Ajay Kumar at 17:16, 26 August 2023

2023-08-26T17:16:28Z

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{{Short description|Shia religious observance}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name = Arbaeen
| image = Kerbela Hussein Moschee.jpg
| caption = Millions of Muslims gather around the [[Imam Husayn Shrine|Husayn Mosque]] in [[Karbala]] after making a pilgrimage on foot during Arbaeen.
| official_name = {{lang|ar|الأربعين}} ''{{transl|ar|ALA|al-Arba‘īn}}'' {{in lang|ar}}
| nickname = {{plainlist|
*{{lang-az|İmamın Qırxı}}
*{{lang-bn|চল্লিশা|Chollishā}}
*{{lang-ku|Çilroj}}
*{{lang-fa|چهلم|Chehelom}}
*{{lang-sd|چاليهو|Chālīho}}
*{{lang-tr|Erbain}}
*{{lang-ur|چالیسواں|Chālīsvān}}
}}
| duration = 1 day
| frequency = once every [[Islamic year]]
| observedby = [[Shia]]
| date = 20 [[Safar]]
| date2018 = 30 October
| date2019 = 19 October<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/10/iraq-protests-arbaeen.html|title=Will Arbaein observance bring peace or protests in Iraq?|last1=Saadoun|first1=Mustafa|website=Al Monitor|date=17 October 2019}}</ref>
| date2020 = 8 October<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/452337/Iran-Iraq-mulling-to-hold-Arbaeen-rituals-online |work=[[Tehran Times]] |access-date=5 October 2020 |date=12 September 2020 |title=Iran, Iraq mulling to hold Arbaein rituals online}}</ref>
| date2021 = 28 September
| date2022 = 17 September
| observances = Visiting the [[Imam Husayn Shrine]], [[Karbala]]
| type = [[Shia]], [[Alevi]], [[Sufi]]
| significance = 40 days after [[Ashura]]
| alt =
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| begins =
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{{Husayn}}{{Islamic Culture}}
'''Arbaeen''' ({{lang-ar|الأربعين|al-Arba‘īn|lit=fortieth}}), '''Chehellom''' ({{lang-fa|چهلم}}, "the fortieth day") is a Shia religious observance that occurs [[40 (number)|forty]] days after the [[Day of Ashura]]. It commemorates the [[martyrdom]] of [[Al-Husayn ibn Ali]], the grandson of [[Muhammad]], who was martyred on the 10th day of the month of [[Muharram]]. Imam Hussain ibn Ali and 71 of his companions were martyred by [[Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad]]'s army under the governance of [[Yazid I]] in the [[Battle of Karbala]] in 61 AH (680 CE).

Arbaeen or forty days is also the usual length of mourning after the death of a family member or loved one in many Muslim traditions. Arbaeen is the largest [[Arbaeen Pilgrimage|annual pilgrimage]] in the world, in which millions of people go to the city of [[Karbala]] in [[Iraq]].<ref>{{cite web|author=uberVU – social comments |url=http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2010/02/05/friday-46-iraqis-1-syrian-killed-168-iraqis-wounded/ |title=Friday: 46 Iraqis, 1 Syrian Killed; 169 Iraqis Wounded - Antiwar.com |publisher=Original.antiwar.com |date=5 February 2010 |access-date=30 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Blast-Kills-27-in-Iraqi-Shiite-City-of-Karbala-83628687.html |title=Powerful Explosions Kill More Than 40 Shi'ite Pilgrims in Karbala | Middle East | English |publisher=.voanews.com |date=5 February 2010 |access-date=30 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/blast-in-crowd-kills-41-shiite-pilgrims-in-iraq-20100205-nivg.html |title=Blast in crowd kills 41 Shiite pilgrims in Iraq |publisher=News.smh.com.au |date=5 February 2010 |access-date=30 June 2010 | first=Abdelamir | last=Hanun}}</ref>

==Background==
According to tradition, the Arbaʽeen pilgrimage has been observed since the year 61 [[Hijri year|AH]] of the Islamic calendar (10 October 680) after the [[Battle of Karbala]] or the following year. According to tradition, the first such gathering took place when [[Jabir ibn Abd Allah]], a [[sahabah]] and the first Arba'ein pilgrim, made a pilgrimage to the burial site of Husayn.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rch.ac.ir/article/Details/10164 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406000243/http://rch.ac.ir/article/Details/10164 |archive-date=6 April 2016 |title=جابربن عبدالله انصاری}}</ref> He was accompanied by [[Atiyya ibn Sa'd]] because of his infirmity and probable blindness. According to tradition, his visit coincided with that of the surviving female members of Muhammad's family and Husayn's son and heir, Imam [[Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin]] (also spelled Zain-ul-Abideen), who had all been held captive in [[Damascus]] by [[Yazid I]], the [[Umayyad Caliphate|Umayyad Caliph]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jafarian|first=Rasul|title=[[Reflection on the Ashura movement]]}}</ref>

