Thousands of Muslims and other participants gathered in Accra on Sunday, August 2, 2026, for a procession commemorating Arbaeen, the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
The annual commemoration brought together participants from diverse backgrounds and religious traditions to reflect on Imam Hussein’s stand for justice, dignity and resistance to oppression.
The commemoration was held under the theme, “Islam, Justice, Peace, Compassion, Service to Humanity.” Speakers at the event emphasized the enduring relevance of Imam Hussein’s message, particularly the principle that the pursuit and defense of justice should not be abandoned in the face of hardship or sacrifice.
The gathering attracted a large number of Ghanaian youth, alongside religious scholars and other members of the community. Speakers called for greater unity, peace and social harmony, while emphasizing the importance of cooperation among people of different religious traditions.
he programme also addressed a number of contemporary humanitarian and international concerns.
The plight of Palestinians at the hands of Israel, the suffering of Sudanese under civil war, and the war on Iran and especially the killing of civilians and most especially, the killing of school girls was highlighted and condemned. The gathering also featured calls for interreligious harmony in Ghana and beyond, together with a rejection of religious extremism in all its forms.
What Is Arbaeen?
Arbaeen is an annual religious observance, particularly significant among Shia Muslims, held forty days after Ashura. Ashura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala in present-day Iraq in 680 CE.
Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, is remembered for refusing to submit to what he regarded as unjust rule. His death at Karbala, together with the suffering endured by his family and companions, has come to symbolize sacrifice, moral courage, resistance to oppression and the defense of justice.
The Arabic word Arbaeen means “forty” and refers to the fortieth day following Imam Hussein’s martyrdom. Each year, millions of people travel to the Iraqi city of Karbala to visit his shrine and commemorate his sacrifice. One of the most distinctive features of Arbaeen is the large-scale walking pilgrimage, with pilgrims travelling hundreds of kilometers over several days.
Along the pilgrimage routes, communities provide pilgrims with food, water, accommodation, medical assistance and other services, frequently without charge. This culture of voluntary service and hospitality has become one of the defining features of the Arbaeen experience.
Although rooted in the history of Karbala, Arbaeen has developed into a global expression of remembrance, solidarity, compassion and service to humanity. The commemoration in Accra similarly sought to connect the memory of Imam Hussein with contemporary calls for justice, peace, human dignity, interreligious harmony and opposition to oppression.
