علي بن عمران الخزاز الكوفي

Imam Ali (a.s) said in a part of a long sermon: “O' People! Try to be honest because God is the helper of the honest people. Avoid telling lies since it will ruin your faith. Know that honest people are on the verge of nobility and honor, while liars are on the verge of collapse and destruction.”

Imam Ali (AS) said, One who makes amends is on the brink of righteousness.

Imam Ali (AS) said, A liar is at the brink of an abyss [of ruin] and disgrace.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The truthful one is at the height of salvation and dignity, whereas the liar is on the brink of ignominy and degradation.

Imam Ali (AS) said, Do not incline towards your ignorant people (or your ignorance) and do not follow your vain desires, for indeed the one who alights at this stop is on the brink of a collapsing bank.

Abu Abdullah (asws) regarding the Statement of the High (azwj): “[3:103] and you were on the brink of a pit of fire, then He saved you from it, through Muhammad (saww).’’ By Allah (azwj), this is how Jibraeel (as) came down with it upon Muhammad (saww)’.

The best things through which the supplicants can entreat Allah are: faith in Allah and His Messenger, jihād in the way of Allah, acknowledgement of [His] oneness (kalimat al-ikhlāṣ) – for indeed it is something [that is embedded] in the innate nature (fiṭrah), establishing prayer – forindeed it is the [pillar of the] creed (millah), giving the zakāt (alms-tax) – for indeed it is part of what is obligatorily due to Allah, fasting in the month of Ramaḍān – forindeed it is a shield from His chastisement, pilgrimage to the House [of Allah] – forindeed it alleviates poverty and wipes away sin, maintaining ties with near of kin – for indeed it is a means of increasing one’s wealth and delaying one’s death, giving charity in secret – for indeed it does away with sin and extinguishes divine wrath, and [doing] good turns – for indeed they repel tragic death and protect [one] from falling into disrepute [and disgrace]. Ensure that you are [always] honest, for Allah is with the one who is truthful, and turn aside from falsehood, for indeed lies take one away from faith. Know that the truthful one is close to salvation and honor, while the liar is on the brink of humiliation and destruction. Speak [only] what is good and you will be known for it, act upon it and you will become one of its folk. Return the trust to the one who entrusted it to you, and keep ties with the near of kin and turn towards them in kindness.”

You should know that even the smallest hypocrisy is like believing in more than one God, and keeping company of people who follow their desires is the key to obliviousness from religion, and is the seat of Satan. Be on your guard against falsehood because it is contrary to Faith. A truthful person is on the height of salvation and dignity, while the liar is on the edge of ignominy and degradation. Do not be jealous because jealousy eats away Faith just as fire eats away dried wood. Do not bear malice because, it is scraper (of virtues). And know that desires make wit forgetful and make memory oblivious. You should falsify desire because it is a deception, and he who has desires is in deceit.

Hadith.613 - The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) used to say: "The best means by which those seeking nearness (to Allah (swt)) may draw near are; Faith in Allah (swt) and His Messenger, Striving in the way of Allah (swt), Word of sincerity (testifying that there is no god but Allah (swt)), for it is the natural disposition (fitrah), Establishing prayer for it is the religion, Giving zakat (alms) for it is one of the obligations of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic; fasting, for it is a shield from His punishment, Fasting as it is a shield from His punishment, Pilgrimage to the House (Hajj), for it is a means of dispelling poverty and washing away sins, Maintaining family ties increases wealth and prolongs life, Charity given in secret extinguishes sin and appeases the wrath of Allah (swt) Almighty, Acts of kindness for they repel a bad death and protect against disgraceful situations. So, be truthful, for Allah (swt) is with the truthful. Avoid lying, for it distances one from faith. Know that the truthful one stands on the brink of salvation and honor, while the liar stands on the brink of disgrace and ruin. Say good words so that you are recognized by them, and act upon them so that you may be among the people of virtue. Return trusts to those who have entrusted you, maintain kinship ties even with those who cut them off, and show favour to those who deprive you”.

20. Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) narrates that Amirul Momineen (a.s.) said, “Our enemy is standing at the edge of the pit of Hell and will surely enter Hell and the hellish will be destroyed. It is a bad place for them as Almighty Allah has said: so certainly evil is the dwelling place of the proud.28 There is no such person who is granted goodness by Allah and does not love us.”

Whenever Abu Abdullah (asws) mentioned the Rasool Allah (saww), he would say: ‘By my (asws) father (asws), and my (asws) mother (as), and by my (asws) people, and my (asws) relatives! It is strange of the Arabs, how they have not carried us (asws) upon their heads, and Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic is Saying in His (azwj) Book: “[3:103] and you were on the brink of a pit of fire, then He saved you from it”, so it was by the Rasool Allah (saww) that they were saved’.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who divorces his pregnant wife with two children in her womb. She gives birth to one and one remains. He (the Imam) said, ‘She becomes stranger with the birth of one child and she is not lawful for marriage until the birth of the other child.’”*

I once called upon Amirul Mu’mineen, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him, and said: "Salaam upon you, O Amirul Mu’mineen and His mercy and blessing, how are you? He said: "I am in a state of loving those who love us, and hatred for those who hate us. And our friends are in a state of rejoicing in the mercy of Allah which they were expecting and our enemies are in a state of founding their edifice on the crumbling brink and that brink will fall down with him into the fire of hell. The gates of Paradise are opened for those who belong to it. So happiness and delight for the people who have earned their mercy of Allah, and ruination be for those who are in hell. O Hanash, whoever wishes to know whether he is our lover or not, he should search his own heart. If he loves our friend and partisans, then he is not our enemy, but if he hates our friends and partisans, then he is not our lover. Allah has a covenant with our lovers for our friendship, and has written the names of our adversaries in the record. We are the ones of noble descent, and our ancestors are the ancestors of the Prophets."

Once I called upon Amirul Mu’mineen, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him, while he was at al-Rahbah, reclining. So I said: "Peace be upon you, O, Amirul Mu’mineen and His mercy and His blessing, how are you this morning?" He said: He raised his head and returned the greetings and then said: "I have entered this morning with love for those who love us and patience fro those who hate us. Surely, he who loves us, awaits for repose, happiness and deliverance every day and night. And he who hates us has built a structure whose foundation is laid on the edge of a crumbling bank; which tumbles and tumbles down with him into the fire of hell. O, Abu Mo’tamar, he who loves us cannot nurse hatred against us in his bosom and he who hates us cannot love us. No doubt, Allah, Most High, created the hearts of the slaves with a propensity to love us and has forsaken those who deviated to hate us. So, those who love us cannot hate us and those who hate us cannot love us; and our love can never be combined with the love of our adversaries in one heart. Allah has not assigned to any man two hearts in his chest - loving one group with this heart and loving those who are their enemies with the other."

