Shi'ite Muslim pilgrims gathered in Iraq's holy city of Karbala on Saturday (August 1) ahead of Arbaeen, enduring soaring summer temperatures as they visited the shrine of Imam Hussein.

The ritual comes 40 days after the death of the Muslim Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Hussein, slain in battle nearly 1,400 years ago.

Arbaeen, meaning 40 in Arabic, is one of the most important rituals for Shi’ite Muslims. It has also become one of the world’s largest annual pilgrimages along with the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia’s Mecca.

Water sprayers, misting fans and shaded walkways were set up near the shrines as volunteers handed out chilled water to visitors carrying religious flags and banners.

"Despite the high temperatures and difficult weather conditions ... this has not been an obstacle for us," said Hammam Suhail, a visitor from Najaf.

Hospitals treated pilgrims for heat exhaustion and sunstroke, said Muhammad Ali, director of Safeer Imam Hussein Surgical Hospital.

The Abbas holy shrine said it had installed shade cloth across more than 62,000 square metres and water sprayers and misting fans over more than 42,000 square metres, while deploying medical units and paramedics around the shrine and the old city.

The highest temperature recorded on Saturday (August 1) in Karbala was 50 degrees Celsius, according to the Iraqi Meteorological Organization.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

KARBALA, IRAQ (AUGUST 1, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF SHI'ITE PILGRIMS NEAR IMAM HUSSEIN SHRINE, WATER SPRAYERS DEPLOYED ON TOP OF CROWD TO COOL THE ATMOSPHERE / VISITORS WAVING RELIGIOUS FLAGS

2. VISITORS WALKING NEAR SHRINE / FANS AND CLOTH FABRIC SET UP OVER HEAD FOR SHADE

3. VARIOUS OF VISITORS WALKING UNDER SHADE AND WATER SPRAYERS / VISITORS HOLDING RELIGIOUS BANNERS

4. VARIOUS OF VISITORS STANDING / SOME COVERING THEIR HEADS FROM THE SUN AND OTHERS GETTING SPRAYED WITH WATER TO COOL OFF / VISITORS HOLDING UMBRELLAS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) VISITOR FROM NAJAF, HAMMAM SUHAIL, SAYING:

"Despite the high temperatures and difficult weather conditions, especially in the central provinces and in Karbala specially, this has not been an obstacle for us as visitors to come and visit the holy shrine, because these are considered to be blessed and great days by us as Shi'ites (followers) of Imam Hussein and Imam Ali (peace be upon them)."

6. VARIOUS OF WORKERS HANDING OUT COLD WATER FROM ICE BUCKETS, TO VISITORS

7. WORKER HOLDING OUT BUCKET FILLED WITH COLD WATER BOTTLES / PEOPLE TKAING WATER AS THEY PASS BY

8. WOMAN DRINKING WATER / PEOPLE WALKING

9. WORKER HANDING OUT WATER AT STATION

10. VARIOUS OF VISITORS PRAYING NEAR IMAM HUSSEIN SHRINE

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) VISITOR FROM DHI QAR, ALI SULTAN, SAYING:

"We came from Nasiriyah (Dhi Qar province) with my family to observe the ritual of Imam Hussein peace be upon him and Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas. Despite the high temperatures, I swear to God we do not pay attention to the heat, as if it does not exist. The most important thing is to reach this sacred and holy place."

12. EMERGENCY VEHICLE MOVING THROUGH AREA / VISITORS WALKING

13. VARIOUS OF VISITORS LAYING ON MEDICAL BEDS RECEIVING TREATMENT AT EMERGENCY CENTRE OF SAFEER IMAM HUSSEIN SURGICAL HOSPITAL / MEDICAL WORKERS INSPECTING THEM

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF SAFEER IMAM HUSSEIN SURGICAL HOSPITAL, MUHAMMAD ALI, SAYING:

"Many of the cases we receive at the emergency centres of Safeer Imam Hussein surgical hospital are heat exhaustion and sunstroke cases. Everyone knows that the main cause of these cases is the high temperatures, especially when the sun is directly overhead at midday. These cases are received, and the hospital is fully prepared to handle them by providing cool environments, appropriate nutrients, and specialist doctors."

15. VISITORS WALKING NEAR IMAM HUSSEIN SHRINE / CLOTH AND WATER SPRAYERS OVER HEAD

16. VARIOUS OF ICE GETTING POURED IN CONTAINERS AT ICE PRODUCTION FACTORY RUN BY THE ABBAS SHRINE

17. WORKER FILLING ICE BAGS FROM MACHINE

18. ICE BAGS PLACED ON THE GROUND

19. WORKERS LOADING ICE BAGS AT FACTORY

20. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEDIA DIRECTOR OF THE ABBAS SHRINE, ALI BADRI, SAYING:

"The biggest challenge this year was the increase in temperatures. Through a number of specialized departments, the Abbas holy shrine was able to reduce the (impact of) the heat on respected visitors by providing shade over 62,000 square meters using saran fabric (street-shading cloth), and covering more than 42,000 square meters with misting fans and water sprayers to cool the atmosphere. In addition, 32 medical units were deployed around the Abbas holy shrine, along with 1,800 male and female paramedics stationed around the shrine and in the old city."

21. VARIOUS OF SECURITY FORCES SEARCHING VISITORS NEAR ENTRANCE

22. VISITORS NEAR IMAM HUSSEIN SHRINE / WATER SPRAYERS