Arba'in of Imam al-Husayn (a): Difference between revisions

'''Arbaʿīn of Imam al-Ḥusayn (a)''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|اربعين الحسیني}}) is [[20th day of Safar]] in the [[Hijri Lunar calendar]] and the anniversary of the 40th day after the [[Event of Karbala]] when [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] and his companions were [[martyr]]ed on the [[Day of Ashura]], ([[10th of Muharram]] [[61 AH]]/[[13th of October]], 680.) It is reported that the [[captives of the Event of Karbala]] came to visit Imam al-Husayn (a) in Karbala on 20th of Safar 61 AH ([[November 22]], 680) on their return from [[Syria]] to [[Medina]]. In a [[hadith]] from [[Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari (a)]], [[Ziyara of Arba'in]] is considered among the sings of the faithful. This day is a national holiday in [[Iran]]. [[Shi'a]] mourn on the day of Arba'in and mourning groups rally in streets. Great procession of Shi'a who try to arrive in [[Karbala]] on the day of Arba'in is one of the most important mourning ceremonies of Shi'a around the world. [[Procession of Arba'in]] is regarded as an act of following the mentioned hadith.

The day of Arba'in which is now a [[mourning]] day for Shi'a and an official holiday in some countries, origins from the [[Event of Karbala]] which happened in [[Muharram 10]], [[61 AH]] ([[October 13]], 680) when [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] and his companions were [[martyr]]ed in [[Day of Ashura (events)|a battle]] with the [[army of Kufa]]. The first Arba'in of Imam al-Husayn (a) ([[Safar 20]], [[61 AH]]) was 40th days after the that event.

It is not agreed by all Shi'a scholars whether captives passed [[Karbala]] on their return from [[Medina]], but some scholars including [[al-Muhaddith al-Nuri]] in his ''[[al-Lu'lu' wa l-marjan]]'',<ref>Nuri, ''al-Lu'lu' wa l-marjan'', pp. 208-209</ref> and his student [[al-Shaykh 'Abbas al-Qummi]] in his ''[[Muntaha l-amal]]''<ref>Al-Qummi, ''Muntaha l-amal'', pp. 524-525</ref> believe that the mentioned visit did not happen in the first year after the event of Karbala and that it was not even possible at all. Before al-Muhaddith al-Nuri, [[al-Sayyid b. Tawus]] expressed his doubt about the issue as well in his ''[[Iqbal al-A'mal]]''.

However, elsewhere in ''[[al-Luhuf]]'', Sayyid b. Tawus mentions that the caravan of the captives arrived in [[Iraq]] from Syria and arrived in Karbala on the day of Arba'in and after visiting Imam al-Husayn (a) moved towards [[Medina]]. He also mentions that they also visited [[Jabir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansari]] and some of [[Banu Hashim]] as well.<ref>Ibn Tawus, ''al-Luhuf'', p. 225</ref>

[[Sayyid Muhammad 'Ali Qadi Tabataba'i]] wrote a comprehensive book called ''Tahqiq darbari-yi awwal Arba'in-i Sayyid al-Shuhada (a)'' (Research on the first Arba'in of Imam al-Husayn) to refute the views of al-Muhaddith al-Nuri and al-Shaykh 'Abbas al-Qummi.

[[Jabir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansari]], one of the [[companions of the Prophet (s)]] is known as the first pilgrim and visitor of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] after his [[martyrdom]]. Accompanied with [['Atiyya al-'Awfi]], he arrived in Karbala on the first Arba'in of the [[martyrdom]] of Imam al-Husayn (a) in [[61 AH]]/680 and visited Imam al-Husayn (a).<ref>Al-Qummi, ''Safinat al-bihar'', vol. 8, p. 383</ref>

{{Main|Ziyara of Arba'in}}

In a hadith from [[Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari (a)]], the faithful are described as having five signs, one of which is Ziyara of Arba'in.<ref>Al-Tusi, ''Tahdhib al-ahkam'', vol. 6, p. 52</ref>

Also, a [[Ziyarat nami]] (Zaiyarah Text) for the day of Arba'in is narrated from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]]<ref>Al-Tusi, ''Tahdhib al-ahkam'', vol. 6, p. 113</ref> and [[al-Shaykh 'Abbas al-Qummi]] has mentioned it in his ''[[Mafatih al-jinan]]'' in the third chapter after [[Ziyara of 'Ashura ghayr ma'rufa]] with the title of "Ziyarat Arba'in".

[[Sayyid Muhammad 'Ali Qadi Tabataba'i|Qadi Tabataba'i]] says that Shi'a also call Ziyara of Arba'in, "Maradd al-Ra's" (return of the head), suggesting that when the captives came back to Karbala on that day, they also brought the holy head of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] and buried it with the body.<ref>Qadi Tabataba'i, ''Tahqiq darbari-yi awwal Arba'in-i Sayyid al-Shuhada'', p. 2</ref>

Recommendation of the Ziyara of Arba'in has been the cause of the procession of [[Shi'a]], especially Shi'a of Iraq, to move towards [[Karbala]] every year on the occasion of Arba'in. This procession is usually made on foot and is considered as one of the most crowded rallies in the world. In 2013, some reports mentioned the number of 15 million pilgrims attending Karbala.

* [[Event of Karbala]]

* [[Timeline of the event of Karbala]]

* [[Ziyara of Arba'in]]

{{Event of Karbala}}

{{Timeline of the Event of Karbala}}