Arbaeen: Moukebs Give Stellar Performance
Moukebs, also pronounced Mowkibs, are makeshift tents set up annually on the road leading to the holy city of Karbala in Iraq, where Imam Hussein (AS) shrine is located.
Every year, with the first group of pilgrims beginning the long trek days before Arbaeen, the 40th day of Imam Hussein (AS) martyrdom in the battle of Karbala in 680 AD, Moukebs are also erected along the way.
They are put up by volunteers who provide pilgrims with free-of-charge food, beverages, accommodation, medicines, etc.
In addition, volunteer doctors also offer free health services to those who may have experienced a heat stroke, or other health conditions associated with such long walks.
According to Iraqi media reports last week, that this year nearly 13 thousand Moukebs are set up to offer free services to the pilgrims.
Iranians have also erected almost 3000 Moukebs both in Iran near western and southwestern borders with Iraq and also en route to Karbala in Iraq, according to a report by Tasnim news agency.
The Moukebs provide millions of pilgrims with various services as the Arbaeen terk is the largest religious gathering of its kind, convening Shia Muslims from around the world.
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported on Sunday that more than 3.3 million Iranian pilgrims have so far travelled to Karbala to mark Arbaeen 2023 which falls on September 6.
Fars news agency quoted Nasif Jassem al-Khetabi, the governor of Karbala, as saying that the number of pilgrims is predicted to reach 30 million this year up from 21 million in 2022.
Volunteers give massage to pilgrims en route to Karbala during the Arabeen procession in Iraq in September 2023.
Shohreh Shirani, an Iranian woman from Isfahan Province, has been running a Moukeb in Iraq for eight years.
The math Ph.D. student, and the mother of two, says in an interview with IRIB that their Moukeb, better known as Moukeb Khatoun, accommodates some 1,500 pilgrims every day.
“We also bake bread every day and provide 12 other Moukebs with freshly baked bread, too,” she added.
In addition to cultural and medical services offered to the pilgrims, Mowkib Khatoun has a 24-hour childcare service for parents too.
A man repairs a damaged stroller of pilgrims who attend Arbaeen March in September 2023 in Iraq.
Zahra Saeedi is another Iranian woman who has run one of the biggest female-only Moukebs near the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) for two years.
The Moukeb provides services to 2,000 women every day, Saeedi, also a Ph.D. in industrial engineering said, in an interview with Javan daily newspaper.
“This Moukeb, too, offers childcare services and lets mothers rest while we take care of their children after the long walk in the high temperatures of Karbala,” she added.
Giving away free food and drinks to millions of pilgrims, offering them free accommodation and other necessary services, and treating them kindly and equally, regardless of social class, race, color, religion, etc. are what Moukebs are doing best during this spiritual journey.
They picture an ideal world where nobody is hungry or homeless.
The peaceful gathering is an overwhelmingly powerful display of Shia solidarity, amity and unity.
Participating in the trek is not compulsory for the Shia Muslims, but they take part in the spiritual journey to express their respect and love for the sacrifices Imam Hussein (AS) and his loyal companions made in the battle of Karbala to fight the tyrant and illegitimate ruler of the time Yazid.
The walk is keeping alive the movement of Karbala, a movement against terrorism, fascism and imperialism.
By Maryam Qarehgolzou
