The Reward for the Ziyārah of the Graves of Abil Ĥasan Mūsā ibn Ja’far and Muĥammad ibn ‘Ali Al-Jawād (a.s.) in Baghdad

I asked Imam Riďā (a.s.) if (the reward for) the Ziyārah of the grave of Abil Ḥasan (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) is the same as the Ziyārah of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.). Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes.” The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chain: Muḥammad ibn Ya’qūb, from Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā, from Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn ‘Isā, from Ḥasan ibn ‘Ali Al-Washā, from Imam Riďā (a.s.).

I asked Imam Riďā (a.s.), “Should I go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Abil Ḥasan (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) in Baghdad?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “If you must, then perform the Ziyārah from behind the covers.”

I asked Imam Riďā (a.s.), “What are the rewards for those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of your father, Abil Ḥasan (Imam Kāżim (a.s.))?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Go to his Ziyārah!” I asked, “What are its merits?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “The same as those for going to the Ziyārah of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.).”

I asked Imam Riďā (a.s.) about going to (the Ziyārah of) the grave of Abil Ḥasan (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)). Imam (a.s.) replied, “Establish prayers in the mosques around the grave.”

I asked Abal Ḥasan (Imam Riďā (a.s.)), “What are the rewards for those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of your father (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) – may Allāh’s blessings be upon him?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Go to his Ziyārah!” I asked, “What are its merits?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Its merits are the same as the merits for those who go to the Ziyārah of his father – referring to the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.).” I asked, “What if I was in fear and could not enter (next to the grave)?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “(Then) say Salām from behind the walls.”

Imam Riďā (a.s.) said to me: Those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of my father (a.s.) in Baghdad are like those who have gone to the Ziyārah of the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) and the grave of the Commander of the Believers (a.s.), except that the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) and the Commander of the Believers (a.s.) have their own specific ranks. The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chain: Muḥammad ibn Ya’qūb, from Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā, from Muḥammad ibn Ḥusain, from Muḥammad ibn Ismā’īl ibn Bazī’, from Al-Khaybari, from Ḥusain ibn Muḥammad Al-Ash’ari Al-Qummi, from Imam Riďā (a.s.).

I asked Abā Ja’far (Imam Jawād (a.s.)), “What is the reward for those who go to the Ziyārah of the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) with the (sole) intention of Ziyārah?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “(Their reward is) Paradise and the reward for those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Abil Ḥasan (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) is (also) Paradise.”

Imam Riďā (a.s.) said: The Ziyārah of the grave of my father (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) is the same as the Ziyārah of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.).

I said to Imam Riďā (a.s.), “May I sacrifice myself for you! We face some difficulties when we go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Abil Ḥasan (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) in Baghdad. Therefore, when we go to his Ziyārah, we say Salām to him from behind the walls. What are the rewards for those who go to his Ziyārah?” Imam (a.s.) replied: I swear to Allāh that it is the same as the rewards for going to (the Ziyārah of) the grave of the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.).

I said to Imam Riďā (s.a.a.w.), “We face some difficulties when we go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Abil Ḥasan (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) in Baghdad. What are the rewards for those who go to his Ziyārah?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Its rewards are the same as the rewards for going to (the Ziyārah of) the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.).” (After Imam (a.s.) said this) a man entered, said Salām to the Imam (a.s.), and sat down. He started talking about Baghdad and the inferiority of its people and about the afflictions, the collapsing of the earth, the clamour, and the bolts of lightning which are expected to befall Baghdad. Then I got up to leave and I heard Abal Ḥasan (Imam Riďā (a.s.)) say, “As for Abul Ḥasan (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)), none (of this will affect him).”

I wrote to Abil Ḥasan the Third (Imam Hādi (a.s.)) asking him about the Ziyārah of the grave of Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Ḥusain (a.s.)) and about the Ziyārah of the graves of Abil Ḥasan (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) and Abī Ja’far (Imam Jawād (a.s.)). Imam (a.s.) replied, “Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Ḥusain (a.s.)) comes first but that (the Ziyārah of Imam Kāżim and Imam Jawād) is more complete and has a greater reward.”

I asked Abā Ja’far (Imam Jawād (a.s.)), “What is the reward for those who go to the Ziyārah of the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) with the (sole) intention of Ziyārah?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “(Their reward is) Paradise and the reward for those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Abil Ḥasan (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) is (also) Paradise.”