Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the road leading to Islamic civilization is fraught with difficulties, stressing that the Islamic Revolution's progress in Iran heralds a promising and prosperous outlook for reaching that goal.
"The path of efforts in the name of God, upholding righteousness and justice, and the road to the Islamic civilization and society are tough and bumpy, but a view of the course of the Islamic Revolution and also the horizon ahead indicate promising, successful and bright signs," the Leader said in an address to a gathering of university students marking the Arbaeen religious anniversary in Tehran on Thursday.
He praised the magnificent mourning ceremonies in commemoration of Arbaeen, which marks the 40th-day anniversary after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Tasnim News Agency reported.
Ayatollah Khamenei underlined the need for "steadfastness" in observing such religious events. In a speech on Nov. 6, Ayatollah Khamenei praised the growing enthusiasm for commemorating Arbaeen, describing the pilgrimage to the holy shrine of the third Shia Imam in Karbala as a major event blessed by Almighty God.
"Thank God, millions of our people, Iraqis and others take this path," the Leader said, describing the huge movement as a "magnificent symbol" of love for the Shia imams.
The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Each year, millions of pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel on foot to Karbala to pay homage to Imam Hussein (PBUH) and his martyred companions.
