I asked Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) on the route from Madīnah to Makkah, “O son of the Messenger of Allāh! Why do I see you so depressed, saddened, and grieved?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “If you could hear what I hear, you would have been distracted from asking me this question.” I asked, “What do you hear?” Imam (a.s.) replied: (I hear) the voices of the angels beseeching Allāh to curse the killers of the Commander of the Believers (a.s.) and the killers of Ḥusain (a.s.). And (I hear) the voice of lamentation of the Jinn on them (the Commander of the Believers and Ḥusain (a.s.)) and the intense grief and weeping of the angels who are around them. So who can enjoy food, drink, or sleep after hearing these voices?! I asked, “After one returns from the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.), how soon should he return to his Ziyārah? And how often should one go to his Ziyārah? And what is the longest time one is allowed to stay away from his Ziyārah?” Imam (a.s.) replied: Those who live close to his grave, should not go to his Ziyārah less than once a month. However, those who live far from him, should perform it (the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.)) (at least) once every three years. If three years pass and they do not go to his Ziyārah, they are (considered) ungrateful to the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) and they have disowned him, except those who have a (valid) excuse. If the Zā`ir of Ḥusain (a.s.) knew how happy he made the Messenger of Allāh, the Commander of the Believers, Fāťimah, the Imams (a.s.), and the martyrs among our family, and how they pray for him, and the rewards which are prepared for him in this life and the rewards which have been preserved for him with Allāh in the Hereafter, he would have wished that his house was next to the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) for as long as he lived. Verily when the Zā`ir leaves his dwelling (in Karbalā to return after the Ziyārah), his shadow does not cover anything without it praying for him. And when the sun shines (down) on him, it burns his sins just like fire burns firewood. The sun will not allow any of his sins to remain. Therefore, he will return without any sins while his rank has been elevated for him to a level which cannot be achieved even by those who are ensanguined with their own blood in the way of Allāh. Then an angel will be dedicated to him who will replace him (in performing the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.)) and who will seek forgiveness for him until he returns to the Ziyārah or until three years pass or until he dies (if he dies within the three year period). The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chain: My father, from Aḥmad ibn Idrīs, and from Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā, from ‘Amraki ibn ‘Ali Al-Būfaki, from Yaḥyā – who was the servant of Abī Ja’far the Second (Imam Jawād (a.s.)), from ‘Ali, from Safwān ibn Mihrān Al-Jammāl from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.).