The Reward for Those Who Go to the Ziyārah of Ĥusain (a.s.) at Times of Fear

I asked Abā Ja’far (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)), “What do you say about someone who goes to the Ziyārah of your father (Ḥusain (a.s.)) while he is in (the state of) fear?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “On the Day of Great Terror (the Day of Judgment) Allāh will keep him safe and the angels will receive him. They will give him glad tidings by saying, ‘Do not be afraid nor saddened. This is the day of your success.”

I said to Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), “I (often) travel to Arjān and my heart pulls me toward going to the Ziyārah of the grave of your father (Ḥusain (a.s.)). However, when I go, I am afraid; I dread the rulers, their governors, and their armed men until I return.” Imam (a.s.) said: O son of Bukayr! Do you not want Allāh to see you in fear for us?! Do you not know that Allāh will shelter those who are in fear because of our fear under the shade of His Throne, and that Ḥusain (a.s.) will be speaking to them under the Throne?! (Do you not know) that Allāh will keep them safe from the terrors of the Day of Judgment?! They will not be afraid while others will be terrified. And if they do get scared, the angels will pacify them and soothe their hearts by giving them glad tidings.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: O Mu’āwiyah! Do not neglect going to the Ziyārah of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) because of fear. Verily he who abandons the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) (for any reason) will regret it so much that he will wish that his grave was next to him. Do you not like Allāh to see you among those for whom the Messenger of Allāh, ‘Ali, Fāťimah, and the Imams (a.s.) pray?! Do you not like to be among those who return with forgiveness for their past sins and (do you not like) to return from his Ziyārah with seventy years of sins forgiven for you?! Do you not like to be among those who will not have any sins about which they will be questioned when they leave this life?! Do you not like to be among those whose hands the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) will shake tomorrow (on the Day of Judgment)?!

I asked Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), “May I sacrifice myself for you! How should one perform the Ziyārah of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) in circumstances which involve Taqiyyah (precaution)?” Imam (a.s.) replied: Perform a Ghusl in the Euphrates (River) and then wear your (most) purified clothes. Then pass by the grave and say: . May Allāh’s blessings be upon you, O Abā ‘Abdillāh! May Allāh’s blessings be upon you, O Abā ‘Abdillāh! May Allāh’s blessings be upon you, O Abā ‘Abdillāh! Imam added, “And (by doing this), your Ziyārah is complete.”

Abū Ja’far, Muḥammad ibn ‘Ali (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) asked me, “Do you go to the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.)?” I replied, “Yes. However, I am in fear and I dread it.” Imam (a.s.) replied: The amount of reward for going to his Ziyārah is based on the degree of fear (involved). Therefore, the greater the fear, the greater the reward! Verily on the Day of Judgment, when people are raised for the Lord of the Worlds, Allāh will make the hearts of those who had gone fearfully to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.), peaceful. (Those who go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) in fear) will return having been forgiven. The angels say Salām to them and the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) will go to their Ziyārah and will pray for them. They will return “with grace and favour from Allāh and no harm [will touch] them and they [will follow] the pleasures of Allāh” (3:174).