Sunday, May 12, 2013

Wonderful Maxims of Imam Baqir (AS)


Short wonderful maxims were reported on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. They are full of noble morals and are useful. The following maxims are some of them. 
1. He, peace be on him, said: "If you can deal with anyone and do him a favor, do that."
2. He, peace be on him, said: "Flatter the hypocrite with your tongue. Make your love sincere to the believer. When a Jew associates with you, associate well with him.

3. He, peace be on him, said: "Nothing is mixed with a thing better than (mixing) clemency with knowledge.

4. He, peace be on him, said: "Assume the truth. Leave that which does not concern you. Avoid your enemy. Be careful of your friends except the trusty one who fears Allah. Do not make friends with the sinner. Do not inform him of your secrets. Ask the advice of those who fear Allah.

5. He, peace be on him, said: "The friendship of twenty years is  kinship.

6. He, peace be on him, said: "The decree of Allah is good for the believer.

7. He, peace be on him, said: "He for whom Allah does not make a preacher from his own self, the preaching of people do not avail him."

8. He, peace be on him, said: "He whose outward (deeds) are heavier than his inward (deeds), his scales are light.

9. He, peace be on him, said: "How many a person meets a person and says to him: may Allah ruin your enemy, and he has no enemy except Allah.

10. He, peace be on him, said: "He who disobeys Allah does not recognize Him." Then the Ima`m composed:

Do you disobey the Lord and show your love (for Him)?
By your life, this is an innovation among deeds.
If your love was truthful, you would obey him.
Indeed the lover obeys him whom he loves.

11. He, peace be on him, said: "The need with the one who has recently gotten property is like the dirham in the mouth of the snake. You need him, and you are in danger.

12. He, peace be on him, said: "Know the love in the heart of your brother through what he has in your heart.

13. He, peace be on him, said: "Faith is love and hatred."

14. He, peace be on him, said: "Four (acts) are among the treasures of kindness: Concealing the need, concealing the alms, concealing the pain, and concealing, the misfortune.

15. He, peace be on him, said: "He whose tongue is truthful, his acts grow. He whose intention is good, his daily-bread increases. He whose kindness to his family is good, Allah prolongs his life.

16. He, peace be on him, said: "Whoever gets a brother in Allah in addition to faith in Allah and faithfulness to his brotherhood seeking Allah's pleasure gets a ray from Allah's light, safety from the punishment of Allah, a pilgrimage (to Mecca) through which he will be successful on the Day of Judgment, everlasting honor, and increasing reputation.

That is because the believer is neither mawsool nor mafsool from Allah, the Great and Almighty."He was asked: "What is the meaning of mawsool and mafsool?"He, peace be on him, replied: "Mawsool meaning the believer is not connected to (Allah). Mafsool meaning the believer is not separated from (Allah).

17. He, peace be on him, said: "It is sufficient cheat for the person is that he sees from the people the vague affair of his own soul. Or he finds faults with other than him through what he cannot leave. Or he hurts his friend through that which does not concern him.

18. He, peace be on him, said: "Humbleness is that you should be satisfied with the humble sitting-place, that you should greet whomever you meet, and that you should leave the dispute even if you are right."

19. He, peace be on him, said: "The believer is the brother of the believer. So, he should not abuse him nor should he deprive him (of his rights) nor should he doubt him."

20. He, peace be on him, said: "He to whom clumsiness is apportioned, faith is veiled from him.

21. He, peace be on him, said: "Indeed Allah has punishments in the hearts, the bodies, the daily-bread, and the worship. However, the cruelty of the heart is the most intense punishment.

22. He, peace be on him, said: "On the Judgment Day, a caller will call: 'Where are al-Sa`biru`n (the patient)?' So, a group of people will rise. Then a caller will call : 'Where are al-Mutasabbiru`n?' Thus, a group of people will rise."He was asked: "Who are al-Sa`biru`n and al-Mutasabbiru`n?"He, peace be on him, replied: "Al-Sa`biru`n are those who are patient with performing the religious duties. Al-Mutasabbiru`n are those who are patient with the prohibitions.

23. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah says: 'O Son of Adam, refrain from what I have prohibited, so you are the most pious of all people.'

24. He, peace be on him, said: "The best worship is the abstinence of the private parts and the abdomen.

25. He, peace be on him, said: "Modesty and faith are coupled with each other. If one of them goes away, the other will follow it.

26. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah gives this world to both the righteous and the sinners. However, He gives this religion to His close friends only.

27. He, peace be on him, said: Allah gives the world to those whom He loves and those whom He detests. However, He gives religion to those whom He loves only.

28. He, peace be on him, said: "If the beggar knew what was in begging, he would never beg anyone. If the begged one knew was in prevention, he would never prevent anybody.

29. He, peace be on him, said: "Some blessed rich servants belong to Allah. They associate with people. People live under their wing. Some wicked servants belong to Allah. They do not associate with people. People do not live under their protection. They are like grass -hoppers.

30. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah likes spreading greetings.

31. He, peace be on him, said: "Everything has a catastrophe. The catastrophe of knowledge is forgetfulness.

32. He, peace be on him, said: "O Allah, help with the world through riches, and with the hereafter through piety.

33. He, peace be on him, said: "The person increases in opinion when he gives sincere advice.

34. He, peace be on him, said: "The weapon of the ignoble person is ugly words.
A poet composed this wonderful maxim, saying:
Al-Ba`qir al-Murtada`, the descendant of the Ima`m, peace be on him, was truthful when he said: "Ugly words are the weapon of the ignoble.

35. He, peace be on him, said: "Thunderbolt strikes the believer and the unbelievers. However, it does not strike the person who praises (Allah).

36. He, peace be on him, said: "The best deeds are three: Praising Allah in all conditions, treating people with justice, and giving the friend money.

37. He, peace be on him, said: "Regard the good deed as small. Do it quickly, and conceal it.

38. He, peace be on him, said: "In the Sunna (the Prophet's practices) and the religion, it is not an act of truthfulness to turn away from the generous.

39. He, peace be on him, said: "How wonderful good deeds are after evil deeds! How shameful evil deeds are after good deeds!

40. He, peace be on him, said: "The person may earn money through four (sources). They are unfaithful act, usury, treason, and theft. Such money is not accepted in four (acts). They are zakat, alms, pilgrimage (to Mecca), and omra.

41. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah, the Great and Almighty, refuses to accept the pilgrimage and omra performed through ill-gotten gains.

42. He, peace be on him, said: "He whose outward (deeds) are heavier than his inward (deeds), his balance is light.

43. He, peace be on him, said: "Lying destroys faith.

44. He, peace be on him, said: "I had a companion. The companion regarded the world as small. Thus, I regarded him as great.

45. He, peace be on him, said to his companions: "Do you enter your hands in the bags of your companions and take what you want?""No,"they replied. "You are not our companions as you say,"he, peace be on him, explained.

46. He, peace be on him, said: "Kindness may make the father go to extremes. This is the worst father. Negligence may make the child disobey (his parents). Such a child is the worst.

47. He, peace be on him, said: "Preach to your companions, and respect them. Do not attack each other.

48. He, peace be on him, said: "Sins make misfortunes strike the servant.

49. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah decreed that He would not take the blessing He bestowed on the servant. However, when the servant commits a sin, he is worthy of the adversity.

50. He, peace be on him, said: "If there is no love in my heart for the saints of Allah and no hatred for His enemies, nothing will avail me, even if I fast throughout the day, pray throughout the night, and spend all my money for Allah.

51. Zarara asked Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him: "What is the meaning of al-Hanafiya?"He, peace be on him, replied: "It is the nature Allah has created in men. He has created it in them to make them recognize Him.

52. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far was asked: "Is there a thing better than gold?"He, peace be on him, answered: "Yes, the one who gives it.

53. He, peace be on him, said: "The tribulation of the people against us is burdensome. When we ask them (to follow us), they do not respond to us. When we leave them, they do not follow other than us.

54. He, peace be on him, said: "The chasteness of the abdomen and private parts is the best (quality) through which Allah is worshipped.

55. He, peace be on him, said: "Be patient towards misfortunes. Do not transgress(Allah's) rights. Do not give the person a thing that harms you more than it avails you.

56. He, peace be on him, said: "Our followers obey Allah.

57. He, peace be on him, said: "The friend may take care of you when you are rich, and abandon you when you are poor. How bad such a friend is!

58. He, peace be on him, said: "Kindness to friends is the best help in the world.

59. He, peace be on him, said: "Whomever is given ethics and kindness is given good and rest. Besides His state is good here and the hereafter. Whomever is deprived of them, that will be a way to evil and tribulations, except him whom Allah protects.

60. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah (sometimes) makes a person recognize the truth. So, the person can remain on the top of a mountain. He can eat from the plants of the earth till death comes to him. Still, he faces no problem.

61. He, peace be on him, was asked: "The people of the garden will enter the garden through their deeds. Will Allah release (some people) from the Fire?""Surely, Allah will release (some people) from the Fire,"he replied.2

62. He, peace be on him, said: "He who has no precautionary dissimulation has no good.

63. He, peace be on him, said: "If you want to know that you have good, consider carefully your heart. Does your heart love obedience to Allah? Does it detest the disobedience to Him? If it is so, you have good and Allah loves you. Does it detest the obedience to Allah? Does it love the disobedience to Him? If it is so, you have no good and Allah detests you. The person is with his lover.

64. He, peace be on him, said: "Among the steps of Satan are the oath for divorce, the vow for sins, and the swearing by other than Allah, the Exalted.

65. He, peace be on him, said: "When the abdomen is full, (the person) becomes tyrannical.

66. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah detests the full abdomen.

67. He, peace be on him, said: "Whoever seeks the world to be chaste with the people, to maintain his family, and to help his neighbor, will meet Allah, the Great and Almighty, and his face will be like the full moon.

68. He, peace be on him, said: "Our talk is difficult. It is difficult (for people) to understand it. No one bears it except a close angel or a prophet or a servant whose heart Allah has tested for faith.

69. He, peace be on him, said: "I hate the person whose words are more than his knowledge. I also hate the person whose knowledge is more than his reason.

References:

1) Tuhaf al-'Uqul
2) Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya
3) Al-Bayan wa al-Tibiyyin
4) Ibn Qutayba, 'Ayun al-Akhbar
5) Hulyat al-Auliya'
6) Al-Akhbar al-Muwaffaqiyat
7) Al-Saduq, al-Amali
8) Usul al-Kafi
9) Mirr'at al-Jinan
10) Safwat al-Safwa
11) Bihar al-Anwar
12) A'lam al-Wara
13) Jami' al-Sa'adat
14) Ahmed bin Fahad al-Hilli, al-Tahsin
15) Al-Durr al-Nazim
16) 'Ilal al-Sharai'
17) Majma' al-Bayan.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Theological Matters Discussed by Imam al-Baqir A.S



Imam Abu` Jafar (al-Baqir) researched many theological matters during his lectures. He was asked about the most complicated matters in this science. He answered them. Worth mentioning, the time of the Imam was the most sensitive of all the times. That is because the Islamic conquer included most areas of the world and the peoples of the earth. That moved a wave of spite in the souls of the enemies of Islam, from the helpless peoples and other than them. Thus, they launched a propagating campaign against the Islamic thought. They proclaimed doubts and imaginations among the children of the Moslems.
 Meanwhile the Umayyad governments encouraged anti-Islam thoughts. No one has mentioned that the Umayyad rulers resisted these thoughts and prevented them from spreading among the Moslems. In the meantime nobody was ready to save the Moslems from these thoughts except Imam Abu` Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him, who refuted them with strong proofs. We will mention that in detail when we talk about the time of the Imam.
 However, the following are some of the theological researches which the Imam did:
 
Monotheism
Imam Abu` Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him, studied the most important matters of monotheism. He uncovered them. He refuted the doubts and imaginations which were raised about them. Among what he studied are:
1. Allah is not attained through Reason
The unquestionable thing is that man is unable to know with all his intellectual the reality of Allah, for reason has limited imaginations. Al-Sha`fi'i said: "Indeed reason has a limited end as the eye has.
All things which man senses are found at a certain place and time. Reason cannot imagine beings without a place or things without time. Thus, reason is unable to attain the reality of Allah, for neither time nor place can encompass it. In other words, Allah created the time and the place. Besides reason is unable to understand the reality of many things in the universe. Among them is the unseen reality which reason has not understood yet.
The conceptualization of the heart, though it has vast imagination, is unable to attain the essence of Allah. The eye is unable to attain it, too. Imam Abu` Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him, stated that when he was asked about these words of Allah, the Exalted: "The eyes attain Him not, but He attains the eyes.
( The Holy Quran, al-An'am, 203)
He, peace be on him: "The conceptualization of hearts are keener and sharper than the perceptions of the eyes. Through the conceptualization of the heart you can perceive countries like Sind, Hind (India) and other cities which you have never visited, although you have not seen them with your eyes. How can your eyes see Him when the conceptualization of your heart cannot attain Him?
Indeed the eye shall come back confused and fatigued when it tries to perceive the essence of Allah, the Most High, the Creator of the cosmos, and giver of life. Ibn Abi al-Haddid said:
O Miracle of the cosmos, thinking has become unsound concerning You.
Whenever my thinking moves toward You a span of the hand, it escapes for a mile.
You have perplexed men of understanding and confused intellect.(Sharh Nahjul-Balagha, vol. 13, p. 51)
There is nothing remoter than attaining the essence of Allah, the Exalted, for reason is unable to attain it. Thus, 'Abd al-Rahma`n b. Abi al-Najra`n asked Abu` Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him, about Allah, the Most High. He said:
"Should I think of anything (to understand Allah)?"The Imam, peace be on him, replied: "Yes, but you have to imagine a thing which the mind cannot contain and which is without limit. He is unlike whatever comes into your mind. Nothing resembles Him nor can any thought reach Him. How can He be perceived when He is totally different from whatever is conceived and is the reverse of whatever is imagined. (Because Allah cannot be limited through the limitations of the mind or the senses.) Certainly, the thing which cannot be encompassed by the mind and which is without limits is that which should be imagined.( Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 82)
 