Zayn al-Abidin had survived the Battle of Karbala and led a secluded life in deep worship. He lived under pressure and tight surveillance set by Umayyad Caliphate.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://ghbook.ir/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewlink&link_id=11952&lang=fa|script-title=fa:حیات فکری و سیاسی امامان شیعه علیهم السلام|last=جعفریان|first=رسول|publisher=موسسه انصاریان|year=2008|edition=11th|location=قم|page=273|language=fa|trans-title=Hayat fekri va siysi aemeh}}</ref>
According to legend, for twenty years whenever water was placed before him, he would weep. One day a servant said to him, 'O son of Allah's Messenger! Is it not time for your sorrow to come to an end?’ He replied, 'Woe upon you! [[Jacob]] the prophet had twelve sons, and Allah made one of them disappear. His eyes turned white from constant weeping, his head turned grey out of sorrow, and his back became bent in gloom,{{efn|[http://tanzil.net/#12:84 Quran, 12:84]}} though his son was alive in this world. But I watched while my father, my brother, my uncle, and seventeen members of my family were slaughtered all around me. How should my sorrow come to an end?’{{efn|From Shaykh as-Sadooq, al-Khisal; quoted in al-Ameen, A’yan, IV, 195. The same is quoted from Bin Shahraashoob’s Manaqib in Bih’ar al-Anwar, XLVI, 108; Cf. similar accounts, Ibid, pp. 108–10}}<ref name="sharif al-qarashi">{{cite book|last=Sharif al-Qarashi|first= Bāqir|year=2000|title=The Life of Imām Zayn al-Abidin (as)|translator=Jāsim al-Rasheed|location=Iraq|publisher=Ansariyan Publications, n.d. Print}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Imam Ali ibn al-Hussain|title=Al-Saheefah Al-Sajjadiyyah Al-Kaamelah|year=2009|others= Translated with an Introduction and annotation by Willian C. Chittick With a foreword by S. H. M. Jafri|publisher=Ansariyan Publications|location=Qum, The Islamic Republic of Iran}}</ref>

Arbaʽeen's performance has been banned in some periods, the last of which was when [[Saddam Hussein]], (a Sunni who ruled as an Arab nationalist, clashing with Islamic revivalism) was president of Iraq. For nearly 30 years under Saddam's regime, it was forbidden to mark Arbaʽeen publicly in Iraq. Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the observance in April 2003 was broadcast worldwide.<ref>Vali Nasr, ''The Shia Revival''. New York: Norton, 2006; pp 18–19.</ref>

==Annual pilgrimage==
{{main|Arbaʽeen Pilgrimage}}
The city of Karbala in Iraq is the center of the proceedings which many pilgrims travel miles on foot to reach. As of 2016 "between 17 million and 20 million" pilgrims usually attend Arba'ein there, including about three million foreigners, most of whom are Iranians.<ref name="Sims-2016">{{cite news|last1=Sims|first1=Alexandra|title=Millions of Muslims take part in mass pilgrimage of Arbaeen – in spite of Isis|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/20-million-muslims-march-against-isis-arbaeen-pilgrimage-iraq-karbala-a7436561.html|access-date=21 December 2017|agency=The Independent|date=24 November 2016}}</ref>

Arbaʽeen is consistently among the [[List of largest peaceful gatherings in history|largest peaceful gatherings in history]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-31|title=The biggest march for peace|url=https://www.irna.ir/news/83083843/بزرگ-ترين-راهپيمايي-براي-صلح|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-18|website=irna|language=fa}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Magiran {{!}} The world's largest peaceful community|url=https://www.magiran.com/article/3968142|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-18|website=www.magiran.com}}</ref> Every year, huge crowds of pilgrims travel to the city of Karbala in pilgrimage to the Imam Hossein holy shrine in Karbala on Arbaʽeen Day. (For example, it is over 500 km from [[Basra]] the largest city in southern Iraq where Shia predominate to Karbala.)<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.distancefromto.net/between/Basra/Karbala|title = Distance Between Basra and Karbala}}</ref> It is traveled annually on foot by [[Iraqi people|Iraqi]] pilgrims, which takes them two weeks, or approximately one month to come from other countries like [[Iran]]. The crowds become so massive that roads are blocked for hundreds of miles.

