Arba’een: Difference between revisions
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'''Arba’een''' is a Shi’a religious observance which occurs forty days after the tragic events of [[Karbala]]. During this day, Shi’a community commemorates the [[martyrdom]] of [[ | '''Arba’een''' is a Shi’a religious observance which occurs forty days after the tragic events of [[Karbala]]. During this day, Shi’a community commemorates the [[martyrdom]] of [[Hussain ibn 'Ali]] and 72 of his followers who were killed by [[Yazid]]’s army in the Battle of Karbala in 61 A.H. (680 C.E.). | ||
==Significance== | ==Significance== | ||
A day of mourning, preferably at the shrine of Imam | A day of mourning, preferably at the shrine of Imam Hussain, Arbaʿeen forms part of a cycle of days commemorating the burial of the [[Imam]] and his companions and the various stages of the return journey of the women captives to Medina. Many pious tales, which have come to form an important part of the [[Ashura]] tradition, have sprung up around this journey.<ref>M. B. Maǰlesī, Beḥār al-anwār XLV, Tehran, 1384/1964, pp. 107, 112ff., and passim.</ref> A special pilgrimage of visitation, the ziarat-e arbaʿeen, is associated with the day, which is still widely observed. | ||
The sanctity of the number forty and especially of the forty-day period in the religious lore of the region is most probably one of the reasons behind this tradition. Fortieth-day observances honoring the dead are still common in the Middle East. | The sanctity of the number forty and especially of the forty-day period in the religious lore of the region is most probably one of the reasons behind this tradition. Fortieth-day observances honoring the dead are still common in the Middle East. | ||
==Historical Background== | ==Historical Background== | ||
According to hagiographical tradition, on the night of Ashura the inhabitants of Medina heard a voice announcing the death of | According to hagiographical tradition, on the night of Ashura the inhabitants of Medina heard a voice announcing the death of Hussain. One of those who heard this was Jaber b. ʿAbdallah Ansari, well-known companion of the Prophet and a friend of the imams. He immediately set out for Karbala and arrived at the tomb of the martyred imam forty days later. Meanwhile, on their way to Medina, the captives begged their escort to pass by Karbala, and thus they reached the sacred spot at the same time as Jaber. The entire company performed the first [[ziara]], and held the first lamentation, [[ʿazadari]], at the sacred tomb.<ref>ʿAlī b. Mūsā b. Moḥammed b. Ṭāʾūs, al-Lohūf ʿalā qatlat al-ṭofūf, Naǰaf 1385/1965, p. 82.</ref> | ||
This tale, which is commonly taken as the basis of the ziarat-e arbaʿeen, would seem to be a pious invention, for both the observance of the day and the ziara attached to it appear to be late. No mention is made of Arbaʿeen in the earliest and most authoritative ziara collection, the Kamel al-ziarat of Ebn Qawluya.<ref>[http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/arbain-fortieth-day-after-asura-q d. 367/977; partly tr. in ʿA. Qomī, Kollīyāt mafātīḥ al-ǰenān, Tehran, 1379/1959, pp. 322-571.]</ref> | This tale, which is commonly taken as the basis of the ziarat-e arbaʿeen, would seem to be a pious invention, for both the observance of the day and the ziara attached to it appear to be late. No mention is made of Arbaʿeen in the earliest and most authoritative ziara collection, the Kamel al-ziarat of Ebn Qawluya.<ref>[http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/arbain-fortieth-day-after-asura-q d. 367/977; partly tr. in ʿA. Qomī, Kollīyāt mafātīḥ al-ǰenān, Tehran, 1379/1959, pp. 322-571.]</ref> | ||
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[[Category:Rituals]] | [[Category:Rituals]] | ||
[[Category:Imam | [[Category:Imam Hussain’s commemoration]] | ||
Revision as of 14:55, 22 September 2019
Arba’een is a Shi’a religious observance which occurs forty days after the tragic events of Karbala. During this day, Shi’a community commemorates the martyrdom of Hussain ibn 'Ali and 72 of his followers who were killed by Yazid’s army in the Battle of Karbala in 61 A.H. (680 C.E.).
Significance
A day of mourning, preferably at the shrine of Imam Hussain, Arbaʿeen forms part of a cycle of days commemorating the burial of the Imam and his companions and the various stages of the return journey of the women captives to Medina. Many pious tales, which have come to form an important part of the Ashura tradition, have sprung up around this journey.[1] A special pilgrimage of visitation, the ziarat-e arbaʿeen, is associated with the day, which is still widely observed. The sanctity of the number forty and especially of the forty-day period in the religious lore of the region is most probably one of the reasons behind this tradition. Fortieth-day observances honoring the dead are still common in the Middle East.
