الحسن بن علي بن مهزيار

I was with Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) when he was (forcefully) taken to Abī Ja’far (Mansūr Al-Dawānīqi) in Ḥīrah. One clear and moonlit night, the Imam (a.s.) looked at the sky and said, “O Yūnus! Do you see how beautiful these stars are?! Verily they are the protection of the inhabitants of the skies, and we (the Ahlul Bayt) are the protection of the inhabitants on earth.” Then he asked me to order (the servants) to saddle the donkey and the mule. Once they were ready, Imam (a.s.) asked me which (sumpter) I would prefer to ride. I thought that Imam (a.s.) would prefer to ride the mule because it was stronger than the donkey, so I chose the donkey. However, Imam (a.s.) asked me to allow him to ride the donkey to which I agreed. Once we were outside Ḥīrah, Imam (a.s.) asked me to move ahead and I did. He kept instructing me to turn right and left until we came to some red-coloured gravel. Imam (a.s.) said, “This is the place.” Then the Imam (a.s.) moved slightly to the right. There was a well and some water there with which Imam performed Wuďū. Then he moved toward a mound and prayed next to it. Then he leaned over it and cried. Thereafter, he moved to a smaller mound which was next to the (first) mound. He repeated what he had done next to the first mound. Then he said to me, “O Yūnus! Do as I did.” I followed the order of the Imam (a.s.). Thereafter, Imam (a.s.) asked me, “O Yūnus! Do you know where we are?” “No,” I replied. Imam (a.s.) said: The first place was the grave of the Commander of the Believers (a.s.) and the second place was where the head of Ḥusain ibn ‘Ali ibn Abī Ťālib (a.s.) was buried. After the cursed ‘Ubaydullāh ibn Ziyād – may Allāh’s curse be upon him – sent the head of Ḥusain (a.s.) to Shām, it was sent back to Kūfah. But ‘Ubaydullāh said, “Take the head out of Kūfah so that it does not cause disorder among its people.” However, Allāh placed the head next to the Commander of the Believers (a.s.) (and thereafter, it was joined with the body of Ḥusain (a.s.)). Therefore, the head is with the body now and the body is with the head.

I heard Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) say, “Establishing one prayer in the Mosque of Kūfah is equal to establishing one thousand prayers (elsewhere).”

Imam Riďā (a.s.) said: Establishing one prayer alone in the Mosque of Kūfah has more value than establishing seventy congregational prayers in any other mosque.

Abū Ja’far (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) said to me: O Abā ‘Ubaydah! Do not neglect establishing prayers in the Mosque of Kūfah even if you have to crawl to it because establishing one prayer there is equal to establishing seventy prayers in other mosques.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: “The shores in the right side of the valley” (28:30), which Allāh has mentioned in His Book, is the Euphrates (River); “the blessed spot” (28:30) is Karbalā and “the tree” (28:30) is Muḥammad (s.a.a.w.).

Abū Ja’far (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) and Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: Going to the Ziyārah of the grave of the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.), or the graves of the Martyrs (of Uḥud), or the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) is equal to performing a Hajj with the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.).

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: You can establish (the obligatory) prayers in full form in three locations: in Masjid Al-Ḥarām, in the Mosque of the Messenger (s.a.a.w.), and next to the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.).

