Pilgrims gather as they mark Arba’een in Karbala, Iraq, on October 30, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

A selection of photos shot ahead of an on the Day of the Arba’een, which marks 40 days since the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the third Shia Imam:

A general view, taken on October 29, 2018, shows Imam Hussein’s Holy Shrine (background) and Hazrat-e Abbas’ Holy Shrine (foreground) in the Iraqi city of Karbala, ahead of the Arb’aeen. (Photo by AFP)

An aerial view shows the shrine of Imam Hussein ahead of Arba’een, in Karbala, Iraq, on October 29, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

Pilgrims wave religious flags as they walk from the holy city of Najaf toward the central Iraqi shrine city of Karbala, on October 27, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Iranian pilgrims gather as they mark Arba’een, in Karbala, Iraq, on October 30, 2018. (Photo by Mehr news agency)

Pilgrims gather as they mark Arba’een in Karbala, Iraq, on October 30, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

Pilgrims gather as they mark Arba’een in Karbala, Iraq, October 30, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

Pilgrims walk toward the central Iraqi shrine city of Karbala, on October 28, 2018. (Photo by

AFP)

Pilgrims gather as they mark Arba’een in Karbala, Iraq, October 30, 2018. (Photo by Mehr news agency)

Pilgrims of different faiths gather as they mark Arba’een in Karbala, Iraq, October 30, 2018. (Photo by Mehr news agency)

A cleric pushes a baby carriage forward on his way to Karbala, to observe the rituals of Arba’een, in Najaf, Iraq, on October 29, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)