Imam Sadiq peace be upon him Online Seminary offers heartfelt condolences on the occasion of 20th Safar, the day of Arba’een.
20th of Safar, the day of Arba’een marks the 40 days of the martyrdom of Imam Husain, the grandson of the Holy Prophet peace be upon him along with his steadfast companions in the year 61 AH, at the hands of the Umayyad Caliph, Yazid, who claimed to be the caliph of the Islamic Ummah. The womenfolk, which included the granddaughter of the Holy Prophet peace be upon him were then taken as captives and kept in the dungeons of Damascus, the capital of the Umayyad dynasty. Finally, when the household of the Prophet peace be upon him unveiled the hypocrisy of Yazid and put him to shame he was left with no other option but to release them with the utmost respect. The womenfolk of the Imam insisted to visit their dear ones in Karbala before moving towards their homes in Medina. Yazid, who was humiliated had no choice but to consent. The caravan left Damascus and reached Karbala on the 20th of the month of Safar, the day of Arba’een. This day coincides, with the arrival of the first pilgrim of the grave of Imam Husain peace be upon him, Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari.
In memory of this landmark event, every year millions of pilgrims worldwide embark on this journey to Karbala. Many of them walk towards Karbala. On this journey, they meet people, mainly locals, who selflessly serve the pilgrims by providing food, shelter, and all other necessary provisions to make the journey as easy as possible.
Many narrations mention the importance of Arba’een. Imam Sadiq peace be upon him instructed his close companion Safwan al-Jammal to visit Imam Husain peace be upon him and recite a particular Ziyarat. In another such tradition, Imam Hasan al-Askari peace be upon him considers the visitation of Imam Husain peace be upon him on the day of Arba’een to be amongst the signs of a believer. The minimum reward mentioned for the visitor of Imam Husain peace be upon him is forgiveness of sins and a refrainment form hellfire.
In line with the Ahadith mentioned, the rewards multiply multifold if someone performs this Ziyarah in the state of fear. Ideally, one must try his best to make it to this caravan of love and obedience. However, if one cannot make it, then, the least is that one should grieve and perform the Ziyarat from their homes.
On this special and Important day, we ask Allah (SWT) to hasten the reappearance of our Imam, Al-Mahdi peace be upon him, and to grant us with the visitation of Imam Husain peace be upon him in this world and for his intercession on the first night of our grave.