Safar 20, known as Arba’een, marks an important day in the aftermath of the Battle of Karbala. Arba’een is observed on the 20th day of Safar, which is forty days after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions in the year 680 CE.
After the tragic events of Karbala, the surviving members of Imam Hussain’s (AS) family and companions, who had been held captive in Damascus, were eventually released and allowed to return to their homeland. Among those who returned were Imam Ali Zainul Abidin (AS), also known as Imam Sajjad, the son of Imam Hussain (AS), and the only male survivor of the battle.
The journey of Ahl al-Bayt (the family of Prophet Muhammad, including the descendants of Imam Ali and Imam Hussain) from Damascus back to Karbala was an emotionally charged and spiritually significant pilgrimage. They traveled through various regions, and their return to Karbala marked a moment of remembrance, grief, and commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions.
Upon their return to Karbala, the family members of Imam Hussain (AS) found the battlefield of Karbala in ruins. The captives and survivors mourned the loss of their loved ones who had been martyred in the battle. Imam Sajjad (AS) is particularly remembered for the heart-wrenching sermons and prayers he delivered during this pilgrimage, eloquently expressing the tragedy and suffering that had befallen the family of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The observance of Arba’een became a crucial part of the commemoration of the tragedy of Karbala. It was a time for reflection, mourning, and reaffirming the principles of justice, truth, and resistance against oppression, which Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions had stood for.
Today, Arba’een is one of the largest annual religious gatherings in the world, with millions of pilgrims, mostly Shia Muslims, walking to Karbala from various parts of Iraq and neighboring countries. It is a powerful display of devotion and solidarity, as people from all walks of life come together to remember the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions and renew their commitment to the values they upheld. The observance of Arba’een continues to be a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy of Karbala and the inspiration it provides for seeking justice and truth in the face of adversity.