- Jul 27
- 5 min read
The Recognition of Arbaeen – Part One
Imam al-Sadiq (p) says:
إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَخْرُجُ إِلَى قَبْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عليه السلام) فَلَهُ إِذَا خَرَجَ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ بِأَوَّلِ خُطْوَةٍ مَغْفِرَةُ ذُنُوبِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَزَلْ يُقَدَّسُ بِكُلِّ خُطْوَةٍ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ فَإِذَا أَتَاهُ نَاجَاهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فَقَالَ عَبْدِي سَلْنِي أُعْطِكَ ادْعُنِي أُجِبْكَ اطْلُبْ مِنِّي أُعْطِكَ سَلْنِي حَاجَةً أَقْضِهَا لَكَ؛ حَقٌّ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُعْطِيَ مَا بَذَلَ
A person who sets out to visit the grave of Imam Hussain ibn Ali (p) is forgiven from the very first step taken after leaving his family.
With every step, that person continues to be purified and sanctified until reaching the grave of Imam Hussain (p).
When the visitor arrives, God addresses the person in intimate conversation and says:
“My servant, ask Me and I shall grant you. Call upon Me and I shall answer you. Request from Me and I shall give you. Present your need to Me and I shall fulfill it for you.”
The narrator then says that it is a promise established by God that He will grant the visitor what has been offered and sacrificed on this journey.
Sources
Kamil al-Ziyarat, Chapter 49, Hadith 2
Al-Mazar by Shaykh al-Mufid, vol. 1, p. 31
Wasa’il al-Shi‘ah, vol. 10, p. 342
Majma‘ al-Bahrayn fi Manaqib al-Sibtayn, vol. 1, p. 428
Intellect as a Divine Gift
True intellect is a divine gift. It is not granted to a servant except that the person may become a guide and a proof for creation on the path toward truth.
Intellect is the inner proof of God. It has always stood alongside the outward proofs of God—the carriers of the Great Divine Message—as a measure by which truth is distinguished from falsehood and the Straight Path is distinguished from the many misleading paths.
True intellect is not merely imagination, speculation, personal opinion, or uncertain thoughts that people mistakenly call reason.
Rather, intellect is a light with which God equips His chosen servants. As long as they are supported by this lamp, they become a guiding light for those who seek the truth.
They are like stars shining in a dark night for the ignorant and for those who have lost their way.
All goodness is understood and attained through this intellect and its divine light.
إنَّمَا يُدْرَكُ الْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ بِالْعَقْلِ، وَ لَا دِينَ لِمَنْ لَا عَقْلَ لَهُ
“All goodness is attained through intellect, and there is no true religion for one who has no intellect.”
All goodness, expressed through the words of revelation and the luminous teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (p), is understood through intellect.
It is this intellect within a servant that receives the words, guidance, and intimate address of God.
Without this divine faculty, a person has no true ability to connect with the light of revelation.
But who are the true possessors of this illuminated intellect?
Who are the wise people of a community and the guides who lead creation toward righteousness?
Is such a rank obtained merely through outward education and accumulated information?
Or is it a divine gift for which God has established a particular path for His chosen servants and those who sincerely seek Him?
This divine illumination cannot be attained except by walking upon the path of Imam Hussain (p), for his path is the path of guidance and the firmest, straightest way.
The Prophets and the Knowledge of Karbala
In every nation, the prophet of that nation is the highest manifestation of intellect.
The prophet is the outward proof of God who leads people toward perfection and spiritual elevation.
Yet the share each prophet received from the light of intellect was connected to bearing the sorrow of Karbala and understanding the tragedy of Ashura and Imam Hussain (p).
فبَکی آدم ... فَجَزع ابراهیم ... فَناح نوح ... فَحزن زکریا ...
Adam wept.
Abraham grieved.
Noah lamented.
Zechariah was overcome with sorrow.
Their recognition of the tragedy of Imam Hussain (p) became part of their spiritual knowledge and elevation.
Arbaeen and the Illumination of Intellect
It is an established divine tradition that every person is addressed by God and by His chosen authorities according to the amount of illuminated intellect that person possesses.
Through this light, a person may become a source of guidance and a refuge for the servants of God.
What is the secret hidden in the land of Naynawa?
For the pilgrim who walks with awareness, every stage of the journey brings relief and elevation.
Every step brings forgiveness.
Every breath becomes glorification.
The lighter the traveler’s burden, the greater the spiritual benefit.
How improper it would be to carry excessive provisions when one is traveling toward the presence of the Most Generous.
Arbaeen resembles a worldly Day of Resurrection.
People from every background move together in one direction, as though all of humanity has gathered in the plain of the Final Gathering.
It is as though each person returns to the original divine covenant:
أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ
“Am I not your Lord?”
The pilgrims renew their answer to that covenant.
Each person receives from the light of intellect according to the degree of love, devotion, and connection they have with Imam Hussain (p), the one whose blood was sacrificed for the cause of God.
In that land, spiritual retreat becomes a meeting with the Lord, and walking becomes an intimate conversation with Him.
The Wisdom of the Simple Pilgrims
How beautiful it is to see ordinary and sincere people, untouched by the artificial appearances of worldly culture and free from the dark veils of pride, become guides for others on this journey.
Walking upon the path of Imam Hussain (p) has equipped them with the light of intellect.
At the same time, some who consider themselves highly educated and intellectually enlightened remain deprived of this spiritual reality.
They mock the devotion and spiritual ecstasy of the lovers of Imam Hussain (p).
Yet they themselves are deprived of true understanding.
The real wise people are those who remain devoted to this path.
Every Step Brings Forgiveness
Imam al-Sadiq (p) says:
إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَخْرُجُ إِلَى قَبْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عليه السلام)، فَلَهُ إِذَا خَرَجَ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ بِأَوَّلِ خُطْوَةٍ مَغْفِرَةُ ذُنُوبِهِ، ثُمَّ لَمْ يَزَلْ يُقَدَّسُ بِكُلِّ خُطْوَةٍ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ، فَإِذَا أَتَاهُ نَاجَاهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فَقَالَ: عَبْدِي سَلْنِي أُعْطِكَ، ادْعُنِي أُجِبْكَ
Whoever leaves home with the intention of visiting Imam Hussain (p) receives forgiveness and blessing for every step taken.
Upon reaching the sacred sanctuary, the pilgrim becomes one who is addressed by God.
The servant speaks to God, and God addresses the servant.
Walking toward Karbala elevates the servant to the rank of one who is granted intimate conversation with God.
This is the true meaning of intellect.
The path of Imam Hussain (p) grants illuminated intellect to the devoted pilgrim.
Through that intellect, the pilgrim becomes worthy of divine address and intimate conversation.
God says:
عَبْدِي سَلْنِي أُعْطِكَ، ادْعُنِي أُجِبْكَ
“My servant, ask Me and I shall grant you. Call upon Me and I shall answer you.”
The Intellect That Leads to Paradise
It is upon this path that a human being becomes equipped with every form of goodness and is granted Paradise.
الْعَقْلُ مَا اكْتُسِبَ بِهِ الْجَنَّةُ
“Intellect is that by which Paradise is attained.”
The journey of Arbaeen is not merely a physical movement toward Karbala.
It is a journey toward forgiveness, purification, divine knowledge, illuminated intellect, and intimate conversation with God.
To Be Continued...
The Recognition of Arabaeen – Part Two will follow.
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