For the followers of the Ahlul Bayt (as), the first two months (Muharram Al-Haram and Safar Al-Muzaffar) of the Islamic Lunar Calendar are a time for grief and mourning. It was on the 10th of Muharram, 61 AH/680 CE that Imam Husayn (as) the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (saw) was martyred in Karbala, "Ashura", meaning the tenth day. The family of Prophet Muhammad (saw) went through great difficulties and sufferings even after Ashura, and their grief and pain is remembered by their followers for two months. During these two months Shia's try to avoid all forms of merry making. They are as one bereaved family, giving vent to their grief and sorrow through mourning rituals such as Majalis and Matam. This does not mean however that they make their lives miserable. What they try to do is not indulge in activities that make them oblivious of the great sacrifice of Imam Husayn (as) and his family for Islam.

The 20th day of Safar Al-Muzafar is called as Arbayeen or the 40th day of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (as) at Karbala. The 28th day of Safar Al-Muzaffar is also very sad day, because Prophet Muhammad (saw) died on this day. And on the same day, our second Imam Hasan (as) is also martyred due to the effect of poison, which has given to him by his treacherous wife Ja'da bint al-Ash'ath ibn Qays. We observe the birth of our seventh Imam Musa Kazim (as) on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar Rajab al-Murajab, even though Imam Musa Kazim (as) was born on the seventh of Safar Al-Muzaffar, it is in honour of the mourning month of Safar Al-Muzafar.

During the month of Safar Al-Muzaffar the faithful give alms (Sadaqa) to the poor in the name of Allah (SWT) and recite the following Dua'a, daily, 10 times.
 

BATTLE OF SIFFIN 02 03 04 05 06 WILADAT SEVENTH IMAM MUSA KAZIM (AS) WAFAT SALMAN FARSI BATTLE OF NAHERWAN WAFAT BIBI SAKINA (SA) 11 12 13 14 15 16 SHAHADAT EIGHTH IMAM ALI REZA (AS) 18 19 ARBAYEEN 40TH OF MARTYRDOM 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 WAFAT HOLY PROPHET SHAHADAT IMAM HASAN 29 30

Legend:

BAD: Ill-Omen, Ill-Fated, Unfavorable. VERY BAD: Sinister, Disastrous, Involving in deep misfortune. FAIR: No Ill-effects but not very favorable. GOOD: Favorable, gainful, welfare-oriented. VERY GOOD: Blessed, highly favorable.