عبد الله بن عبد الرحمن الاصم المسمعي

Everything in this book that is narrated from Abu Bakr Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al-Hadrami and Kulayb Al-Asadi has been transmitted by me from my father - may Allah (swt) be pleased with him - from Sa'd ibn Abdullah, from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn ibn Abi Al-Khattab, from Abdullah ibn Abdur Rahman Al-Asam, from Abu Bakr Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al-Hadrami and Kulayb Al-Asadi.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘The best sauce is vinegar, it breaks bitterness, (bile) extinguishes yellowness (gall) and brings the heart to life.’”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: The sacred boundaries of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) are one parasang by one parasang by one parasang by one parasang.

I was in Makkah when I said to Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), “May I sacrifice myself for you! I have seen some of our companions take some of the clay of the Ḥā`ir and seek cure with it. Does it contain any cure like they say it does?” Imam (a.s.) replied: It can be used as a cure even if it is collected from the distance of four miles away from the Grave (of Ḥusain (a.s.)). The same applies to the grave of my grandfather, the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.), and the same applies to the clay of the graves of Ḥasan (a.s.), ‘Ali (Imam Sajjād (a.s.)), and Muḥammad (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)). Take some of it (the clay of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.)), for verily it is a cure for every disease and a shield against any fearful matter. Nothing else from among that which is used to cure (an ailment) can be compared to it except supplication. However, the containers in which it is (often) kept and the lack of certainty of those who treat themselves with it spoils it. Those who are certain that if they treat themselves with it, they will be cured, (will find that) it will suffice them with the permission of Allāh from having to use any other medicine. The devils and the disbeliever Jinns also spoil it by rubbing themselves against it. Nothing passes by it without smelling it. As for the devils and the disbeliever Jinns, they envy humans because of it so they rub themselves against it and all of its fragrance vanishes. An innumerable number from among them (the devils and the disbeliever Jinns) prepare themselves as soon as the clay leaves the Ḥā`ir – for they cannot enter the Ḥā`ir because of the angels (who guard it) – and they rub themselves against the clay while it is in the hands of the person who is carrying it. If any part of this dust remained intact and was used to treat any patient, he would be cured immediately. So when you take from this clay, keep it hidden and mention Allāh, the Exalted, increasingly on it. I have been informed that some of the people who take from the dust belittle it so much that some of them even place it in the feedbag of their camels, mules and donkeys, or in their own food containers, or in the handkerchiefs which are used to wipe the hands after eating, or in their saddlebags!!! How can a person who dishonours it in this way seek cure with it?!!! (Verily) the uncertain hearts of those who belittle that which leads to their righteousness will ruin its effect.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: When the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) was taken to the heavens on his journey (at night), he was told, “Verily Allāh, the Blessed and the Exalted, will test you with three afflictions to see how patient you will be.” The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied, “I submit to Your command, O Lord. And I have no power to stay patient except through You. What are the three tests?” He was told, “The first (test) is hunger and giving preference to the needy over yourself and your family.” The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied, “I have accepted, O Lord. I am pleased (with Your Will) and I submit to it, and I seek success and patience with You.” He was told: The second (test) is that you will be belied and you will be in extreme fear (for your life). You should spend your wealth, your blood, and your soul fighting against the people of disbelief, you should remain patient when you will be harassed by the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and you should remain patient when you will be hurt and wounded in battles. The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied, “I have accepted, O Lord. I am pleased (with Your Will) and I submit to it, and I seek success and patience with You.” He was told, “The third test is that your family will be killed after you. As for your brother, ‘Ali, your nation will slander and rebuke him, they will be violent with him, they will deprive him and usurp his rights, they will oppress him, and finally they will kill him.” The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied, “I have accepted, O Lord. And I am pleased (with Your Will), and I seek success and patience with You.” He was told: As for your daughter, she will be oppressed and deprived, and the rights which you gave her will be usurped. She will be beaten while she is pregnant, her sanctity will be breached, and her house will be entered without permission. Then she will be humiliated and disrespected. She will find no protector, she