2.The Eternity of the Necessary Being
As for the Eternity of the Necessary Being, it is among the keenest theological and philosophical studies. A man asked Imam Abu` Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him: "Tell me from when your Lord has been in existence?"The Imam replied: "Woe unto You! The question when and how long arises only in respect of things that (previously) were non-existant. Verily, my lord, the Blessed and Exalted, has always been Ever-living, without time or modality.
Coming into existence does not apply to Him Who exists eternally nor does 'how He exists' apply to His existence nor does 'where He exists' apply to him, for He is neither in a thing nor on a thing. He did not invent a place for His location, nor was there any enhancement in His might after He had created the universe, nor had He been weak before its creation, nor was He alone before His act of creation, nor does He resemble anything that can be remembered, nor was He without dominion before creating the universe, nor will He be bereft of dominion after the universe passes away.
He is Ever-living, Self-subsisting, the Almighty Lord without the category of life. He was the Almighty Lord before creating things, and He is the Absolute Lord after the creation of the universe. None of the categories of 'how' or 'where' or 'when' or 'how much' nor any 'limit' apply to his existence. He is not recognized by resemblance with anything nor does He become decrepit due to His endless existence. Nothing can strike awe in Him.
Rather, all things are awe-struck by fearing Him. He was in existence before the appearance of life as such. Neither is He in existence such as can be described, nor can it be confined to any state and condition. He does not rest anywhere nor does He abide at a place that is in the neighborhood of another place. However, He is known as Living, the Lord whose might and dominion will never end. He has created of His own will whatever and whenever He desired. He can neither be confined, nor fractioned, nor can He be destroyed. He is the First without any modality and the Last without any space.'And all things are perishable except His face.'His are the creation and the command. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of all beings.
O Questioner, woe unto you! Surely, my Lord can never be encompassed by the imagination. Doubts cannot descend upon him. Nor can He be affected (by anything). Nor is He anybody's neighbor. Nor can events happen to Him. He can neither be questioned about anything nor is He ashamed of anything. 'Slumber seize Him not, neither sleep.'To Him belong all that is in the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, and all that is underneath the soil.
( Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 88-89)
This wonderful paragraph of the speech of the great Imam has encompassed the eternity of the Necessary Being and His Unity. It has deemed Him far above comparison with His creatures which genus and species limit, and which are in need of the cause in their existence and non-existence.
Moreover, they are in need of time and place. Allah is far above all that, for He is the first and the last, outward and inward, and He knows all things. A researcher asked the Imam: "Who is Allah?" He replied: "The One and Only." It was said to him: "How is He?" He answered: "He is a Powerful King." It was said to him: "Where is He?" He replied: "He is watching." So, the researcher said: "I am not asking you about this." He said: "These are the attributes of Allah. Other than them are the attributes of creatures.
They wanted to know the essence of Allah through their senses and reason. They did not know that He was far above what reason attains and what conceptualization perceives. There is no god but He, the Ever living, the Self-subsisting.
However, in this speech, the Imam, peace be on him, discussed the most important theological matters which no one of the Moslem theologians and philosopher had discussed before him except his grandfather Imam 'Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him. As for encompassing and explaining the speech of the Imam, peace be on him, it needs a detailed study. The Moslem philosophers have taken care of the points which the Imam has mentioned in his speech. They have produced evidence in support of them.
3. Talking about the Essence of Allah is forbidden
Imam Abu` Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him, prevented Moslems from talking about the essence of Allah, the Most High. That is because that depends on a deep philosophy which the reason of the simple people is unable to understand. In other words they have little knowledge. Thus, they fall into the tricks of the Satan. Then they go out of belief and come into polytheism. In this connection the Imam, peace be on him, said: "Talk about all things, but do not talk about the essence of Allah.(Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 29)
He, peace be on him, said: "Talk about the creation of Allah, but do not talk about Allah Himself, for that increases the owner of the talk nothing except perplexity.(Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 29)
Indeed talking about the essence of Allah increases man nothing except perplexity and throwing destructive manners and doubts. As for thinking of the creation of Allah and considering carefully the universe, they will lead man to belief in Allah. That is because the creation of all creature indicates the Great Creator. Darwin said: "It seems that all the creatures that live in the earth belong to one eternal shape. The Creator has breathed life into them.
( Al-Nishu' wa al-Irtiqa', p. 47)
It is false to say that chance has created all these worlds. It is impossible for chance to find a well-woven regulation that depends on knowledge. Why does chance not create the plane and modern sets which thinking and science have found?
4. The Knowledge of Allah
The knowledge of Allah has encompassed all things. The knowledge of Allah is the same before and after the creation of things. That is because He has created them. He knows what souls and hearts have. Mohammed b. Moslem reported on the authority of Abu` Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him, who said: "Allah, the Great and Almighty, was there when nothing else existed. He has been eternally knowing whatever come into being. And His knowledge of a thing before it comes into being is exactly the same as it is after its being.
(Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 107)
5. The Essence of Monotheism
Ja`bir b. Yazid al-Ju'fi asked Imam Abu` Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him, to teach him something of monotheism. So, he, peace be on him, said: Indeed Allah, whose names are blessed and Who is Exalted in the transcendence of His Essence, is the One (the only One). He is unique in Oneness, and He attributed Oneness to Himself when He was alone. Then, He made His Unity evidently known to His creatures. Thus, Allah is One, Unique, Self-dependent, and All-holy. All things worship Him and turn to Him in repentance. And His knowledge embraces all things.(Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 123)
6. The Attributes of Allah
Surely, the attributes of the Wise Creator are exactly the same as His Essence. There is no number among them, as it has been proved in theology. Some Iraqis deviated from the right path. So, they proclaimed that Allah, the Most High, heard with other than with He saw, and saw with other than with He heard. In that He is similar to His creatures. Mohammed b. Moslem told Imam Abu` Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on, about that. So, the Imam said:
"They have told lies, become atheists, and likened (Allah to His creatures). Far is Allah above that. Indeed He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. He hears with what He sees, and sees with what He hears. Then Mohammed b. Sa`lim said:
"They claim that He sees according to what they think."So, the Imam, peace be on him, refuted their claims, saying: "Be Allah Exalted, the one who has the attribute of the creature perceive, but Allah is not such.(Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 123)
7. Doubt and Unbelief
Surely, the doubt and unbelief in Allah, the Creator of the skies and the earth, have bad final results. Among them is that no deed is accepted from the one who doubts Allah and the one who disbelieves in Him. Their deeds will not avail them on the Day of Judgment. For this reason, the Imam, peace be on him, said: "The deed with doubt and unbelief is useless.(Jami'al-Sa'adat, vol. 1, p. 117)

Monday, April 22, 2013

A Small Selection of Imam Zainul Abidin (AS)'s Sayings



The fourth infallible descendant of holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on them), Imam Ali bin al-Husayn Zaynul Abidin (peace be on them), was born in Medina on Sha’ban 5 in the year 38 A.H. (658/9).
He lived with his grandfather, the Commander of the faithful (peace be on him) for two years, with his uncle al-Hasan (peace be on him) for twelve years, and with his father al-Husayn (peace be on him) for twenty-three years. Following are a small selection of his sayings:
* Try to earn a high position in Paradise (Jannah). Remember that highest positions will be given to those who have been most useful to their brothers in faith and who have been most helpful to the needy. Remember there are times when a person says but one good sentence and that brings him very near to Allah and brings his freedom on the Day of Judgment.
* Never think that what you do for your brother in faith is unimportant because these are the things that will be of much use to you on a day when nothing else will be of any use.
* (Speaking) Good words increase a person's wealth and sustenance, prolong his life, make him to be loved by his wife and children and take him to paradise.
* He who honors himself will debase the worldly life.
* The richest of people is that who is satisfied with what Allah has chosen for him.
* The whole goodness is to protect yourself (against all that which is unacceptable).
* The very hypocrite is that who warns people (against evil deeds) but he does not stop committing them and orders them (to do good acts) but he does not do (such acts). When he stands for offering the prayer he turns right and left, when he genuflects (in the prayer) he huddles, and when he prostrates himself, he pecks.
In evenings, his only concern is dinner while he was not fasting. In mornings, his only concern is to sleep while he has not passed (the last) night with worship. The believer, on the other hand, mixes his acts with clemency; he sits down so that he may learn (something); he keeps silent so that he may save himself, he does not divulge his secrets before his friends (even); he does not conceal witnessing for the strangers; he does not act any rightful action out of showing off, he does not neglect any act out of prudence; if he is praised, he fears sayings of the eulogists and seeks Allah's forgiveness for what they do not know; he does not care for the ignorance of those who ignore him.
* To spend moderately in times of poverty, give generously in times of luxury, treat people fairly, and greet them initiatively - these manners are within the characters of the believers.

Sayings of Imam Zayn-ul Abideen (AS) on Karbala Tragedy


-- Once a man came to Imam Ali Ibn al-Husain Zayn-ul Abideen (AS) and said that years have passed on Karbala Tragedy but you still weep. You should stop weeping now. You and your forefathers themselves said ‘martyrdom is our inheritance’ then if your father, uncle, brothers and companions of your father were martyred, why you weep?
“O man! Martyrdom is our inheritance,” Imam replied adding that but, was it also our inheritance that veils of daughters of prophet whom even the sun had not seen were taken away, they were fixed in ropes with their hands after their necks, their tents were set on fire, they were seated on bare backs of camels, and brought to the bazaars of Syria and Kufa and courts of Yazid and Ibne Zyad??
-- Surely, I have never brought to mind the martyrdom of the children of Fatimah (AS) except that I have been choked with tears due to it.
-- Imam Ali Ibn al-Husain (AS) used to say: Every Mu'min, whose eyes shed tears upon the killing of Husain Ibn Ali (AS) and his companions, such that the tears roll down his cheeks, Allah shall accommodate him in the elevated rooms of paradise.
-- We, descendants of the Noble Prophet of Islam (AS), have been trained from childhood to face afflictions and sufferings. We know that those who are loved by Allah are tried by Him and if they remain steadfast and true to their faith in Him, then only He bestows His Divine favors on them in the life hereafter which is permanent and not transitory like this worldly life.

Life of Imam Sajjad a.s



(This is) an account of the Imam after al-Husayn b. Ali, peace be on them, the date of his birth, the evidence for his Imamate, the age he reached, (together with) the period of his succession, the time and cause of his death, the place of his grave, the number of his children and a selection from the reports about him.
The Imam after al-Husayn b. Ali, peace be on them, was his son, Abu Muhammad Ali b. al-Husayn Zayn al-Abidin, peace be on them. He also had the kunya Abu al-Hasan.
His mother was Shahzanan daughter of Yazdigard b. Shahriyar b. Choesroe. Her name was also said to be Shahrbanawayh. The Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, had appointed Hurayth b. Jabir al-Hanafi over part of the eastern provinces.

The latter had sent to him two daughters of Yazdigard b. Shahryar b. Choesroe. Of these he had given his son al-Husayn, peace be on him, Shahzanan and she bore him Zayn al-'Abidin (Ali b. al-Husayn), peace be on him. He had given the other to Muhammad b. Abi Bakr and she bore him al-Qasim b. Muhammad b. Abi Bakr, so that these two (Zayn al-Abidin and al-Qasim) were maternal cousins.

Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, was born in Medina in the year 38 A.H. (658/9). He lived with his grandfather, the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, for two years, with his uncle, al- Hasan, peace be on him, for twelve years, and with his father, al- Husayn, peace be on him, for twenty-three years. After his father, he lived a further thirty-four years and he died in Medina in the year 95 A.H. (713/4). At that time he was fifty-seven years of age. His Imamate was for thirty-four years. He was buried in al-Baqi with his uncle, al-Hasan b. Ali, peace be on them.

His Imamate was confirmed in several ways. One of these was that he was the most meritorious (afdal) of the creatures of God, the Most High, after his father in traditional knowledge film) and practice ('amal). The Imamate belongs to the most meritorious (afdal) to the exclusion of the less meritorious (mafdul) by rational proofs.

