Arbaeen falls on the fortieth day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain in Karbala — the 20th of Safar on the Islamic lunar calendar. This year (1449 AH), that date lands on approximately Sunday, July 25, 2027.
What Does "Arbaeen" Mean?
Arbaeen is simply the Arabic word for "forty." Across many Middle Eastern cultures and religious traditions, the fortieth day after a loved one’s death is treated as a significant day of remembrance. Arbaeen Hussaini carries that exact meaning for Imam Hussain — it is the fortieth day after Ashura (the 10th of Muharram), the day he was killed.
Why Has Arbaeen Become Such a Massive Event Today?
Arbaeen has grown into one of the largest religious gatherings on Earth. Millions of pilgrims, most of them on foot, walk the roughly 80-kilometer route between the city of Najaf (burial place of Imam Ali) and Karbala (burial place of Imam Hussain) — a walk that, according to some reports, has in recent years drawn more participants than the Hajj pilgrimage itself.
Along the route, thousands of local Iraqi families volunteer to offer pilgrims free food, water, and places to rest — a tradition of hospitality that has itself become a defining part of Arbaeen culture. Pilgrims travel from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, India, Pakistan, Bahrain, and many other countries to take part; some reports have estimated recent years’ turnout at more than 20 million people.
How Does Arbaeen Connect to the Story of Karbala?
After Imam Hussain was killed at Ashura, his surviving family members were taken captive and forced through a harrowing journey from Karbala to Kufa and Damascus before eventually making their way back. According to some historical accounts, these survivors returned to Karbala on the day of Arbaeen to mourn at the grave of Imam Hussain and his companions — an episode regarded as the origin of this annual tradition.
Another account, recorded in some Shia sources, holds that Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari — a long-time companion of the Prophet — was the first person to visit Imam Hussain’s grave on the day of Arbaeen and perform the rites of pilgrimage there. For this reason, he is regarded as history’s first Arbaeen pilgrim.
Why Does the Date Change Every Year?
Like every other occasion on the Islamic lunar calendar, Arbaeen shifts about 11 days earlier each Gregorian year, since the calendar follows the moon’s cycle rather than the sun’s. The exact date, much like Ashura, depends on the official sighting of the crescent moon marking the start of Safar, so it can shift by a day or two.
Curious what Karbala looks like today, and where it sits on the map? Read our companion piece on where Karbala is today.
Sources
- al-Tabari, History of the Prophets and Kings (Tarikh al-Tabari)
- Encyclopaedia of Islam, Brill — entry "Arba'in"
- Date conversion for 20 Safar 1449 AH calculated using standard astronomical Hijri-Gregorian conversion, verified at the time of writing