The day of Arbaʹīn (the Twentyth of the month of Ṣafar A.H.)
The Arbaʹīn ceremony is one of the largest peaceful gatherings in the world that annually occurs forty days after the martyrdom of Imam al-Hussain and his companions on the day of ̒Āshūrā in Karbalā (Iraq) where the holy shrine of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson (Imam al-Hussain) is held in. Every year, millions of Muslims around the world make their way to this city to commemorate the day of Arbaʹīn. Many of these pilgrims make a journey of 55 miles or so, on their own feet for the love of the Imam. It was estimated more than 25 million people in the previous Arbaʹīn.
It has been said that the household of Imam al-Hussain, returning from Damascus to Medina, arrived in Karbalā on this day in 61 A.H. / 680 A.D. Also on this day, it is famous that Jābir bin ʹAbd Allah al-Ansārī (one of the sincere companions of the Prophet) was the first one who visited the tomb of Imam al-Hussain, so it is recommended to visit the holy shrine of the Imam in Karbalā or through al-Ziyārah from a distance. In addition, there is a spiritual significance to some numbers like the number 40 and this is seen in the Quran and traditions such that the number 40 is repeated in many places of the Quran:
﴿وَ إِذْ وَاعَدْنَا مُوسَى أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ اتَّخَذْتُمُ الْعِجْلَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ أَنْتُمْ ظَالِمُونَ﴾[1]
“And when We appointed a time of forty nights with Muses, then you took the calf (for a god) after him and you were unjust.”
﴿و وَاعَدْنَا مُوسَى ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ أَتْمَمْنَاهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ قَالَ مُوسَى لِأَخِيهِ هَارُونَ اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي وَ أَصْلِحْ وَ لَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ﴾[2]
“And We appointed with Moses a time of thirty nights and completed them with ten (more), so the appointed time of his Lord was complete forty nights, and Moses said to his brother Aaron: Take my place among my people, and act well and do not follow the way of the mischief-makers.”
In addition, there are numerous traditions which mention the number “40” such as the following:
قال الإمام الصّادق: «يَا زُرَارَةُ إِنَّ السَّمَاءَ بَكَتْ عَلَى الْحُسَيْنِ أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً بِالدَّمِ وَ إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ بَكَتْ أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً بِالسَّوَادِ وَ إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ بَكَتْ أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً بِالْكُسُوفِ وَ الْحُمْرَةِ... وَ إِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ بَكَتْ أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً عَلَى الْحُسَيْن...»[3]
Imam al-Sādiq says to Zurārah, “The heavens cried for forty days with blood (weeping) over Imam al-Hussain; the earth cried for forty days by being covered with darkness; the sun cried for forty days by being in eclipse and turning red… and the angels cried for forty days over him...”
However, the Ziyārah of Imam al-Hussain 40 days after the tragic massacre of him and his companions, as Arbaʹīn has not been marked for any other Imams. It is obvious that this brings his revolution back to memory. It also brings back to memory the cruelty committed by the Umayyad and their followers. Of course, it is one of the essentials of this pilgrimage that the pilgrim, in addition to remembering Imam al-Hussain's sacrifice and devotion in the way of Allah, observes the teachings of Islam including those relating to prayer, hijāb, self-reform, selflessness and moral etiquettes and the like. It is only by so doing that attending these ceremonies will be practically the same as attending the lessons of the Imam. Maybe, that is why the eleventh Imam (Imam al-Askarī) have said,
«عَلَامَاتُ الْمُؤْمِنِ خَمْسٌ: صَلَاةُ الْإِحْدَى وَ الْخَمْسِينَ وَ زِيَارَةُ الْأَرْبَعِينَ وَ التَّخَتُّمُ بِالْيَمِينِ وَ تَعْفِيرُ الْجَبِينِ وَ الْجَهْرُ بِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ»[4]
“The signs of a real believer are five: To offer the fifty-one units of daily (obligatory and supererogatory) prayers, to visit the shrine of Imam al-Hussain on the 20th of Safar, to put a ring in the right hand, to place the forehead on dust (in prostration and not on carpet and the like that are not made from the earth), and to recite “Bism-e Allah al-Rahmān al-Rahīm” loudly in his prayers.”
Rituals of the day of Arbaʹīn
It has been said that the household of Imam al-Hussain, returning from Damascus to Medina, arrived in Karbalā on this day in 61 A.H. /680 A.D. Also on this day, it is famous that Jābir bin ʹAbd Allah al-Ansārī (one of the sincere companions of the Prophet) was the first one who visited the tomb of Imam al-Hussain.
