Son of Late Hajj Muhammad Rahim, alias Abgoshti [he became famous with this title, because he was very sincere in his devotion to Imam Husayn ('a) and regularly recited Ziyarat Ashura every day, in addition to that in Masjid Ganj, which adjoined his house, after congregation prayer one or two persons recited mourning poems, after which he served Aab Gosht1 and bread in a large quantity. Everyone had the choice of eating there or to take the food home.], Hajj Mirza Ali Yazdi narrated:

My father fell seriously ill and ordered us to take him to the Masjid. I said that it would be inappropriate, because traders and nobles will come to visit you. He said: "I want to die in the Masjid," because he was very much attached to it. So we were compelled to carry him to the mosque.

One night his illness intensified and he was in a swoon. So we brought him home. All night he was in the agony of death and we became sure of his death. I sat in a corner of the room weeping and discussed about his funeral rites and Majlis for mercy on him.

Suddenly he called me and my brother. When we came to him, we saw that he was perspiring profusely. He said: Don't worry, go and take some rest and know that I will not die yet. I will recover from this illness.

We were perplexed by this and when it was morning, he had regained complete health and no sign of illness remained. We wrapped his bedding and took it to the bath. This occurred in the first night of the month of Muharram. 1330 A.H., but we were ashamed to ask how he recovered and escaped death.

When the Hajj season arrived, he tried his best to complete his pending issues and prepared for the journey, till he set out in the first caravan. We accompanied him till Bagh Jannat, which is situated at a distance of one Farsakh from Shiraz and stayed there at night. He initiated the discussion and asked:

You never asked me how I did not die at that time and how I regained health. I will tell you myself: That night my death had arrived and I was in agony of death. In that condition, I saw myself in the locality of Jews and was distressed by the terrible stench and horrible scene, and I understood that if I died at that time I would become a part of them. So I supplicated and wailed before my Lord. I heard that it was the place of those who omit the Hajj. I said: Then what happened to my mediations and services to the chief of martyrs? Suddenly that horrible scene transformed into a happy one and I was told: All your services are accepted and through the recommendation of the Imam you are given ten more years of life and your death is delayed so that you may perform the obligatory Hajj. Since I have now decided to perform the Hajj, I informed you about what passed on me.

Late Yazdi said: Before Muharram al-Haram 1340 A.H. my father was afflicted with a minor ailment and he said: The first night of the coming month is the promised date of my death. Thus, just as he had informed (on completion of ten extra years) he passed away on the first night of the month of Muharram, at the time of dawn. May Allah have mercy on him.

This story explains two points: One is the importance of Hajj and the greater sin of leaving it. Thus, the Muhaqqiq has said in Sharai: After fulfillment of conditions Hajj is immediately obligatory and to delay its fulfillment is a greater sin and destruction. What destruction is worse than being raised as a Jew on Judgment Day?

Thus, in Safinat ul-Bihar, Vol. 1, it is narrated from Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said: One who is capable enough and in spite of that fails to perform the obligation of Hajj, at the time of death he is given the choice of dying as a Jew or a Christian.

In other words, one who omits Hajj, after death he would be a Jew or a Christian. It is mentioned in the interpretation of the verse:

وَمَنْ كَانَ فِي هَٰذِهِ أَعْمَىٰ فَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ

"...whoever is blind in this, he shall (also) be blind in the hereafter." (Surah al-Israa’ 17:72)

...that it is about a person who postpones Hajj from one year to another, till he dies without performing it. Thus, he has become blind from one obligation, and the Almighty Allah would make him blind from seeing it.

Another point concluded from this story is that Imam Husayn ('a) is the ark of salvation and is the widespread mercy of God. His mediation provides good sense (divine opportunity) for repentance and he would be purified of his sins and then leave the world with a good end. If a person takes recourse to it he would definitely gain salvation.

• 1. Meat soup.