Tradition 1: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: There is a blessing near you, not given to anyone else. But I don't think you understand its true value; you don't adhere to it, nor are you committed to it.

Indeed, there is a dedicated group for this blessing identified by their names and Allah, with His Mercy and Compassion, has willed a happy end for them and has bestowed this blessing on them without any will or power from themselves.

I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you, what is it?”

Imam ('a) replied, “The Ziyarah of my grandfather, Imam Al-Husayn ('a).” ·

Imam ('a) added: Indeed, he is the lonely one in a remote land. One who goes for his Ziyarah, weeps over him. And one who does not go, grieves over him. One who has not seen his grave is devastated and one who looks at the grave of his son, at his feet in that desert, sympathizes with him.

He had no family in that land nor any friend and the infidels denied his rights, forsook him and rose against him. They slain him and left his body unburied for the beasts.

They forbade him Euphrates water from which even dogs could drink. They forsook their obligations to Allah's Messenger and ignored his commands about him and his family.

He was eventually abandoned in his grave and struck down on layers of dust among his family members and Shia.

He is alone and far away from his grandfather, after having been near him. He is alone in the house, which is not being visited, except by those whose hearts Allah has tested for faith and whom He has allowed to know our rights.

I said, “May I be sacrificed on you! I used to go to his Ziyarah until I was afflicted with this ruler's service of protecting his wealth. Now I am well-known among them.

Hence, I stopped going to his Ziyarah, although I am aware of its blessings.”

Imam ('a) asked, “Do you know the excellence of the Ziyarah and the reward that we have prepared for those who go to it?”

I replied, “No.”

Imam ('a) said, “As for the excellence, Allah boasts about those who go to his Ziyarah to the angels in heavens. And as for their reward with us, we seek Allah's Mercy for those who go to his Ziyarah every morning and evening.”

Imam ('a) added: My father ('a) narrated to me that since the day he was slain, his site has never been deserted by those who invoke blessings on him from among the angels, Jinn, mankind or beasts. Indeed, every creation envies those who go to his Ziyarah and tries to touch them and seeks blessings by looking at them from having looked at the grave of Imam Al-Husayn ('a).

Then Imam ('a) said, “I have heard that in the middle of the month of Shaban, some people from the suburbs of Kufa - and other cities - go to his Ziyarah and their ladies lament over Husayn ('a), the reciters recite poems about him, the speakers narrate his story, the lamenters lament over him and the poets recite eulogies about him.”

I replied, “Yes, may I be sacrificed on you! I have seen some of that which you described.”

Imam ('a) said: Praise be to Allah, Who appointed some people to go to our Ziyarah, extol us and recite eulogies about us. And (praise be to Allah) Who has made some of our enemies slander our Shia for their nearness to us while other enemies insult them and condemn their actions.

Tradition 2: I accompanied Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) from Medina to Mecca. On our journey, we stopped in an area called Usfan and passed by a black, frightening mountain to the left of the road.

I said, “O son of Allah's Messenger! How frightening this mountain is! I have never seen anything like this on our route.”

Imam ('a) asked, “Ibn Bukair! Do you know which mountain it is?”

I replied, “No.”

Imam ('a) said: This is a mountain called Kamad and it overlooks a valley of Hell, which contains the killers of my father, Husayn ('a).

Liquids of Hell flow under the killers of my father (in this valley). These liquids include Ghislin, Sadid, Hamim that which emerges from the Putrid Well, that which comes out from the clay of Khabal (pus), that which comes out from Jahannam, that which comes out from Hutamah, that which comes out from Saqar, that which comes out from Hamim, that which comes out from Hawiya and that which comes out from Sa'ir.

Every time I pass by this mountain on my journey, I stop and see those Two seeking refuge with me and I look at the killers of my ancestors ('a) and I say to them:

“Indeed, you established the foundations of that which the killers of Husayn ('a) did. You showed us no mercy at the time of reign. You killed us, denied and usurped our rights and tyrannized our affairs by deposing us. May Allah not have mercy on those who have mercy on you two. Now taste the evil result of that which you brought forth, because Allah is not unjust to any of His servants.”

