arbaeen pilgrimage

The Arrival of the Arba’een of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn (peace be upon him)

This marks approximately forty days since the martyrdom of the Imam and his devoted companions. On this day, it is recommended to visit this great figure and the martyrs of the event at Karbala. Consequently, Arba’een is one of the busiest days in the holy city of Karbala each year, with Muslims and Shi’a from all over the world coming to this esteemed land to send salutations and greetings to the great men who demonstrated the highest levels of sacrifice and honor.

Of course, the visit can be performed in any language and manner that expresses one’s devotion to the sacred goal that led the martyrs to the field of martyrdom. However, it is preferable not to neglect what has been narrated by the Imams regarding visits and supplications, and to perform the visit or supplication in the manner instructed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or the Pure Imams (peace be upon them). Special attention should also be given to the supplications found in the Holy Quran.

Safwan al-Jammal, Narrator of the Arba’een Visit

This fortunate man, a prominent companion of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) and Imam Musa al-Kadhim (peace be upon him), accompanied Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) several times from Medina to Iraq. Imam Ja’far (peace be upon him) used to rent camels from him, and Safwan accompanied the Imam. Through his association with the sixth Imam, he came to know the tomb of Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (peace be upon him), which was not known until that time, and he remained a close neighbor to the grave of Amir al-Mu’minin for twenty years.

Safwan is a notable Shia narrator and has transmitted works from the Pure Imams (peace be upon them), including the Ziyarat al-Warith, the well-known Ziyarat Ashura of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him), the supplication of Alqamah, and one of the Ziyarat of Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him). Sheikh Tusi, in his book Misbah al-Mutahajjid, narrates Ziyarat al-Warith from Safwan from Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him). He also narrates Ziyarat Ashura from Alqamah bin Muhammad al-Hadhrami from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him) and once from Safwan al-Jammal from the sixth Imam (peace be upon him).

Safwan told Saif bin ‘Umeirah that he was with Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) in Karbala, where the Imam performed such a visit and recited the supplication of Alqamah. It is remarkable that the well-known supplication, known as the supplication of Alqamah, which is recited after Ziyarat Ashura, was narrated by Safwan from Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), not Alqamah from Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him). Therefore, it should be referred to as Safwan’s supplication rather than Alqamah’s, and it is unclear why it is called Alqamah’s supplication. One of the Ziyarat of Arba’een of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) was narrated by Safwan al-Jammal from the sixth Imam (peace be upon him).

Ziyarat Arba’een

Another Ziyarat for Arba’een is the visit performed by Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari to the Imam in this manner, and Attiyah ibn Sa’ad ibn Janadah narrated it from Jabir, the revered companion.

These famous phrases from the Arba’een Ziyarat of Safwan are:

“I bear witness that you were a light in the lofty loins and pure wombs, that ignorance did not pollute you with its filth, nor did the dark garments of idolatry and disbelief clothe you. I bear witness that you are among the pillars of the religion, the foundations of the Muslims, and the refuge of the believers. I bear witness that you are the pious, righteous, pure, guiding, and guided Imam. I also bear witness that the Imams from your progeny are the words of piety, the signs of guidance, the firm handhold, and the proof for the people of the world.”

These are the words that Safwan narrated from Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) as a visit to the Imam, meaning: “I testify that you were a light in the noble lineage and pure wombs, that the ignorance of the pre-Islamic era did not defile you with its impurities, nor did the dark garments of idolatry and disbelief clothe you. I testify that you are a fundamental pillar of the religion, a cornerstone of the Muslims, and a sanctuary for the believers. I testify that you are the virtuous, pious, accepted, pure, guiding, and guided Imam. I also testify that the Imams from your lineage are the essence of piety, signs of guidance, the unbreakable bond, and the proof to the people of the world.”