Shafaqna English | AI & HI adopted content- What is the historical background of the Arbaeen walk through the centuries? The Arbaeen Walk has a history spanning nearly fourteen centuries. Early Islamic CenturiesDuring the Umayyad (661–750) and Abbasid (750–1258) periods, pilgrimage to Karbala continued despite political restrictions. The Contemporary Arbaeen WalkToday, the Arbaeen Walk is widely regarded as one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings. Most pilgrims walk approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Najaf to Karbala, although many begin much farther away.