Arbaeen: A Lens into a Sacred Journey is an intricate photo-book combined with first-hand poetic expressions of divine love, following the journey of zuwaar in the World’s Largest Peaceful Gathering.
This documentation follows the annual journey undertaken by millions, from Najaf, throughout the eighty-kilometre walk into Karbala, and the final culmination of forty days of mourning: Arbaeen.
Experience the journey of divine love with the millions.
Photography by: Ayaz Ali
Prose-Poetry: Saarah Bokhari
A percentage of the profits from the sale of the book will go towards helping widows and orphans of Iraq.
Zain Merchant (verified owner) –
I received my copy from UK to Toronto, Canada in a short few days! I love this book! The photography is truly amazing and the storytelling adds to the aesthetic of the book. I’d recommend anyone who commemorates the tragedy of Karbala to have a copy of this book at your house. It will give your family great insight to the tragedy of Karbala and the events which took place.
Fatima (verified owner) –
Got my long awaited copy in the mail on Monday (UK to Melbourne, Australia) and absolutely love it. It’s beautifully designed and put together. The photography- “harf nadareh” (Persian for “can’t be put into words”)- and from the few pages I’ve had a chance to read, the writing is really touching.
Highly recommended purchase for Muslim households. The book explains in eloquent terms and poetry what the Arbaeen walk is and what it means to the millions who have embarked on the journey, accompanied by high quality pictures from various places along the walk.
Aya Mourad (verified owner) –
This book is put together exceptionally well and is evidently a labour of love. It offers insight into the different parts of the Arbaeen journey in chronological order through an artistic lens. The photography is spectacular and the poetry is incredibly moving.
The poems in each section (which brought both my sister and I to tears) convey feelings about the Arbaeen journey that I never knew how to express. Even the names of the poems are captivating and evoke strong emotions. The accompanying photographs are compelling by their own merit and tell a powerful and sentimental story of their own.
I cannot recommend this book enough, to those who were lucky to undertake the Arbaeen journey, to those who yearn for it, to those who are simply curious about this magnificent event and to those who are looking for a precious gift for a loved one!
Fatima (verified owner) –
Having bought a copy for myself a few months ago- and loving it- I bought a second copy for one of my close friends, as a birthday present. It’s the perfect gift idea and a great addition to any home library.
It’s also one of those photo books you have to have on your coffee table to flick through whenever you get homesick for a place you’ve never been to but have always longed and prayed to be able to visit.