In pictures: Muslims across the world commemorate Chehlum

Chehlum processions kicked off amidst tight security in various cities in Pakistan.
Dawn.com Published November 21, 2016

Shias all over the world mark the Chehlum or Arbaeen of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) 40 days after Ashura.

Chehlum processions kicked off in various cities of Pakistan under tight security, as cellphone services were suspended and traffic diverted from procession routes.

Millions of Shias also thronged to Karbala in Iraq for the culmination of one of the world's largest religious events.

The faithful have for days been streaming through the golden-domed mausoleum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) grandson who was killed in 680 AD by the armies of Yazid, despite the threat of militant attacks.

Many in the sea of black-clad devotees swarming the shrine walked days to reach Karbala, sometimes from cities as far afield as Basra, about 500 kilometres away by road.

PAKISTAN
People participate in a Chehlum procession in Islamabad. — AP
People participate in a Chehlum procession in Islamabad. — AP

A man pets Zuljinah on the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain(RA). —Reuters
A man pets Zuljinah on the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain(RA). —Reuters

Teary-eyed women mourn at the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA). — AFP
Teary-eyed women mourn at the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA). — AFP

Children walk among the security vehicles protecting the funeral procession in Islamabad. — AFP
Children walk among the security vehicles protecting the funeral procession in Islamabad. — AFP

Women look on as the procession passes by. — AFP
Women look on as the procession passes by. — AFP

A robot conducts a security sweep of the procession area as a child looks on. — AFP
A robot conducts a security sweep of the procession area as a child looks on. — AFP

Men beat their chests during the Chehlum rituals. — AFP
Men beat their chests during the Chehlum rituals. — AFP

Security vehicles parked at the procession site. — AFP
Security vehicles parked at the procession site. — AFP

Women cry during the Chehlum procession. — AFP
Women cry during the Chehlum procession. — AFP

People touch a horse, symbolising Zuljinah, the horse that carried Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) during the battle of Karbala, at the procession marking Chehlum. — AFP
People touch a horse, symbolising Zuljinah, the horse that carried Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) during the battle of Karbala, at the procession marking Chehlum. — AFP

People look on as men perform rituals during the Chehlum procession. — AFP
People look on as men perform rituals during the Chehlum procession. — AFP

Thousands of devotees take part in the Chehlum procession. — AFP
Thousands of devotees take part in the Chehlum procession. — AFP

IRAN
Men perform prayers as part of the Chehlum rituals. — AP
Men perform prayers as part of the Chehlum rituals. — AP

Men beat their chests during the Chehlum mourning. — AP
Men beat their chests during the Chehlum mourning. — AP

A man mourns as others look on during the Chehlum rituals. — AP
A man mourns as others look on during the Chehlum rituals. — AP

Men gather to take a procession out to commemorate Chehlum. — AP
Men gather to take a procession out to commemorate Chehlum. — AP

IRAQ
Pilgrims gather as they commemorate Chehlum in Karbala, Iraq. — Reuters
Pilgrims gather as they commemorate Chehlum in Karbala, Iraq. — Reuters

Pilgrims mourn as they commemorate Chehlum. — Reuters
Pilgrims mourn as they commemorate Chehlum. — Reuters

Female pilgrims mourn during the Chehlum rituals. — Reuters
Female pilgrims mourn during the Chehlum rituals. — Reuters

A man cries during the Chehlum rituals at Karbala. — Reuters
A man cries during the Chehlum rituals at Karbala. — Reuters

