Walk of the free

Most people who have 'walked to kerbala' have mentioned that the experience cannot be described in words. We attempt to capture some details so as to motivate /facilitate more people to undertake this epic journey.

This Walk is usually done, in the days before Arbaeen ( where the worlds largest gathering takes place in kerbala ) .Millions of People walk between he holy cities of Najaf & Kerbala, a distance of aprox 90 km over 2- 3 days with sleeping stops in Mawakib ( temporary camps)

1. 'If one of our Shia goes for Imam Husain's (a.s.) Ziarat, then he will not return but all his sins will be forgiven. For every step that he or his mount takes, 1,000 virtues are written for him, 1,000 sins are forgiven and his status is elevated by a 1,000 degrees.' (Behaarul Anwar, vol 101, pg 25, tradition 26; Kamiluz Ziaraat, pg 134)

2. When the visitor leaves the house, each and every spot that he steps on, prays for him.(Behaarul Anwar, vol 101, pg 15, tradition 14)

3. When the rays of the sun fall on the visitor of Imam's (a.s.) shrines, it consumes his sins like the fire consumes wooden sticks. The sun does not leave any sin on his body and he returns home sinless. In fact on his return he is granted a status that is not even given to those who shed their blood in Allah's path.(Behaarul Anwar, vol 101, pg 15, tradition 14; Kamiluz Ziaraat, pg 298)

4. When a Shia knows Imam Husain's (a.s.) right over the people and leaves his house for Imam's (a.s.) ziarat in this condition, without any pride and conceit, then a 1,000 angels accompany him from the right, with another 1,000 angels on the left. And he will be rewarded as if he has performed 1,000 Hajj and 1,000 Umrah with a prophet or with the successor (wasi) of a prophet. (Behaarul Anwar, vol 101, pg 91, tradition 33)

"Surely there exists in the hearts of the mo'mineen, with respect to the martyrdom of Husayn [a], a heat that never subsides" - The Holy Prophet [s] Mustadrak al-Wasail, vol.10, pg.318

�It should be made compulsory for all Momins to undertake this journey at least once �

�If you have not undertaken this journey you have not seen anything here & of the hereafter�

�its amazing how they serve the people who walk , food , Restrooms , Massage , Wheel chair repairs etc tec �

�Halabi Zowwaar Abu Sajjad � Halabi Hom� ( come pilgrim) is the �call� that one hears consistently during the walk from Imam Ali (AS) shrine in Najaf to Abul Fazl (or Abul Faazel as some others call) Abbas (AS) shrine in Karbala! This is actually a sincere invitation for the pilgrims walking to visit Imam Hussain (AS), to accept their hospitalities of amazingly different natures...

This text is only a means to prepare the eyes to a small extent ,In order to appreciate more details ,also see it in the pictures and videos (linked above)

There are many other sights /scenarios which are either too quick to be captured by a camera or can never be captured by one, the 'feelings' of which & even the scene itself is indescribable...These can only be experienced by the practical experience of walking by one�s self

There are Men ,Women & Children of ALL ages ,babies in arms ( note its extremely difficult to even walk short distance with a baby in arms !) /prams ,Aged people with bent backs & walking sticks & all health conditions incl wheel chairs , amputated /prosthesis legs & crutches !. Some Barefooted , Most of them are Iraqis & many as far as from Basra entailing a 16 day walk ! So ANYONE can go on this walk without any fear or inhibition .This reflects partially the Epic Kerbala battle where Imam Hussain(as) had with himself Men Women & children of all age groups from different sections of society.

Walking on crutches /Barefoot & The artificial leg & Crutches also resting at a camp !

Children in innovative push carts /prams with 'Ya hussain' flags /Shirts & on the shoulders!

