Tradition 1: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) was asked, “How do some people who use the clay of Imam Al-Husayn's ('a) grave benefit from it while others don't?”

Imam ('a) replied, “No, by Allah, except whom there is no god, anyone who uses it believing that he will benefit from it through Allah, will benefit from using it.”

Tradition 2: Some of our companions said: A lady gave me some yarn and asked me to give it to the keepers of Ka’aba to use it to make the cover of the Ka’aba. But I did not want to give it to them, because I knew them.

So, when we came to Medina, I went to Imam Al-Baqir ('a) and said, “May I be sacrificed on you, a lady gave me some yarn and asked me to give it to the keepers of Ka’aba to use it to make the cover of the Ka’aba. But I don't want to give it to them.”

Imam ('a) said, “Sell it and buy some honey and saffron with its price. Then take some clay from the grave of Imam Al-Husayn ('a), mix it with rain water and add some honey and saffron to it. Distribute it among the Shia so that they may cure their ill ones with it.”

Tradition 3: Same as no. 4.

Tradition 4: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: The cure for every disease is in the clay of Imam Al-Husayn's ('a) grave and it is the greatest medicine.

Tradition 5: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: The clay of Imam Al-Husayn's ('a) grave is a cure even if it is collected a mile away from the grave.

Tradition 6: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: Allah will cure anyone who has an illness if he starts treating himself with the clay of Imam Al-Husayn's ('a) grave, except in case of a fatal illness.

Tradition 7: Muhammad Ibn Muslim said: Once I went to Medina while I was ill and people informed Imam Al-Baqir ('a) that I was ill.

Imam Al-Baqir ('a) sent a servant to me with a drink covered with a handkerchief.

The servant gave me the drink and said, “Drink it now as he has ordered me not to return until you do so.”

So, I drank it immediately. It smelled like musk and was cold and tasty.

After I finished, the servant said, “Your master has ordered you to go and meet him as soon as you finish the drink.”

I thought about what he said and the fact that I couldn't even stand on my legs before it. But as soon as the drink entered my body, I was energized, and my cramp was relieved. I went to the Imam ('a) and sought permission to enter.

Imam ('a) raised his voice and said, “Enter, O healthy one!”

I entered weeping; saluted him and kissed his hand and head.

Imam ('a) asked, “O Muhammad! Why are you weeping?”

I replied, “May I be sacrificed on you! I cry for the loneliness of living so far from you and for not having the ability to live besides you, so that I can look at you.”

Imam ('a) said: As for the lack of ability, this is what Allah has willed for our friends and those who love us and the afflictions befall them quickly in this life.

As for loneliness, indeed, believers are lonely in this life among this deviated creation until they leave it and go towards the Mercy of Allah.

As for living far from us, you should console yourself remembering Imam Al-Husayn ('a) who is in a land besides the Euphrates, so far from us.

As for that which you mentioned about your love for being near us and looking at us but not being able to do so, indeed, Allah knows that which is in your heart and He will reward you accordingly.

Then the Imam ('a) asked, “Do you visit the grave of Imam Al-Husayn ('a)?”

I replied, “Yes, but in the state of fear and apprehension.”

Imam ('a) said: The more dangerous it becomes, the greater the reward will be.

One who visits the grave of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) in fear will return forgiven. The angels salute him, Allah's Messenger will see them and see their actions and will pray for them and Allah will make them feel safe on the day when people will be raised for the Lord of the worlds.

فَانقَلَبُوا بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ لَّمْ يَمْسَسْهُمْ سُوءٌ وَاتَّبَعُوا رِضْوَانَ اللَّهِ

“So, they returned with favour from Allah and (His) grace, no evil touched them and they followed the pleasure of Allah” (3:174).

Then the Imam ('a) asked, “How did you find the drink?”

I replied: I bear witness that you are the family of mercy and the successor of successors. When the boy brought it, I couldn't even stand up and I had lost al I hope. After the drink, I felt I had never smelled anything like it and I had never tasted a colder and a tastier drink.

After I finished it, the servant told me, “The Imam ordered me to tell you to go and meet him as soon as you finish your drink.”

I knew how serious my condition was, but I thought that I would come to you even if it causes death. But as soon as I started, I felt energized, and my cramp was relieved. So praise be to Allah Who has made you the Mercy for your Shia and for me.

Imam ('a) said: O Muhammad! The drink from which you drank contained some clay of Imam Al-Husayn's ('a) grave and it is the best cure. Hence don't replace it with anything else, for indeed, we give this drink to our children and ladies and we find all blessings in it.

I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you! Should we take some of this clay as well and cure ourselves with it?”

Imam ('a) replied: People often take this clay and bring it out of the tomb of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) while it is visible. But when they pass by any jinn or animal who is ill or pass by anything else which is diseased. It smells the clay. So, its benefit disappears, and others benefit from it. But the clay we use is not like this.

If it was not for that which I mentioned, everyone who touched the clay of Imam Al-Husayn's ('a) grave or drank from the water mixed with it would have been cured immediately. It is exactly like Hajar Aswad: the ill ones, the disbelievers and pagans kept touching it and being cured by it. It was as white as the whitest corundum but through passage of time it became black, as you now see.

I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you, what is wrong with the way I take it?”

Imam ('a) replied, “You show it to others and do what others do. You dishonour it placing it in your saddlebag or in things which will tarnish it. So, it will lose the effect that you seek from it.”

Isaid, “May I be sacrificed on you! You are right.”

Imam ('a) said, “Everyone who takes from the clay of Imam Al-Husayn's ('a) grave does not know how it should be taken. So, it does not remain intact in the hands of the people.”

I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you, how can I take from it in the way you do?”

Imam ('a) replied, “Do you want me to give you some of it?”

I said, “Yes.”

Imam ('a) asked, “What will you do with it?” I replied, “I will take it with me.”

Imam ('a) asked, “Where will you place it?” I replied, “In my clothes.”

Imam ('a) said, “Then you are going back to what you used to do. Don't do that, drink the water mixed with it and don't carry it with you, because it will not remain intact with you.”

Then the Imam ('a) gave me from the drink twice and I found no sign of that illness from which I was suffering and then I left.

Tradition 8: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: If a believer, who suffers from an illness and who believes in the rights of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) and in his sanctity and Wilayat, takes a little bit from the day of Imam Al-Husayn's ('a) grave, he will be cured.