The Arbaeen Walk

The day of Arbaeen marks forty days after the events of Ashura. Up to 25 million people mark Arbaeen by walking the 80km/50mile journey from Najaf to Imam Hussain's shrine in Karbala. They come from surrounding cities and even from other countries. This pilgrimage has been recorded as the worlds largest gathering of people! Arbaeen is also the largest number of people fed for free and largest group of volunteers serving a single event in the world. Men and women of all ages, of different race and culture, walk side by side for many days showing their love for Imam Husayn (a). Flocks of people host the ones walking, offering them food, shelter in large set up tents, medicine and comfort for their journey.

Imam Sadiq (a) has said "When a person travels to visit the grave of Imam Husayn (a), as he takes his first step away from his family he is pardoned for his sins. Then, for every step he takes he continues to become purified until he reaches the holy grave."

Activity: Virtual Arbaeen Walk
Actively engage in the remembrance of Imam Husayn (a) by taking on a walk related charity challenge. 
- Talk a ten minute silent reflective walk everyday over Arbaeen
- Walk 10,000 steps each day to virtually cover the 50 miles distance from Najaf to Karbala.

Activity: Virtual Arbaeen Walk Tracker 
Keep a record of your progress using the tracker adapted from the N2K workbook by Zahra Trust

Resources: 
Book: The Brothers and Sisters do the Arbaeen Walk
Activity: Ziyara Places in Iraq
Game: Salamoji N2K Walk Game
Listen: Arbaeen English Latmiyya Playlist
Watch: The 40th - The Arbaeen Walk to Karbala - Documentary
Article: World's Biggest Pilgrimage
Read: The Significance of the Arbaeen Walk
Ziyarah: Arbaeen by QFatima

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Salaams on Imam Husayn (as)

Download Online: QFatima

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Ziyarah Ashura

A beautiful passage from Ziyarah Ashura for children to memorise and use as part of their Qunoot duas.

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Preparing For Ziyarah

A brilliant series by Buzz Ideazz on preparing our little ones for Ziyaraa

Idea 1: Start by prepping them with some stories
Idea 2: Give them some money to invest
Idea 3: Decide on a project
Idea 4: Prepare them...to their level
Idea 5: Keep a Diary/Journal
Idea 6: Keep a Scrapbook
Idea 7: Good Ol' Socks
Idea 8: The Bag of Sweets!
Idea 9: Encourage them to eat less meat beforehand and/or fast
Idea 10: Take the Lyrics for their Favourite Marthiyas and Nawhas
Idea 11: Encourage them to make amends
Idea 12: Make a will with them
Idea 13: Equip Them with Child-Friendly Dua Cards!
Idea 14: Make a dua list
Idea 15: Make a 'gift' pack from ziyarat together

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PEACE Pledge

Lesson Objective:
- 'Asalamu Alaika Ya Aba Abdillah'
- To understand the promise you are making when saying Salaam to Imam

Though we can not see the Imams, when we recite the words of ziyara, we should try to imagine that they are actually stood right in front of us. We are extending our hand to them and making a pledge, a promise.

We are telling our Imams that we are at peace with them. We shall follow the rules of Allah, the way that they taught us, and do good deeds, so that our actions are always peaceful.

Activity: PEACE Pledge
Each statement can be represented by a hand gesture/sign to help memorise the key points we make when we say salaam.

Raise right hand and say: 'Asalamu Alaika Ya Aba Abdillah'
Hand on heart: I Promise
Tap watch/wrist with one finger: Everyday
Open book: Act on the Quran
Pat two palms together from one side to another: Copy the Ahlulbayt
Thumbs up: Encourage goodness

After emphasising how important it is to keep a promise, ask if the child is ready to sign and seal the pledge.

Display in a prominent place as a reminder to send our salaam to Imam everyday. 
Imam hears us and replies our salaam. We must be honest in our words and try hard to keep our promise.

Download PEACE Pledge

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Ziyara Places In Iraq

Lesson Objective:
- Understand what ziyara is

- Understand the importance and blessings associated with making ziyara

- Be familiar with important places of ziyarat in Iraq

Lesson Introduction:

20^th of Safar, marks the day of Arbaeen, 40 days after Ashura. It is the day that the Ahlul Bayt reached the land of Karbala.

Jabir, an old companion of the Prophet, had travelled from Madina and had also come to Karbala where he met the family of Imam Husayn (as).

It was an extremely sad day as they remembered and cried on the graves of the martyrs.

After that people from all over started visiting the graves of the martyrs and this is known as Ziyarah.

The Prophet (saw) has said that if anyone visited him or his family and did ziyarah, then he would himself also visit them on the day of Judgement!

Allah has placed 4,000 angels by the grave of Imam Husayn (A.S.). They weep over him and shall continue to do so up to the Day of Judgment. Angels are also continuously visiting Imam’s shrine to give him salaams.

When you make ziyarat and visit the shrine of Imam Husayn (as), Imam knows that you have come. He knows your name, can see you and hears everything you say. When we talk to Imam and tell him our duas, he prays to Allah for us! He asks Allah to forgive us and accept our duas.

Activity: Ziyara map with key burial places

Use a cork board and enlarged images of the shrines with the associated lables as an interactive activity to discuss and sort with the class.

Iraq has burial sites of 6/14 Ma’sumeen

List the 4 main cities for ziyara in Iraq: Najaf/Karbala/Kadhmain/Samarra

Sort the names of the Masumeen accordingly into each quadrant

Sort the images of the shrines to match the correct burial sites. 

Corresponding worksheet can then be completed by trying to recall as much as they can independently before referring to the display.

Download Shrine Image Collage

Resources: Iraq Guide Book For Kids for extension material on the shrines and sites of Ziyara

Activitiy: PEACE Pledge
Activity: Salaams on Imam Husayn (as)

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Iraq Guide Book For Kids

The Iraq Guide Book For Kids, is designed to be used for children aged 5+. Simple explanations help them to understand the importance and basic history behind some of the main places that will be visited. The book can also be used beforehand to help them to prepare for Ziyara and know what to expect.

Download PDF: Iraq Guide Book For Kids
The pages can be printed as 6x4 photos and inserted into pocket photo album to carry around and read regularly.

Download PDF For Parents: Preparing For Ziyarah

A compilation of invaluable lecture notes on how to spiritually prepare for Ziyaraa, to derive maximum benefit from the blessed visitation.

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