In 2008, approximately nine million religious observers converged on Karbala to commemorate Arba'ein.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17397&Itemid=128|title=mnf-iraq.com|access-date=11 January 2009|archive-date=5 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905185304/http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17397&Itemid=128|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2009, over ten million people were estimated to have reached Karbala, according to [[BBC News]] and [[Press TV]]. In 2013, 20 million pilgrims from 40 countries came for Arba'ein, according to Iranian media.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alalam.ir/news/1433534 |title=زيارة الاربعين: 18 مليون زائر ونجاح امني كبير |publisher=Al-Alam |access-date=4 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://z313.ir/132//%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%8C%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%B3%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%B9%D8%B5%D8%B1(%D8%B9%D8%AC)-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%87%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%B8%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1/|title=Arba'een, an appointment for army of Imam Mahdi (a.s) on the rise|date=December 2014}}</ref><ref name="independent.co.uk">{{cite web|last=Dearden|first=Lizzie|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/one-of-the-worlds-biggest-and-most-dangerous-pilgrimages-is-underway-9882702.html|date=25 November 2014|website=The Independent|title=One of the world's biggest and most dangerous pilgrimages is underway}}</ref> A car bomb targeting worshippers returning from Karbala killed at least 20 Shiite pilgrims in January 2013.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/car-bomb-in-iraq-kills-at-least-20-shiite-pilgrims-8437360.html | title=Car bomb in Iraq kills at least 20 Shiite pilgrims | work=independent | date=3 January 2013}}</ref> In 2014, up to 17 million people made the pilgrimage and many choose to make the 55-mile journey on foot from [[Najaf]], near areas controlled by the militant [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (ISIL), which has declared Shia Muslims [[apostate]]s.<ref name="independent">{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/one-of-the-worlds-biggest-and-most-dangerous-pilgrimages-is-underway-9882702.html | title=One of the world's biggest and most dangerous pilgrimages is underway | work=independent | date=25 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="SBS">{{cite news | url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/12/14/arbaeen-pilgrimage-iraq-175-million-defy-threat | title=Arbaeen pilgrimage in Iraq: 17.5 million defy threat | work=SBS | date=14 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="BBC News">{{cite news|title=Shia pilgrims flock to Karbala for Arbaeen climax|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30462820|access-date=21 December 2017|agency=BBC News|date=14 December 2014}}</ref> Up to 17 million pilgrims came in 2015<ref name="BBC News" /> and 2016.

== Ziyarat of Arba'ein ==
{{main| Ziyarat of Arbaʽeen}}
The Ziyarat Arba'ein is a prayer which is usually recited in Karbala on the day of Arba'ein. It is narrated from Safwan al-Jammaal from Imam [[Ja'far al-Sadiq]], the sixth Shiite Imam, in which the Imam instructed him to visit Imam Husayn's mosque, and to recite a specific visitation prayer on Arba'ein by which the believer should reaffirm their pledge to Husayn's ideals. The Ziarat or prayer is a text which designates Husayn as the "inheritor" of the prophets [[Adam]], [[Noah]], [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], [[Jesus]] and [[Muhammad]].

<blockquote>''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.''<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.duas.org/safar/arbaeen.htm |title="Ziarat" on the day of Arbae'en |access-date=24 November 2015}}</ref>

<P>''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.''<ref>{{Cite web|title=اربعین|url=https://arbaein.ir/|access-date=2021-04-15|website=اربعین|language=fa-IR}}</ref><ref name="auto"/></blockquote>

==Other religions and countries in the Arba'ein==
While the Arba'ein is a distinctively Shi'a spiritual exercise, Sunni Muslims and even Christians, [[Zoroastrian]]s, and [[Sabians]] partake in both the pilgrimage as well as serving of devotees. Pilgrims from European countries including Sweden, Russia and even a delegation from Vatican City have joined in past observances. Some Iraqi Christian religious leaders also joined the delegation from the Vatican.<ref name="huffingtonpost.co.uk">{{cite web|last=Al-Modarresi|first=Mahdi|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/sayed-mahdi-almodarresi/arbaeen-pilgrimage_b_6203756.html|title=World's Biggest Pilgrimage Now Underway, And Why You've Never Heard of it! huffingtonpost|date=24 November 2014|access-date=11 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.alalam.ir/news/1547521 |title=Christians in Karbala in Arbaeen|access-date=11 December 2014}}</ref>

Many delegations from various African countries including [[Ghana]], [[Nigeria]], [[Tanzania]] and [[Senegal]] have also participated in the Arba'ein.<ref name="independent.co.uk"/>

