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Forty. In Islam the number 40 has special significance. Mohammad (SA) was appointed prophet at the age of forty. It is related that Rasulullah (SA) had the powers and caliber of forty prophets; each one having the virtues of forty pious people -Hudud. Rasulullah (SA) has taught that if an act is practiced for forty days it becomes a habit. Rasulullah (SA) has also said that if a person worships Allah with purity of heart for forty days, Allah will open up vast vistas of knowledge for him.
Forty days. For forty days, the bodies of Imam Husain (AS) and his Ashaab and Ahl e bayt remained on the scorching desert sands. No kafan, no burial. Such was the tyranny of Yazid Laeen. The mention of this tyranny brings tears to the eyes. The horses trampled the bodies while the enemy robbed them. It was not until the 40th day, that Imam Zain ul Abedeen (AS) was able to return to Kerbala and bury the body of his father and the other Shohada.
Forty years. Imam Zain ul Abedeen (AS) mourned Imam Husain (AS) for forty years. Whenever food was brought to him, tears would flow from his eyes in remembrance of the tragedy of Kerbala. When his servant expressed concern about his health, the Imam (AS) replied that he was unable to stop his tears.
Forty years today. The Dai of Imam Husain, our Maula, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS) this year completes forty years of buka on Imam Husain (AS).
Chehlam. Imam Husain's (AS) shahadat is followed by forty days of mourning. However, forty days in this context does not mean the end, it is a continuation, a renewal. Every Chehlam reminds us of how those marble structures of Atabaat Muqaddasah, some years ago, shed tears along with thousands of mumineen on the shahadat of Imam Husian (AS) in response to the call of their Dai (TUS).
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