We called upon Masrooq ibn al-Ajda and found a guest who we did not know. They were having their meals; and then the guest observed that he was with the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, at Hunayn. Just as he said that, we knew he was a companion of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny. He said: Then Safiyyah, daughter of Hay ibn Akhtab (one of the wives of the Prophet) came to the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, and said: "O messenger of Allah, I am not like your other wives who have father, brother and uncle. If anything were to happen to you, to who do you entrust me?" The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, pointing at ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him said: "To him." Then he said: "May I not relate to you what al-Harith ibn al-A’awar narrated to us?" We said: "Please do." He said: I called upon ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him and his progeny, and he asked: "O A’awar, what brings you here?" A’awar says he replied: "O Amirul Mu’mineen, your love has brought us." He asked: "Really?" I said: "Yes, Allah is my witness." He confirmed with me three times. Then he said: "There is no slave of Allah who He has tested for piety, except that He finds our love in his heart; such a person indeed loves us. And there is no slave of Allah upon whom Allah has shown His displeasure, except that He finds our hatred in his heart, and such a person indeed hates us. So, our friends always expect the divine mercy, and the gates of mercy are open for them. And our enemies are upon the edge of crumbling bank that will tumble down with them in to the fire of hell. Bounteous is the mercy for the people who earn it, and perdition is for the people of hell fire."

‘Praise be to Allah (azwj) Who is High and thus all is in His (azwj) possession and He (azwj) is Closer than any in the view. And I (asws) hereby testify that there is no god but Allah (azwj), One with no associates to Him (azwj), and I (asws) testify that Muhammad (saww) is His (azwj) servant and His (azwj) Messenger (saww), the last of the Prophets (as) and a Proof over the worlds, a ratification for the former Prophets (as) and was kind and merciful to the Believers. The Angels sent ‘salam’ greetings of peace upon him (saww) and upon his (saww) Progeny (asws). Having said that, O you people! The transgression (indecency) places its owner into the Fire, and the first one to transgression (commit indecency) against Allah (azwj) Majestic is His (azwj) Remembrance was Onaq the daughter of Adam (as), and the first one who was killed, whom Allah (azwj) Killed was Onaq. And the area that she occupied when seated upon the ground measured one square acre (Jarib) of the land, and she had twenty fingers and on each of her fingers were two nails like two sickles. So Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic Made her to be overcome by a lion which was like an elephant (in size), and a wolf which was like a camel (in size), and an eagle like a mule (in size). So they killed her. And Allah (azwj) had Killed the tyrants in their best conditions, and gave Safety to those who used to be (oppressed). And He (azwj) Made Hannaan to die, and destroyed the Pharaoh (la), and He (azwj) has Killed Usman. Indeed! Your misfortunes have returned to what they were on the day Allah (azwj) Sent His (azwj) Prophet (saww). By the One (azwj) Who Sent him (saww) by the truth, you will be confused with a (severe) confusion and be sifted with a (severe) sifting, and stirred and turned like the contents of a frying pan until your underside becomes your upper side and your upper side becomes your underside. The ones who used to be with the shortcomings will become the foremost ones, and those who used to be the foremost ones would become the people with shortcomings. By Allah (azwj)! I (asws) have neither concealed, nor blocked, nor lied a lie, and I (asws) have been foretold about this place and this day. Indeed! And the sins are like uncontrollable horses which carry its riders, with its harnesses removed, plunging into the Fire. Indeed! And the piety is like a humble ride which takes its rider, along with its rein, to the Paradise, and its Doors will be opened up for them, and they will find its aroma and goodness. And it will be said to them: ‘Enter it in peace and security’. Indeed! The ones who had no association with it has preceded me (asws) to this command (Caliphate), and the ones to whom it had not been Granted to, and the ones for whom there was no chance from it except if they were to be Prophets (as) who had been Sent. And indeed! There is no Prophet (as) to be after Muhammad (saww) who is more noble than him (as) over the intercession on the brink of the Fire. So they will fall with by it (their lies) in the Fire of Hell. Truth as well as falsehood, for each of them are its people. The matter of falsehood is a very old one and has been active. And if the truth is less (in practice) it is because of ‘if’ and ‘maybe’. And it is rare that if a thing gone away comes back, and if your command (Caliphate) returns to you, you would be pleased, and it is not on me (asws) except for the striving, and I (asws) am afraid that you all will end up being on the nature of your nation (away) from me (asws), the nation that you were in beforehand and would not have a praiseworthy opinion in my (asws) sight, and if I (asws) so desire to I (asws) would say: ‘May Allah (azwj) Forgive what was in the past’. Two men preceded me (asws) with regards to it (Caliphate), and the third one stood up like the Raven. His main concern was his stomach. Woe be unto him! Had his wings been clipped and his head cut-off, it would have been better for him. He was distracted from the Paradise and the Hell was in front of him. Three and two make five, there is no sixth of them – An Angel who files by his wings, and a Prophet (as) whom Allah (azwj) has Grabbed by his (as) shoulders (Given him Divine Status), and a diligent seeker (momin), and a hopeful student, and a reducer (Muqassir) are in the Fire. The right and the left are misleading, whereas the middle path is the street on which you will come across the Book and the effects of the Prophet-hood. Destroyed is the one who makes a claim, and disillusioned is the one who fabricates that Allah (azwj) Disciplined this community by the sword and the whip, and there is no leniency for either of them with the Imam (asws). So, hide in your homes and mend your relationships in between yourselves and the repentance is behind you all. The one who turned his cheek (opposed the Imam (asws)) to the truth is destroyed.

