Fatwa Response from Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani Regarding the Arbaeen Pilgrimage
In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate
His Eminence, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani (may God preserve him),
Peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you,
Among the pilgrims of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) are those who set out on foot from their towns heading toward Karbala for the Arbaeen pilgrimage. However, some of them arrive in Karbala a day or more before the 20th of Safar, perform the ziyara, and then leave Karbala.
Question 1: In this case, is their visitation considered an ordinary ziyara, or is it counted as the Arbaeen ziyara?
Answer: It is hoped that such a person will be granted the reward of the Arbaeen ziyara.
Question 2: Some people have attributed to His Eminence Sayyid al-Sistani the statement that the Arbaeen ziyara begins on the 1st of Safar and continues until the 20th of the month. Is this attribution correct?
Answer: This is not correct. Rather, His Eminence has said that since it is not possible for all believers to perform the ziyara exactly on the day of Arbaeen itself, it is hoped—by the grace of God—that those who visit during this occasion, even before the 20th of Safar, will be granted the reward of the pilgrims of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) on the day of Arbaeen.