Among these there was the fact that he was more appropriate for authority by virtue of his father, al-Husayn, peace be on him, and more entitled to his position after him through his merit and lineage. The one who was entitled through the last Imam has more right to his position than anyone else through the evidence of the verse of next of kin (dhu al- arhaim) and the (Qur'anic) story of Zacharia, peace be on him.

Another of (the facts which confirms his Imamate) is the necessity according to reason of the Imamate existing in every age. The claim of every (other) claimant to the Imamate during the time of Ali b. al- Husayn, peace be on them, was invalid and the impossibility of there being any time without an Imam is confirmed by him (being the Imam).

Another (of the facts which confirms his Imamate) is the fact that the Imamate is established in the offspring (itra) (of the family of Ali exclusively by rational deduction and by a report on the authority of the Prophet, may God bless him and his family.

Invalidity of the arguments of those who claim it for Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya, may God be pleased with him, through him (also) belonging to the offspring is established by the absence of the designation of it to him. Therefore it is established that it belongs to Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, since there was no claim for it for any other member of the offspring (of the family) except Muhammad, may God be pleased with him; his exclusion from it was on account of what we have already mentioned.

Another (of the facts which confirmed his Imamate) was the designation of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, of him for the Imamate, in the tradition which is related concerning the tablet (lawh) which Jabir reported on the authority of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family.

Muhammad b. Ali al- Baqir, peace be on them, (also) related it on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather, on the authority of Fatima, daughter of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family.

His grandfather, the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, designated him during the life-time of his father, al-Husayn, peace be on him, according to the reports which include that. The testamentary bequests (wasiyya) (were made) by his father, al- Husayn b. Ali, peace be on him, and they were deposited with Umm Salama for him. He received them when his father died.

His father made the request (for these) from Umm Salama, the sign of the Imamate of the one who should request them among men. This part may be known by the examination of the reports and we do not intend in this book to speak about its significance for we will study it thoroughly separately.

A Brief Survey of the Reports about Ali b. al-Husayn, Peace be on them. 

[Abu Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad b. Yahya informed me: my grandfather (Yahya b. al-Hasan) told us: Idrss b. Muhammad b. Yahya b. Abd Allah b. Hasan b. Hasan, Ahmad b. Abd Allah b. Musa, and Ismail b. Yaqub, all told me: Abd Allah b. Musa told us on the authority of his father (Musa b. Abd Allah), on the authority of his grandfather (Abd Allah b. al-Hasan), who said:]

My mother, Fatima, daughter of al-Husayn, peace be on him, used to tell me to sit with my maternal uncle, Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them. I never sat with him without rising with some good which I had derived from him, whether it was fear of God which occurred in my heart when I realised (what) fear of God (was) or some traditional knowledge (ilm) which I acquired from him.

[Abu Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad al-Alawi informed me on the authority of his grandfather (Yahya b. al-Hasan), on the authority of Muhammad b. Maymun al-Bazzaz, who said: Sufyan b. Uyayna informed us on the authority of Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri, who said:]
Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, who was the best Hashimi we ever met, said: "Love us, for it is love for Islam. May your love for us never cease even if it becomes a public disgrace."

[Abu Mu'ammar reported on the authority of Abd al-Aziz Abu Hazim who said:]
I heard my father say: "I have never seen a Hashimi more meritorious (afdal) than Ali b. al-Husayn."

[Abu Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad b. Yahya informed me: my grandfather (Yahya b. al-Hasan) told me Abu Muhammad al- Ansari told me: Muhammad b. Maymun al-Bazzaz told me: al-Hasan b. Alwan told us on the authority of Abu Ali Ziyad b. Rustum, on the authority of Sai'd b. Kulthum who said:]

I was with al-Sadiq Jafar b. Muhammad, peace be on them. He mentioned the Commander of the faithful, Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on him, and praised and extolled him with (praise) which he was worthy of. Then he said: "O God, Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on him, never ate anything forbidden in this world until he passed along his (final) road.

Two alternatives were never presented to him, when God would be pleased with both, without him taking the more religious of them. No dispute occurred about the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, without him being summoned as a reliable authority.

No one else of this community was able to do the work of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family; for if he enjoined (such a) man (as Ali) to work, his position would be between Heaven and Hell, hoping for the reward of the former and fearing the punishment of the latter.

He freed a thousand slaves with his own money in his desire to seek the face of God and to escape the fire of Hell, (money) which he had laboured for with his own hands and for which his own brow had sweated, even though it had been to provide his family with oil, vinegar and dates. He did not have (many) clothes except white cotton fabrics since when there was any sleeve left over his arm, he called for scissors and cut it off.

None of Ali's children or his family was more like him and nearer to him in manner of dress and understanding than Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them. (One day) his son, Abu Jafar (Muhammad al-Baqir), peace be on them, came to him. He had carried out in worship what no one had ever carried out. He saw that his colour had gone yellow from weeping all night; his eyes had used up all their water from being awake all night; his forehead was bruised and his nose squashed from prostrating; and his legs and feet were swollen from standing in prayer.

Abu Jafar, peace be on him, reported:

I could not control myself from weeping when I saw him in that state and I wept, may God have mercy on him. Behold, he was thinking and he turned to me a short time after I had come and said: 'My son, give me some of those parchments in which there is the (practice of) worship of Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on him."

I gave them to him and he read something from them for a while. Then he let them go from his hand in exasperation and said: 'Who is strong enough to perform the worship of Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on him?'

[Muhammad b. al-Husayn reported: Abd Allah b. Muhammad al- Qurashi told us:]
When Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, used to perform ritual ablutions, his skin would turn yellow.

"What is it that has afflicted you?" his family asked him.
"Don't you know Whom you are preparing to stand before?" he asked.
[Amr b. Shamir reported on the authority of Jabir al-Jufi on the authority of Abu Jafar, peace be on him:]

Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, used to pray a thousand rakas during the day and the night. The wind would bend (his body) forward like an ear of corn.
[Sufyan al-Thawri reported on the authority of Ubayd Allah b. Abd al-Rahman b. Mawhib:]
The great merit (fadl) of Ali b. Husayn, peace be on them, was mentioned to him but he replied: "It is sufficient for us that I should be one of the righteous members of our people."

[Abu Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad informed us on the authority of his grandfather (Yahya b. al-Hasan), on the authority of Salama b. Shabib, on the authority of Ubayd Allah b. Muhammad al-Taymi who said: I heard a shaykh from (the tribe of) Abd al-Qays say: Tawus said:]

I (i.e.Tawus) went into the hijr one night and there was Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them. He had come in and was standing praying. He prayed as God had wished then he prostrated. I asked a righteous man from the family of goodness whether I might listen to his prayer I heard him saying during his prostration:

Your little servant is at Your courtyard; Your miserable one is at Your courtyard: Your poor one is at Your courtyard; Your beggar is at Your courtyard.
(Tawus added:) I have never prayed with these words at any tribulation without me being freed from it.

[Abu Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad informed me on the authority of his grandfather (Yahya b. al-Hasan), on the authority of Ahmad b. Muhammad al-Rafi'i, on the authority of Ibrahim b. Ali on the authority of his father (Ali b. Abi Rafi'i), who said:]

I (i.e. Ali b. Abi Rafi'i) made the pilgrimage with Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them. The camel carrying him was moving slowly. He pointed toward it with his stick and then said: "Woe if there was no retaliation (in the next world) !" And he moved his hand away from it.
[With this chain of authorities:]

Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, made the pilgrimage on foot and he took twenty days to travel from Medina to Mecca.
[Abu- Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad informed me: my grandfather (Yahya b. al-Hasan) told us: Ammar b. Aban told us: Abd Allah b. Bukayr told us on the authority of Zurara b. A'yan who said that:]

He (Zurara b. Ayan) heard a voice calling in the middle of the night: "Where are those who abstain with regard to this world out of desire for the next?" A voice called out in answer from the region (of the cemetery) of al-Baqi - he heard its voice without seeing the person
"Such a man is Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them."

[Abd al-Razzaq reported on the authority of Mamar on the authority of al-Zuhri, who said:]
I have never seen any of that House, meaning the House of the Prophet, may God bless him and his family, more meritorious (afdal) than Ali b. al- Husayn, peace be on them.
[Abu Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad informed me: my grandfather (Yahya b. al-Hasan) told me: Abu Yunus Muhammad b. Ahmad told us: my father and another of our companions told me:]
A young man from Quraysh was sitting in an assembly with Sa'd b. al-Musayyib and saw Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them.

"Who is that, Abu Muhammad?" the Qurash; asked Sa'id b. al- Musayyib.
"That is the lord of worshippers (abidin), Ali b. al-Husayn b. Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on them," he answered.

