Significance of Arbaeen and the Performance of the Ziyarat of Arbaeen

The 40th (Arba’een or Chehlum) marks an important turning point in the movement of Karbala. This day, which is no less important to the day of Ashura is important for many reasons – the prime being that the Ahl-ul-Bayt reached the land of Karbala on this day and performed the visitation to Sayyid al-Shuhada Imam Hussein (A.S) and the loyal family and friends who gave their life for the cause of Islam.

Imam Hassan Al-Askari (A.S) has said: The signs of a believer are five:
• Performing fifty-one rakats of salat daily,
• Reciting Ziyarat of Arbaeen,
• Wearing a ring in the right hand,
• Placing the forehead on dust [during sajda], and
• Saying “Bismillah al-rahman al-rahim” aloud in salaa.”‌ al-a’mal, p. 589, as stated [by Ibn Tawus]

Imam Hassan Al-Askari (A.S) includes the performance of Ziyarat of Arbaeen as one of the five marks for a believer, in addition to reciting 51 rakats of salat, audible recitation of Bismillah, wearing a ring on one’s right hand and doing sajda on dust.

Why is so much importance given to the performance of the Ziyarat of Arbaeen and the observance of Arbaeen (40 days of mourning)?
The 40th (Arba’een or Chehlum) marks an important turning point in the movement of Karbala. This day, which is no less important to the day of Ashura is important for many reasons – the prime being that the Ahl-ul-Bayt reached the land of Karbala on this day and performed the visitation to Seyyed ash-Shuhada Imam Hussein (A.S) and the loyal family and friends who gave their life for the cause of Islam.
Ziyarat, as we all know is a visitation, which in essence, is the act of speaking with and visiting our role models.  Of course the physical manifestation of the ziyarat is actually being present in Karbala to perform the Ziyarat of Arbaeen, but, in reality, that is not possible for every believer.  So does making ziyarat while not in Karbala give one the same benefits?  Ahadith tell us that performing the Ziyarat of Imam Hussein (A.S) far from Karbala would hold the same significance as being in the land of Karbala, as long as the person performing the Ziyarat has truly understood the status of the Imam and seeks to emulate him.
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A.S) states that the heavens wept over Imam Hussein (A.S) for forty mornings, rising red and settling red.  As we complete 40 days of remembrance of our Imam, we re-assert our pledge of obedience and loyalty to him,
“I bear witness that you are the Imam (who is) the upright, the pious, well-pleased (with Allah), the pure, the guide and the rightly-guided.
I bear witness that you fulfilled the pledge of Allah and you struggled in His way…I am a friend of whoever befriends him …”‌
By performing the Ziyarat of Arbaeen, we pledge that we will continue to follow the path of justice and righteousness and will reject injustice and speak up against the oppressors of the time,
“I am an enemy of whoever is his enemy”‌
In essence, we make a promise to continue to mould our lives according to the teaching of Imam Hussain (A)
But why is it that we mourn and remember Imam Hussein (A.S) for a period of forty days and then move on?

Our Prophet (PBUH) has said, “The earth mourns the death of a believer for forty mornings.”‌ Therefore it appears that the deceased should be remembered and mourned over for a period of forty days.
Performing an act for a continuous period of forty days is also known to help one to not just form a habit, but also to carry on the practice for the rest of his life.
If we look at studies dealing with bringing a lifestyle change, we notice the time period emphasized to bring about a change is usually 6 weeks which is about the same time period as 40 days (to be exact it is 42 days).
In the book 40 Days to Personal Revolution: A Breakthrough Program to Radically Change Your Body and Awaken the Sacred Within Your Soul, the author Baron Baptiste explains the significance of forty days:
“Why forty days? Because the number 40 holds tremendous spiritual significance in the realm of transformation. Jesus wandered in the desert for forty days in order to experience purification and come to a greater understanding of himself and his mission. Moses and his people travelled through the desert for forty years before arriving at their home in the holy land. Noah preserved the sacredness of life by sailing his ark for forty days and forty nights. According to the Kabbalah, the ancient Jewish mystical text, it takes forty days to ingrain any new way of being into our system….”‌

Reciting particular dua’a for a period of 40 days is highly recommended in our practices as well. The unit 40 (forty) is said to be very effective. If a particular Dua’a is recited 40 times, or 40 people gather to recite it, or it is recited for 40 days then its effectiveness is highly increased.
It is reported from Imam Jafer al-Sadiq (A.S) that whoever recites Dua’a-e-Ahad for forty days, after morning prayers will be amongst the helpers of the 12th Imam (A.S).
Visitation of the shrine of Imam Hussein (A.S) as well as Masjid-e-Sahla for 40 consecutive Tuesdays / Thursdays is also very highly recommended and is one of the acts that promise a visit from the 12th Imam (A.S).
Thus, as we perform the Ziyarat of Arbaeen and commemorate the Arbaeen, 40 days of mourning of Imam Hussein (A.S), we hope and pray that this forty days of remembrance of Imam Hussein (A.S), brings about a transformation in us by which we can continue to follow the path of Imam Hussein (A.S) and carry on his message of upholding justice with true faith and a strong sense of sacrifice!