“One day the Prophet (S) was sitting with his companions in the mosque. He said: “A man will come to you from this gate. He will be one of the people of Paradise. He asks about what concerns him.” Then a tall man looking like the people of Mudhar came in. He advanced, greeted the Prophet (S) and sat down. He said: “O messenger of Allah, I have heard Allah saying in His Book: (And hold fast by the covenant (rope) of Allah all together and be not disunited). Then what is this “rope” that Allah has ordered us to keep to and not to separate from?” The Prophet (S) pondered long and then raised his head and pointed with his hand to Ali bin Abu Talib (as) saying: “This is the “rope” of Allah. He, who keeps to him, will be saved in his life and will not be deviant in his afterlife.” The man jumped and embraced Imam Ali (as). He said: “I have kept to the rope of Allah and the rope of His messenger.” Then he left. A man from among the people got up and said: “O messenger of Allah, do I follow after him and ask him to pray Allah to forgive me?” The Prophet (S) said: “Then you find him pleased.” He followed him and asked him to pray Allah for him. He said to him: “Did you understand what the Prophet (S) said to me and what I said to him?” He said: “Yes, I did.” He said: “If you keep to that rope, then Allah will forgive you; otherwise He will not forgive you.” If the Prophet (S) had not declared for us the rope of Allah that He had ordered us in His Book to keep to and not to separate from, then the opponents would have interpreted it according to their fancies and turned it away to other than what Allah and his messenger had meant. But the Prophet (S) had said in his speech he made in the mosque of al-Khayf during the last hajj (farewell hajj): “I shall precede you (to Paradise) and you will come to me at the pond, whose width is as between Busra and San’aa. It has cups as much as the stars of the sky. I have left to you the two weighty things; the great one is the Qur’an and the minor one is my family. They both are the rope of Allah. It is extended between you and Almighty Allah. If you keep to it, you will never go astray at all. One of its ends is in the hand of Allah and the other is in your hands.” It has this addition according to another tradition: “The Most Kind has told me that they will not separate until they come to me at the pond (of Paradise) together like these two forefingers. (He gathered his two fingers).” The same was narrated by Abdul Wahid bin Abdullah bin Younus al-Moossili from Muhammad bin Ali bin Ibraheem bin Hashim from his father from his grandfather from Muhammad bin Abu Omayr from Hammad bin Eessa from Hurayz from Abu Abdullah Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Ali (as-Sadiq) from his father from his forefathers from Imam Ali (as). Also it was narrated by Abdul Wahid bin Abdullah from Muhammad bin Ali from his father from his grandfather from al-Hasan bin Mahboob and al-Hasan bin Ali bin Fadhdhal from Ali bin Aqaba from Abu Abdullah (Imam as-Sadiq). And the same was narrated by Abdul Wahid bin Muhammad bin Ali from his father from his grandfather from al-Hasan bin Mahboob from Ali bin Ri’ab from Abu Hamza ath-Thimali from Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir (as). The holy Qur’an always has been with Ahlul Bayt and they always have been with the holy Qur’an. They both are the rope of Allah. They never separate as the Prophet (S) has told. This is an evidence for any one, whom Allah has guided to His true religion, showing that whoever resorts to other than the holy Qur’an and Ahlul Bayt, whom Allah has made the guardians after the Prophet (S) and made obeying them as one of the necessary obligations of religion, in looking for knowledge and orders of the Qur’an and all the religious affairs, definitely will go astray and perish and cause others to perish. Ahlul Bayt were those, whom the Prophet (S) had offered as the highest examples to his umma. He said: “My family to you is like the Ark of Noah. Whoever rides on it will be safe and whoever lags behind it will drown.” He also said: “The example of my family to you is like the Gate of Forgiveness of the Israelites. Whoever enters it his sins will be forgiven and will deserve mercy and blessing of Allah.” Allah has said: “…And enter the gate making obeisance, and say, forgiveness. We will forgive you your wrongs and give more to those who do good (to others).” Imam Ali (as) said in one of his speeches: “The knowledge that Adam has brought from the Heaven to the earth and all the virtues of the prophets until the last of them, Prophet Muhammad, have been granted to Ahlul Bayt. So whereto do you go astray? Where do you go, O you, who have been derived from the people of the Ark? As some only had been saved there, here also some only will be saved. Woe to one, who opposes them (the infallible imams).” He also said: “We, to you, are like the cave to the People of the Cave and like the Gate of Forgiveness, which is the gate of peace. So be in peace all of you.” He also said through his speech: “The loyal companions of Muhammad are certain that he has said: “I and my family are infallible. Do not precede them in order not to go astray, do not lag behind them in order not to fall in mistakes, do not object to them in order not to be ignorant and do not teach them because they are much more aware than you. They are the most aware when young and the most aware when old. Follow the truth and its people wherever they are and be far away from the untruth and its people wherever they are.” But unfortunately people brushed all that aside. They considered the orders of the Prophet (S) as ridiculous and raving. They refused to follow those, whom Allah and His messengers had ordered to be obeyed. Allah said: “So, ask the followers of the reminder if you do not know.” “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority from among you.” The Prophet (S) confirmed many times that safety was bound by keeping to Ahlul Bayt, doing according to their sayings, submitting to their orders, learning from them and walking in their path; nevertheless people resorted to others than them and ascribed their virtues to those others. They became pleased with those others and so Allah deprived them from the true knowledge. They began to interpret according to their fancies and analogies and they became satisfied with their own minds away from the guidance of Allah, His messenger and the infallible imams, whom Allah had appointed to be the guides for His people. When they brushed all that aside and depended on their own opinions, Allah left them to stray in confusion and deviation and consequently they perished and caused others to perish. Allah said: “Say: Shall We inform you of the greatest losers in (their) deeds. (These are) they whose labor is lost in this world’s life and they think that they are well versed in skill of the work of hands.” As if people had not heard the saying of Allah: “And the day when the unjust one shall bite his hands saying: O! would that I had taken a way with the Messenger. O woe is me! would that I had not taken such a one for a friend.” So was that “messenger” but Muhammad (as)? And who was that “one” mentioned in the verse? Immediately after that Allah said: “Certainly he led me astray from the reminder after it had come to me.” It meant after acknowledging Islam and becoming a Muslim. Then what was that “reminder” which that one’s friend had led him astray from? Was it not the holy Qur’an and Ahlul Bayt? Allah had called the Prophet (S) as “reminder” when He said: “Allah has indeed revealed to you a reminder; a messenger.” And when He said: “So, ask the followers