Shia, Sunni to unite in participating Arba’een procession

Mufti Abdul Razaq Rahbar, Friday prayer leader of the Sunni community in Aqqala County, Golestan Province, in an interview with Taqrib News Agency (TNA) stressed the respect of Sunni Muslims for the third Shia Imam calling that a necessity for all Muslims.

He said,” Ashura and Muharram are fully respected by Sunni community since Imam Hussein (AS) respected his life to revive freedom and confrontation with injustice.”

The scholar added,” The great march of Arba’een, due to its highly spiritual value, is not in contradiction with Sunni ideology it is rather recommended in Sunni references as scores of the minority group participate in the annual ceremony.”

Mufti Abdul Razaq Rahbar referred to Sunni community admiration of Arba’een ceremony and stressed the global attention to the holy city of Karbala during Muharram and Safar when Shia and Sunni Muslims join for pilgrimage to the third Shia Imam.

Imam Hussein (AS) is the third Shia Imam and grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) who rose against the tyrant ruler of his time, Yazid ibn Muawiyah, back in 632 AH.

The third Shia Imam and 72 of his companions were martyred in the Battle of Karbala to leave the date as a landmark in the history of Islam, particularly the Shia community. Millions of Muslims from across the globe attend the mourning ceremonies of Muharram and Safar, the first and second months in the lunar Islamic calendar.