The day of Arbaʹīn
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.
Source: The Final Hope, Issue no. 12, December 2015