of the reminder if you do not know.” Was the “reminder” mentioned in the verse but the Prophet (S)? And who were the “followers of the reminder” save the Prophet’s family? Then Allah said: “…And the Satan fails to aid man.” Definitely the Satan would lead his followers away from the “reminder” and then they would lose in this life and the afterlife. Allah said expressing the Prophet’s situation: “And the Messenger cried out: O my Lord! surely my people have treated this Qur’an as a forsaken thing.” They became indifferent to the Qur’an, to which and to Ahlul Bayt Allah had ordered them to keep. Did this blame not concern the people, to whom the Qur’an had been revealed? Did it not concern the people of this umma, who had wronged their Prophet’s family and left the Qur’an aside? It was they, whom the Prophet (S) would witness against on the Day of Resurrection for they had preferred the pleasures of this life to their religion out of doubting Muhammad (as) and envying his family because Allah had favored them with great excellences. The Prophet (S) said: “On the Day of Resurrection, some of my companions will quiver right and left. I will say: O my God, they are my companions. It will be said: O Muhammad, you do not know what they have committed after you. Then I will say: Away with them! Away with them!” Allah confirmed this by saying: “And Muhammad is no more than a messenger; the messengers have already passed away before him; if then he dies or is killed will you turn back upon your heels? And whoever turns back upon his heels will by no means do harm to Allah in the least and Allah will reward the grateful.” This verse had a certain evidence that there would be some people, who would turn back on their heels after the death of the Prophet (S) and who would deny the orders of Allah and His messenger. Allah said: “…Then let those beware who withstand the Messenger’s order, lest some trial befall them, or a grievous penalty be inflicted on them.” Allah would double torment and disgrace for those, who wronged the Prophet’s family and deprived them of their rights and who changed the orders of Allah when He ordered that they (the Prophet’s family) were to be obeyed, loved and taken as guides. Allah said: “Say: No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin.” “… Is then He Who gives guidance to truth more worthy to be followed, or he who finds not guidance (himself) unless he is guided? What then is the matter with you? How judge ye?” The true believers of the umma had agreed upon that Imam Ali (as) was the guardian of the Prophet (S). He guided the companions to the truth often and always and none of them ever guided him. They all were in need of him but he was not in need of any of them. He knew and taught all kinds of knowledge but none of them ever taught him a bit. They did wrong to Fatima, the infallible Prophet’s daughter, to a degree that she (as) recommended in her will to be buried secretly at night and that none of her father’s umma was to offer the prayer (prayer for the dead) for her except those few ones she had mentioned. If there was no calamity in the history of Islam bringing shame and disgrace other than the calamity of Fatima (sa) until she left to the better world angry with her father’s umma leaving her bitter will that no one was to attend her burial except very few loyal companions, it would be sufficient evidence for the ignorant and for those, whose hearts were sealed, to see what a great sin they had committed when they wronged Fatima, her husband and her sons (peace be upon them) and when they preferred the oppressors to the Prophet’s family, who were the elite of Allah. Allah said: “For surely it is not the eyes that are blind, but blind are the hearts which are in the breasts.” This blindness will cling to the enemies of the Prophet’s family until the Day of Resurrection. Allah said: “Certainly you were heedless of it, but now We have removed from you your veil, so your sight today is sharp.” “The day on which their excuse shall not benefit the unjust, and for them is curse and for them is the evil abode.” Then how odd it was when those blind and deaf people pretended that the holy Qur’an had not had all things about the obligations and the laws needed by people; therefore when they did not find all things, they used their analogies in deriving the laws and they fabricated lies and ascribed them to the Prophet (S) that he had permitted them to do according to their own derivations whereas Allah had said in His Book: “… And We have revealed the Book to you explaining clearly everything.” “We have not neglected anything in the Book.” “And We have recorded everything in a clear writing.” “And We have recorded everything in a book.” “I do not follow aught save that which is revealed to me.” “And that you should judge between them by what Allah has revealed.” One, who says that something of the affairs of this life and the afterlife, the laws of religion, the obligations and everything that people need is not available in the Qur’an, about which Allah has said, “… and We have revealed the Book to you explaining clearly everything,” refutes the saying of Allah, ascribes lying to Allah and does not believe in His Book. By Allah, they showed the reality of themselves and of the imams, whom they imitated, when they said that they had not found everything in the Qur’an because they were not among the people of the Qur’an nor among those, who had been given the knowledge of the Qur’an nor had Allah and His messenger given them a share of that because Allah had granted all the knowledge of the Qur’an to the Prophet’s family, who were the trustees, the heirs and the interpreters of the Qur’an. If they submitted to the order of Allah when saying: “…And if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, those among them who can search out the knowledge of it would have known it.” “So ask the followers of the reminder if you do not know.” Allah would get them to the light of guidance, would teach them what they had not known and would make them not need analogy or derivation according to their own opinions and then the differences between the laws of religion would disappear and they would not need to ascribe fabricated traditions to the Prophet (S) claiming that the Prophet (S) had permitted it (deciding according to one’s analogy) whereas the Qur’an had prohibited it when saying: “And if it were from any other than Allah, they would have found in it many a discrepancy.” “And be not like those who separated and disputed after clear arguments had come to them.” “And hold fast by the covenant (rope) of Allah all together and be not disunited.” The Qur’anic verses talking about disagreement and separation are innumerable. Disagreement and separation in religion lead to deviation. Nevertheless they permitted that and claimed that the Prophet (S) had permitted it whereas Allah had prohibited it by saying: “And be not like those who separated and disputed after clear arguments had come to them.” Is there something clearer than this? Do people have any excuse before Allah after that? We pray Allah not to let us go astray and not to let us submit to our minds and fancies in deciding the matters of our religion. We pray Him to firm our guidance and faith, to keep to His guardians, to do according to what they have ordered and to refrain from what they have prohibited in order to meet Him with our faith and loyalty. We pray Him not to let us precede His guardians nor lag behind them for he, who precedes them, will apostatize, who lags behind them will drown, who opposes them will perish and who keeps to them will succeed as the Prophet (S) has said.

