The Global Message of Arbaeen and The Responsibility of Religious Elites In the Thought of Ayatollah Khamenei (The Martyred Leader)
Dr. Nassereddin Heidari Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Kingdom of Thailand delivered a speech on the eve of Arbaeen titled “the global massage of Arbaeen and the responsibility of Religious Elites in the Thought of Ayatollah Khamenei the Martyred Leader of Iran.
Introduction In the contemporary era, the magnificent ritual of Arbaeen Hosseini has transcended the boundaries of traditional mourning to become one of the grandest, most popular, and profound civilization-building phenomena in the Islamic world. This vast, millions-strong gathering is a manifestation of unity, love for truth, and anti-arrogance. Meanwhile, elucidating the global dimensions of this movement and the heavy responsibility resting on the shoulders of religious elites and thinkers has always been at the strategic and profound center of attention in the thought of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei, the martyred leader. In discursive literature, analyzing this thought provides precious guiding provisions for steering the Islamic Ummah and Muslims worldwide.
- Arbaeen: The Divine Media and the Manifestation of the New Islamic Civilization From the perspective of the martyred leader's thought, Arbaeen is not merely a historical commemoration for mentioning the tragedies of Karbala and the Ahl al-Bayt of Imam Hussein (AS), but a divine media and an awakening instrument that Almighty God has embedded in Islamic history to keep the spirit of jihad and martyrdom alive, which over the past decade has acquired global dimensions. The characteristics of this global phenomenon are:
- The Center of Unity and Ummah-Building: The Arbaeen pilgrimage tears down geographical, ethnic, and religious boundaries, gathering the Islamic Ummah under the banner of Aba Abdillah al-Hussein (AS).
- Display of the Spiritual Power of Islam: This immense gathering showcases the soft power of pure Muhammadan Islam (PBUH) before the eyes of the world's oppressors, demonstrating how divine motivations can synchronize millions of humans without reliance on material powers.
- Paving the Ground for Reappearance: Arbaeen is a model for forming a global Mahdist society—a society where love, sacrifice, brotherhood, and justice govern human relations.
- The Status and Mission of Religious Elites in the Era of Islamic Awakening Religious elites (scholars, thinkers, preachers, and committed academics) in the strategic view of the Leader of the Revolution hold the role of ideological watchdogs and guides of society. When facing the phenomenon of Arbaeen, the duties of this strata go beyond participating in the rituals; they must engage in cultural analysis and profound explication of this event from the perspectives of sociology, philosophy, and others. The most important responsibilities of the elites in this field are:
- Rational Explanation and Insight Enhancement: Elites must move beyond superficiality and explain the philosophy of the Ashura uprising and its connection to contemporary issues of the Islamic world (such as fighting oppression, anti-arrogance, and justice-seeking) for the younger generation.
- Neutralizing Divisive Conspiracies: The enemies of Islam have always strived to diminish the impact of this gathering by instigating religious disputes or marginal issues. The duty of religious elites is to emphasize commonalities, promote Islamic unity, and neutralize divisive conspiracies.
- Resistance Against the Distortion of History and the Message of Ashura: The risk of distorting the authentic concepts of Ashura (such as rejecting humiliation and Enjoining Good) always exists. Elites bear the responsibility of safeguarding the authenticity of Arbaeen's message so that this immense movement does not head toward deviation.
- The Duty of Elites Regarding the Global Dimensions of Arbaeen Due to its human and liberty-seeking nature, the message of Arbaeen is not restricted to Shias or only Muslims, but is a global message for all the free spirits of the world. The responsibility of elites in this regard includes: "Arbaeen is the beginning of a global promotional movement; where the simultaneous oppression and authority of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) are translated into the language of human fitrah (innate nature)."
- Translating the Message of Ashura into Modern Language: Elites must use modern communication tools, art, literature, and media to transform the profound concepts of Arbaeen into a comprehensible discourse for contemporary humans thirsty for meaning and spirituality.
- Creating a Communication Bridge Among World Thinkers: Introducing the Hosseini uprising as a model of resistance against the global system of dominance and modern oppression is a duty that seminary and academic elites must pursue internationally.
Conclusion The global phenomenon of Arbaeen is an unrivaled and historic opportunity for the Islamic world to pave its path toward a new Islamic civilization by relying on the culture of martyrdom and resistance. Meanwhile, religious elites, as the intellectual and cultural vanguard of society, bear a solemn responsibility. Precise recognition of Arbaeen's global dimensions and striving for its correct, insight-fostering, and unity-building explanation is a manifest instance of the "Jihad of Tabyin" (Clarification Jihad) and safeguarding authentic Islamic values in the present era.