[Abu Muhammad al-H. asan b. Muhammad informed me: my grandfather (Yahya b. al-Hasan) told me: Muhammad b. Jafar and others told me:]

A man from his House stood in front of Ali b. al- Husayn, peace be on them, and made him listen to him and cursed him. However, he did not reply. When (the man) had gone away, he said to those who were sitting with him: "You heard what that man said? I want you to come with me so that you may hear from me my reply to him."
"We will do that," they replied, "we wanted you to answer him while we were speaking (together)."

He took his shoes and went, while reciting:
Those who refrain from anger and those who forgive the people, God loves those who do good. (III 133)
Then we knew that he would not say anthing to him.

He went along until he came to the house of that man who had screamed at him.
"This is Ali b. al-Husayn," they told him.

He came rushing out towards us with evil intent. He had no doubt that (Ali b. al-Husayn) had come to him to repay him for some of the evil which he had given him.
"Brother," said Ali b. al-Husayn, "you were standing proudly over me and you said this and that. If you have said what is (really) in my (character), I seek God's forgiveness for it. If you have said what is not in my character, may God forgive you".

The man kissed him between the eyes and replied: "Yes, I said what was not in your character, may I be worthy of it (i.e. God's forgiveness)".
[The narrator of the account added:] The man was al-Hasan b. al- Hasan, may God be pleased with him.

[Al-Hasan b. Muhammad informed me on the authority of his grandfather, (Yahya b. al-Hasan) who said: A Shaykh from Yemen who was some ninety years old, told me: A man called Ubayd Allah b. Muhammad informed me: I heard Abd al-Razzaq say:]

A maid-servant of Ali b. al-Husayn began to pour water for him so that he might perform the ritual ablutions for prayer. The maid-servant became faint and the jug dropped from her hand and struck him. He raised his head towards her and the maidservant said to him:
"God, the Most High, says: Those who restrain from anger."
"I have restrained my anger," he replied.

"And those who forgive the people," she went on.
"May God forgive you," he said.
"God loves those who do good," she said.

"Go, you are a free woman before the face of God, the Mighty and High," he answered.
[Al-Waqidi reported: Abd Allah b. Muhammad b. Umar b. Ali, peace be on him, told me:]
Hisham b. Isma'il used to harm our neighbourhood. Ali b. al- Husayn, peace be on them, received severe hardship from him. When he was dismissed, al-Walid ordered that he should be made to stand before the people. Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, walked past him and greeted him. Ali b. al-H. usayn, peace be on them, had come especially so that no one should harm him.

It is reported that Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, called his slave twice and the latter did not answer him. At the third time, he answered.
"Didn't you hear my voice?" asked (Ali b. al-Husayn).
"Yes," was the reply.

"What was on your mind so that you did not answer me?" he asked.
"I was safe (from any harm) from you," he answered.

"Praise be to God," he said, "Who has caused my slave to be safe (from any harm) from me."
[Abu Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad b. Yahya informed me: my grandfather (Yahya al-Hasan) toid me: Yaqub b. Yazid told us: Ibn Abi Umayr told us on the authority of Abd Allah b. al-Mughira, on the authority of Abu Ja'far al-Asha, on the authority of Abu Hamza al-Thumali, on the authority of Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, who said:]

I (i.e. Ali b. al-Husayn) went out until I came to that wall and leaned against it. There was a man wearing two white garments who was looking at me directly in the face. Then he said: "Ali b. al-Husayn, why do I see you sorrowful and sad? Is your sorrow on account of the world, since God provides for both the pious and the profligate?"

"I am not sad on account of that though it is as you say," I replied.
"Is it on account of the next world, for it is a true promise that there conquering angels will give judgement?" he asked.

"I am not sad on account of that. though it is as you say," I answered.
"Then why are you sad?" he asked.
"I am fearful of the discord (caused) by Ibn al-Zubayr," I replied
He laughed and said: "Ali b. al-Husayn, have you ever seen anyone who trusted in God and God was not sufficient for him?"
"No," I replied.

"Ali b. al-Husayn," he said, "have you ever seen anyone who feared God without God saving him?"
"No," I replied.
"Ali b. al-Husayn," he asked, "have you ever seen anyone ask (for something) of God without God giving it to him?"

"No," I replied. Then I looked and suddenly there was no one here .
[Abu Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad informed me: my grandfather (Yahya b. al-Hasan) told us: Abu Nasr told us: Abd al- Rahman b. Salih. told us: Yunus b. Bukayr told us on the authority of Ibn Ishaq, who said:]

There was in Medina such and such a family. Their provisions used to come to them without them asking for them. They did not know >From where they came to them. However, when Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, died, they stopped (receiving) those.
[Abu Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad informed me: my grandfather (Yahya b. al-Hasan) told me: Abu Nasr told us: Muhammad b. Ali b. Abd Allah told us: my father told me: Abd Allah b. Harun told us: Umar b. Dinar told me:]

Death was close to Zayd b. Usama b. Zayd and he began to weep.
"What makes you weep?" asked Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them.
"What makes me weep," he said, "is the fact that I owe fifteen thousand dlnars and I have not left anything to fulfil the debt for them."

"Do not weep," Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, told him, "they are my debt now and you are free of them." So he paid them for him.
[Harun b. Musa reported: Abd al-Malik b. Abd al-Aziz told us :]

When Abd al-Malik b. Marwan succeeded to the caliphate, he returned the (proportion of) taxes (sadaqat) given to the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, to Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, and also (the proportion of) taxes (sadaqat) given to Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on him. They were both written down (in the diwan as going to Ali b. al-Husayn). Umar b. Ali went to Abd al-Malik and complained to him on behalf of himself. Abd al-Malik replied, "I can only use the words of Ibn Abi al-Huqayq:

Indeed when claims of desire are put forward, the listener listens to the speaker.
The people wrestle with their hearts but we are judging with a just and decisive judgement.
We do not make the false true, nor do we deny the true in favour of the false.
We fear that we would make our minds foolish and we would spend (our) time with those without repute.

[Abu Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad informed me: my grandfather (Yahya b. al-Hasan) told me: Abu-Jafar Muhammad b. Isma'il told us:]
Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, made the pilgrimage and the people were shouting about his comely disposition and looking at him. They began to question each other: "Who is that? Who is that?"

(They were doing this) in magnification of him and in exaltation of his rank. Al-Farazdaq was there and he composed the following, saying:
This is he whose ability the valley (of Mecca) recognises, and whom the (Sacred) House recognises (as do) the sanctuary and the area outside the sanctuary (al-hill).
This is the son of the best of all God's servants. This is the pure pious man, the pure eminent man.

When he comes to touch the corner of the wall of the Ka'ba, it almost grasps the palm of his hand.
He takes care to be modest and he is protected from his terror.
He only speaks when he smiles.

None of mankind has within their souls such primacy as he does nor such grace as he does.
Whoever knows God, knows his friend (wali). Religion is from the House of this man.
When Quraysh saw him, their spokesmen told of the outstanding qualities of this man which indicate (his) nobility.

[Abu Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad informed me on the authority of his grandfather, (Yahya b. al-Hasan) who said: Dawud b. al-Qasim told us: Al-Husayn b. Zayd told us on the authority of his uncle, Umar b. Ali, on the authority of his father Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them:]

(Ali b. al-Husayn) used to say: "I have never seen similar preference (given to) a prayer (than this prayer). The worshipper will never pray without an answer coming to him on every occasion."
It was one of the prayers learned from him, peace be on him, when it was learned that Musrif b. Uqba was heading towards Medina.

My Lord, however much favour You have bestowed upon me, my thanks to You for it have been little. However much testing You have given me, my endurance in the face of it has been little. O He who receives little thanks from me for His favour, let Him not deprive me. O He Who receives little endurance from me when He tests me, let Him not desert me.

O Possessor of unceasing kindness ! O Possessor of incalculable favours, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad; ward off the evil (of man) from me so that I may find protection through You amid (man's) slaughter. I seek refuge with You from (man's) evil.

Musrif b. Uqba came to Medina. It was said that he did not have any hostility towards Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them. He greeted him, honoured him, was generous to him and gave gifts to him.

The account from another source is that when Musrif b. Uqba came to Medina, he sent for Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them. The latter went to him. When he came to him, he honoured him and said:

"The Commander of the faithful (i.e. Yazid) has enjoined me to show goodness and generosity towards you, to distinguish you from the others."
So he treated him very well. Then he said to those who were around him: "Saddle my mule for him.

Then he said to him: "Go to your family. I see that we have filled them with fear when we made you come to us. If that with which we might increase your gift according to your right, were in our hands, we would give it to you."
"Do not apologise for the ruler (amir) to me," said Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them and rode away.

