The Merits of the Ziyārah of the Believers and How it Should be Performed

I heard Abal Ḥasan the First (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) say: Those who cannot come to our Ziyārah should go to the Ziyārah of our righteous followers so that the reward for coming to our Ziyārah is registered for them. And those who cannot connect with us (directly) should connect with our righteous followers so that the reward for connecting with us is registered for them.

I heard Imam Riďā (a.s.) say: Those who cannot connect with us (directly) should connect with our righteous followers so that the reward for connecting with us is registered for them. And those who cannot come to our Ziyārah should go to the Ziyārah of our righteous followers so that the reward for coming to our Ziyārah is registered for them.

I was in Fayd with ‘Ali ibn Bilāl and we walked to the grave of Muḥammad ibn Ismā’īl ibn Bazī’. (Once we arrived at his grave), ‘Ali ibn Bilāl said to me: The owner of this grave narrated to me from Imam Riďā (a.s.), who said: Those who go to the graves of their brothers from among the believers, place their hands on the graves, and recite (the chapter of) “Innā Anzalnāh” seven times will be safe on the Day of Great Terror (the Day of Judgment).

I was in Fayd when Muḥammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Bilāl said, “Let’s go to the grave of Muḥammad ibn Ismā’īl ibn Bazī’.” Once we arrived at his grave, Muḥammad ibn ‘Ali said: The owner of this grave narrated to me from one of the two Imams (a.s.), who said: Those who visit the graves of their brothers from among the believers, place their hands on the graves, face the Qiblah, and then recite (the chapter of) “Innā Anzalnāh” seven times will be safe from the Great Terror.

I asked Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), “How should I place my hand on the graves of the believers?” Imam (a.s.) faced the Qiblah, pointed toward the earth, and then placed his hand on it.

I heard Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) say: Every Thursday evening, the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) used to go to Baqī’ of Madīnah along with a group of his companions and he would say three times, “Salām to you, O people of the graves.” Then he would say three times, “May Allāh’s Mercy be upon you.” Then he would turn to his companions and say, “They are better than you.” So his companions would ask, “Why is that, O Messenger of Allāh? They believed (in Allāh) and we too believe (in Allah), and they fought (in the way of Allāh) and we too have fought (in the way of Allāh).” He (the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.)) would reply, “They believed (in Allāh) but did not add oppression to their belief and they died while believing in Allāh; and I testify to this for them. However, you will live after me and I do not know what you will instigate after me!!!”

‘Ali, the Commander of the Believers (a.s.), entered a graveyard along with (some of) his companions and called out: O people of the dust! O lonely people! O those who are quiet! O dead ones! The news that we bear is that your wealth has been distributed (among your heirs), your women have remarried, and your houses have been occupied. So what news do you have?!!! Then he turned to his companions and said: I swear to Allāh that if they had permission to speak, they would have replied saying, “There is no provision better than piety. ‘Verily the best provision is piety” (2:197).

I asked Abal Ḥasan (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)), “Do the believers know who visits their graves?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes, and they enjoy the company of their visitors as long as they are next to them but as soon as they leave the grave, they (the believers in the grave) will feel a sudden loneliness.”

I asked Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), “How should I say Salām to the people of the graves?” Imam (a.s.) replied: Recite (the following): Salām upon the people of the graves from among the believers and the Muslims. You have preceded us and we shall join you In-Shā`allāh. The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chain: My father, from Ḥusain ibn Ḥasan ibn Abān, from Muḥammad ibn Ūramah, from Ibn Abī Najrān, from ‘Abdillāh ibn Sinān, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.).

Abū Ja’far (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) and I passed by Baqī’ and we walked by the grave of a man from among the Shia of Kūfah. I said to Abī Ja’far (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)), “May I sacrifice myself for you! This is the grave of one of the Shia.” Imam (a.s.) stopped next to the grave and said: O Allāh! Have mercy on his isolation; connect with him in his loneliness; keep him company in his desolation; make him feel safe in his (time of) fear; descend Your Mercy on him in a way that he will not need the mercy of others; and join him with those whom he loved.

I asked Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), “How should one say Salām to the people of the graves?” Imam (a.s.) replied: Recite (the following): Salām upon the people of the graves from among the believers and the Muslims. May Allāh’s Mercy be upon those of you who died long ago and those of you who died recently. We shall join you In-Shā`allāh. The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated through the following chain: (Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad) Al-Barqi, from his father, from Naďr ibn Suwayd, from Qāsim ibn Sulaymān, from Jarrāḥ Al-Madā`ini, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.).

If someone recites “Innā Anzalnāh” seven times next to the grave of a believer, Allāh will send an angel to that grave who will worship Allāh next to it. The rewards for this worship will be registered for the one who is dead and (also) for him (the person who came to visit the grave of the believer). When this believer will be resurrected, he will not undergo any terror without Allāh removing it from him through the angel who was dedicated to his grave, and he will enter Paradise in the company of that angel. He added, “(When you go to the graves of the believers), recite (the chapter of) Al-Ḥamd one time, (the chapter of) Innā Anzalnāh seven times, then recite the Mu’awwadhatayn, (the chapter of) Qul Huwallāhu Aḥad, and Ayatul Kursī, each three times.”

I heard Abā Ja’far (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) say: When the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) would pass by the graves of a group of believers, he would say, “Salām upon the dwellings of the believers. In-Shā`allāh we shall join you.”

Abū Ja’far (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) stood next to the grave of a man and said: O Allāh! Connect with him in his loneliness; keep him company in his desolation; and descend Your Mercy on him in a way that he will not need the mercy of others.

I asked Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), “How should we say Salām to the people of the graves?” Imam (a.s.) replied: Recite (the following): Salām upon the people of the graves from among the men and women of the believers and the Muslims. You have preceded us and we shall join you In-Shā`allāh.

(One day) ‘Ali, the Commander of the Believers (a.s.), passed by some graves on his route. He turned to the right and said, “Salām to you, O people who have moved from palaces to graves. You have preceded us and we shall follow you, and In-Shā`allāh we shall join you.” Then he turned to the left and repeated the same statement.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: When you go to the graves, say Salām and recite (the following): Salām upon the people of the graves. Salām upon the believers and the Muslims in the graves. You have preceded us and we shall follow you and (soon) we will join you. Verily we are Allāh’s and to Him we shall return. O those who are in graves after having lived in palaces! O those who are in graves after having enjoyed the blessings and the pleasures! O people of the graves! Now that you are in the graves, how did you find the taste of death?!!! Then say, “Woe unto those who have gone to Hell.” And then cry and leave.

When Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) would enter a graveyard, he would say: Salām upon the people of Paradise.