“Stop when you arrive at the door. Express the two testimonies after you have performed the ritual bathing (Ghusl). And then when you enter and see the tomb, stop and say God is the Greatest thirty times. Then take short steps, be serene and calm, and approach the tomb. Then stop and say God is the Greatest thirty times. Then get closer to the tomb and say God is the Greatest forty times, so that you complete saying it one-hundred times. Then say, ‘Peace be upon you! O Members of the Holy Household of Prophethood, and the holders of the position of the Prophetic mission and the place where angels will come and go: the landing sites for the descension ofrevelations; the Treasurers of Affection; the Treasurers of Knowledge; the limits of patience; the fundamentals of magnanimity; the Commanders of the nations; the Masters of the pious ones; the Sources of benevolence; the Pillars of the company of the good; the Managers of the affairs of the servants (i.e. the people); the Chiefs of the towns; the Gates to belief; the Trustees of the Merciful (God); the Progeny of the Prophets; the Elite of the Messengers; and the best progeny created by the Lord of the Two Worlds. And may God’s Grace and His Blessings be upon you. Peace be upon the leaders towards guidance, the lanterns for darkness, the signs of piety, the possessors of intelligence, and the origins of wisdom. Peace be upon the Divine Leaders (Imams) who are the secure turning point for mankind; the inheritors of the Prophets; the best similitude and the best call; and the Proofs of God to the people in the Hereafter and this world. And may God’s Grace and His Blessings be upon you.Peace be upon the centers of Divine Recognition; the sources of God’s Blessings; the Treasurers of God’s Wisdom; the Guardians of God’s Secrets; the carriers of God’s Book; the Trustees of God’s Prophet, and the Progeny of God’s Messenger (a.s.). And may God’s Grace and His Blessings be upon you.Peace be upon the Callers to God; the Directors towards God’s Satisfaction; the Steadfast ones in Divine Decrees and in what He has admonished mankind against; the Ones filled with the love of God; the Sincere ones in their belief in God’s Unity; the Ones who manifest Divine Decrees, and what He has admonished mankind against; the Noble servants who never proclaim anything other than what He has declared, and those that act according to His Orders! And may God’s Grace and His Blessings be upon you.Peace be upon the Divine Leaders (Imams) who invite; the Commanders to the right guidance and the Masters of the believers; and the Defenders of the rights of the oppressed; and the People who remember (God); and the Possessors of authority; and God’s Remainders (the Imams); His chosen ones and His party; the Base of His Knowledge; and His Reason; and His path; and His Light, and His Proof. May God’s Grace and His Blessings be upon you.I bear witness that there is no god but God and there are no partners for Him, as that is God’s Testimony for Himself; and that is His Angels testimony for Him; and the testimony of His Possessors of Knowledge (divine leaders) among His creatures for Him. I bear witness that there is no god but Him the Honorable the Wise. And I bear witness that Muhammad (a.s.) is His servant - the chosen one and his Messenger - the content one. He has sent him (the Prophet Muhammad (S)) with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, so that he may proclaim it to be superior over all other religions, even though the pagans may detest it. And I bear witness that you are the Divine Leaders (Imams) who walk in righteousness; the ones who guide; the Infallible ones; the highly honored ones; the close ones (to God); the pious ones; and the truthful ones. You are the chosen ones and the ones obedient to God. You are the ones steadfast to His Decrees. You are the ones who act according to His Will. You are the triumphant ones due to His Nobility. You are chosen by His Knowledge. You are pleased with His Religion. And you are chosen to safekeep His Secrets. You are chosen by His Power. And you are honored by His Guidance. You are dedicated to be His Proof, and you are chosen for His Illumination. You are approved of by His Spirit, and He has approved of your Divine Leadership on His Earth. He has established you as His Proofs for His creatures; and as Helpers of His Religion; as Guardians of His Secrets; and as Treasures of His Knowledge; and as a Depository of His Wisdom; as Translators of His Revelations; as the Pillars of His Unity; and as Witnesses over His creatures; as signs for His servants; and as Landmarks in His towns; and as Conductors on His Way. God protected you (the Imams) from making mistakes, secured you from sedition, purified you from impurities, cleansed you of any uncleanliness and purified you - What a purification! Then you glorified His Magnificence, and held high His Rank. You praised His Magnanimity, continued His Remembrance, stressed His Covenant, and strengthened the bonds of His Obedience. You guided others in secret and in public towards Him, and invited others to His Path through wisdom and eloquent sermons. You gave your lives to please Him. You suffered any calamities that befell you due to being on His Side. You established the prayers. You paid the alms-tax. You advised to do what is right, and you admonished against what is wrong to do. You struggled in the way of God in the best manner, until you made His Call public; clarified what He has made obligatory; established His Limits;disseminated His Jurisprudence; and clearly expressed His Traditions. You went to Him and in doing so you submitted to what He had destined for youy and acknowledged His previously-sent Messengers.Therefore, whoever turns away from you is an apostate, and whoever stays with you joins you. Whoever neglects your rights will perish. The Truth is with you, in you, from you, and goes towards you. You are the people of the Truth, and its Treasure. The inheritance of the Prophets is with you. The return of the people is to you, their reckoning is with you, and the elucidation of the message is carried out by you.God’s verses are with you, and His Obedience is accomplished through you. His Light and Proof are with you. His Decrees are entrusted to you. Whoever is your friend is indeed God’s friend. Whoever is your enemy is indeed God’s enemy. Whoever loves you indeed loves God. Whoever adheres to you has indeed adhered to God. You are the most direct path towards God. You are the witnesses in this ephemeral abode, and are the ones who intercede in the eternal abode. You are the continuous mercy, the stored signs, and the protected Trusteeship. You are the gate through which people are tested. Whoever comes to you is saved, and whoever does not gets destroyed. You call out to God, and reason on His Behalf. You believe in Him, submit to Him, act according to His Decrees and direct us towards His Path. You rule according to His Words.I swear by God that whoever makes friends with you becomes prosperous; whoever becomes your enemy is destroyed; and whoever denies you fails; whoever separates from you goes astray; whoever adheres to you becomes victorious; whoever takes refuge in you is safe and sound; whoever acknowledges you attains peace; whoever comes under your custody is guided; whoever follows you, his abode will be in Paradise; whoever opposes you, his dwelling place will be in the Fire; whoever denies you is an unbeliever; whoever fights with you is a polytheist; and whoever rejects you will have the lowest rank in the Fire. I bear witness that these issues have held true for you in the past as they will hold true for the rest of time. I bear witness that your spirits, light, and nature are all the same. Each of you have obtained health and purity from the others. God created you as rays of light. Then He set you up encircling His Throne, until He favored us with you. Then He placed you in homes which God permitted to be honored and in which His Name ismentioned. And He established our supplications to you; and our loving you which He has made unique to us as a means of goodness of our temper; cleanliness of ourselves; purification of us; and as an expiation for our sins since we acknowledge your nobility near Him and are known to acknowledge you. Thus may God grant you the most honorable position among those held in honor and the highest mansions of those nearest to God; and the highest ranks among the Trustees of the Messengers where no one who is not deserving can reach and no transgressor can attain supremacy; no rival can triumph; and no greedy one can be voracious to obtain. So then there remains no nearby-stationed angels, Messengers, trusted friends, martyrs, scholars, ignorant ones, debased ones, noble ones, good believers, vicious villains, obstinate oppressors, or disobedient Satans, nor any creature amongst them remains as a witness, unless God makes them realize the loftiness of your decrees; the exaltedness of your significance; the greatness of your rank; and the perfection of your light; the truthfulness of your positions; the firmness of your standing; the honor of your position and your residence near Him; your being honored by Him; and your being especial in His court; and the extent of the closeness of your position near Him.May my father, mother, spouse, property, and family be your ransom! May God and you bear witness that I believe in you and what you believe in. I renounce your enemies, and that by which they have disowned you. I am fully aware of your status, and of the deviation of those who oppose you. I am your friend and a friend of your friends. I despise your enemies and am their adversary. I am at peace with those who are at peace with you. I am at war with those who are at war with you. I accept as true whatever you verify, and consider as false whatever you refute. I obey you. I recognize your rightfulness. I confess to your nobility. I carry your knowledge. I seek protection under your shelter. I confess to you. I believe that you will return. I testify to your promised return. I am awaiting your orders. I am awaiting your reign. I hold fast to what you have said. I carry out