"That is the best of men," said Musrif to those who were sitting with him. "There is no evil in him because of his position and rank from the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family.

The account has been reported that one day Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, was in the mosque of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, when he heard some people describing God in terms of His creation. He became fearful and frightened of that. He rose and went to the tomb of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family.

He stood before it and raised his voice to talk to his Lord. He said in his conversation to Him:

My God, Your power has been shown but the form of Your Majesty has not been shown. They are ignorant of You and they try to estimate You on the basis of what You are not, and they make comparisons with You. O my God, I renounce those who seek to discover You through human comparisons. My God, there is nothing like You, and they have not become aware of You.

It is clear that the favour which they have is their evidence for You, if they would (choose to) know You in Your creation, My God, I am free from the fact that they should give You (these characteristics).

Indeed they have pictured You according to Your creation. Thus they do not know You and have adopted some of Your signs as (if they were their) Lord. In that way they have attempted to describe You. May You be exalted, O my God above the pictures of You of those who try to describe You in human terms.

This has been a sample of the accounts which are given about the virtues of Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him.

Taken from Kitab al Irshad, By Sheikh al Mufid

Thursday, April 18, 2013

The Ziyarah Of Al-Warith


The Ziyarah Of Al-Warith
Ibn Qawlawayh, in his book titled ‘al-Mazar’ records the following on the authority of Safwan:
عن كتاب المزار لابن قولويه قال:


I asked Imam as-Sadiq, peace be upon him, to permit me to visit (the holy tomb of) my master Imam al-Husayn, peace be upon him, and also asked him to guide me what to do. The Imam said to me:
استأذنت الإمام الصادق، عليه السلام، لزيارة مولاي الحسين، عليه السلام، وسألته أن يعرّفني ما أعمل عليه، فقال:


“O Safwan, before you begin your journey to visit the tomb of Imam Husayn, you should fast for three days and, on the third day, wash yourself, gather your family members, and recite (the Du’a): O Allah, I keep with you… etc.”
يا صفوان؛ صم ثلاثة أيام قبل خروجك واغتسل في اليوم الثالث، ثم اجمع إليك أهلك ثم قل: اللهم إني استودعك... الخ


Imam as-Sadiq, peace be upon him, then taught Safwan a Du’a to be recited near the River Euphrates.”
ثم علمه دعاءً يدعو به إذا أتى الفرات.


He, peace be upon him, then said: “Wash yourself in the River Euphrates, for my father, on the authority of his fathers, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his family, said:
ثم قال: ثم اغتسل من الفرات فإن أبي حدثني عن آبائه عليهم السلام قال: قال رسول الله، صلى الله عليه وآله:


After my demise, my son (al-Husayn) will be killed on the bank of the Euphrates. He who washes himself in that river (intending to visit the tomb of al-Husayn) will have all of his sins eradicated as if he has just been born by his mother.”
إن ابني هذا (الحسين عليه السلام) يقتل بعدي على شاطئ الفرات، ومن اغتسل من الفرات تساقطت خطاياه كهيئة يوم ولدته أمه.


Imam as-Sadiq, peace be upon him, then said:



As you wash yourself in the river, recite the following:
فإذا اغتسلت فقل في غسلك:


(I begin) by the Name of Allah and (I seek help) from Allah. O Allah, (I beseech to You to) make this water for me as light, purification, shelter, and remedy from every malady, ill, epidemic, or defect. O Allah, purify my heart through this water, expand my breast for me, and make my affair easy to me.
"بسمِ اللهِ، وباللهِ، اللّهمَّ اجعلهُ نوراً وطَهوراً وحِرزاً وشِفاءً من كُلِّ داءٍ وسقمٍ وآفَةٍ وعاهةٍ. اللّهمَّ طهِّر بهِ قلبي واشرحْ به صَدري وسهِّل به أمري."


When you finish washing yourself, put on two dresses and offer a two-Rak’at (unit of prayer) prayer not very far from the bank of the river. That is the very place about which Allah said:
فإذا فرغت من غسلك فالبس ثوبين وصلِّ ركعتين خارج المشرعة، وهو المكان الذي قال الله تعالى عنه:


And in the earth there are tracts side by side and gardens of grapes and corn and palm trees having one root and (others) having distinct roots‑‑ they are watered with one water, and We make some of them excel others in fruit. (The Holy Quran; Sura of ar-Ra’d 3:4.)
"وَفِي الْأَرْضِ قِطَعٌ مُتَجَاوِرَاتٌ وَجَنَّاتٌ مِنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَزَرْعٌ وَنَخِيلٌ صِنْوَانٌ وَغَيْرُ صِنْوَانٍ يُسْقَى بِمَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِي الْأُكُلِ." (الرعد/4).


As you finish your prayer, direct towards Hair with tranquility and solemnity. As you walk, try to make short steps, for Allah, Exalted is He, shall record for you the reward of Hajj (holy pilgrimage to Mecca—obligatory in definite conditions and season) and ‘Umrah (recommended pilgrimage to Mecca). Try to be pious-hearted with tearful eyes. Recite as much as possible Takbir (saying Allahu Akbar—Allah is the Most Great), Tahlil (saying La ilaha illa (a)llah—There is no god but Allah), statements of praising Allah and sending blessings on Muhammad and his family in general and blessings on Husayn in particular, and cursing those who killed him and those who were the main reason beyond so.
فإذا فرغت من صلاتك فتوجه نحو الحائر وعليك السكينة والوقار، وقصر خطاك فإن الله تعالى يكتب لك بكل خطوة حجة وعمرة، وصر خاشعاً قلبك باكية عينك، وأكثر من التكبير والتهليل والثناء على الله عز وجل والصلاة على نبيه، صلى الله عليه وآله، والصلاة على الحسين، عليه السلام، خاصة ولعن من قتله والبراءة ممن أسس ذلك عليه.


At the door of Hair, stop and recite:
فإذا أتيت باب الحائر فقف وقل:


Allah is, verily, the Most Great, very much thanks is due to Allah, and praise Allah in morns and eves. All praise is due to Allah Who guided us to this, and we would not have found the way had it not been that Allah had guided us; certainly the apostles of our Lord brought the truth.”
اللهُ أكبرُ كبيراً والحمدُ للهِ كثيراً وسُبحانَ اللهِ بُكرةً وأصيلاً. الحمدُ للهِ الذي هَدانا لهذا وما كُنّا لِنهتديَ لولا أنْ هدانا اللهُ، لقَد جاءتْ رسلُ ربِّنا بالحقِّ.


Then, you should recite:
ثم قل:


“Peace be upon you, O the Messenger of Allah.
السلامُ عليكَ يا رسولَ اللهِ،


Peace be upon you, O the Prophet of Allah.
السلامُ عليكَ يا نبيَّ اللهِ،


Peace be upon you, O the seal of the prophets.
السلامُ عليكَ يا خاتمَ النبيّينَ،


Peace be upon you, O the chief of the Messengers (of Allah).
السلامُ عليكَ يا سيّدَ المرسَلينَ،


Peace be upon you, O the Beloved of Allah.
السلامُ عليكَ يا حبيبَ اللهِ.


Peace be upon you, O the commander of the faithful ones.
السلامُ عليكَ يا أميرَ المؤمنينَ،


Peace be upon you, O the master of the prophets’ successors.
السلامُ عليكَ يا سيّدَ الوصييّنَ،


Peace be upon you, O the leader of the white-forheaded and white-footed ones (on the Day of Resurrection).
السلامُ عليكَ يا قائدَ الغُرّ المحَجّلينَ.


Peace be upon you, O son of Fatimah the chiefess of the women of this world.
السلامُ عليكَ يا بنَ فاطِمةُ سيّدةَ نساءِ العالمينَ.


Peace be upon you and upon the Imams from your progeny.
السلامُ عليكَ وعلى الأئمّةِ من ولدِك.


Peace be upon you, O the successor of Amir al-Mu’minin (the commander of the faithful ones).
السلامُ عليكَ يا وصيَّ أميرِ المؤمنينَ.


Peace be upon you, O veracious and shahid (martyr).
السلامُ عليكَ أيّها الصّدّيقُ الشهيدُ.


Peace be upon you, O Angels of Allah who reside in this holy shrine.
السلامُ عليكم يا ملائكَةَ اللهِ المقيمينَ في هذا المقامِ الشريفِ،


Peace be upon you, O my Lord’s Angels who surround the tomb of al-Husayn, peace be upon him.
السلامُ عليكم يا ملائكةَ ربي المحدِقينَ بقَبرِ الحسينِ عليهِ السلامُ.


Peace be upon all of you forever as long as there are day and night.”
السلامُ عليكم منيّ أبداً ما بقيتُ وبقيَ الليلُ والنهارُ.