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: The Ismā’īl about whom Allāh says in His Book, “(Also) mention Ismā’īl in the book. Verily he was (ever) true of his promise” (19:54), was captured (by his nation) and his face and scalp were skinned. Then an angel came to him and said, “Allāh has sent me to you. So order me to do that which you want (to this nation).” However, Ismā’īl (a.s.) replied, “I follow the example of Ḥusain ibn ‘Ali (a.s.).”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said, “Going to the Ziyārah (of Ḥusain (a.s.)) is better than not going. (However, sometimes) not going to (his) Ziyārah is better than going.” I said, “You broke my back!!!” Imam (a.s.) said, “By Allāh! When you people go to the graves of your fathers you are anguished and grieved. However, when you go to him (Ḥusain (a.s.)) you carry different kinds of food with you. No! (It is better not to go to him) unless you go disheveled and covered with dust.”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said, “Going to the Ziyārah (of Ḥusain (a.s.)) is better than not going. (However, sometimes) not going to (his) Ziyārah is better than going.” I said, “You broke my back!!!” Imam (a.s.) said: By Allāh! When you people go to the graves of your fathers you are anguished and grieved. However, when you go to him (Ḥusain (a.s.)) you carry different kinds of food with you. No! (It is better not to go to him) unless you go disheveled and covered with dust.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: Ḥusain ibn ‘Ali (a.s.) asked the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.), “O father! What is the reward for those who come to your Ziyārah?” He (the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.)) replied: O my son! On the Day of Judgment, it will be my duty to go to the Ziyārah of those who have come to my Ziyārah during my life or after my death, or have come to the Ziyārah of your father, or to the Ziyārah of your brother, or to your Ziyārah, and to save them from their sins.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: If one recites one verse of a poem about Ḥusain (a.s.) and cries and makes ten people cry, he and those (who cry) will be rewarded with Paradise. If one recites one verse of a poem about Ḥusain (a.s.) and cries and makes nine people cry, he and those (who cry) will be rewarded with Paradise… Imam (a.s.) kept reducing from the number and repeating the same reward until he said: Whoever recites one verse of a poem about Ḥusain (a.s.) and cries (or even tries to cry) will be rewarded with Paradise.

I heard Abu Ibraheem Musa bin Ja’far bin Muhammad (Imam al-Kadhim) (as) saying: “Allah has created a house of light. He has made four pillars for it. Four names has been written on them; Tabarak, Subhan, al-Hamd and Allah. Then he has created four ones from those four and then four from these four then He has said: (Surely the number of months with Allah is twelve months).”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: When you want to leave Madīnah, perform Ghusl. After asking for your needs, come to the grave of the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) and bid farewell to him. Perform the same rituals (that were observed) when entering. Then recite the following: O Allāh! Do not make this my last Ziyārah of the grave of Your Prophet. And if You take my life before I come here again, then I testify after my death to that which I testify during my life, which is, “There is no god but Allāh and Muḥammad is Your slave and Your messenger.”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: The killer of Yaḥyā ibn Zakariyyā (a.s.) was conceived illegitimately and the killer of Ḥusain (a.s.) (also) was conceived illegitimately. The sky has never cried on anyone but them. The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chain: Muḥammad ibn Ḥasan, and Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Ḥusain, both from Ḥasan ibn ‘Ali ibn Mahziyār, from his father, from Ḥasan, from Faďālah ibn Ayyūb, from Kulayb ibn Mu’āwiyah Al-Asadi, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.).

I heard a man ask Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) if one has to perform Ghusl before going to (the Ziyārah of) the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.). Imam (a.s.) replied, “No.” The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chains: A) All of my scholars, from Sa’d ibn ‘Abdillāh, from Muḥammad ibn Ḥusain, from Ayyūb ibn Nūḥ, and from others, from ‘Abdillāh ibn Mughīrah, from Abil Yasā’, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.). B) Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Ḥusain, from Ḥasan ibn ‘Ali ibn Mahziyār, from his father ‘Ali, from Ayyūb ibn Nūḥ, and from others, from ‘Abdillāh ibn Mughīrah, from Abil Yasa’, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.).

When Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) came to Kūfah during the time of Abil ‘Abbās, he was on his mount and was wearing his traveling attire. He stopped on the bridge of Kūfah and asked his servant to give him some water. So the servant took a jug and filled it (from the Euphrates River) and gave it to the Imam (a.s.). The Imam (a.s.) started drinking, and (as he was drinking) the water spilled from the two corners of his mouth onto his beard and onto his clothes. Then the Imam (a.s.) asked for some more water. The servant refilled the jug and gave it to the Imam (a.s.). After the Imam (a.s.) drank the water, he praised Allāh and said: What a blessed river this river is! Verily every day seven drops of water fall from Paradise into it. If people knew of the blessings of this river, they would build their tents on its shores. Verily if it was not for that which enters this river from the sinners, no ill person would submerge himself in it without being cured.

