Today is "Chehlum", the fortieth day after the event of the killing of Imam Hussein and his family members. I've always wondered why the fortieth day should be considered holy. There was a time when even my community (Memons) used to observe the Chehlum of dead relatives, but not many do so now. Because of the processions that will take place today, no commercial activity is possible. Servants will say they couldn't come to work due to roads being clogged, while many sick people will die while being taken to hospitals. Years ago, the stock exchange also used to be closed on this day, but that is no longer the case.
There is something about the number forty that fascinated the ancients. Jesus is supposed to have spent forty days without food or water, Moses is said to have wandered for 40 years in the desert, and it is widely believed among the Jews and others that a man becomes wise when he turns forty.
I remember my mother telling me that if a person's nails fell on the floor while being cut, it would mean a loss of forty days' income for that person. Even at the age of 5 or 6, I couldn't help wondering why it should be exactly forty days and not forty one or thirty nine.
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