Camel on the menu at Arbaeen tent in Muthanna

MUTHANNA — A tent in Samawa known as the “Imam Al-Ridha Mawkib” has become a popular stop for Arbaeen pilgrims, offering whole camel meat meals prepared in traditional Bedouin style by members of the Al Ziyad tribe.

The tribe, known for its camel herding heritage, begins slaughtering animals on the first day of Safar — the second month of the Islamic calendar — and continues through the 12th, organizers told 964media.

“We slaughter between eight to ten camels and 20 to 30 sheep each day,” said Radhi Harbi, a representative of the tent. “The peak turnout is usually between the ninth and twelfth of Safar.”

Arbaeen marks the end of the 40-day mourning period after Ashura, the day Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. The annual pilgrimage draws millions of visitors to Karbala.

Harbi said the group prides itself on maintaining desert customs. “We are originally Bedouins, and we don’t cut the meat into small pieces, but serve it whole, as is customary in the desert,” he said.

Mohammed Al-Ziyadi, another organizer, said the initiative is mostly supported by private contributors. “We wanted to offer something new to the pilgrims,” he said. “We slaughter camels, which is allowed in some governorates and even within cities.”

He said the tent may be the only one serving full camels on a single dish. “Many visitors now call ahead to make sure they don’t miss the meal,” he said. “Thanks to God, the turnout is high.”