Ṣafar 20^th: the day of Arbaʿīn/Jābir ibn Abdullah al-Anṣārī: the first pilgrim of Imam Husayn’s tomb/The caravan of the Ahl-al-Bayt (ʿa) returns from Damascus to Karbala/ Arbaʿīn: the day when the heads of the martyrs were j o i ned with their bodies/A word about the time that the caravan of the Ahl-al-Bayt (ʿa) returned to Karbala based on the historical proofs.

Imam al-Rida ('a) played an integral role in guiding the intellectual progress of the Muslim Ummah and defending the Islamic beliefs against the encroachment of un-Islamic ideological currents. As the Muslim Ummah’s borders expanded, it came in to contact with the ideas and beliefs of many various nations and religions.

These were hearts and minds which had been locked by the darkness of deviation and straying and it was the Prophet (s) who helped open them to guidance and salvation.

There is no doubt that Imam al-Hasan (ʿa) possessed so many positive and noble characteristics that he was truly befitting of his name ‘Hasan’. We hope that we can also follow in his footsteps and become more like him as well.

Indeed, the ceremonies held on Arbaʿīn are one of the noblest traditions of the religion of Islam. These ceremonies have deep roots within the religion itself and they were handed down to us from the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (ʿa) themselves. In spite of all the years which have passed since the great uprising of Karbala, perhaps it is still too soon for us to truly understand the profound reality of Imam al-Husayn (ʿa)’s sacrifice.