Ziyarah of Masomeen(asws) under Difficult Times

Some Ahadith are presented regarding Ziyarah of Masomeen^-asws under distress and difficult times.

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ الْبَصْرِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْأَصَمِّ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ ذِي النَّابِ عَنْ رُومِيٍّ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع مَا تَقُولُ فِيمَنْ زَارَ أَبَاكَ عَلَى خَوْفٍ قَالَ يُؤْمِنُهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْفَزَعِ الْأَكْبَرِ وَ تَلَقَّاهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ بِالْبِشَارَةِ وَ يُقَالُ لَهُ لَا تَخَفْ وَ لَا تَحْزَنْ هَذَا يَوْمُكَ الَّذِي فِيهِ فَوْزُكَ.

Imam Baqir^-asws was asked, “What do you^-asws say about one who goes to the Ziyarah of your (grand) father [Imam Hussain^-asws] during difficult times?” Imam^-asws replied, “On the day of great terror (Judgment Day) Allah^-azwj will Keep him safe and the angels will welcome him. They will give glad tidings saying, “Don’t be afraid or distressed (by the difficult situation), this is the day (having to put up with difficulties in Ziyarah) of your success.”[1]

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنِ الْأَصَمِّ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي أَنْزِلُ الْأَرَّجَانَ وَ قَلْبِي يُنَازِعُنِي إِلَى قَبْرِ أَبِيكَ فَإِذَا خَرَجْتُ فَقَلْبِي وَجِلٌ مُشْفِقٌ حَتَّى أَرْجِعَ خَوْفاً مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ وَ السُّعَاةِ وَ أَصْحَابِ الْمَسَالِحِ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ بُكَيْرٍ أَ مَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ يَرَاكَ اللَّهُ فِينَا خَائِفاً أَ مَا تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ مَنْ خَافَ لِخَوْفِنَا أَظَلَّهُ اللَّهُ فِي ظِلِّ عَرْشِهِ وَ كَانَ مُحَدِّثُهُ الْحُسَيْنَ ع تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ وَ آمَنَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ أَفْزَاعِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ يَفْزَعُ النَّاسُ وَ لَا يَفْزَعُ فَإِنْ فَزِعَ وَقَّرَتْهُ [قَوَّتْهُ‏] الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ سَكَّنَتْ قَلْبَهُ بِالْبِشَارَةِ.

(The narrator) said to Imam Sadiq^-asws, “I often travel to Arjan and my heart pulls me to the Ziyarat of Imam Hussain^-asws; but when I go, I am afraid of the rulers (hostilities), their governors and their guards until I return.”

Imam^-asws said: Ibne Bukair! Don’t you want Allah to See you in fear for us^-asws? Don’t you know that Allah^-azwj will Shelter one who is in fear because of us^-asws, under the shade of His^-azwj Throne and that Imam Hussain^-asws will be speaking to him under the throne? That Allah^-azwj will Keep him safe from terrors of Judgment Day? He will not be afraid whereas others will be terrified. And if he is scared, angels will pacify him and soothe his heart by giving glad tidings.[2]

حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنِ الْخَيْبَرِيِّ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ ظَبْيَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ زِيَارَةُ قَبْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فِي حَالِ التَّقِيَّةِ قَالَ إِذَا أَتَيْتَ الْفُرَاتَ فَاغْتَسِلْ ثُمَّ الْبَسْ أَثْوَابَكَ الطَّاهِرَةَ [ثَوْبَيْكَ الطَّاهِرَيْنِ‏] ثُمَّ تَمُرُّ بِإِزَاءِ الْقَبْرِ وَ قُلْ-

Imam Sadiq^-asws was asked, “May I be sacrificed on you, how should one perform the Ziyarat of Imam Hussain^-asws in Taqayyah (when it becomes very difficult)?” Imam^-asws replied: Perform a Ghusl in Euphrates and put on your most purified clothes. Then pass by the grave saying:

صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ. صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ

Allah^-azwj’s Blessing be on you, O Abu Abdullah! Allah^-azwj’s blessings be on you, O Abu Abdullah! Allah^-azwj’s blessings be on you, O Abu Abdullah!

فَقَدْ تَمَّتْ زِيَارَتُكَ

“And your Ziyarat will be correct and complete,” said the Imam^-asws.[3]

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الْحِمْيَرِيُّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ الْبَصْرِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْأَصَمِّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُدْلِجٌ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ فِي حَدِيثٍ طَوِيلٍ قَالَ: قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ع هَلْ تَأْتِي قَبْرَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع قُلْتُ نَعَمْ عَلَى خَوْفٍ وَ وَجَلٍ فَقَالَ مَا كَانَ مِنْ هَذَا أَشَدَّ فَالثَّوَابُ فِيهِ عَلَى قَدْرِ الْخَوْفِ وَ مَنْ خَافَ فِي إِتْيَانِهِ آمَنَ اللَّهُ رَوْعَتَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ‏ وَ انْصَرَفَ بِالْمَغْفِرَةِ وَ سَلَّمَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ زَارَهُ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ دَعَا لَهُ- وَ انْقَلَبَ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ فَضْلٍ لَمْ يَمْسَسْهُ سُوءٌ وَ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ.

