What draws Shia Muslims to an insecure pilgrimage? The Iranian journey to Arbaeen, Iraq during the presence of ISIS

In 2014, when Islamic State (ISIS) forces were still in power in some regions of Iraq, almost two million Iranian pilgrims headed into Iraq and joined Arbaeen religious procession which is one of the world's biggest annual pilgrimages. Most people who embark on the journey stream toward Karbala on foot. While this takes the common form of pilgrimage-as-suffering, traveling into a region threatened to be attacked by ISIS was an extreme risk. Based on ethnographic research including participant observation during the pilgrimage, this paper argues that three phenomena occur that attract Arbaeen pilgrims to such a dangerous and insecure pilgrimage: a) the suspension of materialism by pilgrims; b) redemptive suffering; 3) psychological effects of mass gatherings.