Sometimes I climb the mountain of Kamad, which is where those two are located and I stand there to soothe some of that which is in my heart and the second one begs and succumbs to despair more intensely.

I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you! What do you hear when you climb this mountain?”

Imam ('a) replied: I hear the voices of those two. They call out, “Come to us so that we can talk, indeed, we repent.” And (then) I hear a call from the mountains which cries out,

قَالَ اخْسَئُوا فِيهَا وَلَا تُكَلِّمُونِ

“Answer them and tell them, 'Remain condemned in it and speak not to me’” (23:108).

I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you! Who else is with them?”

Imam ('a) replied, “Every tyrant Fir’awn, whose actions Allah has mentioned (in the Quran) and everyone who taught disbelief to the servants of Allah.”

I asked, “Who are they?” Imam ('a) replied:

The likes of Bulis, who taught the Jews that “...the hand of Allah is tied up!” (5:64); the likes of Nastur who taught the Christians that Isa ... “Al-Masih is the son of Allah” (9:30) and who told them that they are three; the likes of Fir’awn (at the time) of Musa who said, “I am your lord, the most high,” (79:24); and the likes of Namrud who said, “I have overpowered everyone on earth and I have killed those in the heavens”; and the killer of Amir Al-Mu’minin ('a), the killer of Fatimah and Mohsin ('a) and the killers of Hasan and Husayn ('a); and also Muawiyah and Amr Ibn Aas, who have no hope of being saved and anyone who incited animosity against us and helped (our enemies) with his tongue, wealth or hand against us will also be with them.

I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you! You hear all of this and you are not frightened?”

Imam ('a) replied: O son of Bukair! Our hearts are not like the hearts of the people. We are Allah's obedient, purified and chosen servants. We see that which people do not see and we hear that which people don't hear.

The angels come down to us (while we are traveling) on our conveyances. They roll in our beds. They witness us when we eat, they attend out funerals and they bring the news of that which will take place in the future to us. They pray with us, they pray for us, they place their wings over us and our children roll over their wings.

They prevent the animals from coming near us. They bring various types of seasonal fruits for us from different lands and water from every land for us, which we find in our jugs.

There is not any day or hour or prayer time when the angels are not prepared (to serve us).

The news of every land and that which takes place in it, the news of the Jinn and the news of all angels in the heavens are brought to us every night.

Whenever an angel dies in any land and is replaced with another angel, we are informed of it and we are informed about the performance of this angel in comparison to the angel he replaced.

The news of all the six earths all the way to the seventh earth is brought to us (at all times).

I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you! Where does this mountain end?”

Imam ('a) replied, “In the seventh earth and Hell is located in one of its valleys. There are many keepers who guard this valley. Their number is greater than the number of stars in the sky, drops of rain, creation in the seas and the grains of soil in the earth. Every one of these keepers from among the angels has a dedicated duty, which he carries out and never abandons it.”

I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you! The angels report to all of you?”

Imam ('a) said: No, they only report to the Master of Affair (the Imam of the time). Indeed, we are the masters of affairs over which none of the servants of Allah can rule.

Whenever someone does not accept our ruling (about these specific matters), the angels force him to (carry out) our will and order the keepers who are dedicated to him, to force him to (carry out) our will. And if they are among the disbelieving Jinn, the angels put shackles around them and torture them until they submit to our ruling in those matters.

I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you! Can the Imam see everything from the east to west?”

Imam ('a) replied: O son of Bukair! How can he be the Proof of Allah over the entire earth without seeing and ruling everyone?

And how can he be the Proof over people who are not in his presence, who cannot reach him and over whom he has no power?

How can he convey Allah's message and act as Allah's witness over the creation if he cannot see them?

How can he be the Proof on the people if he is hidden from them while he has been appointed as the medium between the servants and Allah, so that he carries the orders of his Lord to them?

