Are you planning to perform Ziyarat Arbaeen this year?
Walking from Najaf, Iraq to Karbala, Iraq is a total of 76km (48 miles). Therefore, performing Ziyarat Arbaeen can be overwhelming at first thought. However, please remember that the walk is not just any walk. The walk commemorates the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
To help you prepare for your Ziyarat Arbaeen walk, here are five ways to help you prepare:
- Take Frequent Walks. If your day-to-day profession requires you to be at a desk a majority of the time, then you should take frequent walks throughout the day to help you become accustomed to walking.
- Prepare Mentally. You may be surprised, but the walk may not be the hardest part of your Ziyarat. You may realize that all of the emotions you go through and the stories that manifest in front of you during your walk may become the hardest part for you. What you see, hear, and who you meet will forever be with you after you finish your Ziyarat and return home.
- Make a List. A week before your Ziyarat, take some time and make a list of items that you are grateful for and that you want to pray for. Ask your friends and family for items that they want you to pray for as well. As you are performing your Ziyarat (walking), think of the list that you are grateful for and thank Allah for the bounties that he has provided you. Additionally, ask the Imams to intercede on your behalf in the duas you make for your friends, your family, and lastly for yourself. This process will allow you to concentrate in praising and thanking Allah, as you perform your Ziyarat, instead of focusing on your walk.
- Distance Poles.
As you begin your walk, you will notice pole markers that will allow you to identify where you are along the walk. Once you reach pole marker 1451, you have arrived in Karbala and the shrines of Imam Hussain and Hazrat Abbas. Do not count the poles, as they will distract you from tips two and three noted above. Use the poles as a way to identify where you are, and if you are performing Ziyarat as part of a group, you can use the poles as a mechanism to meet with the group every now and then.
5. Bring Audio. To the extent you can, bring some an audio device with you with headphones. During this time, you can listen to Quran and/or nohas/latimyas. The audio is to help you focus on the purpose behind your walk and goes back to tips two and three noted above.