To Celebrate Arbaeen means to celebrate human virtues

Report by the Directorate for International Academic Cooperation –

(Source: atu.ac.ir)

The opening ceremony of the Fifth International Arbaeen Conference on the topic of "Universalisation of Resistance and Transnational Developments" was convened at Allameh Tabataba'i University with speeches delivered by Dr Abdollah Motamedi, President of Allameh Tabataba'i University (ATU); Dr Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, President of the Humanities Development Council; Dr Hossein Kachoian, Faculty Member at University of Tehran; and Sheikh Abdulkarim Paz, the Friday Prayer Imam (Imam Jum'a) in Buenos Aires (Argentina). The event took place in the amphitheatre of the Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabataba'i University, and was attended by several Arbaeen thinkers, researchers, professors, and enthusiasts.

At the beginning of the event, Dr Motamedi said: "So effective, comprehensive, and brilliant was the uprising launched by Imam Hussain (PBUH) that no other incident in history can be found with such a profound and broad impact. The incident's durability and impact are really worth studying. Millions of people have so far thought about this incident, thousands of books have been published, millions of hours of lectures have been delivered and thousands of people have been inspired by this immense event."

He continued: "This unique divine portraiture has presented several models to women, men, children, and youth alike. So inspiring and influential have been the various aspects of this incident – psychologically, sociologically, politically, etc. – that they have motivated the production of great works throughout history. None of the sorrows and mental injuries we have ever experienced can be compared to a moment of those experienced by Zainab (PBUH).

ATU President then maintained: "The uprising launched by Imam Hussain (PBUH) aimed to enjoin good and forbid wrong, revive Islamic values, fight against oppression and ignorance, and restore honour and freedom, and it will resonate for good. Year after year, we get to know more about the Karbala incident and find out what historical and social capacities exist for us in this incident."

To celebrate the uprising of Imam Hussain (PBUH) and the Arbaeen means to celebrate human virtues, to not give in to humiliation, and to understand the greatness of Islam and its teachings. Imam Hussain (PBUH) is a unique figure who sacrificed himself for Islam's sake, and this shows how valued Islam and Islamic teachings are.

Dr Motamedi then stated that one of the major lessons of the Ashura is to live and make decisions at the present and added: "Following the Karbala incident, various movements have taken place, and different people have tried to seek revenge. However, they have never succeeded, since their actions have not occurred at the right moment. This trend reveals how crucial and great the timing and understanding of an act might be."

He added: "To celebrate the uprising of Imam Hussain (PBUH) and the Arbaeen means to celebrate human virtues, to not give in to humiliation, and to understand the greatness of Islam and its teachings. Imam Hussain (PBUH) is a unique figure who sacrificed himself for Islam's sake, and this shows how valued Islam and Islamic teachings are."

ATU President then stated: "At this conference, Allameh Tabataba'i University tries to portray, analyze, and discuss parts of this divine manifestation in an academic context. The theme of resistance was also chosen for the conference to take advantage of the same great capacity. This conference investigates the behaviours of millions of people during the Arbaeen days and tries to understand why Iraqi people are so receptive to the Arbaeen pilgrims and feel devotion towards them."

In the next part of the opening ceremony, Dr Kachoian talked about the social and cultural dimensions of the Arbaeen and maintained: "The Arbaeen is a strange event and there are two basic points in understanding it: the nature of this event and the effects and consequences it has had, throughout history, in the creation and trans-nationalisation of resistance."

He said: "This incident is a response to the historical conditions of the Islamic Revolution and other global events. The creation of new values is the distinguishing feature of every civilisation. All these events must be able to create social development and the creation of new values also rely on the same social development. The Arbaeen event has these characteristics and can play a major role in the realisation of a new Islamic civilisation."

The Arbaeen has a huge capacity in realising a new Islamic Civilisation.

The University of Tehran Faculty Member highlighted that "Arbaeen is one of the landmarks of Shiite identity. The Arbaeen processions are spheres where a new Shiite community is created and new connections and relationships are established. The event has great capacities to create values ​​and provides the foundation for the emergence of a huge community and new social forces."

In another part of the conference, Dr Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, President of the Humanities Development Council, pointed out that to date few appropriate academic measures have taken place regarding the phenomenon of Arbaeen and that the Arbaeen has been understudied and overlooked in universities. He added that "The existing books are translations from Western authors belonging to other societies, and they are not representative of our social realities."

The Arbaeen is an objective truth.

He continued that "Whether it is studied in universities or not, the Arbaeen is an objective truth. We had better investigate the dimensions of this truth instead of theoretical, intellectual, and abstract discussions, and this phenomenon is a very good opportunity for Social-Science researchers."

The themes of the Fifth International Arbaeen Conference are as follows:

- Arbaeen: Transnationalization and Developments in the Islamic World

- Arbaeen and Lifestyle

- Arbaeen and Identity

- Arbaeen: Culture, Arts and Media

- Arbaeen: Groups and Social Capital

- Pathology of Arbaeen

- Arbaeen and spiritual, psychological, and educational needs