Imam Khomeini had said in a historic message that once the imposed war by Saddam is over, the Iranian and Iraq nations are expected to go for pilgrimage of holy shrines with calm and peace of mind.
After the fall of Saddam regime, the ceremonies of divine and spiritual events such as Ashura and Arbaeen are held with great participation of pilgrims.
Imam Khomeini once advised that, “Keep alive Karbala and the blessed name of His Holiness the Doyen of the Martyrs. His memorial and sacrifices have kept alive Islam.”
With mass participation in Arbaeen, the believers and faithful people pledge that they will continue to follow the path of justice.
Arba’een marks the anniversary of the 40th day following Ashura. This year the occasion falls on Thursday and the commemoration ceremonies will last until the following evening.
Arba’een marks the anniversary of the 40th day following Ashura, the 10th day of the lunar month of Muharram, when Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad and the third Shia Imam, was martyred at the hands of tyrant Yazid in the seventh century.
Millions of pilgrims have gathered in Karbala to attend the upcoming Arba’een religious rituals.
Imam Hussein is a highly-venerated figure not only among Shias but also Sunni Muslims. Even some groups of Iraqi Christians join the march to Karbala.
Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic also once said in a historic address that the months of Muharram and Safar have kept Islam alive.
The great leader of contemporary Muslim world also emphasized that the Islamic Revolution had been deeply inspired by message of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the grandson of the holy prophet of Islam.
Imam Khomeini said in one of the historic messages as following:
“The Doyen of martyr (Imam Hussein (PBUH) staged an uprising with some of his companions, family members and the ladies of his household. As it was for God, they destroyed the very foundations of that wicked person's monarchy. On the face of it, he was killed, but, in reality, he extirpated the foundations of that monarchy; one that intended to turn Islam into a tyrant form. The danger that Muawiyah and Yazid posed for Islam did not lie in their usurpation of the caliphate; this was a danger less than that of their attempting to turn Islam into the form of a monarchy. They wanted to render spiritualties into a tyrant form. By calling themselves the successors of the Messenger of God, they wanted to convert Islam into a tyrant regime. This was the important issue…”
Why is so much importance given to the performance of the Ziyarat-E-Arbaeen and the observance of Arbaeen (40 days of mourning)?
Ziyarat, as we all know is a visitation, which in essence, is the act of speaking with and visiting our role models. Of course the physical manifestation of the Ziyarat is actually being present in Karbala to perform the Ziyarat-E-Arbaeen, but, in reality, that is not possible for every believer. So, does making Ziyarat while not in Karbala give one the same benefits? Ahadith tell us that performing the Ziyarat of Imam Husayn (PBUH) far from Karbala would hold the same significance as being in the land of Karbala, as long as the person performing the Ziyarat has truly understood the status of the Imam Husayn (PBUH) and seeks to emulate him.
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (PBUH) states that the heavens wept over Imam Husayn (PBUH) for forty mornings, rising red and setting red. As we complete 40 days of remembrance of our Imam, we re-assert our pledge of obedience and loyalty to him,
"I bear witness that you are the Imam (who is) the upright, the pious, well-pleased (with Allah), the pure, the guide and the rightly-guided. I bear witness that you fulfilled the pledge of Allah and you struggled in His way.I am a friend of whoever befriends him ..."
By performing the Ziyarat-E-Arbaeen, we pledge that we will continue to follow the path of justice and righteousness and will reject injustice and speak up against the oppressors of the time; I am an enemy of whoever is his enemy...
In essence, we make a promise to continue to mold our lives according to the teaching of Imam Husayn (PBUH). But why is it that we mourn and remember Imam Husayn (PBUH) for a period of forty days and then move on?
Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has said, "The earth mourns the death of a believer for forty mornings." Therefore it appears that the deceased should be remembered and mourned over for a period of forty days. Performing an act for a continuous period of forty days is also known to help one to not just form a habit, but also to carry on the practice for the rest of his life.
If we look at studies dealing with bringing a lifestyle change, we notice the time period emphasized to bring about a change is usually 6 weeks which is about the same time period as 40 days (to be exact it is 42 days).
In the book 40 Days to Personal Revolution: A Breakthrough Program to Radically Change Your Body and Awaken the Sacred Within Your Soul, the author Baron Baptiste explains the significance of forty days:
Why forty days? Because the number 40 holds tremendous spiritual significance in the realm of transformation. Jesus wandered in the desert for forty days in order to experience purification and come to a greater understanding of himself and his mission. Moses and his people traveled through the desert for forty years before arriving at their home in the holy land. Noah preserved the sacredness of life by sailing his ark for forty days and forty nights. According to the Kabbalah, the ancient Jewish mystical text, it takes forty days to ingrain any new way of being into our system...
Reciting particular Duas for a period of 40 days is highly recommended in our practices as well. The unit 40 (forty) is said to be very effective. If a particular Dua is recited 40 times, or 40 people gather to recite it, or it is recited for 40 days then its effectiveness is highly increased.
It is reported from Imam Jaffer Sadiq (PBUH) that whoever recites Dua-E-Ahad for forty days, after morning prayers will be amongst the helpers of the 12th Imam Mahdi (as). Visitation of the shrine of Imam Husayn (as) as well as Masjid-E-Sahla for 40 consecutive Thursdays is also very highly recommended and is one of the acts that promises a visit from the 12th Imam Mahdi (as).
Thus, as we perform the Ziyarat-E-Arbaeen and commemorate the Arba'een, 40 days of mourning of Imam Husayn (as), we hope and pray that this forty days of remembrance of Imam Husayn (PBUH), brings about a transformation in us by which we can continue to follow the path of Imam Husayn (PBUH) and carry on his message of upholding justice with true faith and a strong sense of sacrifice!