will suffer from a miscarriage because she will be beaten, and she will die as a result of that beating. The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied, “Surely we are Allāh’s and to Him we shall surely return’ (2:156). I have accepted, O Lord and I submit to it (Your Will), and I seek success and patience with You.” He was told, “She will have two sons from your brother. One of whom your nation will loot, stab, and kill unfaithfully.” The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied, “Surely we are Allāh’s and to Him we shall surely return’ (2:156). I have accepted, O Lord and I submit to it (Your Will), and I seek success with You for being patient.” He was told: As for her second son, your nation will invite him for Jihād but then they will kill him while he will be helpless. They will also kill his children and his family members who will be with him and they will loot his women. He will ask for help from Me but I have already willed his martyrdom and the martyrdom of those with him. His killing will be a decisive argument against everyone in the creation. The inhabitants of the heavens and the earths will weep and lose patience over him. And the angels, who will not be able to help him, will cry over him. However, I shall raise a man from his progeny whose shadow is with me under the Throne and through whom I shall support him (Ḥusain (a.s.)). He will fill the earth with justice and equity. The fear from him will travel with him and he will kill so many that people will doubt him. The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied, “Surely we are Allāh’s.” Then he was told, “Raise your head.” Imam (a.s.) added: The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) said: I looked up and saw a man who looked and smelled better than all people. He had a blessed visage and he was wearing clothes made of light. Light was emanating from his forehead, from over him, and from under him. He was surrounded by several angels who could not be counted except by Allāh, the Great and Almighty. Then I asked him to approach me. He (a.s.) came close to me and kissed my forehead. I said: O Lord! Who will this man avenge and for whom will he show his anger and for what reason have you prepared these angels?! You informed me about that which will be afflicted upon my family. You can support them against their oppressors if You will. You have promised victory for me and my family and I await the fulfillment of Your promise. Verily I have accepted and am pleased with Your Will and I submit to it, and I seek success and help from You to be pleased and patient. I was told: As for your brother, he will enter the “garden of abode as residence” (32:19) for staying patient. On the Day of Resurrection, I shall establish him as an argument on the creation and I shall authorize him to stand by your Pool (the Pool of Kawthar) where he will distribute water to your friends and prevent your enemies from drinking from it. I will make Hell cool and safe for him so that he can enter it and bring out anyone who has even an atom of love for you. I will make all of you (the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)) dwell at the same level in Paradise. As for your son, who will be abandoned and killed, and your other son, who will be betrayed and killed while he will be helpless, I will decorate My Throne with them for having suffered from the afflictions which befell them (in their lives), and they will be honoured in ways which are unimaginable by anyone from among mankind. Therefore, rely on Me. I shall honour those who go to his (Husain’s) grave because those who go to his Ziyārah have come to your Ziyārah, and those who come to your Ziyārah have come to My Ziyārah, and I will surely honour those who come to My Ziyārah. I will fulfill all of their requests and reward them in such a way that everyone will envy them when they see how I dignify them and the honour which I have prepared for them. As for your daughter, I will make her stand next to My Throne and she shall be told, “Verily Allāh has appointed you as the ruler over His creation. Therefore, rule however you want regarding those who oppressed you and your children, for your ruling will be executed.” So she will come to the courtyard (where the judgment will take place) and she will order those who oppressed her to be taken to Hell. Then the oppressor shall say, “Alas, woe to me for what I neglected toward Allāh” (39:56) and he will wish to return to life. “The oppressor shall bite his hands saying: ‘Would that I had taken the Path with the Messenger. Woe to me! Would that I had not taken so-and-so as my friend!” (25:27-28). And “until when he comes to Us he will say: ‘Would that there was a distance of two easts between you and me, you are an evil companion.’ It will not profit [them] on this day because [they] have oppressed, and [they] will be partners in chastisement” (43:38-39). The oppressor shall say, “You alone shall judge between Your servants concerning that wherein they have differed’ (39:46) or is the judge someone else?” They will be told, “The curse of Allāh be on the oppressors who hinder (people) from the path of Allāh and seek to make it crooked, and disbelieve in the Hereafter” (7:44-45). Imam (a.s.) continued: The first judgment will be between Muḥsin ibn ‘Ali (a.s.) and his killer – referring to the second usurper. Then he will be brought forth along with Qunfudh and they will be lashed with whips of fire. The whips will be such that if one of them hits the oceans, all of the oceans will boil from the east to the west and if (even one whip) touches the mountains, they will all melt and turn to ash. Then the Commander of the Believers (a.s.) will kneel in front of Allāh so that Allāh judges between him and the fourth (usurper) – referring to Mu’āwiyah. Thereafter, they (the second usurper, Qunfudh, and Mu’āwiyah) will be thrown in a well (of fire) which will be covered so no one can see them and they will not be able to see anyone. So those who followed them (in this life) will say, “O Our Lord, show us those two among the Jinn and men who had led us astray. We will trample them under our feet so that they may become of those who are the lowest” (41:29). Allāh, the Great and Almighty, will reply, “It will not profit you on this day because you have oppressed, and you will be partners in chastisement” (43:39). This is when they will scream in distress and call for destruction. The Two will come to the Pool, (imprisoned) by the Keepers (of Hell) and will say to the Commander of the Believers (a.s.), “Forgive us, give us some water, and save us.” They will be told: “But when they shall see it near, grieved shall be the faces of those who disbelieve, and it shall be said (to them): ‘this is what you have been calling for” (67:27) by referring to yourselves as the commanders of the believers. Return to Hell thirsty. You shall receive no drink but Ḥamīm and Ghislīn and “the intercession of the intercessors shall not avail [you]” (74:48).

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: When you go to the Ziyārah of Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Ḥusain (a.s.)), maintain silence except when (you are) saying that which is good. Verily the angels of the night and of the day from among the Keepers go to the angels who are in ḤĀ`IR and shake hands with them. However, the angels of Ḥā`ir do not speak to them because they are crying so intensely. Therefore, the angels (among the Keepers) wait for them until midday or until sunrise and then they speak to them and ask them about some of the affairs of the heavens. The angels of Ḥā`ir abstain from speaking between these times (sunrise and midday) and their crying and supplicating does not diminish. Verily the Keepers do not distract the angels of Ḥā`ir between these two times. However the angels of Ḥā`ir become distracted when you (those who go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.)) speak. I asked, “May I sacrifice myself for you! What do the angels ask each other and which group asks the other? Is it the Keepers who ask (the angels of Ḥā`ir) or is it the angels of Ḥā`ir who ask (the Keepers)?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “The angels of Ḥā`ir ask the Keepers because the angels of Ḥā`ir do not move from their place. However, the Keepers descend from the heavens and ascend back to them.” I asked, “What do the angels of Ḥā`ir ask the Keepers?” Imam (a.s.) replied: The Keepers pass by Ismā’īl, the Angel of Air, in their ascent (to the heavens) and sometimes they reach him at the same time when the Prophet, Fāťimah, Ḥasan and Ḥusain, and the (other) Imams (a.s.), who have passed away, are there (with Ismā’īl). They (the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)) ask the Keepers about some matters and about those of you (Zuwwār) who are present in Ḥā`ir. They (the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)) say to the Keepers, “Give them (those who have gone to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.)) glad tidings with your prayers.” The Keepers ask, “How should we give them glad tidings when they cannot hear us?” The Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) will reply, “Congratulate them and pray for them on our behalf. Verily these are our glad tidings to them. When they want to leave, surround them and rub your wings on them so that they can feel your presence. Verily we entrust them to He whose trust will never be lost.” Imam (a.s.) continued: If the Zuwwār of Ḥusain (a.s.) and the people knew the blessings of the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.), they would have fought one another with swords and they would have sold their belongings to go to his Ziyārah. Verily when Fāťimah (s.a.) – who is accompanied by one thousand prophets, one thousand SIDDǏQ (truthful), one thousand martyrs, and one million from among the KARŪBIYYǏN who all support her by joining her in crying (over Ḥusain (a.s.)) – looks at those who go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.), she lets out a whoop in such a way that no angel remains in the heavens who does not cry, sympathizing with her cry. However, Fāťimah (s.a.) is not pacified until the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) goes to her and says, “O my daughter! You have made the inhabitants of the heavens cry and you have distracted them from glorifying and sanctifying (Allāh). Therefore, stop crying so that they can glorify (Allāh). ‘Verily Allāh accomplishes His purpose’ (65:3).” Verily, Fāťimah (s.a.) looks at those of you who are present at the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) and she asks Allāh to shower you with all of the blessings. Imam (a.s.) continued, “Do not abstain from the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.). Verily the blessings of going to his Ziyārah are much greater than that which can be counted.”