== Political significance ==
Since the first Arbaʽeen, it has influenced subsequent Shi'ite uprisings against [[Umayyad]] and [[Abbasid]] rule. Arba'ein has also been used as a political protest, at least in [[Iran]]. It was first used there to protest the killing of [[Movement of 15 Khordad|supporters]] of [[Ayatollah]] [[Ruhollah Khomeini]] in [[Qom]] on 5 June 1963 when a general strike was announced. A cycle of Arbaʽeen public observance of mourning rituals of martyred protestors – where an Arbaʽeen observance was held to commemorate those killed in the preceding Arba'ein protest demonstration – is often credited as part of the reason for the success of the 1979 [[Iranian Revolution]] that overthrew [[Shah of Iran|Shah]] [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]],<ref>Kurzman, Charles, ''The Unthinkable Revolution in Iran'', [[Harvard University Press]], 2004, p.54-5</ref> although that explanation has also been questioned.<ref>Kurzman, ''The Unthinkable Revolution in Iran'', (2004), p.57</ref>

==Arba'ein in the Gregorian calendar==
While Arba'ein is always on nearly the same day (20 or 21 Safar) of the Islamic calendar, the date on the [[Gregorian calendar]] varies from year to year because of differences between the two calendars, since the Islamic calendar, the Hijri calendar (AH), is a [[lunar calendar]] and the Gregorian calendar is a [[solar calendar]]. Furthermore, the method used to determine when each Islamic month begins varies from country to country (see [[Islamic calendar]]).<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Umm al-Qura Calendar of Saudi Arabia|url=https://webspace.science.uu.nl/~gent0113/islam/ummalqura.htm|access-date=2021-09-18|website=webspace.science.uu.nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Islamic Calendar of Turkey|url=https://webspace.science.uu.nl/~gent0113/islam/diyanetcalendar.htm|access-date=2021-09-18|website=webspace.science.uu.nl}}</ref>

Arba'ein always falls 40 days after the Day of Ashura. The Day of Ashura, in turn, falls nine days after the first day of [[Muḥarram]]. Hence, Arba'ein falls 49 days after the first day of Muḥarram. This date is shown for a selection of years, according to the [[Islamic calendar#Saudi Arabia.27s Umm al-Qura calendar|Umm al-Qura Calendar of Saudi Arabia]], in the table below:{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Islamic year !! Saudi Arabia<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.staff.science.uu.nl/~gent0113/islam/ummalqura.htm|title=The Umm al-Qura Calendar of Saudi Arabia|work=uu.nl}}</ref> || Iraq
|-
| 1441 || 19 October 2019 ||
|-
| 1442 || 7 October 2020{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} ||
|-
| 1443 || 27 September 2021 || 28 September 2021 <ref>{{cite news|title=Arbaeen draws thousands of Shiites to Iraq's Karbala|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/iraq/2021/09/28/arbaeen-draws-thousands-of-shiites-to-iraqs-karbala/|access-date=29 September 2021|work=The National}}</ref>
|-
| 1444 || 16 September 2022 || 17 September 2022
|-
| 1445 || || 6 September 2023<ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistanis Can Cross Iran to Go to Iraq for Arbaeen: Interior Minister - Society/Culture news |url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2023/05/30/2904006/pakistanis-can-cross-iran-to-go-to-iraq-for-arbaeen-interior-minister |access-date=20 August 2023 |work=Tasnim News Agency |language=en}}</ref>
|}

== Photographs ==
<gallery>
File:پیاده روی اربعین.jpg|pilgrimage on foot during Arbaʽein
File:پیاده روی اربعین 11.jpg|pilgrimage on foot during Arbaʽein
File:پیاده روی اربعین 32.jpg|pilgrimage on foot during Arbaʽein
File:پیاده روی اربعین 46.jpg|pilgrimage on foot during Arbaʽein
File:پیاده روی اربعین حسینی.jpg|pilgrimage on foot during Arbaʽein
File:The clergymen on the arbane hike روحانیت در پیاده روی اربعین 13.jpg|pilgrimage on foot during Arbaʽein
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Iraq|Shia Islam|Islam}}

*[[List of largest peaceful gatherings in history]]
*[[List of casualties in Husayn's army at the Battle of Karbala]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Muslimholidays}}

[[Category:Shia Islam]]
[[Category:Islamic festivals]]
[[Category:Mourning of Muharram]]
[[Category:Islamic terminology]]
[[Category:History of Shia Islam]]

Arba'een - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 17:16, 26 August 2023