In the Name of Allah, the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful.
May Allah bless Muhammad and his Family and damn their enemies.
Sheikh al-Habib strongly denounces the Iraqi government’s plan to limit the number of foreign pilgrims allowed to take part in the sacred Arbaeen Ziyyarah to no more than 40 thousand, with the excuse being to contain the spread of Covid-19.
His Eminence reiterates that it is possible to enforce the recommended medical advice on Covid-19 without depriving people of their right to visit the martyred and oppressed Imam (peace be upon him). Spiritual needs cannot be suspended because they are as necessary as medical, educational, and employment needs. Also, the recent festivals in the holy sites of Iraq have not seen a major spike in cases, despite the huge number of visitors, no doubt due to the mediation and protection of the Pure Imams (peace be upon them).
His Eminence stresses that the Iraqi government lacks the authority to make such a decision, according to both Shari’a and public opinion, and that this decision cannot be respected or obeyed under any circumstances. His Eminence warns that standing between a single person and his desire to visit the shrine of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) is a terrible sin to Allah. The perpetrators of such a crime will surely incur his wrath and be deprived of his blessing.
His Eminence calls upon all pilgrims, wherever they were, to march towards Holy Karbala by taking any path that is possible and to not pay no mind to these hollow official plans and decisions, as long as they follow the necessary medical precautions, such as getting vaccinated, wearing masks, etc.
Sheikh al-Habib