I said to Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), “May I sacrifice myself for you! How short are your lives, O Ahlul Bayt! And how close are your deaths to one another while the entire creation needs you?!” Imam (a.s.) replied: There is a sheet for each one of us (the Imams (a.s.)) which contains everything that we need to do during our time. Once every order on that sheet has been carried out, we know that our death is imminent. The Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) comes to us and informs us that our death has come and he informs us of the rewards that Allāh has prepared for us. Verily Ḥusain (a.s.) read the sheet that was entrusted to him, and that which would happen and that which was yet to come were explained to him. There were a few things left on Ḥusain’s sheet which had not been fulfilled when he rose to fight. Those matters were that the angels asked Allāh for permission to help Ḥusain (a.s.) (in fighting) and Allāh granted it to them. While they were preparing themselves for battle, Ḥusain (a.s.) was killed. When the angels descended (to earth), they found that Ḥusain’s time had passed and he had been killed. Therefore, they said (to Allāh), “O Lord! You gave us permission to descend to earth to support Ḥusain but when we arrived, You had already taken him back (to Yourself)?!” Allāh – the Most Exalted – revealed to them, “Stay by his grave until (the day) when you see him rise (again) and then support him. Cry over him and over losing the opportunity to support him. Verily you have been chosen to support him and to cry over him.” The angels were grieved and they cried and mourned over losing the opportunity to support Ḥusain (a.s.). However, when he rises, they will be (among) his supporters.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said to me, “O Misma’! You are from Iraq. Do you not go to the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.)?” I replied: No. I am well-known among the people of Basra and we have some people there who are the followers of the Caliph. We (also) have lots of enemies from among the tribes, NUSSĀB, and others. I do not feel safe, for they might report me to the son of Sulaymān (the governor of Kūfah) and they will torture me to act as a deterrent for others. Imam (a.s.) asked, “Do you not remember what was done to him (Ḥusain (a.s.))?” I replied, “Yes.” Imam (a.s.) asked, “Do you grieve impatiently (over Ḥusain’s tragedy)?” I replied, “Yes! I swear to Allāh (that I do)! I cry over (that which was done to him) so much that my family sees the effect (of my grief) over me. And I abstain from eating and its effects (also) appear on my face.” Imam (a.s.) said: May Allāh’s Mercy be upon your tears! Verily you are counted among those who grieve impatiently for us, those who are happy for our happiness and grieve over our grief, and those who are afraid when we are afraid, and feel safe when we feel safe. Verily when you die, my fathers (a.s.) will be there for you and they will be giving recommendations to the Angel of Death about you. Verily the glad tidings that they (my fathers (a.s.)) will give you will be a greater reward than this. Verily the Angel of Death will be more kind and merciful to you than a compassionate mother is to her son. Then the Imam (a.s.) started to cry and I cried with him. Then he (the Imam (a.s.)) said: Praise be to Allāh, who by (His) Mercy, gave preference to us and favoured us, the Ahlul Bayt, above (the rest of) His creation. O Misma’! Verily the earth and the heavens continuously cry for us, sympathizing with us since the day the Commander of the Believers (a.s.) was killed. And the number of angels who cry over us is even greater than this. The tears of the angels have never stopped since (the day) our killing began. Allāh will have mercy on whoever cries, sympathizing with that which was done to us, even before his tears fall from his eyes. (Verily) if one of the tears which runs on his cheeks were to fall over Hell, it would extinguish the (burning) heat of it in such a way that no heat would remain in it (at all). Verily those whose hearts ache for us will be pleased by seeing us at the time of their death in such a way that this pleasure will stay in their hearts until they meet us by the Pool (on the Day of Judgment). Verily (the Pool of) Kawthar will be delighted when one of our lovers comes to it and will serve him with various