Safar
The second month of the Islamic calendar, historically associated with many significant events including the aftermath of Karbala. The surviving family of Imam Hussain (a.s.) endured captivity and hardship during this month.
3rd of Safar
According to some narrations, the severed head of Imam Hussain (a.s.) and the captive women and children of his household arrived in Damascus on the 3rd of Safar. It is a day of grief. Sayyid Ibn Tawus narrates a recommended prayer for this day.
3rd Safar Salat
Sayyid Ibn Tawus narrates that it is recommended on the 3rd of Safar to offer a two-rakat prayer: - Rakat 1: [Surah al-Fatihah](surah://1) + [Surah al-Fath](surah://48) - Rakat 2: [Surah al-Fatihah](surah://1) + [Surah al-Tawhid](surah://112) After completion, recite 100 times each: 1. Salawat upon the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his Household 2. The curse upon the Umayyads (see below) 3. Istighfar (seeking forgiveness) Then pray for your needs.
اَللَّهُمَّ الْعَنْ آلَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ
allahumma il-an ala abi sufyana
O Allah, curse the family of Abu Sufyan.
20th of Safar (Arbaeen)
Arbaeen marks the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (a.s.) at Karbala. On this day, the family of Imam Hussain (a.s.), led by Imam Zain al-Abidin (a.s.) and Sayyida Zainab (s.a.), returned to Karbala to visit the grave of the martyrs. Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari, the elderly companion of the Prophet, was the first to perform ziyarat at Imam Hussain's grave. Millions of pilgrims walk to Karbala annually for Arbaeen, making it the largest peaceful gathering in the world.
Ziyarat Arbaeen
Recite [Ziyarat Arbaeen](dua://ziyarat-arbaeen) — the special ziyarat for the 40th day, as narrated by Safwan al-Jammal from Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.).
Recommended Acts
The 20th of Safar marks the Arbaeen (Chehlum) — the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (a.s.) at Karbala. It witnesses the largest peaceful gathering on earth, as millions visit Karbala, Iraq. Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) said the signs of a true believer are five: 1. Recite 51 rakat salat daily (17 obligatory + 34 nafilah) 2. Visit Karbala for ziyarat of Imam Hussain (a.s.), or at least recite his ziyarat 3. Wear a ring on the right hand 4. Place the forehead on earth (preferably turbah) in prostration 5. Pronounce "Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem" clearly in salat Other recommended acts: - Tasbihaat Arba'a 70 times - Ghusl before Zuhr - After Zuhr: recite [Surah al-Asr](surah://103) and seek forgiveness (Astaghfirullah) 70 times - During sunset: "La ilaha illallah" 40 times
Farewell Ziyarat
A farewell ziyarat mentioned in Iqbal al-Aamal, to be recited when concluding the visit to Imam Hussain (a.s.).
أقول و وجدت لهذه الزيارة وداعا [دعاء] يختص بها.السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ عَلِيٍّ الْمُرْتَضَى وَصِيَّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ فَاطِمَةَ الزَّهْرَاءِ سَيِّدَةَ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ الْحَسَنِ الزَّكِيِّالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حُجَّةَ اللَّهِ فِي أَرْضِهِ وَ شَاهِدَهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الشَّهِيدُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا مَوْلَايَ وَ ابْنَ مَوْلَايَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ أَقَمْتَ الصَّلَاةَ وَ آتَيْتَ الزَّكَاةَ وَ أَمَرْتَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ نَهَيْتَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِوَ جَاهَدْتَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى أَتَاكَ الْيَقِينُوَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكَ أَتَيْتُكَ يَا مَوْلَايَ زَائِراً وَافِداً رَاغِباً مُقِرّاً لَكَ بِالذُّنُوبِ هَارِباًإِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا لِتَشْفَعَ لِي عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُعَلَيْكَ حَيّاً وَ مَيِّتاً فَإِنَّ لَكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَقَاماً مَعْلُوماً وَ شَفَاعَةً مَقْبُولَةًلَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ ظَلَمَكَ وَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ حَرَمَكَ وَ غَصَبَ حَقَّكَ وَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَكَوَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ خَذَلَكَ وَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ دَعَوْتَهُ فَلَمْ يُجِبْكَ وَ لَمْ يُعِنْكَوَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ مَنَعَكَ مِنْ حَرَمِ اللَّهِ وَ حَرَمِ رَسُولِهِ وَ حَرَمِ أَبِيكَ وَ أَخِيكَوَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ مَنَعَكَ مِنْ شُرْبِ مَاءِ الْفُرَاتِ لَعْناً كَثِيراً يَتْبَعُ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضاًاللَّهُمَّ فاطِرَ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ عالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَ الشَّهادَةِأَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبادِكَ فِي ما كانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَوَ سَيَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَيَّ مُنْقَلَبٍ يَنْقَلِبُونَاللَّهُمَّ لَا تَجْعَلْهُ آخِرَ الْعَهْدِ مِنْ زِيَارَتِهِ وَ ارْزُقْنِيهِ أَبَداً مَا بَقِيتُ وَ حَيِيتُ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَوَ إِنْ مِتُّ فَاحْشُرْنِي فِي زُمْرَتِهِ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.
"Peace be on you! O' son of God's Prophet (MGB). Peace be on you! O' son of Ali al-Murtiza – the Trustee of God's Prophet. Peace be on you! O' son of Fatimah az-Zahra (MGB) – the Master of the Ladies of the world. Peace be on you! O' inheritor of Al-Hassan – the Pure! Peace be on you! O' the Proof of God on His Earth! And His witness over His creatures! Peace be on you! O' Martyred Aba Abdullah (MGB)! Peace be on you! O' my Guardian! O' son of my Guardian!I bear witness that you established the prayer, gave the prescribed share to the needy, enjoined to do good, forbade from evil, and strived in the way of God until the inevitable death came unto you. I bear witness that You are a Proof of your Lord for me.I have come to you O' my Guardian! I have come to you as a pilgrim, a willing comer, confessing to his sins near You. O' son of God's Prophet (MGB)!I am fleeing to You from my wrongdoings so that You intercede near Your Lord on my behalf. May God‟s Blessings be on you when you were alive and when you perished as for you there is a clear position near God and your intercession is accepted.Indeed you possess a known position near God and your intercession near Him is accepted. May God's Curse be on those who oppressed you. God's Curse be on those who wronged you and confiscated your rights.May God's Curse be on those who killed you. May God's Curse be on those who belittled you. God's Curse be on those whom you invited but did not honor your call and did not help you. May God's Curse be on whoever prevented you from going to the House of God, the shrine of God‟s Prophet (MGB), and the shrines of your father and brother.May God's Curse be on whoever prevented you from drinking from the Euphrates - extensive curse one after the next."O' God! Creator of the heavens and the earth! Knower of all that is hidden and open! it is You that wilt judge between Your Servants in those matters about which they have differed."1“And soon will the unjust assailants know what vicissitudes their affairs will take!”2O' my God! Please do not make this be the last time I visit him.O Lord! Please bestow it on me for as long as I survive and You let me live. And should I die, please resurrect me to be next to him.O' the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful!"