Going to the Ziyārah of Ĥusain (a.s.) Is Equal to Performing Hajj Several Times

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: The Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) is equal to performing Hajj twenty times and it is (even) better than performing Hajj twenty times. The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chain: Muḥammad ibn Ya’qūb (Al-Kulayni), from some of his companions, from Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad, from Muḥammad ibn Sinān, from Ḥusain ibn Mukhtār, from Zayd Al-Shaḥḥām, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.).

I went to Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) and asked, “May I sacrifice myself for you! Should I go to (the Ziyārah of) the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.)?” Imam (a.s.) replied: O Abā Sa’īd! Yes! Go to (the Ziyārah of) the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.), son of the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.), the most blessed of the blessed ones, the most purified of the purified ones, and the most pious of the pious ones; for if you go to his Ziyārah, Allāh will register twenty-five Hajj for you. The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chain: Muḥammad ibn Ya’qūb (Al-Kulayni), from Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā, from Muḥammad ibn Ḥusain ibn Abil Khaťťāb, from Muḥammad ibn Ismā’īl, from Sāliḥ ibn ‘Uqbah, from Abī Sa’īd Al-Madā`ini, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.).

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) asked me, “O Shihāb! How many times have you performed Hajj?” I replied, “Nineteen times.” Imam (a.s.) said, “Complete the twentieth time so that they (these twenty Hajj) are registered as the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) for you.”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) asked me, “How many times have you performed Hajj?” I replied, “Nineteen times.” Imam (a.s.) said, “Verily if you perform Hajj twenty-one times you will be like those who have gone to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.).”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: Those who go to (the Ziyārah of) the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) knowing his rights are like those who have performed Hajj one hundred times with the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.).

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: Allāh will register eighty purified Hajj for those who go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.).

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) came (to Iraq) during the early days of the reign of Abī Ja’far (Mansūr Al-Dawānīqi). When he stopped in Najaf, he said to me: O Mūsā! Go and stand on the main route and wait until you see a man from the direction of Qādisiyyah. When he comes close to you, say, “There is a man from the children of the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) waiting here and he has asked you to join him.” And he will follow you. It was a very hot day and I went and stood on the route (that the Imam (a.s.) had told me about). I kept waiting, and I was about to disobey the Imam (a.s.) and leave when I saw something approaching from far that looked like a man riding a camel. I kept looking until he came close to me. I said to him, “There is man from the children of the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) waiting here and he described you to me. He has asked that you join him.” The man asked me to take him to the Imam (a.s.). Once we arrived (at the tents), he tied his camel (to something) close to the tents. The Imam (a.s.) called the man inside and he obeyed (the order of Imam (a.s.)). I went and stood at the door of the tent where I could hear them (speaking) but I could not see them. Abū ‘Abdillāh (a.s.) asked him, “Where are you coming from?” The man replied, “From the furthest part of Yemen.” Imam (a.s.) asked, “Are you not from such and such place?” (Imam (a.s.) mentioned the name.) The man replied, “Yes, I am.” Imam (a.s.) asked, “What brings you here?” The man replied, “I have come to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.).” Imam (a.s.) asked, “Have you come solely for the Ziyārah without any requests?” The man replied, “I have come with no requests and I only wish to pray next to him, perform his Ziyārah, say Salām to him, and then return to my family.” Imam (a.s.) asked, “What do you believe are the merits of his Ziyārah?” The man replied, “We believe that we receive blessings for ourselves, for our families, for our children, and in our wealth and sustenance. We also believe that our requests are fulfilled through his Ziyārah.” Imam (a.s.) asked, “O brother from Yemen! Should I not tell you about the additional merits of his Ziyārah?” The man said, “Tell me more, O son of the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.).” Imam (a.s.) said, “Verily the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) is equal to an accepted and flawless Hajj with the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.).” The man was shocked to hear this so the Imam (a.s.) added, “Yes! I swear to Allāh. It is equal to two purified, accepted, and flawless Hajj with the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.).” The man was (even) more shocked and the Imam (a.s.) kept increasing the number until he mentioned thirty purified, accepted, and flawless Hajj with the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.).

I was with Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) when a group of people who were riding on donkeys passed by. Imam (a.s.) asked me, “Where are they going?” I replied, “To the graves of the martyrs (of Uḥud).” Imam (a.s.) asked, “What prevents them from going to the Ziyārah of the lonely (abandoned) Martyr?” One of the people who was from Iraq asked, “Is going to his Ziyārah obligatory?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “His Ziyārah is better than performing Hajj and ‘Umrah, and another Hajj and ‘Umrah, and another Hajj and ‘Umrah, and…” Yazīd ibn ‘Abdil Malik added: Imam (a.s.) mentioned twenty purified and accepted Hajj and ‘Umrah. And I swear to Allāh that I did not leave until a man came to the Imam (a.s.) and said, “I have gone to Hajj nineteen times. Please pray for me so that Allāh sustains me with the twentieth time.” Imam (a.s.) asked, “Have you ever gone to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.)?” The man replied, “No.” Imam (a.s.) said, “Verily going to his Ziyārah is better than twenty Hajj.”

I asked Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), “What is the reward for one who goes to the Ziyārah of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.)?” Imam (a.s.) said, “Going to Hajj with the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) will be registered for him.” I said, “May I sacrifice myself for you! Going to Hajj with the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.)?!” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes and (even) two Hajj (with the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.)).” I said, “May I sacrifice myself for you! Two Hajj?!” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes and (even) three Hajj (with the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.)).” Imam (a.s.) kept increasing the number until he reached ten and then I said, “May I sacrifice myself for you! Ten Hajj with the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.)?!” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes and (even) twenty Hajj (with the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.)).” I said, “May I sacrifice myself for you! Even twenty Hajj?!” Imam (a.s.) kept increasing the number until he reached fifty and then he stopped.

I asked Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), “What is the reward for those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) while knowing his rights and without any pride or arrogance?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “One thousand (purified) Hajj and one thousand purified ‘Umrah will be registered for them. And (even) if they are among the wretched ones, they will be registered among the blissful ones and they will be continuously submerged in the Mercy of Allāh, the Great and Almighty.”