The Anthropology of Ritual Servitude: Iraqi Volunteers in the Arba'een Pilgrimage

Purpose- The Arba'een pilgrimage stands as one of the most significant encounters of Shi’a society with the sacred. It is deeply intertwined with the rituals, traditions, and culture of Iraqi Shi’as—and even a considerable portion of the broader Iraqi population. Today, with the increasing number of pilgrims from around the world, particularly Iran, this ritual has become a space for new human interactions, carrying important cultural, social, political, and economic functions. Thus, conducting research to understand and analyze this phenomenon and its implications is essential. Moreover, a systematic scientific study of the interactions between Iranian pilgrims and Iraqi hosts is possible through an understanding of the host society’s culture and alignment with its characteristics. The present research seeks to focus on the interactions between these actors to uncover and describe the underlying meanings within their cultural framework.
Methodology- This study adopts a qualitative, descriptive-analytical approach, employing three data collection tools: open and conversational interviews, participatory and active observation, and field notes. It aims to examine the central ethos of this ritual for Iraqi servants—namely, the "honor of service." To this end, over 30 targeted and randomized interviews were conducted. Using thematic analysis, the researcher identified and categorized primary and secondary themes emerging from participants’ lived experiences.This paper examines the lived experience of Iraqi society within the ritual context of Arba'een, focusing on the emotions, thoughts, perceptions, and interpretations that emerge among its actors through ritual engagement. Centering on "serving the pilgrims of Imam Hussein"—a cornerstone of Iraq's spiritual experience—we employ interpretive anthropology to analyze religious and cultural practices while deciphering the cognitive framework through which Iraqi actors perceive and engage with the sacred.
Findings- The findings reveal five core themes that explain the sanctity and significance of serving and hosting Arba’een pilgrims:
1. Perception of the Sacred and Encounter with It
2. Serving the Pilgrims of Imam Hussein as an Honor
3. Divine Blessings and Life Prosperity as Fruits of Hosting
4. The Emergence of an Arba’een Identity Discourse and the Suspension of Social Hierarchies
5. The Suspension of Instrumental Rationality in the Process of Servant-Activism
The secondary themes emerging from the research include:
A spiritual connection with Imam Hussein (AS) and devotion to him,
A sense of awe toward Imam Hussein (AS),
Feelings of tranquility, joy, and divine proximity,
The sanctity of the pilgrim as a guest of Imam Hussein (AS),
Belief in the Imam’s intercession and divine succor,
Miraculous occurrences and divine graces during service to pilgrims,
The provision of both material and spiritual sustenance during Arba’een,
The fulfillment of material and spiritual needs,
Intra-cultural connections,
Transcultural bonds,
Transnational rituals,
The reproduction of a culture of generosity and self-sacrifice (Mawāsāt),
The rejection of hedonism and worldly utilitarianism,
And an overwhelming sense of the Imam’s spiritual attraction (jazba) and grace toward the servants