The Scholar Who Wept for the Walkers — A True Story from Arbaʿīn

Ayatollah Muhammad Taqī Bahjat (r), one of the most revered spiritual scholars of the 20th century, was known not only for his deep knowledge but also for his profound connection to the Ahlulbayt (ʿa). Though his body had become frail in old age, his heart remained ever-young with the love of Ḥusayn (ʿa).

Every year, as the days of Arbaʿīn approached and millions prepared to walk the path from Najaf to Karbala, the Ayatollah would be seen sitting by his window in Qum, quietly weeping. His students would find him in this state—his eyes filled with tears, his lips murmuring litanies of love.

One day, a student asked him, “Mawlà, what causes you to cry like this?”

The Ayatollah, barely able to speak through his emotion, replied:

“Do you not see them? They are walking to their beloved—barefoot, hungry, with blistered feet, but hearts full of light. They give what little they have to each other on the road. Who walks like this except for the truth?”

The student pressed further, “Do you have a message for them?”

He responded, “Yes. Tell them: You are walking to the one who walked to martyrdom for you. Every step you take towards Ḥusayn (ʿa), he comes closer to you in the Hereafter. Do not belittle what you do. Angels walk with you. The dust on your feet is more valuable than gold.”

Though he never physically joined the Arbaʿīn walk due to age and weakness, his spirit marched each year with those pilgrims. To him, they were not just mourners—they were the living proof that Ḥusayn (ʿa) had triumphed.

Moral Lesson:

Love for Imam Ḥusayn (ʿa) transcends distance and ability. Even those unable to walk can journey with their hearts. In the eyes of the wise, the Arbaʿīn walk is not a ritual—it is a river of loyalty flowing through the deserts of pain, washing away the dust of dunya, step by step.