The Multi-Layered Importance of Arbaeen for Afghanistan

For Afghanistan and its Muslim community, this occasion has a multi-layered importance; from strengthening religious identity to being present on a grand stage of Islamic unity. Our society, with its diverse religious, ethnic, and linguistic structure, has always been exposed to divisive threats.

The Arbaeen experience, with its anti-discriminatory nature, is an opportunity to experience unity in action. On this path, the Afghan pilgrim, not as a Shia or Sunni, but as a Muslim and follower of the truth, enters a caravan whose goal is not to seek power, but to cry out against oppression. Being present on this stage can have a profound impact on our social mindset; that the possibility of coexistence, empathy, and coexistence with other Muslims is real and fruitful.

 

Strengthening Afghanistan’s position in the Islamic Ummah

From a strategic perspective, a more prominent presence of the Afghan people on occasions such as Arbaeen can strengthen the country’s cultural and political position in the Islamic world. In a world where the Islamic Ummah is caught in media, political, and even religious disunity, such gatherings help redefine the Islamic “we”; a “we” in which Afghanistan is not a marginalized but an active participant in the international dialogue of the Islamic Ummah.

Furthermore, from an identity perspective, Arbaeen is an opportunity to reconnect the young generation of Afghanistan with the concepts of resistance, justice, and freedom. These values are not merely historical or mythical; they are deeply tied to the needs of Afghanistan today. We need to rebuild the spirit of fighting corruption, standing up to oppression, and hope for the future in our society, and Arbaeen can be a platform for this spiritual reconstruction.

 

Challenges facing the country’s pilgrims

Despite their enormous potential, Afghan pilgrims face numerous challenges:

1. Border restrictions and the complicated visa process that prevent thousands of Afghan pilgrims from attending this huge gathering.

2. The lack of a coordinating body between Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq, which causes pilgrims to disperse and sometimes wander.

3. The lack of supportive infrastructure, including health services, transportation, and route security, which is inadequate in some cases.

However, what is hopeful is the determination of the Afghan people to participate in this global movement. Voluntary presence, sometimes on foot, sometimes accompanied by families, and in many cases at heavy costs, shows that this walk is not just a ritual; Rather, it is a conscious choice to join a larger discourse: the “discourse of the Islamic Ummah seeking justice.”

 

Shared responsibility for a more effective presence of Afghan pilgrims

In the end, if we consider Arbaeen not just a religious ceremony but also a social opportunity to repair Muslim bonds, then Afghanistan’s place in this scene must be taken more seriously. This responsibility lies not only with governments, but also with civil society organizations, media, and social activists in the country, who, by creating awareness, facilitation, and support, will pave the way for a broader, more effective, and safer presence of Afghan pilgrims.

The future belongs to those who take united steps in the path of truth.