kinds of food to such an extent that he (the lover of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)) will not ever wish to leave (the Pool). O Misma’! Those who drink (even) one sip from the Pool will never feel thirsty again and they will never ask for (another) drink again. It is as cold as camphor, as fragrant as musk, and as tasty as ginger. It is sweeter than honey, softer than butter, more pure than a tear, and more aromatic than ambergris. It emerges from Tasnīm and it passes through the rivers of Paradise and flows over a riverbed made of pearl and corundum. The number of jugs in it is greater than the number of stars in the sky; they are made of gold, silver, and various kinds of gems. Its fragrance (the Pool of Kawthar) can be smelled from a distance of one thousand years and such great fragrances emanate from it onto the face of whoever drinks from it, that he will say, “I wish if I could have been left right here. I do not need anything other than this and I do not wish to be moved from here.” O son of Kirdīn! Verily you will be among those whose thirst will be quenched by it, and everyone whose eyes cried on us will be blessed by looking at Kawthar and will be given a drink from it. Verily the desires of those who love us more will be satisfied in a greater way, and they will feel more pleasure, and they will find the water from the Pool of Kawthar more tasty than those who love us less. Verily the Commander of the Believers (a.s.) will be standing by the (Pool of) Kawthar and he will have a stick made of boxthorn in his hand with which he will smash our enemies (in such a way) that one of our enemies will say, “I testify that there is no god but Allāh and Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allāh!” The Commander of the Believers (a.s.) will reply, “Go to your leader, so-and-so, and ask him to intercede for you.” The man will say, “My leader, whom you mentioned, dissociates himself from me.” The Commander of the Believers (a.s.) will reply, “Go back and ask the one whom you used to love, follow, and whom you preferred above the rest of creation to intercede for you since he was the best of creation in your eyes, for verily (only) the best of creation can intercede.” The man will say, “I am dying of thirst!” The Commander of the Believers (a.s.) will reply, “May Allāh increase your thirst and your need for water!” I (Misma’) asked, “May I sacrifice myself for you! How can he (this enemy) even come close to the Pool when others cannot?” Imam (a.s.) replied: He stayed away from hideous acts and abstained from insulting us – the Ahlul Bayt – when we had been mentioned in his presence and he avoided some other (hideous) acts which others had dared to commit. However, none of this (abstaining from these evil deeds) was based on following us or loving us. Rather, it was based on his diligence in worship and in religious acts and based on being preoccupied with himself rather than talking about others. However, the heart (of such a person) is filled with hypocrisy and his religion is based on hating us, following those who incite hatred toward us, believing in the authority of those two people of the past, and giving preference to them over everyone else.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: O son of Bukayr! Verily Allāh has chosen six places on earth: Bayt Al-Ḥarām (Ka’bah), Ḥaram (Masjid Al-Ḥarām), the graves of the prophets, the graves of the successors, the places of the martyrdom of the Martyrs, and the mosques in which the name of Allāh is remembered. O son of Bukayr! Do you know the reward for those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Abī ‘Abdillāh, Al-Ḥusain (a.s.), although the ignorant neglect it?! Every morning, an angel calls out next to the grave of Ḥusain, “O those who seek blessings! Come to Allāh’s chosen one (Ḥusain (a.s.)) so that you may return with honour and are protected from regret!” This call is heard by all of the inhabitants of the east and the west, except by mankind and Jinn. (Upon hearing this call), all of the angels on earth go to the Zuwwār of Ḥusain (a.s.) while they are asleep, sanctify Allāh close to them, and ask Allāh to be pleased with them (the Zuwwār). All of the angels in the air, who hear this call, respond to it by glorifying Allāh, the Exalted. The voices of the angels are raised and the inhabitants of the first sky respond to their voices (by glorifying Allāh). The voices of the angels and the inhabitants of the first sky are loud enough for the inhabitants of the seventh sky and for the prophets to hear, who then (in turn ask Allāh to) send mercy and blessings on Ḥusain (a.s.) and pray for those who go to his Ziyārah.