The Arbaeen Pilgrimage and the First Visitor to Imam al-Husayn (Peace Be Upon Him)
Shaykh al-Kaf'ami (may Allah have mercy on him) stated:
"It was named the Arbaeen (the 40-day commemoration) because it occurs on the 20th of Safar, which is forty days after the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (peace be upon him) on the 10th of Muharram. It is the day when Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari arrived from Medina to Karbala to visit the grave of al-Husayn (peace be upon him), becoming the first person to do so. On this very same day, the women and children from al-Husayn's household returned from Sham (Syria) to Karbala under the leadership of Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (Zayn al-Abidin, peace be upon him), and they met Jabir at the grave."
From this moment, the tradition of the Ziyarat Arbaeen — the 40-day visitation — was established. It is also believed to be the day when the blessed heads of the Ahl al-Bayt were returned and reunited with their bodies in Karbala.
Ziyarat Arbaeen: A Sign of the Believer
Due to the immense spiritual significance of this day, the pilgrimage was listed among the signs of a true believer. Imam al-Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) said:
“The signs of a believer are five:
Performing fifty-one rak‘ahs of prayer (on the 40th day)
Reciting Ziyarat Arbaeen
Wearing a ring on the right hand
Placing the forehead on the ground (in prostration)
Reciting ‘Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim’ aloud”
Who Was Jabir al-Ansari?
Jabir ibn Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Hizam al-Ansari was a revered companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). He is well known for his unwavering devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt and holds a distinguished status among the Prophet’s companions.
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He participated in Badr, Uhud, and other major battles alongside the Prophet.
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His love for Imam Ali (peace be upon him) was well-known.
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Narrations about Jabir’s virtues are numerous, but one of his greatest honors is that he conveyed the Prophet’s greetings to Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) as instructed by the Prophet himself.
Jabir once asked the Prophet for intercession on the Day of Judgment, and the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) assured him of it.