your orders. I take shelter in your neighborhood. I go on pilgrimage to you. I seek refuge in you since for me your ’resting abodes’ are sanctuaries. I ask God the Honorable the Exalted for your intercession, and I seek nearness to Him through you. Under all circumstances I put the first priority on you rather than my wants, needs,desires and all affairs. I am a believer in what you have kept as secrets and what you have made public, in your presence and absence - your first one (i.e. absence or ‘Ghaybat) and your last one. I entrust all my affairs in this regard to you. And I submit to God in this regard along with you. And I whole-heartedly believe in you. My viewpoints agree with yours. I am ready to assist you until God the Highest revives His Religion through you (the Al-Mahdi (a.s.)); and brings you back during His Days; and makes you victorious for the sake of His Justice; and makes you powerful on His Earth. Then I am with you. I am not with your enemies. I believe in you. I love the last one (Imam) of you just as much as I love the first one.I acquit myself in the sight of God of your enemies; of sorcery and evil; the Satans; and their party that is oppressive to you; and of the ones who denied your rightfulness; the apostates who turn away from your Divine Leadership; the ones who usurped the authority which you inherited; and of the ones who doubted in you; the ones who deviated from you. And I acquit myself of all intimate friends but you; and of obeying anyone but you; and of the leaders who invite us towards the Fire. May God make me steadfast in your assistance, friendship, love, and religion for as long as I live. May He grant me success in obeying you, grant me your intercession on my behalf, and establish me as one of your best followers who follow what you have invited them to. And establish me as one who investigates your traces and trots on your path; is guided by your guidance; is resurrected amongst you; returns when you return; attains rule in your government; is honored due to your health; gets established during your time; and gets pleased to see you. May my father, mother, spouse, property, and possessions be your ransom! Whoever desired to reach God started out with you. And whoever considers Him to be the One and Only has accepted this belief from you. And whoever intended to go towards Him was directed towards you. O my Masters! Your praise is beyond measure. Your true nature is beyond praise. Your majesty is beyond description. And you are the light of the Company of the Good. And you are the true guidance for the pious, and the proofs of the Omnipotent. God has initiated everything with you, and He shall terminate everything with you. He will send down rain due to you. For your sake, He will prevent the sky from collapsing down onto the Earth without His Permission. He will remove the sorrows through you.And He will solve the difficulties through you. And whatever He has sent down to His Messenger which the angels have brought down to him (Muhammad) is with you (the Imams). And the Spirit of Faith and Truth (Gabriel) - was dispatched to your forefather (the Prophet Muhammad (S)).[And if you are visiting the shrine of the Commander of the Faithful - Imam Ali (a.s.) say:And the Spirit of Faith and Truth - was dispatched to your brother (implying the Prophet Muhammad (S).]God has granted you what He would not grant to any of the people of the Two Worlds. All the noble ones bow down to your dignity. And all the arrogant ones humble themselves in your obedience. And all the powerful people yield to your nobility. All things yield themselves to you. The Earth is brightened with your light. The triumphant ones become victorious due to your friendship. One can trot towards Paradise with your assistance. And the Wrath of God Most Gracious is upon those who disclaim your Trusteeship. May my father, mother, myself, my spouse and my property be your ransom!You are remembered as other people are remembered. Your names are mentioned amongst other people’s names. Your corpses are buried amongst other people’s corpses. Your spirits are amongst other people’s spirits. Your souls are amongst other souls. Your traces are amongst other traces. Your tombs are among other tombs. How delightful are your names! And how noble are your souls! How majestic is your honor! How exalted is your significance! How honored are your promises! Your words are similar to light! Your decrees are a basis for growth! Your advice is to be God-fearing! And your deeds are good! Your habits are kindnesses!Your nature is generosity! Your concerns are truth, honesty and moderation! Your words are full of wisdom and are binding! Your opinions are full of knowledge, patience and wisdom! Indeed, whenever there is a mention of goodness, you are the first, the next, the source, and the termination of goodness!May my father, mother, myself, my spouse and my property be your ransom! How can I describe the charm of your praise? How can I measurethe nobility of your rank? And God has taken us out of the state of humiliation, has removed from us over-abundance of anguish, and He has saved us from the verge of the cliff of destruction and the Fire.May my father, mother, and myself be your ransom! God taught us the secrets of our religion due to our following you. And He improved those of our worldly affairs that had become ruined. And due to our following you, the Word was perfected, the blessings were increased, and disunion was converted into union. God accepted our obligatory deeds from us because we follow you. And cordiality for you is obligatory, and you have high ranks, and a commendable station before God the Highest and a known place, a great high rank, a high status, and accepted intercession. Our Lord! we believe in what Thou hast revealed, and we follow the Apostle; then write our names down among those who bear witness. Our Lord! (they say), Let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us, but grant us mercy from Thine own Presence; for Thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure. Glory be to our Lord! Truly has the promise of our Lord been fulfilled!O friend of God [O friends of God]! Indeed there are sins in between me and God that cannot be removed unless you approve of that. I ask you by the One who has established you as His Trustees of His Secrets and has entrusted the affairs of His creatures to you, and has equated your obedience with His own obedience to kindly implore forgiveness for my sins, and be the ones who intercede on my behalf as I am obedient to you and whoever is obedient to you has indeed obeyed God.Whoever disobeys you is disobedient to God. And whoever loves you has indeed loved God. And whoever despises you has indeed loathed God.O God! Could I ever have found ones to intercede with Thee on my behalf who would be closer to Thee than Muhammad and the Members of his Household - the leaders of the Company of the Good and the pious ones? I beseech Thee by their right (the Divine Leaders) that Thou establish them as the ones to intercede on my behalf.I ask Thee to place me amongst those who know them (the Divine Leaders) and recognize their rightfulness - and amongst those who hope for their intercession - as Thou art the Most Merciful of those that are merciful. And may God’s Blessings and Salutations with much respect be upon our Master Muhammad (a.s.) and his Household. And God sufficeth for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs.Then when you decide to depart, recite the following:O Members of the Holy Prophet’s Household! Peace be upon you! Peace be upon one who says farewell, but is neither tired of you nor is he discontented with you.And may God’s Grace and His Blessings be upon you - as He is indeed Praiseworthy and Glorious. Peace be upon you from a friend who is neither willing to depart from you; nor to choose anyone else and substitute him for you; one who does not stray away from you; and one who does not abstain from being near you.May God not let this be the last time I make pilgrimage to your tomb and visit your shrine. And peace be upon you. May God resurrect me amongst you; make me be one who enters your Pool Kawthar); let me join your party; please you with me; empower me from your government; and revive me during your return; and give me a position during your rule. And may God grant me gratitude for my efforts for you; and forgive me for my sins due to your intercession; overlook my faults due to your love; increase my eminence due to my adherence to you; revere me due to my obedience to you; and honor me due to your guidance.And when I return home please make me successful with a happy ending, a winner, in good shape, healthy, wealthy, and having attained the satisfaction of God and His Grace and with better things than what God would normally return your visitors, friends, lovers, and followers with.And may God grant me another chance to return on pilgrimage after I arrive home as long as my Lord keeps me alive with a sincere intention, faith, piety, humbleness, and legitimate, prolonged and pure sustenance.O my God! Please do not let this be the last time I visit them, remember them and supplicate to them. And please make forgiveness; the good; blessings; light; faith; and fair acceptance of my prayers a certainty for me - just as Thee has done so for Thy friends who have recognized the truth about them (the Prophet’s Household); consider it incumbent upon themselves to obey the Imams; are inclined to visit the Imams; and are close to Thee and them. May my father, mother, family, property, and possessions be your ransom! Please pay attention to me and let me join your party. Include me amongst those on whose behalf you intercede,and mention me in the presence of your Lord. O my God! Please send blessings upon Muhammad (a.s.) and the Household of Muhammad (a.s.). And express my greetings to their souls and their bodies. And peace be upon you; and may God’s Grace and His Blessings be upon you. And may God’s Blessings, and Salutations with much respect be upon our Master Muhammad (a.s.) and his Household. And God sufficeth for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs.