Historical Background
According to hagiographical tradition, on the night of Ashura the inhabitants of Medina heard a voice announcing the death of Hussain. One of those who heard this was Jaber b. ʿAbdallah Ansari, well-known companion of the Prophet and a friend of the imams. He immediately set out for Karbala and arrived at the tomb of the martyred imam forty days later. Meanwhile, on their way to Medina, the captives begged their escort to pass by Karbala, and thus they reached the sacred spot at the same time as Jaber. The entire company performed the first ziara, and held the first lamentation, ʿazadari, at the sacred tomb.[2] This tale, which is commonly taken as the basis of the ziarat-e arbaʿeen, would seem to be a pious invention, for both the observance of the day and the ziara attached to it appear to be late. No mention is made of Arbaʿeen in the earliest and most authoritative ziara collection, the Kamel al-ziarat of Ebn Qawluya.[3]
Ziarat-e Arba’een
Recitations form the essence of pilgrimage; it is no accident that the word ziara denotes both the act of visitation and the words recited during it, especially in Arabic . A ziara text for the day of Arba'een is narrated from Imam al-Sadiq and Shaykh 'Abbas Qummi has mentioned it in his Mafatih al-jinan in the third chapter with the title of “ziara of Arba'een”. The Text of Ziarat-e Arba’een is as follows:
“Peace be on the favorite of Allah, Peace be on the beloved friend of Allah, His distinguished hero! Peace be on the choicest confidant of Allah, sincerely attached precisely like his father! Peace be on Hussain, who gave his life in the way of Allah, a martyr, underwent untold hardships Peace be on the hostage surrounded by the-tightening circle of sorrow and grief, killed by a horde of savages. O my Allah I give witness that beyond a shadow of doubt he is Thy favorite and choicest confidant, who enjoys Thy confidence and favor, precisely like his father! Thou looked up to him and elected him in Thy cause, picked and chose him for the good fortune, selected for him the best purified parents, appointed him guardian, leader, and defender of rights, a true representative (inheritor and progenitor) of guardians, leaders and defenders of rights, gave him much and more from the inheritance of the Prophets, put him forward as a decisive argument, along with the other successors (of the Holy Prophet-the twelve lmams) to the mankind. He met with deadly dangers, acted justly and fairly, made use of everything belonging to him to pay full attention to give sincere advice, took pains, made every effort and put his heart, mind, soul and life at the disposal of Thy mission to liberate the people from the yoke of ignorance and evil of bewilderment, but an evildoer, deceived with empty hopes of mean and worthless worldly gains, had pressed heavily on him, and sold out his share (eternal bliss) for the meanest and lowest bargain, betrayed his "day of judgment" for a vulgar return, took pride in insolence, fell into the fathom- well of silly stupid follies, provoked Thee and Thy Prophet to anger, did as the harsh discordant, the hypocrite, the heavily burdened bearers of sin, condemned to Hellfire, advised to him, however, he (the Holy lmam), steadily, rightly and justly coped With them, till, in Thy obedience, gave his life after which his family was set adrift. O my Allah, therefore, condemn them to hell as a denunciation and conviction; and crack-down on them with a painful Punishment. Peace be on you O the son of the Messenger of Allah! Peace be on you O the son of the first of the successors (of the Holy Prophet)! I bear witness that Allah put faith in you like He had full confidence in your father, and that you always looked for and collected good and virtue, lived a highly praiseworthy life and departed from this world a martyr, forsaken and abused; I bear witness that Allah will promptly fulfill the promise, He made to you, and destroy those who left you helpless and punish those who killed you; I bear witness that you kept your promise made with Allah, and strived in His way till what was certain came upon you, so curse of Allah be an those who killed you, curse of Allah be on those who oppressed you, curse of Allah be on the people who came to know and approved. O my Allah be my witness that I make friends with those who love him and oppose those who deny him. I, my father and mother, are at your disposal 0 the son of the Messenger of Allah. I know and bear witness that you were "light" in the sublime loins and in the pure wombs, never touched you the dirt of ignorance, nor ever obscurity concealed you in its folds;I bear witness that you are the pillar of "Deen", support of the Muslims, refuge of the faithful; I bear witness that you are a truthful, well-aware, content, intelligent, rightly guided guide (Imam); I bear witness that the Imams among your descendants are the symbols of "conscious piety" and signs of "true guidance", the "safe handle"-Islam, and the decisive arguments over mankind; I declare positively that I have full faith in you and I know for certain that you shall return. 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, till Allah gives you permission, together with you, along with you, not at the same time with your enemies. Blessings of Allah be on you, on your souls, on your bodies when you are visible, when you are invisible, on your perceivable aspects, on your innermost genius be it so, O Lord of the worlds[4].”
References
- ↑ M. B. Maǰlesī, Beḥār al-anwār XLV, Tehran, 1384/1964, pp. 107, 112ff., and passim.
- ↑ ʿAlī b. Mūsā b. Moḥammed b. Ṭāʾūs, al-Lohūf ʿalā qatlat al-ṭofūf, Naǰaf 1385/1965, p. 82.
- ↑ d. 367/977; partly tr. in ʿA. Qomī, Kollīyāt mafātīḥ al-ǰenān, Tehran, 1379/1959, pp. 322-571.
- ↑ “Ziarat on the day of Arba’een”. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
Bibliography
- ʿA.-R. Šīrāzī, Beirut, 1391/1971, V/3, pp. 373-74.
- ʿA. Qomī, Kollīyāt mafātīḥ al-ǰenān, Tehran, 1389/1969, pp. 925-29.
- M. B. Maǰlesī, Beḥār al-anwār CI, Tehran, 1388/1969, pp. 329-36.