On last Saturday, I started a long journey to Karbala city to commemorate the anniversary of Imam Hussein. The distance to the holy shrine in the holy city of Karbala is 67 miles. I haven't been practicing much sport for the last twelve years because of the type of life I live. So, walking such a distance was a big challenge to my will and abilities as I always show off being a very good athlete for years and years.
My colleague came to the office where I spent the night around 5:50 a.m. and the journey started at 6. We reached Mussayib city around 6 p.m. I was completely exhausted but all the pain became a source of joy and happiness when I was received by people from the city begging me to spend the night in the big tents they set everywhere in the city. Young boys were working with their parents to serve us. The people were shouting "Dear the visitors of Imam Hussein, please come and spend the night here, we have everything for you, food and bed. Please give us the honor of taking care of you" Others wrote on big pieces of black fabric "serving the visitors of Imam Hussein is our honor." I chose one of the tents randomly. A tent set by a Sunni tribe who decided to serve the Shiite pilgrims. I was one of more than 30 young men. Around 5 am on Sunday, a young man was awaking us asking us to have our early breakfast and continue the journey to the holy shrine. After having the breakfast, we prayed the dawn prayers and continued the march. I was in Karbala before the midday. I finished the ceremonies and walked back about 15 miles until I got a bus to Baghdad. I arrived home around 9 pm.
Although the physical pain is conquering in my weak body but I feel so happy for what I have seen. Those thousands of Shiite and Sunni people who volunteered to serve the pilgrims approved only one fact. They approved that real Islam is still alive in the hearts of Iraqis. The real Islam is not what any insurgents' group do. Its what those people do, helping everyone regardless their sect or religion.
The journey of Karbala approved that Iraqis can be only one nation although some strangers tried to tear the unity of Iraq.
That's a lot of ground to cover!
congratulations!
Posted by: Susan - NC | February 21, 2009 at 08:53 PM
I'm glad you were able to go, Laith, and that you came home safely. Your description of the hospitality offered by your fellow Iraqis is so moving. It reminds me, too, of Hussein's series about going to Karbala last year. It can't be said too often, how Iraqis are Iraqis, and that the sectarian hatred we hear about so much in the US (mainly by Westerners) is more myth than reality. And that what has been done for political reasons by a few does not represent the hearts of most Iraqi citizens.
Posted by: Laura | February 18, 2009 at 03:54 PM