Arbain

Arbain, also written Arba’in or Arbaeen, is a religious observance in Islam that marks the fortieth day after Ashura, the day commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali at Karbala in 680 CE. The term Arbain comes from the Arabic word for forty. Among Shia Muslims, Arbain is the culmination of the Muharram mourning period and a major pilgrimage season.

The central feature of Arbain is the Arba'een pilgrimage (ziyara Arbain), in which millions of Shia Muslims travel to the holy city of Karbala, Iraq, to visit the shrine of Husayn and other holy figures. The gathering is considered one of the largest annual religious events in the world, drawing participants from Iraq and from abroad. The traditional route often involves a long walk, such as the Najaf-to-Karbala pilgrimage, symbolizing devotion and communal solidarity.

Practices associated with Arbain typically include prayers, lamentations, processions, and charitable acts such as distributing food and water to pilgrims. Attendees visit holy sites, pay respects at Husayn’s shrine, and attend religious lectures and sermons. While Arbain is most closely associated with Shia Islam, many Muslims from diverse backgrounds participate or observe related commemorations in various forms.

In modern times, Arbain carries substantial social and economic dimensions for Iraq, including logistical planning, security considerations, and volunteer networks. It also represents an enduring expression of communal identity, martyrdom remembrance, and interregional religious solidarity within the Islamic calendar.