You should then say:
ثم تقول:


“Peace be upon you, O Abu ′Abdullah.
السلامُ عليكَ يا أبا عبدِ اللهِ،


Peace be upon you, O son of the Messenger of Allah.
السلامُ عليكَ يا بنَ رسولِ اللهِ،


Peace be upon you, O son of Amir al-Mu’minin.
السلامُ عليكَ يا بنَ أميرِ المؤمنينَ.


I am your slave and son of your slave and bondmaid.
عبدُكَ وابنُ عبدِكَ وابنُ أَمَتِكَ


I confess of my servantship to you, acquit from being opposite to you, accede to anyone who accedes to you, and antagonize him who antagonizes you. I direct towards your holy shrine, seek shelter of your (burial) place, and seek nearness to you through directing to you.
المُقِرُّ بالرِّقِّ والتارِكُ للخلافِ عليكم المُوالي لِوليّكُم والمُعادي لِعدوِّكم قَصَدَ حَرَمَكَ واستجارَ بمَشهدِكَ وتقرَّبَ إليكَ بقَصدِكَ.


O the Messenger of Allah, may I enter?
أأدخُلُ يا رسولَ اللهِ،


O the Prophet of Allah, may I enter?
أأدخلُ يا نبيَّ اللهِ،


O Amir al-Mu’minin, may I enter?
أأدخلُ يا أميرَ المؤمنينَ،


O the chief of the prophets’ successors, may I enter?
أأدخلُ يا سيّدَ الوصيينَ،


O Fatimah the chiefess of the women of the world, may I enter?
أأدخلُ يا فاطمةُ سيدةَ نساءِ العالمينَ،


O my master Abu ‘Abdullah, may I enter?
أأدخلُ يا مولايَ يا أبا عبدِ اللهِ،


O my master and son of the Messenger of Allah, may I enter?”
أأدخلُ يا مولايَ يا بنَ رسولِ اللهِ.


If you feel your heart has become submissive and your eyes have become tearful, then that will be the sign of permission to enter. You then should enter and recite:
فإن خشع قلبك ودمع عينك فهو علامة الإذن. ثم ادخل وقل:


“All praise is due to Allah the One, the Unique, the Single, the Absolute Who guided me to be loyal to you, gave me exclusively the change to visit your tomb, and made it easy for me to direct to you.”
الحمدُ للهِ الواحدِ الأحدِ الفردِ الصمدِ الذي هَداني لولايتِكَ وخَصّني بزِيارتِك وسهَّلَ لي قصدَكَ.


You should then come near the door of the dome from the Imam’s head’s side and recite:
ثم ائتِ باب القبة وقف من حيث يلي الرأس، وقل:


Peace be on you, O the inheritor of Adam the sincerely attached friend of Allah!
السَّلام عَلَيْك يا وارِثَ آدَمَ صَِفْوَةِ اللهِ،


Peace be on you, O the inheritor of Noah, the prophet of Allah!
السَّلام عَلَيْك يا وارِثَ نُوحٍ نَبِيِّ اللهِ،


Peace be on you, O the inheritor of Abraham, the intimate friend of Allah!
السَّلام عَلَيْك ياوارِثَ اِبْراهيمَ خَليلِ اللهِ،


Peace be on you, O the inheritor of Moses who spoke to Allah!
السَّلام عَلَيْكَ يا وارِثَ مُوسىٰ كَليم الله،


Peace be on you, O the inheritor of Jesus who received peace, joy, and mercy from Allah!
السَّلام عَلَيْك يا وارِثَ عيسىٰ رُوحِ اللهِ،


Peace be on you, O the inheritor of Muhammad, the dearest beloved of Allah!
السَّلام عَلَيْك يا وارِثَ مُحَمَّدٍ حَبيبِ اللهِ،


Peace be on you, O the inheritor of Amir ul-Mu’minin, peace be upon him.
السَّلام عَلَيْك يا وارِث أَمير ِالْمُؤْمِنين عَلَيْه السَّلامُ وَلِيِّ اللهِ.


Peace be on you, O the son of Muhammad al-Mustafa!
السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْن مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُصْطَفىٰ،


Peace be on you, O the son of ′Ali al-Murta¨a!
السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْن عَلِيٍّ الْمُرْتَضىٰ،


Peace be upon you, O the son of Fatimah al-Zahra!
السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْن فاطِمَةَ الزَّهْرآءِ،


Peace be on you, O the Khadijah al-Kubra!
السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ خَديجَةَ الْكُبْرىٰ،


Peace be on you, O he whose blood-claimer is Allah, He is the blood-claimer of your father also, as those who persecuted you, your relatives and friends have not been punished for the crimes.
السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا ثَارَ اللهِ وَابْن ثارِهِ والْوِتْرَ الْمَوْتُورَ.


I bear witness that verily you established the prayers, gave the zakat (prescribed share) to the needy, commanded to do what is right and lawful, not to do that which is wrong and unlawful, obeyed Allah and His Messenger till the inevitable came unto you.
اَشْهَدُ اَنَّكَ قَدْ اَقَمْتَ الصَّلاةَ وَآتَيْتَ الزَّكاةَ وَاَمَرْتَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَيْتَ عَن المُنْكَرِ وَاَطَعْتَ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ حَتى اَتاكَ الْيَقينُ.


So, Allah condemns those who killed you to eternal punishment; Allah casts those who maltreated you into Hell, Allah damns those who heard the event and rested satisfied.
فَلَعَن اللهُ اُمَّةً قَتَلَتْكَ وَلَعَن اللهُ اُمَّةً ظَلَمَتْكَ وَلَعَن اللهُ اُمَّةً سَمِعَتْ بِذلِكَ فَرَضِيَتْ بِهِ.


O My Master, O Abu ′Abdullah! I bear witness that verily you were a light in the sublime loins and purified wombs; the impurities of ignorance did not even tough you, nor could its soiled and dirty bearing ever smear you.
يا مَوْلايَ يا اَبا عَبْدِ اللهِ؛ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّكَ كُنْتَ نُوراً فِي الأصْلابِ الشّامِخَةِ وَالأرْحامِ الْمُطَهَّرَةِ، لَمْ تُنَجِّسْكَ الْجاهِلِيَّةُ بِأَنْجاسِها وَلَمْ تُلْبِسْكَ مِن مُدْلَهِمّاتِ ثِيابِها.


I bear witness that, verily, you are the mainstay of the religion, and the supporter of the faithful ones.
وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّكَ مِن دَعآئِمِ الدّين وَاَرْكان الْمُؤْمِنينَ.


I bear witness that, verily, you are a pious, God-fearing, favorite, wise, and rightly guided (Imam).
وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّكَ الإِمام الْبَرُّ التَّقِيُّ الرَّضِيُّ الزَّكِيُّ الْهادِي المَهْدِيُّ،


I bear witness that the Imams, in your progeny, are the words of wisdom, the signs of guidance, the safe handle of Islam, and the decisive argument for the humankind.
وَاَشْهَدُ اَن الاْئِمَّةَ مِن وِلْدِكَ كَلِمَةُ التَّقْوىٰ وَاَعْلامُ الْهُدىٰ وَالْعُرْوَةُ الْوُثْقىٰ وَالْحُجَّةُ عَلى اَهْلِ الدُّنْيا.


I call Allah to give witness, and also His Angels, His Prophets, His Messenger, that, verily, I believe in (all of) you, that I am sure of your Return, joined to the divine laws of my belief, and my accomplishments; my mind and soul resigned to your obedience, my conduct following the example of your behavior.
وَاُشْهِدُ اللهَ وَمَلائِكَتَهُ وَاَنْبِيآءَهُ وَرُسُلَهُ اَنِّي بِكُم مُؤْمِن وِبِاِيابِكُمْ مُوْقِن بِشَرائِعِ ديني وَخَواتيمِ عَمَلي، وَقَلْبي لِقَلْبِكُم سِلْمٌ وَاَمْري لأِمْرِكُم مَتَّبِعٌ.


Blessings of Allah be on (all of) you, on your souls, on your bodies, on your forms, (when) you are in view, (when) you are out of sight, on your style, and on your substance.
صَلَواتُ اللهِ عَلَيْكُم وَعَلى اَرْواحِكُم وَعَلى اَجْسادِكُم وَعَلى اَجْسامِكُم وَعَلى شاهِدِكُم وَعَلى غائِبِكُم وَعَلى ظاهِرِكُم وَعَلى باطِنِكُم.


