At the very core of all things imbued with life, is a constancy of movement, pulsing, gravity and yearning that must permeate the din of nothingness that surrounds it, in order that it may be discernible.

It is possible to argue from the above passage therefore that, the things of bricks, mortar and glass are not imbued with life, that they are inanimate, dead, un‐living. Though, by the grace of Allah (swt) the essence of the great Imam Hussein (as) has imbued the very fabric of the place that now houses his mortal body. Philosophically and poetically, the shrine itself seems to move and pulse, emitting its own gravity and providing a physical locus to all those in love with Imam Hussein, yearning to gain his intercession to the Almighty god. None of these attributes are more evident than in the time of the Arbaeen. A time that focuses the attention of the hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world and the tens of millions of Muslims who make the great journey to visit.

These visitors do not come seeking an inanimate building. They do not come simply to admire the great architecture, though indeed as is shown in the image above, the profundity of the physical space enshrining Imam Hussein (as) is artistically and architecturally sublime. They come to physically, emotionally and spiritually be with Imam Hussein (as) to stand with him and converse directly with him to re affirm their allegiances and to disavow themselves of those who stood against him

“Do not say about those who are slain in the cause of Allah (martyrs), that they are dead, they are alive!, but you do not perceive it” Sura 2 verse 154) Holy Quran.

There truly is a tangible aura that finds its way between and betwixt the magnificent shrine of Imam Hussein (as) and Aba Fadlil Abbas (as) and the multitudes of visitors in Karbala, they perhaps exist for the sake of one another.

Imam Hussein (as) fulfilling his covenant with prophet Muhammad (phuhahf) and Imam Ali (as), to preserve the true Islamic faith, and the visitors and believers who strive for that truth.

In the nothingness, aridity and desolation of the desert plains of Karbala, arose a legacy nourished by the blood of those who “enjoined the good, and forbade the evil”, all the while enshrined in a pulsing shrine of love, beauty, sacrifice and enduring passion.