Imam Sadegh (a.s.) in Ziyarat Arbaeen says: اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أُشْهِدُكَ أَنِّي وَلِيٌّ لِمَنْ والاهُ، وَعَدُوٌّ لِمَنْ عاداهُ

“O Allah, I bear witness before You that I am a friend to whoever befriends him (Imam Hussain), and an enemy to whoever shows enmity towards him.”
This short piece of Ziyarat Arbaeen has different implications and messages for youth, parents, mosques, and Muslim communities in the west. A summary of these messages is provided here:

Message for Youth:

This part of the Ziyarat of Arbaeen teaches a powerful lesson in loyalty and standing by what is just and true. Imam Hussain (a.s) stood for justice, truth, and resistance against oppression. As young Muslims, you are encouraged to uphold these values by befriending and supporting those who promote righteousness and distancing yourselves from injustice and wrongdoing. Your friendships, actions, and choices should reflect your commitment to justice, as Imam Hussain (a.s) demonstrated.

Message for Parents:

This Ziyarat passage calls on parents to instil values of loyalty, justice, and moral integrity in their children. By nurturing an environment that reveres figures like Imam Hussain (a.s) who sacrificed for truth, parents can guide their children to be defenders of justice and truth in their lives. This also means teaching children to stand against injustice, even when it is difficult, and to align their loyalties with what is right.

Message for Mosques and Cultural Centres:

Mosques and Islamic centres have a vital role in reinforcing the message of loyalty and justice conveyed in this Ziyarat. These institutions should focus on educational and community activities that promote the values embodied by Imam Hussain (a.s). This includes creating programmes that encourage youth to actively engage in social justice efforts and teaching the importance of moral integrity and ethical leadership in the modern world.

Message for the Muslim Community:

The Ziyarat of Arbaeen reminds the Muslim community of the importance of unity and solidarity in the face of oppression. It is a call to support and protect those who stand for justice and to collectively resist any form of injustice or enmity towards the righteous. As a community, we are urged to strengthen our bonds through mutual respect and shared values, drawing inspiration from Imam Hussain’s (a.s) legacy of sacrifice and commitment to truth.