Then throw yourself on the tomb, kiss it, and recite:
ثمّ انكبّ  على القبر وقّبِّله وقُل:


My father and mother be sacrificed for you, O son of the Messenger of Allah!
بِاَبي اَنْت وَاُمّي يَا بْن رَسُولِ الله،


My father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Abu ′Abdullah!
بِاَبي اَنْت وَاُمّي يا اَبا عَبْدِ الله،


Verily terrible was the calamity, and your suffering casts gloom upon us and upon all the people of the heavens and the earth.
لَقَدْ عَظُمَتِ الرَّزِيَّة وَجَلَّت الْمُصيبَة بِك عَلَيْنا وَعَلى جَميع اَهْلِ السَّماوات ِوَالاْرْضِ.


Therefore, curse of Allah be on the people who saddled up, gave rein to their horses and prepared to kill you.
فَلَعَن الله اُمَّةً اَسْرَجَتْ وَاَلْجَمَتْ وَتَهَيَّاَتْ لِقِتالِك.


O my Master, O Abu ′Abdullah! I moved towards your sacred shrine and came to visit you, I beseech Allah in the name of your honor and your status you enjoy before Him to send blessings on Muhammad and on the children of Muhammad, and keep me with you in this world and in the Hereafter.
يا مَوْلاي يا اَبا عَبْدِ الله؛ قَصَدْتُ حَرَمَك وَاَتَيْت اِلى مَشْهَدِك اَسْأَلُ الله بِالشَّأْن الَّذي لَك عِنْدَه وَبِالْمَحَلِّ الَّذي لَك لَدَيْه اَنْ يُصَلِّيَ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَاَنْ يَجْعَلَني مَعَكُم فِي الدُّنْيا وَالآْخِرَة.


Then you should stand up for offering a two-Rak’at prayer next to the place of the Imam’s head. In this prayer, you can recite any Quranic chapter you like. When you finish, you should recite:
ثم قم فصلِّ ركعتين عند الرأس؛ اقرأ فيهما ما أحببت فإذا فرغت من صلاتك فقل:


O Allah, I have offered a prayer, genuflected, and prostrated myself for sake of You purely particularly, since You have no associate and since none at all is worth of prayer, genuflection, and prostration except You.
اَللّهُمَّ اِنّي صَلَّيْتُ وَرَكَعْتُ وَسَجَدْتُ لَك وَحْدَك لا شَريكَ لَكَ، لأِنَّ الصَّلاة وَالرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ لا يَكُونُ إِلاّ لَكَ، لأِنَّكَ اَنْت اللهُ لا إِلهَ إِلاّ اَنْتَ.


O Allah, send blessings on Muhammad and the children of Muhammad, and send them my best greetings and compliment, and send their replies to me.
اَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَاَبْلِغْهُم عَنّي اَفْضَلَ السَّلامِ وَالتَّحِيَّةِ وَارْدُدْ عَلَيّ مِنْهُم السَّلامَ.


O Allah, accept this prayer that I have offered as present from me to my master al-Husayn ibn ′Ali, peace be upon both of them.
اَللّهُمَّ وَهاتانِ الرَّكْعَتانِ هَدِيَّةٌ مِنّي اِلى مَوْلايَ الْحُسَيْنِ بْن عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلام.


O Allah, send blessings on Muhammad and on him (al-Husayn) and accept my effort and reward me for it in the best rewarding that I anticipate and hope from You and from Your saint. You are surely the Guardian of the faithful ones.
اَللّهُم صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَيْه وَتَقَبَّلْ مِنّي وَاْجُرْني عَلى ذلِكَ بِاَفْضَلِ اَمَلي وَرَجآئي فيك وَفي وَلِيِّك يا وَلِي الْمُؤْمِنين.


Then, move to the place of the Imam’s legs, stop at the place of the head of ‘′Ali ibn al-Husayn, peace be upon them, and recite:
ثم قم وصر إلى عند رجلي القبر وقف عند رأس علي بن الحسين، عليهما السلام، وقل:


Peace be upon you, O son of the Messenger of Allah.
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْن رَسُولِ الله،


Peace be upon you, O son of the Prophet of Allah.
السَّلام عَلَيْك يَا بْن نَبِي الله،


Peace be upon you, O son of Amir al-Mu’minin (the commander of the faithful ones).
السَّلام عَلَيْك يَا بْن أمير الْمُؤْمِنينَ،


Peace be upon you, O son of al-Husayn the shahid (martyr).
السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ الشَّهيدِ،


Peace be upon you, O shahid.
السَّلام عَلَيْك اَيُّهَا الشَّهيدُ،


Peace be upon you, O the wronged and harassed one and son of the wrong and harassed one.
السَّلام عَلَيْك اَيُّهَا الْمَظْلُومُ وَابْنَ الْمَظْلُومِ.


Curse of Allah be on those who killed you.
لَعَنَ اللهُ اُمَّةً قَتَلَتْك،


Curse of Allah be on those who persecuted you.
وَلَعَنَ اللهُ اُمَّةً ظَلَمَتْكَ،


Curse of Allah be on those who heard this even but rested satisfied.
وَلَعَنَ اللهُ اُمَّةً سَمِعَتْ بِذَلِك فَرَضِيَت بِه.


You should then throw yourself on the tomb, kiss it, and recite:
ثمّ انكبّ على القبر وقبّله وقل:


Peace be upon you, O the saint of Allah and son of the saint of Allah.
السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا وَلِيَّ اللهِ وَابْنَ وَلِيِّهِ.


Verily terrible was the calamity, and your suffering casts gloom upon us and upon all of Muslims.
لَقَدْ عَظُمَتِ الْمُصِيْبَةُ وَجَلَّتِ الرَّزِيَّةُ بِكَ عَلَيْنا وَعَلى جَميع الْمُسْلِمِينَ،


So, curse of Allah be on those who killed you,
فَلَعَن الله اُمَّة قَتَلَتْكَ،


and I disconnect all links with them and turn to Allah and you.
وَاَبْرَأُ اِلَى الله وَاِلَيْك مِنْهُمْ.


Then you should leave the door at the place of ′Ali ibn al-Husayn’s legs, direct towards the martyrs, and recite:
ثم اخرج من الباب الذي عند رجلي علي بن الحسين، عليهما السلام، ثم توجه إلى الشهداء وقل:


Peace be upon all of you, O the saints and dears of Allah.
السَّلام عَلَيْكُم يا اَوْلِيآءَ الله وَاَحِبّآءَهُ،


Peace be upon all of you, O the adorers of Allah and the sincerely attached to Him.
السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُم يا اَصْفِيآء اللهِ وَاَوِدّآءَهُ،


Peace be upon all of you, O the helpers of Allah’s religion.
السَّلام عَلَيْكُم يا اَنْصارُ دينِ اللهِ،


Peace be upon all of you, O the helpers of the Messenger of Allah.
السَّلام عَلَيْكُم يا اَنْصارَ رَسُولِ اللهِ،


Peace be upon all of you, O the helpers of Amir al-Mu’minin.
السَّلام عَلَيْكُم يا اَنْصارَ أمير الْمُؤْمِنينَ،


Peace be upon all of you, O the helpers of Fatimah the chiefess of the women of this world.
السَّلام عَلَيْكُم يا اَنْصارَ فاطِمَةَ سَيِّدَةِ نِسآءِ الْعالَمينَ،


Peace be upon all of you, O the helpers of Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn ‘′Ali the sincere, pure, and faithful saint.
السَّلام عَلَيْكُم يا اَنْصار اَبي مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَسَنِ بْن عَلِيٍّ الْوَلِيِّ الزَّكِيِّ النَاصِحِ،


Peace be upon all of you, O the helpers of Abu ′Abdullah.
السَّلام عَلَيْكُم يا اَنْصار اَبي عَبْدِ اللهِ.


My father and mother be sacrificed for you.
بِأبي اَنْتُم وَاُمّي؛


Verily, you were pure; therefore, the land wherein you are buried has been purified. You also attained your end and won great fortune.
طِبْتُم وَطابَت الأْرْضُ الّتي فيها دُفِنْتُمْ وَفُزْتُم فَوْزاً عَظيماً.


Would that we were with you, so that we could also share the accomplishment with you.
فَيا لَيْتَني كُنْت مَعَكُم فَاَفُوزَ مَعَكُمْ.


Would that we were with you, so that we could also share the accomplishment with you.
فَيالَيْتَني كُنْت مَعَكُم فَاَفُوز مَعَكُمْ.


You should then return to the place where the head of Imam al-Husayn, peace be upon him, is buried, supplicate to Allah as much as you can, pray for yourself, your family members, your parents, and your friends, for any prayer in the holy shrine of Imam al-Husayn shall never be rejected or denied.
ثم عد إلى عند رأس الحسين، عليه السلام، وأكثر من الدعاء لك ولأهلك ولوالديك ولإخوانك، فإن مشهده لا تردُّ فيه دعوةُ داعٍ ولا سؤال سائلٍ.