Staggering Numbers !:-It is also very interesting to note comments of different people � for example, in order to estimate the approximate number of people on the road at any time, one of the zawwar said multiply approximately 25people, being the number of people across the width of the road by 1000, being the approximate number of rows of people on a 1Km stretch considering the spacing . This way the maths works out to aprx> 1.0 mn people at any time ,on an approx 90Km stretch. Note this is about the people ON the road and those who had already completed the journey or hadn�t begun are not included. The total number of people walking over the week can then be estimated to be possibly 5-10 mn ..

Poles !-�I am on pole number�..� is a common terminology while communicating with each other on the walk of the free. The street lighting poles along the path are numbered and are 1452 in total. Twenty poles equals 1Km meaning that the distance between 2 poles is approx 50mtrs. Remember that pole#1 starts after approx 8-9Kms from Imam Ali (AS) Shrine and there is another about the same distance from the last pole to Abul Fazl Abbas (AS) Shrine.

Along the way are pictures of past Marajae doing the same worshiping act, other posters encourage the maintenance and adoption of the proper Islamic Hijab, yet others portray Habib Ibn Mazahir with a scroll registering the names of the pilgrims, municipality banners welcome the �honoured pilgrims�, few in English stated anti-corruption messages and related corruption to undermining Imam Hussain�s efforts and message, etc. What is striking is the focus on the message rather than the cosmetics and so you could see a message drawing the attention of pilgrims to be conservative with water usage which was simply scribbled on a wall near which taps provided water for wuzu. But the message didn�t omit any opportunity to be as courteous and polite as possible.

On the way are also 3 "Ahad Namas" , I pledge to Hazrat Abbas (as) that a)I will not bribe b)I will not litter c) I will read 10 Ayats of Quran Daily . Many many sign & put their thumbprint ...some ponder & leave ...

Ya Hussain flags (incl on specifically parked extended crane booms !) & country flags & head bands. A camera rests ON the floor in the middle of the road capturing only legs! another recording with Ipad

crane flag

Board "We are hussainis & will remain so"

Most of the people are in Black clothes reflecting the 'mourning ' attitude & speakers put up everywhere blare the 'latmiyat' ( mourning verses)

Tea ! In order to provide some perspective of the path, it will help to note that you cannot walk more than about 50steps without encountering a tea stall. The Iraqi tea, typically served in miniature glass �cups� if you can call it so, is truly refreshing � drink it as it is served if you have a sweet tooth or else make sure you take out the sugar before the tea is poured for you since normally half the cup is full of sugar ! Sometimes along the way you can also get lemon tea & lemon tea with honey and saffron.

You can easily experience the sadness on the faces of those inviters who fail to convince zawwars to visit their mawkibs (temp resting places) and stalls. Eat Daal Chawal, Stew with hot tandoori rotis, falafel sandwiches, hot khubs with cheese, fried chicken with French fries and that�s all about what we could eat � otherwise there were a whole lot of other things on offer. Dates, like tea were available literally at every 50steps and normally kept in the middle of the road so as not to interrupt the cruising speed of the pilgrims and provide an opportunity of a quick pick � something like the marathon runners who pick up water without pausing.

Small Children are involved in this service as much as the elders .It appears that all normal activity is shut down during these days & families simply devote themselves to this service.

An alim pouring tea for the pilgrims, a man replacing a table with himself and sitting in the middle of the road holding a �thaal� ( large flat vessel) on his head with food on it, an army soldier massaging the legs of pilgrims, another one distributing plastic spoons to facilitate eating, one man simply waving to the pilgrims with a pleasant smile and calling out the Islamic greetings of salaam, yet another training his 3-4year old son the importance of the pilgrims and their status by making the kid distribute tissue paper to the walkers are some of the other scenes that actually get embossed forever and yet there are so many other observations one can enumerate but there comes a moment where the zawar feels that justice is absolutely not possible anymore in describing the events... .

Children in service! .. Waiter ,Tissue giver,Water dispenser ,Reporter Perfumer,Street cleaner!