Allah says,

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا كَافَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ

“We have not sent you but to all of mankind” (34:28).

This verse refers to everything on earth (not only mankind). The Proof after Allah's Messenger fills the post of Allah's Messenger after him. He is the judge in that which the nation disagrees about, the one who gives people their rights, the one who carries out the orders of Allah and he is the one who justly rules between the people.

And how can the (following) words of Allah be fulfilled if the Imam is not among the people? Allah says,

سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ

“Soon We shall show Our signs to them in the horizons and within themselves” (41:53).

And which sign other than us did Allah show to the people in the horizons?

Allah says,

وَمَا نُرِيهِمْ مِنْ آيَةٍ إِلَّا هِيَ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ أُخْتِهَا

“And We did not show them any sign but it was greater than the other” (43:48).

Which sign is greater than us?

By Allah, Bani Hashim and Quraish know well that which Allah has bestowed upon us, but jealousy destroyed them, just as it destroyed Iblis. Indeed, they come to us when they are in distress and when they are in fear and they ask us (questions), we clarify their questions for them. Then they say to us, “We bear witness that you are the people of knowledge.” Then they leave us and say, “We have not seen anyone more astray than those who follow them (Ahl Al-Bayt) and accept their words.”

I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you! If the grave of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) was to be disinterred, would anything be found in it?”

Imam ('a) replied: O son of Bukair! Your questions are (always) about the great matters. Indeed, Husayn ('a) along with his father, mother and his brother, Hasan ('a), are with Allah's Messenger in his house and they are being rewarded and sustained, (just) as the Prophet is.

If his grave would have been disinterred during his time, he would have been found there. But today he is alive and sustained and he is with his Lords. He looks at his camp (in Karbala) and he also looks at the Throne until the time when it is ordered to carry him.

Indeed, Husayn ('a) is hanging on to the right side of the Throne and says, “O my Lord! Fulfil Your promise to me.”

Indeed, he looks at those who go to his Ziyarah and he knows them; he knows the names of their fathers, their ranks and their positions with Allah and that which they carry along with them even better than you know your own sons.

Indeed, Husayn ('a) looks at those who cry over him and he seeks forgiveness for them as an act of mercy and he asks his father to seek forgiveness for them.

And he says to them, “O those who cry over me! If you knew that which has been prepared for you, your happiness would be greater than your restlessness.”

Imam ('a) continued, “Indeed, all of the angels in the heavens and in the holy shrine who hear those who cry on Husayn ('a) seek forgiveness for them and they (the visitors) will return without any sin.”

Tradition 3: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: No Prophet or successor remains on earth for more than three days (after burial). Their souls, bones and flesh are taken up to the heavens.

Hence, by going to places which contain their signs, or saluting them from afar, they hear it as if they were near.

Tradition 4: The narrator said to Imam As-Sadiq (‘a): Sometimes when we are in Mecca, Medina, tomb of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) or any other sacred place and we are sitting in a specific spot, we have to leave our spot to perform Wudhu and while we are gone, someone else comes and sits in our spot.

Imam ('a) replied, “Those who arrive first at a particular spot have more right to that spot than others for that entire day and night.”

Tradition 5: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: The least that a visitor of Husayn ('a) gains is that his every good deed will be recorded as a million good deeds for him and every sin will be considered as (only) one. And how can one be compared to a million?

Imam ('a) added: O Safwan! Rejoice, for indeed, Allah has some angels who carry rods of light and when the keepers are about to write a bad deed for the visitor of Husayn ('a), these angels tell the Keepers to stop. Hence the keepers will not record the bad deed.

But once the visitor performs a good deed, these angels tell the Keeper,

فَأُولَٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ

“Write now! 'So, these are they of whom Allah changes the evil deeds to good ones” (25:70).

Tradition 6: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: There is a cemetery near you called Buratha. A hundred and twenty martyrs, like the martyrs of Badr will be resurrected from it.

