عبد الله بن حماد البرسي

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you wake up during the night (for Salah (prayer)) you should brush your teeth; the angel comes and places his mouth over your mouth. Every word you say, he climbs with it to the heaven. Your mouth should have a pleasant smell.’”

I heard Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) say: The boundaries of the grave (the Ḥaram) of Ḥusain (a.s.) are twenty ells by twenty ells and this location is a garden from the gardens of Paradise. The ascent toward the heavens begins from here. Every high-ranked angel and prophet, who was chosen as a messenger, asks Allāh, the Exalted, (at all times) for permission to go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.). (There is always) a crowd descending (from the heavens to go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.)) and a crowd ascending (back).

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.”

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).

My father (a.s.) narrated to me that my grandfather (Imam Sajjād (a.s.)) used to say: Allāh will erase the sins of those who go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) for the sake of (pleasing) Allāh. They will be sinless like a newborn baby. Angels will accompany them on their way (to the Ziyārah) and they will flap and spread their wings over them until they return to their families. Angels will seek forgiveness for them from their Lord and call out to them, “You have been blessed and blessed is the one to whose Ziyārah you have come.” They will be covered by Mercy from the heavens and their families will be protected for them.

I said to Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)): May I sacrifice myself for you, O son of the Messenger of Allāh! On the night of ‘Arafah, I was in Ḥīrah (Ḥā`ir) and I saw three to four thousand handsome men who smelled beautiful and whose clothing was pure white, who were praying all night. I wanted to go to the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) and kiss it and pray there. However, I could not reach it because of how crowded it was. It was after dawn that I prostrated and when I raised my head, I could not see any of them. Abū ‘Abdillāh (a.s.) asked me, “Do you know who they were?” I replied, “May I sacrifice myself for you! I do not.” Imam (a.s.) replied: My father (a.s.) narrated to me from his father (a.s.), who said: Four thousand angels passed by Ḥusain (a.s.) while he was being killed so they ascended to the heavens. Allāh revealed to them, “O crowd of angels! You passed by the son of My love and My choice from My creation, Muḥammad (s.a.a.w.), and he was being killed and oppressed but you did not help him. Descend to earth and cry by his grave while you are disheveled and covered with dust until the Day of Judgment.” Imam (a.s.) continued, “So now they remain by his grave (and will continue to do so) until the rising of the Hour.”

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.

I was speaking with Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) when his son entered. The Imam (a.s.) welcomed him, and then hugged and kissed him. Then Imam (a.s.) said: May Allāh degrade those who degraded you (referring to the children of Imam Ḥusain (a.s.)). May Allāh avenge those who oppressed you. May Allāh disappoint those who abandoned you. May Allāh curse those who killed you. May Allāh be your friend, protector, and supporter. Verily the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs, the angels of the heavens, and our women have been weeping for long. Then the Imam (a.s.) started to cry and said: O Abā Basīr! When I look at the children of Hussain (a.s), grief overcomes me when I remember what was done to them and to their father (a.s.). O Abā Basīr! Verily Fāťimah (s.a.) cries and sobs over Ḥusain (a.s.). (When Hell hears her voice) it sighs in such an intense way, that if the keepers of Hell – who also hear her voice – did not prepare themselves to restrain it, Hell would burn all of the inhabitants of the earth with its blazing fires and its sparking fumes. They (the keepers) contain and restrain it and hold its doors tightly closed for as long as Fāťimah (s.a.) cries. They do this because of their fear for the inhabitants of the earth. However, Hell is not pacified until the voice of Fāťimah (a.s) subsides. Verily the seas almost split apart and then collide (when they hear the weeping of Fāťimah (a.s)). There is a dedicated angel responsible for every drop of water. When these angels hear the voice of Fāťimah (a.s), they prevent every drop of water from boiling with their wings; they keep the water together because of their fear for (this) world and everything in it, (specifically) the people of the earth. The angels remain in fear (for the people when they hear the voice of Fāťimah (a.s)) and cry for her crying. And then they pray to Allāh and beseech Him, after which the inhabitants of the Throne and those who are around it beseech Allāh. Then the voices of the angels are raised in glorification of Allāh, all because of their fear for the people of the earth. Even if one of their voices reached the earth, all of the inhabitants of the earth would swoon away, the mountains would crumble, and the earth would shake (under) its inhabitants. I (Abū Basīr) said, “May I sacrifice myself for you! This is such a great matter.” Imam (a.s.) replied, “That which you have not heard is even greater than this. O Abā Basīr! Do you not want to be among those who support Fāťimah (s.a.)?!” When I heard this, I cried so much that I could not speak any longer nor could the Imam (a.s.) speak because (of how intensely) he was crying. Then he (the Imam (a.s.)) moved toward his prayer mat and started to supplicate to Allāh, and I left him in that state. I could not eat nor sleep that night. The next morning I was fasting and I was in extreme fear when I went to the Imam (a.s.). When I saw that he had calmed down, I also calmed down and praised Allāh because no chastisement had befallen me.

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.”

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.