Try getting children to work & here w/o supervision each child performing his role

-A long trailer distributes free Gas cylinders to the people serving .. another distributes fuel to associated vehicles

-Medicine out of a slotted box on the move & Medical clinics to attend to foot sores

Teaching correct Quran/Sura for Salat !One unique service is teaching correct recitation of Quran( basic Hamd & Sura for Salat) On the Road to those resting on chairs !. An institute in Kerbala has deployed its teachers to meet the zawar & use a printed paper pad to ask people to recite, point out mistakes & hand over the idenitified mistake paper to the zawar

All the people on this journey have a 'GIVING' attitude a complete reverse of human psychology under circumstances where there is some element of competition for resources.

There is NO FRIVOLITY observed .In any such gathering there will be sights where there is some element of frivoillty / chatting /laughing /youth gatherings /music / playing cards etc etc None of this is observed despite availability of significant opportunity also after dark say 5 pm where temporary camps get occupied .Hijab of women is near perfect

Yes people have blisters are tired BUT continue to walk even like penguins at the end of journey if youre tired say Ya hussian as this bag says

walking with father w/o hands!

When the zawar return with so much of awe and the excitement to offload all observations to receptive listeners, they are asked �.�what impressed you most�. a short question but one whose answer is so difficult. .... . So after a brief pause, he answers�.. It�s the true love of Imam Hussain(AS), the sincere respect of the pilgrims that love translates into and the unparalleled enthusiasm and desire these Iraqis have in their hearts to serve the pilgrims. Afterall no one opens the doors of their houses to welcome strangers who come from distant lands and don�t speak the same language. To this the most appropriate poster I took a picture of was that of the flags of many many nations bordering the words �Al Hussain Yajmaoona�. "Hussain brings us together"

-The Sheep which walks on this road cannot be eaten, as its meat does not get cooked!

If you want to get some feeling of what the answer to Imam Hussain�s call on the day of Ashoora should have been like�� go to THE WALK OF THE FREE !!!!! Labbaik Ya Hussain Labbaik Ya Hussain �

This walk should be completed by walking for 3 days and resting for the 2 nights in between � this way the physical challenge is well accepted by the body and one is able to perform the required prayers, ziaraat and duas without problems in Karbala upon reaching there.

It is better to stop walking at sunset & locate a constructed ( vs tent type) mowkib (a hussania turned camp) so that the cold is partially reduced

The weather may be cold & you will need good insulation especially at night in non permanent camps .

It is VERY important to have proper footwear , special Walking shoes or Open chappals /sandals with thick socks (Preventing Blisters | Blisters Treatment)

Provisions .Be light. ANY weight /bag on you will be a bother . It is not an exaggeration to state that you need nothing more than what you are wearing from head to toe already. Food, shelter, sanitation facilities, mobile phone charging, local and international calls, medical care, body & leg massage, tailoring facilities, shoe polishing service, laundry and Allah knows what else is free!!! In fact you could get into trouble for offering to pay and if you didn�t physically challenge your service provider seriously, he would forcefully put you on a massage session. Basic 'chappal' footwear & bags you can buy if you would ever need one.If you must carry a bag take a backpack or a small strolley with wheels which you can drag

NAJAF -TO-KARBALA WALKING GUIDE

Walking guide one pg Factsheet Pdf ,

Summary

Total Distance	80 Km
Total Number of Poles	1452 Poles
Distance Between Each Poles	50 meters [20 Poles = 1 Km]
Approx. Walking Time Required	20 to 25 hours
Estimated Time to Reach the Destination	2-3 Days
Preferred Start Time	17th Safar - After Fajr � 6:45 AM
Expected Completion Time (InshaAllah)	19th Safar � Dhuhr � 12 PM
Who Can Do This?	Anyone (Male/Female/Families)

Also at 15 shaban , Arafat, Ashura

Directions:

Take an Exit from Imam Ali (AS) Haram from Bab-e-Tousi (Opposite to Bab-e-Qibla) and start walking straight on Shahra-e-Tousi - After about 500 meters, Wadi-us-Salam Cemetry will start - Keep walking straight and you will eventually get to the Highway, turn left, where hundreds of thousands of people will be walking towards Karbala � Join them and you will reach Haram of Hazrat Abbas (A.S) after about 75 Km. at Pole # 1452.

