Peace be upon Husayn and his Arbaeen. Peace be upon Arbaeen and its pilgrims. Peace be upon the hearts burdened with sorrow—those who carried love as a gift to the graves of the martyrs and mourned with silent tears.
Arbaeen has arrived, accompanied by the triumphant army of dignity and the inheritors of sacrifice and enlightenment. When Arbaeen comes, one must speak of Zaynab (PBUH)—the bearer of wounds, the steadfast soul behind whispered prayers offered in pain, whose strength continues to echo through generations. Arbaeen is a renewed reflection on Ashura, a second look at its eternal message, and a meditation on the powerful words delivered in the fiery sermons of Lady Zaynab and the liberating resilience of Imam Zain al-Abidin (PBUH).
The pilgrimage and visitation of Imam Husayn (PBUH) on Arbaeen is a recommended act rooted in Islamic tradition. It not only honors the martyrdom of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) but also emphasizes deep awareness—understanding the enemy, and recognizing true leadership and divine guidance.
In literal terms, “Arbaeen” means forty in Arabic. It refers to the 20th day of the Islamic month of Safar, marking forty days after the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (PBUH) in the year 61 AH. This day has been recognized by early Islamic scholars such as Shaykh Mufid and Shaykh Tusi as the return date of the surviving members of the Prophet’s household from Damascus to Medina.
According to these scholars, Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is considered the first (or among the first) pilgrim to visit the grave of Imam Husayn in Karbala on this day, thus establishing the tradition of the Ziyarat of Arbaeen.
In a hadith from Imam Hasan al-Askari (PBUH), five signs are listed as distinguishing features of a believer:
“The signs of a believer are five: performing 51 units of prayer daily, reciting the Ziyarat of Arbaeen, wearing a ring on the right hand, placing the forehead on the earth during prostration, and saying ‘Bismillah’ aloud during prayer.”
One of the most awe-inspiring elements of Arbaeen is the massive walking pilgrimage toward Karbala. Millions of devoted pilgrims from across the world travel on foot—sometimes for hundreds of kilometers—forming a human river of love and loyalty. What was once a pilgrimage of only a few thousand is now a monumental movement. Despite threats, violence, and extremist plots aimed at deterring this spiritual journey, the faithful press on, chanting “Labayk Ya Husayn” as they make their way toward the shrine of the Master of Martyrs.
This sea of pilgrims moves not by force, political incentive, or official planning—but through pure, grassroots devotion. It is a phenomenon that has astonished the world. The merits of this pilgrimage are reflected in narrations from Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), as recorded by the scholar Sheikh Hurr al-Amili in Wasa’il al-Shi’a. The Imam states:
“Whoever leaves his home intending to visit Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him), and does so on foot, for every step he takes, Allah records one good deed, erases one bad deed, and raises his status… Until he reaches the sacred shrine, where he is placed among the righteous. When the pilgrimage ends, he is counted among the saved. Upon his return, an angel greets him and says: ‘I am the messenger of your Lord. He sends you peace and says: Begin again, for your past sins have been forgiven.’”
This same narration is also recorded by early scholars like Ibn Qulawayh and Sheikh Saduq.
20 صفر 1447
14 August 2025