I was with Abī Ja’far (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) when a man entered, said Salām to the Imam (a.s.), and sat down. “Where are you from?” Imam (a.s.) asked the man. “I am from Kūfah. I believe in your Wilāyah and I am one of your lovers,” the man said. “Do you establish all of your prayers in the Mosque of Kūfah?” Imam (a.s.) asked. “No,” the man replied. “Verily you are deprived of the good (blessings),” Imam (a.s.) said. Then the Imam (a.s.) asked, “Do you perform a Ghusl once a day with the water of the Euphrates River which is close to you?” “No,” the man replied. “What about once a week?” Imam (a.s.) asked. “No,” the man replied. “What about once a month?” Imam (a.s.) asked. “No,” the man replied. “What about once a year?” Imam (a.s.) asked. “No,” the man replied. “Verily you are deprived of the good (blessings),” Imam (a.s.) said. Then the Imam (a.s.) asked, “Do you go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) once a week?” “No,” the man replied. “What about once a month?” Imam (a.s.) asked. “No,” the man replied. “What about once a year?” Imam (a.s.) asked. “No,” the man replied. “Verily you are deprived of the good (blessings),” Imam (a.s.) said.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: When you want to bid farewell to ‘Abbas (a.s.), go to his grave and recite (the following): I bid farewell to you, leave you in the care of Allāh, and send my Salām to you. We believe in Allāh, His Messenger (s.a.a.w.), His Book, and in that which His Messenger (s.a.a.w.) brought forth from Allāh. O Allāh! Register us among those who testify. O Allāh! Do not make this the last time I come to the Ziyārah of the grave of the son of Your Prophet’s brother. Sustain me with his Ziyārah for as long as you keep me alive. Resurrect me with him and with his fathers in the Heavens. O Allāh! Acquaint me with him, with Your Messenger, and with Your Divine Authorities. O Allāh! Send Your blessing on Muḥammad and the family of Muḥammad and make me die while believing in you, believing in Your Messenger, believing in the Wilāyah of ‘Ali ibn Abī Ťālib and the Imams from his sons (a.s.), and while dissociating from their enemies. Verily I am pleased with this, O Lord. Then pray for yourself, your parents, the believers and the Muslims, and choose some supplications to recite.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: Do not neglect going to the sites (around Madīnah) or the Mosque of Qubā, for it is the “mosque founded on piety from the very first day” (9:108). (Do not neglect) the Well of Um Ibrāhīm, the Mosque of Faďīkh, the graves of the martyrs, nor the Mosque of Aḥzāb which is the Mosque of Fatḥ. I was informed that when the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) would come to the graves of the martyrs (of the Battle of Uḥud), he would say: “Salām to you for you patiently persevered. How excellent is the sequel of the eternal abode!” (13:24). Then Imam (a.s.) added: Recite the following (supplication) in the Mosque of Fatḥ along with the other (supplications) which you recite there. O succour of the anguished ones! O fulfiller of the prayers of the distressed ones! Relieve me from my grief, my agony, and my sadness just as You relieved Your Prophet from his grief, his agony, and his sadness, and You were sufficient for him against the terrors of his enemies in this place. The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chains: A) Muḥammad ibn Ya’qūb, and ‘Ali ibn Ḥusain, both from ‘Ali ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Hāshim, from his father, from Ibn Abī ‘Umayr, from Mu’āwiyah ibn ‘Ammār, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.). B) Muḥammad ibn Ya’qūb, from Muḥammad ibn Ismā’īl, from Faďl ibn Shādhān, from Safwān ibn Yaḥyā, and from Ibn Abī ‘Umayr, from Mu’āwiyah ibn ‘Ammār, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.).