Landmarks (Poles):

Poles Starts After

10 Km.

Pole # 1

Ministry Office on Left side of the Road

Pole # 345

Concrete Walls - Temporary Checkposts

Pole # 578

City of Haidariya - Haidariya Hospital

Pole # 647

Proper Permanent Washrooms

Pole # 960

Large Checkposts

Pole # 1183

Checkpost

Pole # 1237

Imam Ali (AS) City - Washrooms, Mosque, Rest Area etc.

Pole # 1252

Ministry of Import/Export - Office

Pole # 1285

Checking Checkpost - Entrance of Karbala

Pole # 1294

[Optional] Turn Right - Shortcut � After about 4 Km - Poles will again start from 1404 (Most People Do Take this Shortcut)

Pole # 1404

First Sight to Rosa e Hazrat Abbas (A.S) - People who Have Turn Right at 1294 will Join here (Note: Remove your Shoes in Respect to Haram)

Pole # 1452

End of Poles

50 Meters

Bab-e-Qibla - Rosa-e-Hazrat Abbas (A.S)

Recommended Stops/Milestones:

Keep on walking until the poles start - Preferably don't stop before the poles' starts.
Spend the 1st Night in a Moukkab somewhere between 400-500 Poles.
Spend the 2nd Night in a Moukkab somewhere between 1000-1100 Poles.
You should take stops after every 100 or so poles to re-group with family/friends and take a rest of 5-10 minutes to ease your muscles.

Walking Notes:

? Start walking after Fajr and stop walking at Maghrib.

? Don�t over-stretch yourself during the walk. Take a rest, when required.

? After Namaz e Maghrib, get a place to sleep in one of the Camps or Hussainiyah - There are thousands, so you don't have to worry much.

Belongings' Notes:

Try not to get too much weight with you. Don't take anything to eat or drink, there is already too much on the way.
Take any regular medicines that would be required during the 2-3 days� walk.
Prefer a Lightweight backpack instead of a Shopper to carry stuff during your journey.
Proper Clothes to Avoid the Cold - Socks, Hand Gloves, Cap, Ear-cover Jacket & preferably a shawl.
Any suitable Cream for Rashes, if you normally get them.
You can get a small pocket Quran/Duas/Ziyarat in your mobile (if possible) to pass your time while walking.
Don't wear packed shoes - Try to wear something comfortable and open instead.
Passport, Mobile Charger (if you are carrying a mobile).

Important Notes:

You don't have to worry much about doing it completely. If you ever think, that you cannot continue at any point, you can take a van to reach Karbala, there are hundreds everywhere. An average male/female above the age of 10 years is 99.99% likely to complete it on the 3^rd day without any issues. You should at least give it a try � it is definitely worth it!!
Make sure you know the name of the Hotel; you are intended to stay in Karbala.
If you want to make a phone call, make it before Fajr to get your calls through, as they normally don't go through rest of the day due to high network traffic. You can use GPRS to communicate though. GPRS Settings can be found on asiacell.com and/or zain.com [based on your mobile network]

Landmarks/Re-Grouping Stops:

Pole # 72

Moukkab Aal-e Abi-Talib (A.S.)

Pole # 297

Moukkab Al-Abrar

Pole # 458

Moukkab Imam Zain-ul-Abedin (A.S.)

Pole # 602

Moukkab Aal-e-Fakhruddin

Pole # 795

Moukkab Muzeef-al-Hussain (A.S.)

Pole # 1086

Moukkab By Pakistanis

Pole # 1237

Imam Ali (A.S.) City

� Those who wish to serve Imam Hussain (as) must serve purely for attaining proximity to ALLAH.