However, pertaining to the Ziyārah of the Imam on this day, we sufficiently wrote something in timeline.
Ziyārah al-Arbaʹīn
It has been reported in Tahdhīb al-Ahkām and Misbāh al-Mutahajjid, from Safwān al-Jammāl who has said, “My master Imam al-Sādiq, Allah’s blessings be upon him, instructed me to visit Imam al-Hussain on the day of Arbaʹīn, advisably in the early forenoon, and to say the following words:
«اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَى وَلِيِّ الله وَ حَبِيبِهِ»
“Peace be upon the intimate servant of Allah and His most-beloved.”
«اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَى خَلِيلِ الله وَ نَجِيبِهِ»
“Peace be upon the friend of Allah and His elite.”
«اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَى صَفِيِّ الله وَ ابْنِ صَفِيِّهِ»
“Peace be upon the choice of Allah and son of His choice.”
«اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَى الحُسَيْنِ المَظْلُومِ الشَّهِيدِ»
“Peace be upon al-Hussain the wronged and martyred.”
«اَلسَّلاَمُ على أسِيرِ الْكُرُبَاتِ»
“Peace be upon the captive of agonies”
«وَ قَتِيلِ العَبَرَاتِ»
“And victim of the shed tears.”
This Ziyārah is longer than this and for reading it, one can refer to the books of supplications.
After the end of this Ziyārah, you may then offer a two-unit prayer and then pray Almighty Allah for anything you like.
Imam Mahdi and Ziyārat of Arbaʿīn
The second among the four special deputies of Imam Mahdi, Muhammad b. Uthmān b. Saʿīd al-ʿAmri was asked: “Have you seen the master of this affair, Imam Mahdi?” He replied: “Yes, my last meeting with him was near the Sacred House of Allah (Holy Ka’bah) while he was praying: “O Allah! Fulfil for me whatever You have promised me.”
«عَنْ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ اَلْحِمْيَرِيِّ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عُثْمَانَ اَلْعَمْرِيَّ ، رَأَيْتَ صَاحِبَ هَذَا اَلْأَمْرِ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ آخِرُ عَهْدِي بِهِ عِنْدَ بَيْتِ اَللَّهِ اَلْحَرَامِ ، وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ اَللَّهُمَّ أَنْجِزْ لِي مَا وَعَدْتَنِي»[5]
It is found in another tradition quoted by the second special deputy: “I saw him (Imam Mahdi) clinging to the curtains of the Ka‘bah at al-Mustajar, while he was saying: ‘O Allah, take vengeance on my enemies’".
«عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ اَلْعَمْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : رَأَيْتُهُ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ مُتَعَلِّقاً بِأَسْتَارِ اَلْكَعْبَةِ فِي اَلْمُسْتَجَارِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ اَللَّهُمَّ اِنْتَقِمْ مِنْ أَعْدَائِي»[6]
We recite a similar statement in Ziyaarat of Arbaeen of Imam Husain (peace be upon him). A visitor of Imam Husain (peace be upon him) confesses to him in the Arbaeen Ziyaarat thus:
«وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ اللهَ مُنْجِزٌ لَكَ مَا وَعَدَكَ وَ مُهْلِكٌ مَنْ خَذَلَكَ وَ مُعَذِّبٌ مَنْ قَتَلَكَ»
“And I bear witness that Allah will fulfil for you whatever He has promised you; He will destroy the one who abandoned you and punish the one who killed you.”
It means after Ziyaarat of Aashoora and Dua al-Nudba, it is evident that there is a special bond between Imam Mahdi and Imam Husain. Imam Mahdi is not just the inheritor of Imam Husain but also the avenger of his blood. It is evident from both these traditions and this statement of the Arbaeen Ziyaarat how important it is for those who mourn the martyrdom of Imam Husain to pray for the early reappearance of Imam Mahdi. Since Imam Mahdi himself has been praying for revenge from the killers of Imam Husain and his own reappearance for the past approximately 1200 years, imagine how fervently should the lovers of Imam Husain (peace be upon him), his mourners and his visitors be praying for the early reappearance of Imam Mahdi.
O Allah! For the sake of the oppression on Imam Husain, hasten the reappearance of the avenger of Imam Husain and the Imam of our time, His Eminence Imam. Grant us the good fortune of praying for his reappearance in the mausoleum of Imam Husain while holding on to his shrine, and grant us the opportunity to take revenge on his enemies after his appearance.