Musa ibn Abdullah al-Nakha'i narrated, "I said to Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (as), 'Teach me, O son of the Messenger of Allah (swt), a complete and eloquent phrase to say when I visit any one of you.' Imam (as) said: "When you reach the entrance, stand and testify to the two testimonies of faith while in a state of ritual purity (ghusl). When you enter and see the grave, stand and say 'Allah (swt) is the Greatest, Allah (swt) is the Greatest' thirty times. Walk forward slowly with tranquility and dignity, keeping your steps close together. Then stand and say 'Allah (swt) is the Greatest' thirty times again. Approach the grave and say 'Allah (swt) is the Greatest' forty times, completing one hundred takbirs. Then say: Peace be upon you, O people of the House of Prophethood, and the abode of the Message, the place of the angels' frequent visits, the descent of revelation, the source of mercy, the treasures of knowledge, the culmination of forbearance, the foundation of generosity, the leaders of nations, the custodians of blessings, the essence of righteousness, the pillars of virtue, the guides of servants, the anchors of lands, the gates of faith, the trustees of the Most Merciful, the progeny of the Prophets, the chosen ones among the messengers, the family of the best of the Lord (azj) of the Worlds. May Allah’s (swt) mercy and blessings be upon you. Peace be upon the Imams of guidance, the lamps in the darkness, the standards of piety, the possessors of wisdom, the masters of intellect, the refuge of humanity, the inheritors of the Prophets, the highest example, the bearers of the best call, and the proofs of Allah (swt) for the inhabitants of the world, the Hereafter, and this life. May Allah’s (swt) mercy and blessings be upon you." Peace be upon the repositories of Allah’s (swt) knowledge, and the abodes of Allah’s (swt) blessings, and the mines of Allah’s (swt) wisdom, and the keepers of Allah’s (swt) secrets, and the bearers of Allah’s (swt) Book, and the successors of the Prophet of Allah (swt), and the progeny of the Messenger of Allah (swt), peace be upon him and his family. May Allah’s (swt) mercy and blessings be upon you. Peace be upon the callers to Allah (swt), and the guides to Allah’s (swt) pleasure, and those who remain steadfast in Allah’s (swt) command, and those who are perfect in their love for Allah (swt), and those who are sincere in Allah’s (swt) oneness, and those who manifest Allah’s (swt) command and prohibition, and His honored servants, "who do not precede Him in speech and act according to His command" (May Allah’s (swt) mercy and blessings be upon them). Peace be upon the Imams who are callers (to the truth), the leaders of guidance, the noble masters, the protectors and guardians, the people of remembrance, the possessors of authority, the remnant of Allah (swt), His chosen ones, His party, the repository of His knowledge, His proof, His path, and His light. May Allah’s (swt) mercy and blessings be upon them. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah (swt), alone, without partner, as Allah (swt) has testified for Himself, and as His angels and those endowed with knowledge among His creation have testified, "There is no god but Him, the Mighty, the Wise." And I bear witness that Muhammad is His chosen servant and His approved Messenger. He sent him "with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all religions, even if the polytheists detest it." And I bear witness that you are the rightly guided, rightly guiding Imams, the infallible, the honored, the close to Allah (swt), the pious, the truthful, the chosen, obedient to Allah (swt), steadfast in His command, acting according to His will, victorious by His grace. He selected you by His knowledge, approved you for His unseen matters, chose you for His secrets, and preferred you by His power. He honored you with His guidance, distinguished you with His proof, elected you by His light, supported you by His spirit, and was pleased with you as successors on His earth, proofs over His creation, helpers of His religion, guardians of His secrets, treasurers of His knowledge, repositories of His wisdom, interpreters of His revelation, pillars of His oneness, witnesses over His creation, guiding beacons for His servants, a shining light in His lands, and guides to His path. Allah (swt) protected you from errors, secured you from trials, purified you from impurity, removed from you any defilement, O People of the House, and purified you thoroughly. You have magnified His majesty, exalted His status, glorified His generosity, persisted in remembering Him, affirmed His covenant, perfected the bond of obedience to Him, advised for Him in private and in public, and called to His path. "With wisdom and good counsel," you dedicated yourselves to seeking His pleasure, you patiently endured what befell you for His sake, you established prayer, gave zakat, enjoined good, forbade evil, and strove "in the way of Allah (swt) with true striving." You proclaimed His call, clarified His obligations, upheld His limits, disseminated His laws, and revived His traditions. In all this, you sought His approval, submitted to His decree, and affirmed the truth of His previous messengers. Thus, whoever deviates from you has gone astray, whoever adheres to you has attained success, and whoever falls short in recognizing your rights has perished. The truth is with you, among you, from you, and returns to you. You are its people, its source, and its inheritors. The legacy of prophethood rests with you, the return of creation is toward you, their reckoning is upon you, decisive judgment lies with you, the signs of Allah (swt) are with you, and His resolutions are within you. His light and His proofs are with you, and His command belongs to you. Whoever befriends you has befriended Allah (swt), whoever opposes you has opposed Allah (swt), whoever loves you has loved Allah (swt), and whoever hates you has hated Allah (swt). Whoever holds fast to you has clung to Allah (swt). You are the straight path, witnesses in the transient world, intercessors in the eternal abode, the constant mercy, the concealed sign, the preserved trust, and the gate through which people are tested. Whoever comes to you is saved, and whoever does not come to you is doomed. You invite to Allah (swt), guide toward Him, believe in Him, submit to Him, act according to His command, guide others to His path, and judge by His word. Blessed is the one who befriends you, ruined is the one who opposes you, disappointed is the one who denies you, misguided is the one who separates from you, and triumphant is the one who clings to you. Secure is the one who seeks refuge in you, at peace is the one who believes in you, and guided is the one who holds on to you. Whoever follows you, Paradise is his abode, and whoever opposes you, Hell is his destination. Whoever denies you is a disbeliever, whoever fights you is a polytheist, and whoever rejects you resides in the lowest depths of Hell. I bear witness that this (virtue and status) was ordained for you in the past and continues for you in the future. I testify that your souls, your light, and your essence are one, pure and purified, "one part derived from the other." Allah (swt) created you as luminous lights, encircling His Throne until He blessed us through you. He placed you "in houses Allah (swt) permitted to be exalted and His name remembered therein." He made our prayers upon you and what He has blessed us with through your guardianship a source of purity for our creation, a cleansing for our souls, an atonement for our sins, and a means of purification for us. Thus, in His presence, we are recognized for our acceptance of your excellence and our affirmation of your truth. Allah (swt) elevated you to the most exalted station of the honored ones, the highest ranks of the near ones, and the most elevated degrees of the messengers, where none can