Tradition 7: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: One who performs the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) in the month of Ramadan and dies on the way will not be judged, his scroll of deeds will not be published, and he will be told, “Enter Paradise safely.”

Tradition 8: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) asked, “O Aban! When was the last time you went to the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a)?”

I replied, “No, by Allah not recently, O son of Allah's Messenger! It has been long time since I went to his Ziyarah.”

Imam ('a) said: Very nice! You are the chiefs of Shia and you forsake the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a)?

Allah will record a good deed and erase a sin for one who performs the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) with every step he takes and will forgive all his past and future sins.

O Aban, when Imam Al-Husayn ('a) was slain, seventy thousand angels descended to his grave, dishevelled and covered with dust and they continuously cry and lament on him until Judgment Day.

Tradition 9: Imam Ar-Ridha’ ('a) was asked, “What is better: going to Mecca and Medina or going to the Ziyarah of the Prophet but not going to Mecca?”

Imam ('a) said, “What do you think?”

I said, “We believe that even going to the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) is better than going to Mecca, let alone going to the Ziyarah of the Prophet.”

Imam ('a) said: Now that you said this, then know that one Eid day when Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) was in Mecca, he went to the Prophet's grave and saluted him.

He told those who were with him, “Indeed, we have been elevated above all people in every land including Mecca and every other city for having saluted Allah's Messenger.

Tradition 10: Same as no. 4.

Tradition 11: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: When the Prophet was taken to the heavens in Mi’raj, he was told, “Indeed, Allah, the blessed and exalted will test you with three afflictions to see how patient you are.”

The Prophet replied, “I submit to Your command, O Lord. And I have no power to be patient except with Your help. What are the three tests?”

He was told, “The first is hunger and giving preference to the needy over yourself and your family.”

The Prophet replied, “I have accepted, O Lord. I am pleased with Your will and I submit to it, I seek Taufeeq and patience from You.”

The second is that you will be belied, and you will be in extreme fear for your life. You should spend your wealth, your blood and your soul fighting against the people of disbelief, you should remain patient when you will be harassed by disbelievers and hypocrites, and you should remain patient when you will be hurt and wounded in battles.

His Eminence replied, “I have accepted, O Lord. I am pleased with your will, and I submit to it and I seek Taufeeq and patience from you.”

He was told, “The third test is that your family will be killed after you. As for your brother, Ali, your Ummah will slander and rebuke him, they will be violent with him, will deprive him and usurp his rights, they will oppress and finally slay him.”

The Prophet replied, “I have accepted, O Lord. And I am pleased (with Your Will) and I seek Taufeeq and patience from You.”

He was told: As for your daughter, she will be oppressed and deprived, they will usurp her rights. He will beat her while she is pregnant. Her sanctity will be breached, and her house will be trespassed without permission, and she will be humiliated and disrespected. She will find no protector, will suffer from a miscarriage because she will be beaten, and she will die as a result of that beating.

The Prophet replied,

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

“Surely, we are Allah's and to Him we shall surely return.” (2:156).

I have accepted, O Lord and submit to Your Will and I seek Taufeeq and patience from You.”

Then he was told, “She will have two sons from your brother, one of whom your Ummah will kill fraudulently. They will destroy his garments and ridicule him.”

The Prophet replied:

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

“Surely, we are Allah's and to Him we shall surely return (2:156).

I have accepted, O Lord and I submit to it (Your Will) and I seek Taufeeq from You for being patient.”

As for her second son, your Ummah will invite him for Jihad but then they will kill him in helplessness. They will also kill his children and family members who will be with him and they will make his ladies prisoners. He will ask for help from Me but I have already willed his martyrdom and the martyrdom of those with him.

His slaying will be a Proof against everyone in the creation. Inhabitants of the heavens and earths will weep and be restless for him. And the angels, who will not be able to help him, will cry over him.

Then I shall raise a man from his progeny, whose shadow is with me under the Throne and through whom I shall support him. He will fill the earth with justice and equity. His awe will travel with him, and he will kill so many that people will doubt him.

