<![CDATA[Purpose: This study examines how pilgrims perceive the presence of rumors during the Arbaeen pilgrimage in Karbala and how well crisis management deals with them. Methodology: A descriptive field survey was carried out with 50 pilgrims using a 50-item questionnaire on a five-point Likert scale. The items covered five dimensions, namely the reality of rumors, crisis management, rumor crisis management, the role of crisis management in reducing the impact of rumors, and personal behavior toward rumors. Data were analyzed with means, standard deviations, and item ranking. Results: The presence of rumors was rated as moderate (mean 2.66), with rumors about services and about the reputation of Karbala scoring highest. Crisis management (2.11), rumor crisis management (2.01), and the role of crisis management in reducing rumors (2.12) were rated low, while protective personal behavior was very low (1.74). The overall mean was 2.13. Conclusions: Respondents see a gap between the presence of rumors and the institutional response to them, especially in the speed and clarity of official information. Limitations: The small sample, the loss of organizer data, and the lack of reliability and inferential tests limit generalization. Contributions: The study offers field evidence on rumor management at one of the largest mass gatherings in the world and links it to crisis communication research.]]>
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