Imam Baqir^-asws asked, “Do you visit the tomb of Imam Hussain^-asws?” I replied, “Yes, but in fear and trepidation.” Imam^-asws said: The reward for his Ziyarat is proportionate to the degree of fear involved; the greater the fear, the greater the reward! On Judgment Day, when people are raised for accounting for the Lord of the Worlds, Allah will make the hearts of one who has gone fearfully to the Ziyarat of Imam Hussain^-asws, peaceful. One who performs the Ziyarat of Imam Hussain^-asws in fear will return forgiven. The angels salute him and Allah’s Messenger will go to his Ziyarat and pray for him. “So they returned with favour from Allah and (His) grace, no evil touched them and they followed the pleasure of Allah” (3:174)[4]

What One Should do When it Becomes Impossible to Visit the Holy Shrines:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ مِسْمَعٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ حَنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَا سَدِيرُ تَزُورُ قَبْرَ الْحُسَيْنِ ( عليه السلام ) فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَا قَالَ فَمَا أَجْفَاكُمْ قَالَ فَتَزُورُونَهُ فِي كُلِّ جُمْعَةٍ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ فَتَزُورُونَهُ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ فَتَزُورُونَهُ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ قُلْتُ قَدْ يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Salma Bin Al Khattab, from Abdullah Bin Al Khattab, from Abdullah Bin Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Misma’a, from Yunus Bin Abdul Rahman, from Hanaan, from his father who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘O Sadeyr! Do you visit the grave of Al-Husayn^-asws every day?’ I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws, No’ .He^-asws said: ‘So how discourteous you are. So, do you visit it every Friday?’ I said, ‘No’. He^-asws said: ‘So do you visit it every month?’ I said, ‘No’. He^-asws said: ‘So do you visit it every year?’ I said, ‘That some (years) may happen to be’.

قَالَ يَا سَدِيرُ مَا أَجْفَاكُمْ لِلْحُسَيْنِ ( عليه السلام ) أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَلْفَيْ أَلْفِ مَلَكٍ شُعْثٌ غُبْرٌ يَبْكُونَ وَ يَزُورُونَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَ وَ مَا عَلَيْكَ يَا سَدِيرُ أَنْ تَزُورَ قَبْرَ الْحُسَيْنِ ( عليه السلام ) فِي كُلِّ جُمْعَةٍ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ وَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مَرَّةً قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُ فَرَاسِخَ كَثِيرَةً

He^-asws said: ‘O Sadeyr! How discourteous of you towards Al-Husayn^-asws. Do you not know that Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Has two million Angels, dishevelled, dusty, crying and performing his^-asws Ziyarah, not wavering. And it is not (difficult) upon you, O Sadeyr, that you should be visiting the grave of Al-Husayn^-asws five times every week, and once every day’.  I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! In between us and him^-asws there are a lot of Farsakhs (travel distance)’.

فَقَالَ لِي اصْعَدْ فَوْقَ سَطْحِكَ ثُمَّ تَلْتَفِتُ يُمْنَةً وَ يُسْرَةً ثُمَّ تَرْفَعُ رَأْسَكَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ انْحُ نَحْوَ الْقَبْرِ وَ تَقُولُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ تُكْتَبُ لَكَ زَوْرَةٌ وَ الزَّوْرَةُ حَجَّةٌ وَ عُمْرَةٌ

So he^-asws said to me: ‘Ascend above your roof, then turn towards the right and the left, then raise your head towards the sky, then face towards the grave and you should be saying:

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ

‘The greetings be upon you^-asws, O Abu Abdullah^-asws! The greetings be upon you^-asws, and the Mercy of Allah^-azwj, and His^-azwj Blessings’ – there would be Written for you a Ziyarah, and the Ziyarah of the Hajj, and Umra’.

قَالَ سَدِيرٌ فَرُبَّمَا فَعَلْتُ فِي الشَّهْرِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ عِشْرِينَ مَرَّةً .

Sadeyr said, ‘So I used to do it during the month, more than twenty times’.[5]

[1] كامل الزيارات، النص، ص: 126, H. 1.

[2] كامل الزيارات، النص، ص: 126, H. 2

[3] كامل الزيارات، النص، ص: 126, H. 4

[4] كامل الزيارات، النص، ص: 126, H. 5

[5] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Hajj Ch 234 H 8