� Observe prayers on time because they are the main obligations for which Imam Hussain (as) sacrificed his life. And obligatory tasks take priority over recommended tasks.

� Keep reciting Subhan Allah, La ilaha illallah and Allahu Akbar during your walk, as it is the best of dhikr, �So make provision for yourselves (Hereafter); for surely the provision is the guarding of oneself�, (Al Baqara:197) like reciting Quran, Duas and Ziyarats.

� Avoid wasting food and drinks. Owners of Mawakib must pay attention to this and so should respected pedestrians.

� Remember to recite Ziyarah on behalf of Imam al Mahdi (atf) and to pray for his early re appearance.

رقم العمود	اسم الموكب
17	حسينية النور
72	ابو الفضل العباس
86	حسينية الشهيد صاحب
100	طرف الحويش/ال شربة
110	حسينية الحسن المجتبى
131	حسينية شباب احمد وائل
140	حسينية عبد الله الرضيع
157	حسينية الطفل الرضيع
163	شباب السجاد
172	ابو الشهداء
184	طرف السعد والمثنى
185	وليد الكعبه
211	شباب السجاد
217	حسينية قباء
228	شيخ الانصار حبيب بن مظاهر
230	هبه وادي السلام
232	شباب المنتظر
249	شباب حيدر الكرار
266	الرسول الاعظم
270	شباب الكرار
288	حسينية السعداء
300	خدمه اهل البيت
309	الساده الصوافي
321	سعود لن حبيب
328	الامام موسى بن جعفر
341	ثقل النبوة
356	شباب المرتضى
365	اولاد علي
379	شباب الخدمة
383	خدام اهل البيت
399	انصار علي الاكبر
405	ابناء الحسن
414	حسينية جعفر الطيار
430	شباب ابو الفضل العباس
439	شباب النجف الاشرف
444	شباب غريب الغرباء
460	فاطمة الزهراء
459	شهداء الطف
468	مخيم الانصار
473	ابو الفضل العباس
472	حسينية ال الصائغ
488	احباب المشتبى
490	مضيف المصطفى
503	اريج اهل البيت
523	عزاء ام البنين
539	حسينية اولاد علي
547	حسينية الشهداء
568	حسينية الامام الحجة
591	حسينية وجامع الحسان
596	حسينية الشهيد المحراب
602	حسينية فخر الدين
612	حسينية شباب القاسم
619	حسينية الرسول
630	حسينية ال قاسم
638	الامام علي
642	ذبيح كربلاء
650	شباب علي الاكبر
655	خدام الامام الحسين
611	حسينية ابو جنان عبد الناصر
672	شباب الزوية
683	فاطمه العليله
691	الجواد
705	النبأ العظيم
717	صاحب رحيم ابو كلل
721	جنة الحسين
738	حسينية السبطين
747	ياحسين
758	رزاق عبد الامير
760	حسينية عباس
767	الحسن
781	حسينية ام ابيها
807	حسينية جبرائيل
751	محمد
824	سيد الساجدين
840	الجوادين
855	حسينية الصحابي ميثم التمار
869	احباب الزهراء
886	شباب المصطفى
890	هيئة شباب القاسم
906	الامام الباقر
918	شباب القاسم
941	سيد الشهداء
942	الامام الكاظم
964	حسينية الامام علي
920	حسينية شباب داعيه الحسين
941	سيد الشهداء
987	ابو تراب
994	ولايه علي
1000	حسينية انصار الحسين
1011	حسينية انصار الحسين
1031	الحسن
1047	شباب الامام الحسن
1058	المذبوح عبد الله الرضيع
1080	مشاه المشخاب
1091	جمعية النور
1116	جابر الانصاري
1125	سليب الطف
1148	انصار الحجة
1156	احباب الزهراء
1195	الصديق الطاهر
1216	الزينبيه
1263	شباب الحسين
1222	فاطمة الزهراء
1231	انصار الحسين