What is Arbaeen?

What is Arbaeen?

Forty days after the Day of Ashura, which falls on the 20th of Safar in the Islamic calendar, is observed as Arbaeen (Arabic: أَرْبَعِيْن). Following the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (p) and his companions on Ashura, their families were taken captive on a long and arduous journey from Karbala to Damascus. After being eventually freed, they made their way back toward the grave of the martyrs in Karbala. Their return coincided with the 40th day after Ashura, which became known as the Day of Arbaeen. In a hadith from the 11th Imam, Imam al-Hasan al-Askari (p) mentions that visiting the grave of Imam Hussain (p) on Arbaeen is one of the signs of the faithful.

Visiting Imam Hussain’s (p) grave, especially on Arbaeen, has long served as a source of spiritual and moral inspiration. Inspired by his sacrifice and steadfastness on Ashura, Muslims use this day to renew their commitment to standing against injustice and working for the cause of justice, in anticipation of the return of Imam al-Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance), who will fill the world with justice and peace. Throughout history, tyrants have tried to suppress this tradition through persecution and torture, yet each year the devotion of Imam Hussain’s (p) followers has only grown. In recent years, the Arbaeen pilgrimage has drawn over 20 million visitors, becoming one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.