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: I heard my father (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) ask one of his servants, who had asked him about the Ziyārah (of Ḥusain (a.s.)), “To whose Ziyārah are you going and whom do you seek (to please) by going to this Ziyārah?” He (the servant) replied, “Allāh, the Blessed and the Exalted.” My father (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) said: Those who establish one Salāt behind the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) seeking (nearness with) Allāh will meet Him on the Day of Judgment shining so brightly that the light (which emanates from them) will cover everything that looks at them. Allāh will honour those who go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) and He will prevent the Fire from touching them. They will not be prevented from coming to the Pool and no one will precede them. The Commander of the Believers (a.s.) will be standing by the Pool and he will shake their hands and quench their thirst with the water. Then they will go to their dwellings in Paradise accompanied by an angel appointed by the Commander of the Believers (a.s.). This angel will order SIRĀŤ to humble itself before them and will order Hell not to touch them with its blazing fires. Therefore, they will pass Sirāť accompanied by the angel which had been sent by the Commander of the Believers (a.s.).

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).

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 asked Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), “May I sacrifice myself for you! What do you say about someone who has the ability to go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) but does not?” Imam (a.s.) replied: I say that he has disowned the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) and disowned us. He has belittled a matter that is obligatory on him. Verily Allāh will look after the needs of those who go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) and will take care of every matter that is important to them in this life. Verily going to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) increases the sustenance of the slaves (of Allāh) and they will be recompensed for the money that they spend (in the Ziyārah). Verily fifty years of sin will be forgiven for them and they will return to their families having every sin and mistake erased from their book (of deeds). If they die during their Ziyārah, the angels will descend and perform their ablution (Ghusl). The doors of Paradise will be opened for them and its fragrance will surround them until the Day of Resurrection. If they do not die during their Ziyārah, the door from which sustenance descends will be opened for them and they will be compensated with ten thousand Dirhams for every Dirham they spent (during their Ziyārah) and it (their recompense) will be kept safely for them. Therefore, when they are resurrected, they will be told, “You have ten thousand Dirhams for every Dirham you spent and Allāh has postponed (your recompense) and kept it safely for you with Himself.”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: Those who go to (the Ziyārah of) the grave of Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Ḥusain (a.s.)) have connected with the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) and with us. It is unlawful to slander them and it is unlawful for Hell to touch their flesh. (Verily) Allāh will compensate them for every Dirham they spent (during their Ziyārah) with ten thousand cities which will be registered for them in a written book. Allāh will look after all of their needs and everything that they leave behind will be protected for them. They will not ask Allāh for anything without Allāh granting it either immediately or in the future. The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chain: Muḥammad ibn Hammām ibn Suhayl, from Ja’far ibn Muḥammad ibn Mālik, from Muḥammad ibn Ismā’īl, from ‘Abdillāh ibn Ḥammād, from ‘Abdillāh ibn ‘Abdil Raḥmān Al-Asam, from Mu’ādh, from Abān, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.).