surpass you, none can precede you, and none can aspire to equal your rank. No angel brought near, no prophet sent forth, no truthful one, no martyr, no scholar, no ignorant person, no lowly one, no virtuous one, no believing righteous person, no sinful wretched person, no oppressive tyrant, no rebellious devil, nor any creation in between bears witness except that they have been made to recognize the majesty of your station, the grandeur of your status, the greatness of your position, the completion of your light, the truth of your seats (in divine presence), the firmness of your standing, the nobility of your rank, your elevated status with Him, your honor before Him, and your nearness to Him. May my father, my mother, my family, my wealth, and my lineage be sacrificed for you. I call Allah (swt) to witness, and I call you to witness, that I believe in you and in what you believe in, disbelieve in your enemies and in what they disbelieve in, and have clarity about your status and the misguidance of those who oppose you. I am loyal to you and your friends, and I bear enmity toward your enemies. I am at peace with those who are at peace with you and at war with those who are at war with you. I affirm what you affirm and reject what you reject. I obey you, acknowledge your right, admit your superiority, uphold your knowledge, seek protection under your covenant, recognize you, and believe in your return. I affirm your reappearance and await your command. I look forward to your governance, adhere to your word, act upon your instruction, seek refuge with you, and visit you. I seek sanctuary and protection at your graves and seek intercession with Allah (swt), the Exalted, through you. I draw near to Him by your means, and I present you before all my needs, wishes, and aspirations in all my circumstances and affairs. I believe in your hidden and manifest (realities), your presence and absence, your first and last. I entrust all matters to you, align myself with you, and my heart is in peace with you. My views follow yours, and my support is prepared for you until Allah (swt) revives His religion through you, returns you in His days (of divine rule), manifests you for His justice, and grants you authority on His earth. With you, with you, not with your enemies! I believe in you and hold your last (Imam) in the same regard as your first, and I distance myself from your enemies and from al-Jibt and al-Taghut, the devils and their followers, the oppressors against you, those who reject your rights, those who deviate from your guardianship, usurpers of your inheritance, those who doubt you, those who turn away from you, and from every entity that substitutes for you, every leader who invites to the fire. May Allah (swt) keep me steadfast throughout my life in your loyalty, love, and religion. May He grant me success in obeying you, provide me with your intercession, and make me among the best of your followers who adhere to what you call towards. May He make me among those who emulate your path, walk in your way, are guided by your guidance, and are gathered in your company. May He return me during your return, allow me to rule during your government, honor me in your well-being, empower me in your days, and let my eyes be delighted tomorrow by seeing you. May my father, mother, self, family, and wealth be ransomed for you. Whoever seeks Allah (swt) begins with you; whoever declares His oneness accepts from you; whoever aims towards Him turns to you. My masters, I cannot count your praises, nor can I reach the depths of your commendation or the height of your description. You are the light of the righteous, guides of the virtuous, and proofs of the Almighty. Through you, Allah (swt) opens and through you, He concludes. Through you, He sends down rain, and through you, He holds the sky from falling on the earth except by His permission. Through you, Allah (swt) alleviates grief and removes hardships. With you rests what His messengers conveyed and what His angels descended with. To your grandfather, the Trustworthy Spirit (Jibreel) was sent, and if the visitation is for Amir al-Mu'minin (as), say: "To your brother, the Trustworthy Spirit was sent." Allah (swt) granted you what He has not granted anyone from the worlds. Every noble being bows before your nobility, every arrogant soul submits to your obedience, every tyrant yields to your excellence, and everything is humbled before you. The earth is illuminated by your light, and the successful ones attain salvation through your guardianship. Through you, the path to divine satisfaction is tread, while upon those who deny your guardianship is the wrath of the Most Merciful. May my father, mother, self, family, and wealth be ransomed for you. Your mention is in the remembrance of those who remember, your names are among the finest of names, your bodies among the most honored of bodies, your souls among the most purified of souls, your selves among the noblest of selves, your legacy among the greatest of legacies, and your graves among the holiest of graves. How sweet are your names, how noble your selves, how exalted your station, how magnificent your rank, how fulfilled your promise! Your words are light, your commands are guidance, your teachings are piety, your actions are goodness, your habit is benevolence, your nature is generosity, your conduct is truth and kindness. Your speech is wisdom and decisive, your judgment is knowledge, patience, and resolve. When goodness is mentioned, you are its beginning, its origin, its root, its essence, and its ultimate end. May my father, mother, and self be sacrificed for you! How can I describe the beauty of your praise or count the favors you have bestowed? Through you, Allah (swt) removed us from humiliation, relieved us of overwhelming distress, saved us from the brink of destruction, and rescued us from the fire. By my father, mother, and self, through your guardianship, Allah (swt) taught us the principles of our religion and rectified what was corrupted in our worldly matters. Through your guardianship, the word of Allah (swt) was fulfilled, the blessings became magnified, and divisions were united. By your guardianship, the obligatory acts of worship are accepted. For you is the obligatory love, the elevated ranks, the praiseworthy station, and the well-known position before Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious. You possess the grand intercession, the great honor, and the lofty status. “Our Lord (azj), we have believed in what You have revealed and have followed the Messenger, so register us among the witnesses.” “Our Lord (azj), do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us, and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.” “Glory to our Lord (azj); indeed, the promise of our Lord (azj) is ever fulfilled.” O Wali of Allah (swt), there are sins between me and Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious, that no one can absolve except your satisfaction. By the right of the one who entrusted you with His secrets, appointed you as caretakers of His creation, and linked obedience to you with obedience to Him, I plead with you to intercede for my sins and be my intercessors. I pledge my obedience to you; whoever obeys you has obeyed Allah (swt), and whoever disobeys you has disobeyed Allah (swt). Whoever loves you loves Allah (swt), and whoever harbors hatred toward you harbors hatred toward Allah (swt). O Allah (swt), if I could find intercessors closer to You than Muhammad and his purified household, the righteous Imams, I would make them my intercessors. By their right, which You have made obligatory upon Yourself, I ask You to include me among those who recognize their rank and are graced by their intercession. Indeed, You are the Most Merciful of the merciful. May Allah’s (swt) blessings and peace be upon Muhammad and his family abundantly. “Sufficient for us is Allah (swt), and He is the best disposer of affairs.”