Salamun alaykum,
The number Fourty:
Psychologists have established that performing an act for a continuous period of fourty days is known to help one to form a habit and be able to carry on that practice for the rest of one's life.
Amongst the traditions reported from Ahlul Bayt a.s; it is seen that the number fourty has significance to the spiritual development of the nafs-self- of a person.
"Whoever dedicates himself to Allah for fourty days, will find springs of wisdom sprout out of his heart and flow on his tongue." (Noble Prophet Muhammad Mustafa SAWW)
In the books of supplications there are certain recitations of duas or ziyarat which are recommended to be recited or undertaken for fourty days. Some recitations are recommended to be completed fourty times or for fourty people to gather to recite.
A reason for this may be that the effectiveness of the deed of supplication is highly increased for Divine response.
40 days of Azadari: Arba'in:
During the period of mourning in the months of Muharram and Safar, a believer performs various deeds of Azadari of Chief of the martyrs Imam Husayn and his companions. In this period of fourty days one has sacrificed time, efforts and resources to devotedly mourn over the martyrs of Karbala, for the sake of attaining nearness to Allah SWT.
Has this azadari been fruitful? Over these 40 days has one developed a habit to commit to upholding the values for which Imam Husayn and his noble companions achieved martyrdom?
Is Arba'in the end of all?
With the observance of Arba'in the formal period of azadari is concluded. Is Imam Husayn and his message to be recalled and upheld only during these days of azadari?
Does the vision of Imam Husayn when exiting Madina to the occurrence of the tragedy of Karbala end by observing Arba'in ceremonies?
Do not the values and message of Imam Husayn need to be upheld by us at all times?
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 fourty days, would you like to examine how successful have you been to condition yourself in leading your life according to the teachings of Imam Husayn a.s. ?
Re-iterating our role model: Imam Husayn:
Today we are observing Arba'in. A recommended deed on the occasion of Arba'in is recitation of Ziyaratal Arba'in which is considered as one of the five signs of a Mumin, as related by our eleventh Imam Hasan Al Askari a.s.
In reciting this ziyarat, after re-iterating the lofty status of Imam Husayn, one re-asserts pledge of loyalty and obedience to the Imam 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...I declare that I have full faith in you... I am fully committed to the laws of my religion, certain of my deeds, my mind and heart ready for your return and my affairs carried out in the light of your instructions....together with you, along with you, not with your enemies ...... "
The sincere recitation of the above words will set one into action to condition oneself in leading one's life according to the laws of Islam. Imam Husayn stated:".... and for you, I shall be an examplar." May Allah SWT enable us to mould our living with Imam Husayn as our role model.
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May Allah make great our reward and your reward, for our grief on Husayn (a.s.)
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat