Arbaeen, journey of zealous hearts (4)

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Welcome to the 4th episode of this series which is an attempt to brief us on the significance of Arbaeen, i.e. the 40th day of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom and the importance of commemorating this event. Hope you’ll enjoy it.

Dear friends the Leader of the Islamic Revolution considers Arbaeen as the continuation of Imam Hussein’s anti-oppression uprising and notes that the great lesson of this event is to keep alive the memory of martyrdom against the enemy’s propaganda. He says, ““The importance of Arbaeen is that on this day, by the divine prudence of the Prophet’s household, the memory of the Husseini uprising became immortal forever and this was founded. If the survivors of martyrs and the main owners, in different events- such as the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali (AS) on Ashura- do not embark on preserving the memory and impacts of martyrdom, the next generations won’t benefit much from the achievement of martyrdom. If Zainab Kubra and Imam Sajjad (Peace upon them), in those days of captivity-either in the evening of Ashura in Karbala or the following days in Syria and Kufa, in Damascus itself and after that during pilgrimage in returning to Karbala, then in departing for Medina and during the long years of their life- had not striven, explicated and disclosed and had not elucidated the real philosophy of Ahsura and the goal of Hussein ibn Ali and the enemy’s oppression, the event of Ashura wouldn’t have remained gushing, vivid and burning till this day. Why did Imam Sadeq say that if a person composes a line of poem on the event of Ashura causing some people cry by this poem, God will make paradise obligatory for him? Because all propaganda apparatuses had been mobilized to isolate and obfuscate the issue of Ashura and basically the Ahl al-Bayt in a bid to not let the people understand what had happened and what the issue was. Propaganda is like this. Those days, like today, the oppressive powers made the maximum use of false, biased and devilish propaganda. In such a climate, was it possible for the event of Ashura- that had occurred with such grandeur at a desert in a corner of the Islamic world- to remain so vibrantly and vigorously?”

Arbaeen turned into the day of remembrance and revival of martyrdom and campaign against oppression. The small group consisted of Imam Hussein’s household and some of the Bani Hashem clan symbolized the pledge of allegiance with truth and lofty divine values. But the first person who rushed lovingly toward Imam Hussein’s sweet-scented tomb was Jaber ibn Abdullah Ansari.

Ayatollah Khamenei elaborates on Jaber and his love for Imam Hussein, “Jaber ibn Abdullah was one of the combatants of the advent of Islam. He is from the Badr companions; i.e. he was at the service of the Prophet and staged jihad beside him before Imam Hussein’s birth. He has been witness to the birth, childhood and growth of Hussein ibn Ali. Jaber ibn Abdullah surely had seen many times that the grand Prophet would hug Hussein ibn Ali, kiss his eyes, his face, put food in Hussein’s mouth and give him water. Jaber ibn Abdullah had most probably seen these with his eyes. He had certainly heard the Prophet saying that Hassan and Hussein are the Lords of the Youths of Paradise. Later, after the time of the Prophet, also, Imam Hussein’s position, Imam Hussein’s personality- whether in the time of the caliphs or that of the Commander of the Faithful, whether in Medina or Kufa- all of these have been before the eyes of Jaber ibn Abdulah Ansari. Now, Jaber hears that Hussein ibn Ali has been martyred. The apple of the Prophet’s eyes was martyred with thirsty lips. Jaber has set out from Medina and Atiya accompanies him from Kufa. Atiya narrates that on the day of Arbaeen, ‘Jaber ibn Abdullah came to the River Euphrates, performed ritual bath, put on white and clean clothes and then set out toward Imam Hussein’s tomb with a slow pace and respect. When he reached the tomb he said loudly, ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar’; it means when he understands how the apple of the eyes of the Prophet and Zahra was so cruelly martyred by the usurper and licentious rebels he recited Allahu Akbar.’ Then Atiya continues, ‘Jaber ibn Abdullah lost consciousness and fell on the grave out of intensive grief.’ We don’t know what happened but this narration says that when he came to his senses he began talking with Imam Hussein: Greetings to You the Household of God, Greetings to You the Choice of God.”

For centuries the lovers of the Ahl al-Bayt, like Jaber ibn Abdullah Ansari, have come to the holy shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala on the day of Arbaeen. Arbaeen has absorbed the hearts of enthusiasts and lovers to rotate round the tomb of their Beloved Hussein.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution states, “The unique and unprecedented phenomenon has emerged in the recent years, namely the marching on foot between Najaf and Karbala or from farther cities, some from Basra, some from the borders and some from other cities set out on foot and move. This move is the move of love and faith. But we look at this move from afar and have our hearts set on the state of those who have enjoyed this blessing.”

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei believes that those who cover this course and do this lovely move are doing a correct and great task and reviving a grand motto. For, such a task is stimulated and carried out by true belief, love and emotion. He describes the thought of Ahl al-Bayt and the Shia ideology as a blend of reasoning, belief and love, saying that this is thing whose absence is felt among other Islamic denominations.

The Leader maintains that it is only the Prophet’s progeny who provide a great chance for their followers to love them, speak to them and greet them. The texts of Ziyarah (standard form of salutation to the 14 infallible personalities of Islam) are full of lofty concepts. This has provided an opportunity for the followers to fill their lack of emotion and love.

Ayatollah Khamenei believes that creation of unity is another important characteristic of the huge Arbaeen epic and the massive gathering of Muslims. He says, “If we are together; the Islamic countries, Muslim nations- Sunnis and Shias and different Sunni and Shia sects- are sincere with each other with no suspicion toward one another and do not insult each other, then you’ll see what will happen in the world and what a dignity will be made for Islam! Unity, unity!”

Dear friends, in a period when a bunch of bloodthirsty people are committing the most heinous crimes in the name of Islam, suddenly the news is broadcast of convergence of tens of millions of lovers composed of Shias, Sunnis and even non-Muslims who fervently walk toward one point and converge at Imam Hussein’s shrine. This is a crushing shock for those in the west who have been bombarded by the US, Zionist-controlled mainstream media to know Islam as the religion of violence and murder, as is symbolized by the Wahhabism and Salafism stemming from the anti-human regime in Riyadh.

This is why Ayatollah Khamenei believes that Arbaeen is a start; the start for recognition of truth.

RM/EA