The Reward for Going to the Ziyārah of Ĥusain (a.s.) on Foot or by Any Means of Transport, Allāh’s Confidential Discourse with the Zā`ir of Ĥusain (a.s.)

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said to me: O Ḥusain! Allāh will register one good deed for those who leave their houses to go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Ḥusain ibn ‘Ali (a.s.) on foot and erase one bad deed from them with every step they take. When they arrive at the Ḥā`ir, Allāh will register them as those who have achieved salvation and as the successful ones. After they complete the rituals (of the Ziyārah), Allāh will register them as the winners. When they decide to return, an angel will come to them and say, “Verily the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) sends his Salām to you and tells you that all of your previous sins have been forgiven. Therefore, continue with good deeds.”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: Verily when a man leaves his family to go to the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.), with the first step that he takes, all of his sins will be forgiven. Then as he travels (toward Ḥusain (a.s.)), he will become more and more purified. Once he arrives (at the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.)), Allāh will speak to him confidentially and say, “O My slave! Ask Me (for anything) and I will grant it. Call Me, for I will answer you. Desire anything and I will fulfill it, and ask Me for any of your needs so that I may grant it.” Abū ‘Abdillāh (a.s.) added, “And he deserves to be recompensed by Allāh for that which he has spent (in coming to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.)).”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: Allāh has some angels who are dedicated to the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.). When someone decides to go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.), Allāh will give his sins to these angels. With the (first) step that he takes, the angels will erase his sins, and with any additional steps that he may take, the angels will multiply his good deeds, and his good deeds will keep increasing until he deserves (to enter) Paradise. Then the dedicated angels will surround him and sanctify him. They will call out to the angels of the heavens, “Sanctify the Zuwwār of the love of the love of Allāh (the Prophet (s.a.a.w.)).” After the Zuwwār perform Ghusl, Muḥammad (s.a.a.w.) will call out to them, “O guests of Allāh! Be delighted for you will join me in Paradise.” Then the Commander of the Believers (a.s.) will call out to them, “I guarantee the fulfillment of your requests and to keep the afflictions away from you in this life and in the Hereafter.” Then the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) will join them and stay to their right and left side until they return to their families.

I heard Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) say: Allāh will register one thousand good deeds and erase one thousand bad deeds for every step taken by those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) on foot. He will also increase their status one thousand times (for every step taken). Imam (a.s.) added: When you arrive at the Euphrates (River), perform Ghusl, carry your shoes, and walk barefoot like a humble slave. Once you arrive at the door of the Ḥā`ir, recite (the phrase of) TAKBǏR four times. Then walk a little and repeat this four more times. Then approach the location close to his head, stand there and repeat it four more times. Establish prayers next to his grave and ask Allāh for your needs.

I asked Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), “May I sacrifice myself for you! What is the minimum reward for those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.)?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “O ‘Abdallāh! Verily the minimum (reward) for them is that (in this life), Allāh will protect them and their families until they return to their families, and on the Day of Judgment, Allāh will be their protector.”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said (to me), “O ‘Ali! Go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) and do not neglect it.” I asked, “What is the reward for one who goes to his Ziyārah?” Imam (a.s.) replied: Allāh will register one good deed and erase one bad deed for every step taken by those who go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) on foot. He will also add one rank to their ranks (for every step taken). Once he arrives at the grave (of Ḥusain (a.s.)), Allāh will dedicate two angels to him who will only write the good that comes out of his mouth and will not write anything bad that he might say or do. When he leaves, they will bid farewell to him and say, “O friend of Allāh! You are forgiven. You are from the party of Allāh, the party of His Messenger (s.a.a.w.), and the party of the family of His Messenger (s.a.a.w.). We swear to Allāh that you will never see Hell and it will never see you nor burn you.”

We were with Abī Ja’far (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) when a young man mentioned the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.). Abū Ja’far (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) said to him, “Allāh will register one good deed and erase one bad deed for every step taken by those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.).”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: Those of our Shia who go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) will not return without all of their sins having been forgiven. Allāh will register one thousand good deeds and erase one thousand bad deeds for every step they take or their sumpters take. He will also elevate their status one thousand times (for every step taken).

I entered the chamber of Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) and found Murāzim (ibn Ḥukaym) with him. I heard Abā ‘Abdillāh (a.s.) say: Allāh will register the reward of freeing a slave from the children of Ismā’īl for those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) on foot with every step they take and each time they raise their foot and place it on the ground. And as for those who go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) by ship – if their ship drowns, a caller from the heavens will call out to them, “Be delighted and enjoy the pleasures of Paradise.”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) asked me, “Do you go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) by ship?” I replied, “Yes.” Imam (a.s.) said, “Do you not know that if it drowns, a caller will call out to you, ‘Be delighted and enjoy the pleasures of Paradise.”