Imran
Nov 21, 2016 06:19pm
Labbayk ya Hussain (a.s)..
Recommend 0
SAB
Nov 21, 2016 06:24pm
Very nice pictures. Labaik Ya Hussain AS. Thank you Dawn.
Recommend 0
M. Emad
Nov 21, 2016 06:25pm
'Chehlum' is commemorated privately by the Shia community in Bangladesh.
Recommend 0
S. A. M.
Nov 21, 2016 06:25pm
Ya Hussain e Mazlum.
Recommend 0
kumail
Nov 21, 2016 06:29pm
thanks
Recommend 0
Syed TANVIR ALI
Nov 21, 2016 06:43pm
Labiak Ya Hussain a.s Mola Sham jana hy mujhy.
Recommend 0
shabbir hussain
Nov 21, 2016 06:48pm
Labbayk ya Hussain (a.s)..
Recommend 0
Syed g.abbas naqvi
Nov 21, 2016 07:08pm
ASSALAAM O ALAYKA YAA IMAM-E- MAZLOOM KARBALA (A.S)
Recommend 0
asif
Nov 21, 2016 07:10pm
Labayk ya Hussain ...MashaAllah momineen
Recommend 0
Gem Khan
Nov 21, 2016 07:18pm
Shia chehlum protected by Sunni security forces. This is the beauty of Islam can be found in Pakistan.
Recommend 0
Anwar Bhojani
Nov 21, 2016 07:18pm
Thanks
Recommend 0
Asim
Nov 21, 2016 07:29pm
Thanks for sharing. Chehlum commemorated in Oman yesterday.
Recommend 0
Hamed Quraishi
Nov 21, 2016 08:00pm
Hasan and Hussein died for freedom and democracy for all of us!
Recommend 0
Mulazim hussain
Nov 21, 2016 08:05pm
Salam Ya Hussain (as). Thanks Dawn for so very good pictures!
Recommend 0
Fahim Khan
Nov 21, 2016 08:30pm
@Gem Khan Chehlum is for all Muslims and security forces are not sunni or shia.
Recommend 0
Taher Nana
Nov 21, 2016 09:18pm
Labbaik Yaa Hussain....Labbaik Yaa Hussain
Recommend 0
Objective View
Nov 21, 2016 10:06pm
@Gem Khan Chehlum of the grandson of the prophet (pbuh). The prophet (pbuh) and his grandson are for all Muslims.
Recommend 0
hasan Iqbal
Nov 21, 2016 10:31pm
Labbayk Ya Hussain (a.s)
Recommend 0
Syed ABIS
Nov 21, 2016 11:36pm
Labaik Ya Hussain
Recommend 0
Lashari
Nov 21, 2016 11:47pm
Hussain as lives in the heart of humans,and he will be remembered as long as this universe lasts.LabiekYaHussainAs
Recommend 0
Ravi vancouver
Nov 21, 2016 11:58pm
@Fahim Khan I fully agree with you. There is no difference due to sect all are Muslims. This hatred between Sunnis and Shias is against Unity in Islam, no outsiders should be allowed to misuse this difference to divide them.
Recommend 0
John
Nov 22, 2016 12:08am
Estimated 66 million zaireen are attending the 40th of Imam Husian (A.S) in Karbala this year.
Recommend 0
Askari
Nov 22, 2016 12:14am
@Syed TANVIR ALI Next year come to Sham with your whole family. Inshallah
Recommend 0
Syed ABIS
Nov 22, 2016 12:34am
Labaika Ya Hussain (AS).
Recommend 0
S. A. M.
Nov 22, 2016 01:04am
Hussain is the voice of sanity. Our Imam sacrificed his life to show what is right and what is wrong. the message of kerbala is for all generations till the end of this world. Our Prophet said I am from Hussain and Hussain is from me. when we live our Prophet why some people forget that he had asked all Muslims to live his Family as well.
Recommend 0
MAHMOOD MIR
Nov 22, 2016 01:24am
LABAIK YA HUSSAIN, Please show us some pictures of Lahore, Karachi and some other areas of Chelum procession. Imam Hussain is for entire Muslim's of the World. Thanks for the coverage.
Recommend 0
Hira
Nov 22, 2016 03:20am
This is the face of of Pakistan we'd all like to see, Tolerance for everyone's beliefs!
Recommend 0
Karachi Wala
Nov 22, 2016 05:11am
