Every year, during the sacred pilgrimage of Arbaeen, millions of pilgrims walk from Najaf to Karbala in one of the largest peaceful gatherings on earth. While the massive crowd is awe-inspiring, the real soul of the journey lies in the Mawkibs the heartwarming camps of hospitality that dot the entire route.

What Are Mawkibs?

Mawkibs are temporary service stations set up by local Iraqi families, organizations, and volunteers purely out of love for Imam Hussain (A.S). These camps provide pilgrims free of charge with meals, drinks, resting spaces, medical services, clothing, and sometimes even laundry facilities and massages.

A Living Expression of Love

Mawkibs are not businesses. They are an expression of devotion. The hosts consider it an honor to serve anyone who walks in the name of Hussain (A.S). Their message is simple:

“You are a guest of Hussain (A.S). We are your servants.”

Many of these volunteers begin preparations months in advance some even sell valuable items or sacrifice personal comfort just to serve the pilgrims with excellence and love.

A Spiritual Feast

From freshly cooked meals and tea to traditional Iraqi dishes and fruit, Mawkibs offer a wide variety of food all for free. Refusing money is part of the culture. In fact, asking for a price is considered disrespectful to the sanctity of the service.

Rest, Healing & Care

You’ll find places to sleep, medical care, blister treatment stations, massage tables, shoe repair, and even services for women and children all provided with sincere smiles and genuine love. These aren’t just services; they are acts of worship.

A Global Brotherhood

Mawkibs are not limited to Iraqis. Volunteers from Iran, Pakistan, India, Lebanon, the UK, USA, Thailand, and other countries also set up camps. Some run entire kitchens, medical tents, or awareness booths. Arbaeen is the perfect example of global unity under the banner of Hussain (A.S).

📍 Landmarks & Re-Grouping Stops for Pilgrims

If you’re walking with family or friends, it’s wise to pre-define regrouping points. Here are some well-known Mawkibs and pole numbers you can use as landmarks:

🚻 Western Washrooms (Commode)

📍 Pole #72 – Convenient stop for families.
🏕 Popular Mawkibs by Name
📍 Pole #72 – Mawkib Aal-e Abi Talib (A.S.) / Mawkib Abil Fazlil Abbas (A.S.)
📍 Pole #212 – Mawkib Aimmatul Baqi
📍 Pole #470 – Mawkib Zahra Trust (U.K.)
📍 Pole #596 – Mawkib by our brothers from Thailand
📍 Pole #602 – Mawkib Aal-e-Fakhruddin

Various Mawkibs by Our Lebanese Brothers
📍 *Poles*: 510, 648, 650, 799, 991, 1045, 1071, 1195

Mawkibs by Pakistani/Indian Brothers

(Focus on Blister Prevention & Treatment)
📍 Poles: 72, 89, 112, 172, 201, 208 (USA), 212, 313, 327, 364, 386, 392, 425, 448, 472 (USA), 475, 477, 536, 557,
594, 603, 655, 709, 764, 777, 820, 892, 1086, 1163, 1176

🛠 Special Services Mawkibs

📍 Pole #822 – Mawkib for wheelchair/stroller repair, shoes, bags, glasses & mobile phones
📍 Pole #892 – Hussainiya Fatima (Under Grand Ayatollah Saeed Al-Hakeem supervision)

🏙 Major Administrative Mawkibs

📍 Pole #1062 – Imam Hassan (A.S.) City (Managed by Imam Hussain Shrine)
📍 Pole #1102 – Muzeef al Imam Al-Abbas (A.S.)
📍 Pole #1013 – Mawkib by Government of Kuwait
📍 Pole #1237 – Al Ameed University (Formerly Imam Ali City) – Managed by Hazrat Abbas Shrine

Note: There are literally thousands of Mawkibs along the route, and you are welcome to stay anywhere.
Some foreign Mawkibs are joint ventures with Iraqi camps and may shift locations every year. While we try
our best to keep this information updated, locations may vary annually.

💫 Final Thoughts – Mawkibs Reflect the Spirit of Karbala

These camps are not just tents.
They are the living spirit of Karbala — a mirror of Imam Hussain’s (A.S.) message of selflessness, love, unity, and service. For many pilgrims, these Mawkibs are what transform a long walk into a spiritual rebirth.

If you’ve never walked to Karbala before the food, the tea, the rest – that’s not what you’ll remember. You’ll remember the unconditional love.