The significance of the number 40

What is the significance of the number forty in Christianity, Judaism and Islam? Punishment, testing, purification, for some it means Arba'een -- the last of the forty days of mourning for Imam Hussein (PBUH).

The number forty holds a particular significance in the monotheistic religions. Whether or not it refers to a precise number, or a long period of time is a matter of debate. Linguistically, the number forty conveys "many" in many Biblical tests. However, some theologians say that it is used to mean a "time of testing" or a period of "revival or renewal".

Because of the large number of occurrences of the number forty in holy books, it seems that forty could possibly be a literary cliche, such as 'Once upon a time...' or 'It was a dark and stormy night...'.

It is not just in the New Testament that the number forty plays an important role; forty is a key digit in the Torah, also. For violating a negative commandment, the Torah specifies a punishment of forty lashes. Therefore, some believe the number forty to be associated with punishment. Others believe forty to be the number of testing. In the time of Noah, the waters abated after forty days, referring to a time of judgment -- the earth was judged by water. Moses spent forty years in Egypt; he was tested and trained there.

To a member of the Church of Rome, the number forty represents preparation, penance and purification. The Lenten fast in preparation for Easter lasts forty days.

To some Christians, forty signifies the testing of man's weakness. It seems that forty might be the time required to test oneself. How far can we allow ourselves to trust God and rely on His provision?

Another concept of forty is purification. According to Jewish commentator Maharal of Prague, the number forty has the power to improve the spiritual condition of things. Forty measures of water purify a person, forty days of rain purified the world, and Moses was purified during the forty days he spent on Mount Sinai.

Throughout history and many religious teachings, we encounter the number forty. Saul, David and Solomon each ruled for forty years. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) rose for service and reached prophecy after forty years. Regarding the flood that Noah encountered, it is said that for forty days water continued to pour from the heavens and to stream out over the earth.

Prophet Moses was on Mount Sinai for forty nights and days worshipping God. His people walked the desert for forty years and searched for the Promised Land for forty days.

Jesus walked the desert and fasted in the wilderness for forty days; God gave Nineveh 40 days to repent (Jonah 3:4). It had been prophesized that Egypt would be barren and desolate for forty years. According to the Talmud, it takes forty days for an embryo to be formed in its mother's womb.

Imam Baqir (PBUH) has said: "The prayers of someone who drinks wine are not accepted for forty days." (Al-Kafi, Vol. 6, p. 400) There is also a hadith from Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) that the prayers of a person who gossips would not be accepted for forty days and nights.

The unacceptance of prayer is the highest punishment for a Muslim. Based on the two hadith, it is understood that drinking wine and gossiping are intolerable acts.

Imam Ali (PBUH) has narrated from Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) that one who memorizes and preserves forty hadith relating to their religious needs shall be raised by Allah as a learned scholar on the Day of Resurrection. It is said that a person's intellect attains maturity in forty years, everyone according to his own capacity.

It is believed that one who assists a blind man for forty steps becomes worthy of entering heaven. In this case, 'blind' can be extended to a person who lacks inner vision or guidance. Helping another person who needs physically to see in order to cross the road is rewarded. Assisting a person who cannot find their path in life and needs help to discern the correct way to take is also rewarded.

Believers have also been encouraged to devote themselves to God Almighty for forty days to see the springs of wisdom break forth from their hearts and flow from their tongues. Devotion can have many meanings. For Instance, when one begins every task in the name of God and for God, everyday activities become worship.

No matter what the significance of the number forty, in the hearts of countless Muslims, forty stands for Arba'een, when these devout followers mourn the tragedies of Karbalaa and the hardships endured by Imam Hussein's family and the family of his companions. This year, Arba'een falls on February 16.