I asked Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), “When we go to the Ziyārah of your father (Ḥusain (a.s.)), are we in Hajj?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes.” I asked, “Then does that which applies to those who go for Hajj apply to us?” Imam (a.s.) asked, “To what are you referring?” I replied, “The behavior of those who go for Hajj” Imam (a.s.) said: You should be a good companion to those who accompany you, speak less and say only that which is good, mention Allāh increasingly, wear purified clothes, perform Ghusl before going to the Ḥā`ir, be humble, increasingly establish prayers, send blessings on Muḥammad and his family, be honourable by not taking that which does not belong to you, not look (at that which is not permitted), help the needy ones from your brothers if you find them helpless, give solace to (your brothers), and act in accordance with Taqiyyah which is the pillar of your religion. You should (also) abstain from that which is forbidden, from fighting, from taking oaths, and from quarrelling which leads to taking oaths. Verily if you follow that (which I mentioned), your Hajj and ‘Umrah will be complete. And (by doing this), you will earn the Forgiveness, the Mercy, and the Pleasure of Allāh, whose blessings you have sought by spending money (during your journey), being away from your family, and by having the desire to go to the Ziyārah (of Ḥusain (a.s.)).

The Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him, is the Loft Palace, and the Abandoned Well is Fatima and her sons, who are abandoned from rulership.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: If a believer, who suffers from an illness, and who believes in the rights of Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Ḥusain (a.s.)) and in his sanctity and his divine authority, takes as little as the touch of a fingertip from the clay of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.), he will be cured by it.

I said to Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)): May I sacrifice myself for you! Your father (a.s.) used to say that those who spend money going to Hajj will be recompensed with one thousand Dirhams for every Dirham they spent. Therefore, what is the reward for those who spend money traveling to your father, Ḥusain (a.s.)? Imam (a.s.) replied: O son of Sinān! For every Dirham they spend, they will be recompensed with one thousand plus one thousand plus… Dirhams – and he repeated that ten times. Furthermore, their status will be elevated to the same degree. However, they will benefit even more (handsomely) from the pleasure of Allāh and the praying of Muḥammad (s.a.a.w.), the Commander of the Believers (a.s.), and the Imams (a.s.) (because of their Ziyārah).

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not perfume shrouds and your deceased one’s except with camphor; a deceased person is like one in the state of Ihram.’”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: Fāťimah (s.a.) was carrying Ḥusain (a.s.) one day when the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) took him from her. He said (to Ḥusain (a.s.)), “Allāh’s curse be upon those who (will) kill you. Allāh’s curse be upon those who (will) loot you. May Allāh destroy those who (will) help one another against you. May Allāh judge between me and those who (will) support others against you.” Fāťimah (s.a.) asked, “O father! What are you saying?!” The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied: O My daughter! I remembered the tragedies that will befall him after me and you, and how he will be hurt, oppressed, betrayed, and violated. When this happens, he will be accompanied by a group (of people) who are like the stars of the sky, and (they) will be led toward death. The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) continued, “It is as if I can see their camp, the place where they will dismount from their sumpters, and their dust.” Fāťimah (s.a.) asked, “O father! Where is this place you are describing?” The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied: It is a land called Karbalā. It is the land of (KARB) agony and (BALĀ) affliction for us and for the nation. The most wicked ones from my nation will rise against them (Ḥusain (a.s.) and his companions). Even if all of the inhabitants of the heavens and the earths intercede for one of those who rise against Ḥusain (a.s.), their intercession will not be accepted, and they will abide in Hell eternally. Fāťimah (s.a.) asked, “O father! So he (Ḥusain (a.s.)) will be killed?” The Prophet (s.a.) replied: Yes, O my daughter. No one has ever been killed (or will be killed) other than Ḥusain (a.s.) on whom the heavens, the earths, the mountains, the angels, the beasts, and the whales in the oceans (will) cry. And if these created beings had been given permission (to destroy everything to avenge Ḥusain (a.s.)), no living object would have survived (after the killing of Ḥusain (a.s.)). (Verily) a group of people who love us will go to him (his Ziyārah). (Verily) no one on earth knows Allāh better than they do and no one is more committed to our rights than they are. (Verily) no one on earth other than them will pay attention to Ḥusain (a.s.). (Verily) they are the lights in the darkness of oppression. They are the intercessors and they are those who will join me by my Pool tomorrow (on the Day of Judgment). I will recognize them by their marks when I see them (on the Day of Judgment). (On that day) the followers of every religion will look for their leaders and they (those who go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.)) will look for no one other than us. They are the pillars of the earth, and the rains shower down through them.