The Arbaʽeen or Chehlum is a religious observance that occurs forty days after the Day of Ashura. It commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who was killed on the 10th day of the month of Muharram. Imam Husayn ibn Ali and 71 of his companions were killed by Yazid’s army in the Battle of Karbala in 61 AH (680 CE).
Background
According to tradition, the Arbaʽeen pilgrimage has been observed since the year 61 AH of the Islamic calendar (10 October 680) after the Battle of Karbala or the following year.
The first such gathering took place when Jabir ibn Abd Allah, a sahabah and the first Arbaʽeen pilgrim, made a pilgrimage to the burial site of Husayn. He was accompanied by Atiyya ibn Sa’d because of his infirmity and probable blindness.
According to tradition, his visit coincided with that of the surviving female members of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) and Husayn’s son and heir, Imam Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin (also spelled Zain-ul-Abideen), who had all been held captive in Damascus by Yazid I, the Umayyad Caliph. Zayn al-Abidin had survived the Battle of Karbala and led a secluded life in deep sorrow.
The story of Karbala
The real story behind the mourning of Muharram is a very tragic one. On the 10th day of Muharram, also called Ashura, in the 61st year of the Islamic calendar, the fierce Battle of Karbala took place.
The battle was fought between a small group of supporters and relatives of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) grandson Imam Hussain and a much larger military of Yazid.
Imam Hussain’s humble army comprised of only his friends and family, including women and young children. But they were surrounded by a heavily-armed enemy army of thousands.
They captured Hussain and his group and deprived them of water and food in the desert heat for three successive days. The cruel soldiers brutally killed Hussain and his 6-year-old son and took the women with them as captives.
It is a very emotional story and Muslims honor the sacrifice of the innocent lives by observing a mourning period in the month of Muharram.
Muharram stands as a reminder to mankind for the heroic struggle and martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), against the corruption and destruction of human rights by a tyrant ruler.
Lesson of Karbala
Hussain had to die because he alone refused to live in denial of the fact that Yazid was establishing a tyranny, one that he would not endorse even though a majority of those around him chose to look the other way. The lesson of Karbala is to stand up to oppression and coercion at all times.
The denial so prevalent in Pakistan today that no Muslim can indulge in causing the kind of death and destruction the Taliban and Al Qaeda are accused of unleashing on our cities must give way to the realization that a bigger enemy lurks within. It must not be allowed to cow us into submission.
Intolerance, extremism and the coercion the militants seek to impose on society must be condemned, stood up against and disowned.
Those who died in the desert of Iraq hundreds of years ago were innocent, just like those who die today when suicide bombers strike, killing and maiming our men, women and children. This tyranny, too, must be resisted.
Today, it is hardly surprising that Muslims worldwide facing unspeakable brutalities, from Palestine to Kashmir and elsewhere, rely on the example of Imam Hussain to repeatedly renew their commitment to fighting back.
Historical texts suggest that in the face of the numerically fewer souls on the side of Imam Hussain, the army of Yazid consisted of the strength of anywhere between 30 thousand and 70 thousand. It was indeed a massive overkill by Yazid.
Sabeel-e-Masumeen
The practice of putting up stalls of drinks for the people participating in mourning processions has a religious as well as historical and geo-cultural significance.
Water and other fluids, therefore, were a necessity for the mourners on a procession. Gradually, it took the form of Sabeel-e-Masumeen during the Islamic month of Muharram.
The literal meaning of the word ‘Sabeel’ is ‘way’. It is believed that Imam Hussain (R.A.), his family and his troops were deprived of water for five days before the battle of Karbala. They braved these days without food and water but did not give in to the rule of Yazid-bin-Muawiya.
In theory, therefore, a Sabeel is a way to pay tribute to the thirst bore by the Imam (R.A.) and his family, by providing for water and other kinds of drinks to everyone, especially during the Ashura.
The variety of drinks available at different sabeels, from plain water to traditional beverages, chilled milk flavored with nuts and cardamom, and multiple types of tea.
‘Chehlum’ of Imam Hussain observed
‘Chehlum’ of Imam Hussain (AS) has observed on Thursday, in Pakistan with religious enthusiasm and fervour in a peaceful atmosphere but in tight security because of the fear of possible violence.
Foolproof security arrangements were made for the processions to avoid any untoward incident. Mobile phone services were also suspended in different areas of all major cities.
Arbaeen is the day in which the world’s biggest peaceful gathering is held annually around the holy shrine of Imam Hussain, the heart of the city of Karbala and millions of Imam Hussain lovers across the world flock into Karbala for the pilgrimage of Imam Hussain on Arbaeen.
Arbaeen offers a positive narrative of resilience, solidarity, and faith. Surprisingly, it remains little known outside the circle of the faithful. Today, people from many countries join the pilgrimage.
