Salamun alaykum,
20th Safar : Arba’in :
Today we are commemorating the Arba’in: forty days since the martyrdom of the Chief of martyrs Imam Husayn a.s. on the day of Ashura.
A recommended deed on this day is the recitation of Ziyarate Arba’in.
Arba’in : Its significance :
- On this day Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari, a renowned companion of holy prophet, arrived in Karbala to perform ziyarat /visitation of the graves of Imam Husayn and the martyrs.
- After being released from captivity in prison of Sham, the caravan of the survivors from the tragedy of Karbala led by Imam Zaynul Abidin reached Karbala.
- We have performed Azadari /observed forty days of mourning over Imam Husayn.
The number Forty:
Performing an act for a continous period of forty days is known to help one to form a habit and be able to carry on the practice for the rest of his life.
“Whoever dedicates himself to God for forty days, will find springs of wisdom sprout out of his heart and flow on his tongue.” :- Holy Prophet
From the traditions it can be seen that the number forty has significance in the spiritual effect on man. Recommended practices such as reciting a dua for forty days, or reciting it forty times or forty people gather to recite then the effectiveness of the deed is highly increased.
Peak of Azadari:
During this period of forty days in the months of Muharram and Safar, a believer performs various deeds of Azadari of Imam Husayn. The climax being the recitation of Ziyarate Arba’in. In reciting this ziyarat one re-asserts pledge of loyalty and obedience to holy Imam by stating:
“I bear witness that you are the Imam who is the upright, the pious, well pleased with Allah, the pure and the rightly guided.....I am a friend of whoever befriends him.....I am an enemy of whoever is his enemy ..…”
Question:
Whilst Allah SWT is the Best Knower of our intentions, we have sacrificed our time, efforts and resources to mourn over the martyrs of Karbala for the sake of attaining nearness to Allah SWT. Having been involved in azadari for this period of forty days, let us examine how successful have we been to condition ourselves in leading our lives according to the teachings of Imam Husayn a.s.?
A’dhamallahu ujurana wa ujurakum bi musaabina bil-Husayn alayhis salam (May Allah make great our reward and your reward, for our grief on Husayn a.s.)
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
With salaams and duas
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat
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Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat. Al Mahdi, Wickham Road, Fareham, Hampshire . PO17 5BU. Reg. Charity Number: 1010076. Tel: 01329 832537. Fax: 02392-529766
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.: Jamaat Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk:
Project Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk/almahdiproject
Member of the Council of European Jamaats
Member of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat. Al Mahdi, Wickham Road, Fareham, Hampshire . PO17 5BU. Reg. Charity Number: 1010076. Tel: 01329 832537. Fax: 02392-529766
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.: Jamaat Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk: Project Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk/almahdiproject
Member of the Council of European Jamaats
Member of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board
