The Role of Women in Strengthening Unity; Through the Arbaeen Walking Ritual

The Arbaeen pilgrimage, the largest religious gathering in the Shia world, goes beyond its devotional functions to provide a platform for reproducing social capital and strengthening the unity of the Islamic ummah. Despite the significance of this event, women’s roles in its unifying processes have received limited systematic attention. This study aims to identify and analyze the dimensions and mechanisms through which women contribute to enhancing social, cultural, and political cohesion in the context of the Arbaeen pilgrimage. Adopting a qualitative approach, the research employs a systematic review of scholarly literature, thematic analysis, and comparative analysis with analogous rituals in other faith traditions. The findings reveal that women, through family upbringing, mawākib organization, Karbala narrative transmission, and participation in social activities, play a central role in conveying unity-oriented messages and fostering solidarity. The results indicate that strengthening women’s unity-oriented engagement in Arbaeen holds civilizational and exemplary potential for the Islamic ummah, inspiring cultural renewal, promoting convergence in the contemporary world, strengthening the discourse of the unified ummah, and advancing the cultural diplomacy of the Islamic world. Strategic measures such as organizing specialized forums, producing cultural content, and articulating a Zaynab-inspired narrative can maximize this potential. Future research should systematically examine the educational, sociological, and comparative dimensions of women’s roles in Arbaeen.

کلیدواژه ها:

Arbaeen pilgrimage ، women ، Islamic unity ، collective identity