi Armed Forces
Turning to issues of Iraq's national security, Ayatollah al-Moussawi cautioned that plans are underway through which American official Tom Barrack is seeking to ignite internal strife and fracture the unity of the Iraqi armed forces, steering them toward confrontation with resistance groups and the Kurdistan region.
Stressing the imperative of safeguarding the cohesion of Iraq's armed forces, he declared that "Shia blood is a red line," and that any attempts to drag Iraqi forces into sedition aimed at weakening the state and the country's military structure must be confronted.
Emphasis on Unity Against the Common Enemy
The Baghdad Friday Prayer leader concluded by underscoring the necessity of national unity, stating that religious and political differences must not obstruct the closing of ranks against the "common enemy"—America and the Zionist regime.
In a fatherly message, he said, "I am not speaking from a political position, but from a paternal one. All our sons in the security forces, the Popular Mobilization Forces, and the resistance are our brothers. Any attempt to dismantle this unity, or to use force against any of these sides, will be met with the awareness and unity of the people."
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