Very nice pictures - showing the people's emotions.
Recommend 0
Muslim Medina
Nov 22, 2016 06:31am
I could not control my emotion seeing the Chehlum pictures from Pakistan, Iran and Iraq. Tears flowing from my eyes. Many many thanks Dawn for refreshing our memories and of others who live in Canada or U.S.A.
Recommend 0
Dhaval
Nov 22, 2016 07:47am
Hi. Beautiful pictures.
Recommend 0
Mohamed Kayume Khan
Nov 22, 2016 08:28am
Salaam - This is the muslim Ummah of both Shias and Sunnis in deep reflection on a great tragedy of our common history, faith and destiny. Let us unite in Brotherhood and love and reach to all with the same humanity. Thanks for sharing --
Recommend 0
Zehra
Nov 22, 2016 09:16am
@Gem Khan Imam Hussain A.S. is all the muslim's Holy Prophet P.B.U.H grandson & one of the most beloved , him along with this elder brother Imam Hassan A.S. of the Prophet P.B.U.H......This is our Holy Prophet's grief....biggest grief of all......which every single muslim MUST commerorate......
Recommend 0
saima
Nov 22, 2016 09:23am
Mashallah beautiful pictures LABAIK YA HUSSAIN (AS)
Recommend 0
shah
Nov 22, 2016 09:32am
@GEM Khan : its not Shia Chehlum, It is imama Hussain (AS)'s Chehlum. Imam Hussain is respected by Sunni, Shia, Muslim and by whole Humanity.
Recommend 0
sm roofi
Nov 22, 2016 11:09am
WE should make our minds to obey the lives and deeds of these Holy Beings...
Recommend 0
JZ
Nov 22, 2016 11:15am
Ya Hussain (AS)
Recommend 0
Ali
Nov 22, 2016 11:28am
YA HUSSAIN (AS).THANK YOU DAWN
Recommend 0
Dr.Cajetan Coelho
Nov 22, 2016 12:37pm
Prayer makes us human and merciful towards one another. Nice pictures.
Recommend 0
shan
Nov 22, 2016 01:22pm
i being a Shia strongly disagree that only Shias commemorate Chehlum, Hussain a.s. belongs to everybody and everyone commemorates his martyrdom.
Recommend 0
Saifuddin Takhtawala
Nov 22, 2016 05:53pm
Asslamunalaik Ya Aba Abuldillah al Husain.
Recommend 0
Abbas Naqvi
Nov 23, 2016 12:01am
The congregation of millions of Moslims in Karbala to observe the Chelum of Imam Husain is a unique event. Both Shia and Sunni Moslims gather there to pay respect to the grandchild of the holy prophet(pbuh) and get inspiration from his great sacrifice for Islam.The basic lesson of Karbala is to support the oppressed and fight the oppressor. It is the spirit of Karbala that has led to the variou freedom movements and revolutions across the world to liberate the oppressed people from oppression and injustice of tyrants. Karbala will continue to guide and inspire those struggling for their rights and a dignified and respectable life. Imam Husain will remain a role model for humanity for all ages.
Recommend 0
Y. Dassu
Nov 23, 2016 05:52am
@Gem Khan That is what any State had to do, protect all it's Citizens. What religious belief one has is besides the point. Dawn News has covered the occasion with good coverage, the nation needs media that sees all citizens equally.
Recommend 0
hasart
Nov 23, 2016 08:57am
The Largest as well as most peacefull evetn across the globe. People of the world should follow this and be human and follow the teaching of Imam Hussain a.s. Labaik Ya Imam Hussain a.s
Recommend 0
Robin Akbar
Nov 24, 2016 02:21pm
Why we don't see such things is Europe or USA. Someone explain.
Recommend 0

Copyright © 2025

NewsKit Publishing Platform