20th Safar (Arbaeen - 40th Day)

Text and Translation

In the word of the two Shaykhs, on the twenties of Safar, the harem of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) arrived in al-Madinah returning from Syria. On this day too, Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah al-Ansari, the first to visit the tomb of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.), arrived there. It is recommended to visit the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) on this day. Concerning this, Imam al-Hasan al-Askari(a.s.) is reported to have said:

“The signs of a true believer are five:

(1) offering a fifty-one units of Daily obligatory and supererogatory (mustahab / naafelah) prayers,

(2) visiting the tomb of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) on the twentieth of Safar (i.e. Ziyaarat al-Arbae'en),

(3) putting a ring in the right hand,

(4) covering one’s forehead with dust (i.e. prostrating oneself to Almighty Allah earnestly), and

(5) repeating the Basmalah (Bismil-laahir-rahmaanir-raheem: In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful) audibly in certain prayers.

In Tahzeeb al-Ahkam and al-Misbah, Shaykh al-Tusi has mentioned a form of Ziyarah that is dedicated to this day.