The Prophet replied, “Surely we are Allah's.” Then he was told, “Raise your head.”

The Prophet said: I looked up and saw a man who looked and smelled better than all people. He had a blessed visage and was wearing clothes of light. Light was emanating from his forehead, from over him and from under him. He was surrounded by several angels who could not be counted except by Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.

Then I asked him to approach me. He ('a) came near me and kissed my forehead.

I said: O Lord! Who will this man avenge and for whom will he show his anger and for what reason have You prepared these angels?

You informed me about that which will be inflicted upon my family. You can support them against their oppressors if You will. You have promised victory for me and my family and I await the fulfilment of Your promise.

Indeed, I have accepted and am pleased with Your will and I submit to it and I seek Taufeeq and help from You to be pleased and patient.

I was told: As for your brother, he will enter the

جَنَّاتُ الْمَأْوَىٰ نُزُلًا

“The gardens are their abiding-place” (32:19).

For staying patient. On the Day of Resurrection, I shall establish him as an argument on the creation and I shall authorize him to stand by your Hauz Kauthar where he will distribute water to your friends and your enemies from drinking from it. I will allow him to bring out from Hell anyone who has even an atom of love for you. I will make all of you (the Ahl Al-Bayt) dwell at the same level in Paradise.

As for your son, who will be abandoned and slain and your other son, who will be betrayed and martyred while he will be helpless, I will decorate My Throne with them for having suffered the afflictions which befall them and they will be honoured in ways unimaginable by man. So, rely on Me.

Also, I shall honour one who goes to his grave, because one who goes to his Ziyarah has performed your Ziyarah and one who performs your Ziyarah has come to My Ziyarah and I surely honour one who performs My Ziyarah.

I will fulfil all his requests and reward him in such a way that everyone will envy him when they see how I dignify him and the honour which I have prepared for him.

As for your daughter, I will make her stand besides My Throne and she shall be told, “Indeed, Allah has appointed you as the ruler over His creation. Hence rule in any way you want regarding those who oppressed you and your children, for your ruling will be executed.”

So, she will come to the judgment place and order those who oppressed her to be taken to Hell.

Then the oppressor shall say,

يَا حَسْرَتَا عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطْتُ فِي جَنْبِ اللَّهِ

“O woe to me! for what I fell short of my duty to Allah” (39:56).

And he will wish to return to life.

وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا

“And the day when the unjust one shall bite his hands saying: O! would that I had taken a way with the Apostle” (25:27).

يَا وَيْلَتَىٰ لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا

“O woe is me! would that I had not taken such a one for a friend!” (25:28).

And

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَنَا قَالَ يَا لَيْتَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ بُعْدَ الْمَشْرِقَيْنِ فَبِئْسَ الْقَرِينُ

“Until when he comes to Us, he says: O would that between me and you there were the distance of the East and the West; so evil is the associate!” (43:38).

وَلَن يَنفَعَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ إِذ ظَّلَمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ فِي الْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ

“And since you were unjust, it will not profit you this day that you are partners in the chastisement.” (43:39).

The oppressor shall say,

أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِي مَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ

“Thou (only) judgest between Thy servants as to that wherein they differ.” (39:46).

Or is the judge someone else?

They will be told,

أَن لَّعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ ‎

“The curse of Allah is on the unjust” (7:44).

الَّذِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَهُم بِالْآخِرَةِ كَافِرُونَ

“Who hinder (people) from Allah's way and seek to make it crooked and they are disbelievers in the hereafter.” (7:45).

Imam ('a) continued: The first judgment will be between Mohsin Ibn Ali ('a) and his killer - referring to the second usurper. Then he will be brought forth along with Qunfudh and they will be lashed with whips of fire. The whips will be such that if one of them hits the oceans, they will boil from the east to the west and if (even one whip) touches the mountains, they will all melt and turn to ash.

Then Amir Al-Mu’minin ('a) will kneel before Allah so that Allah judges between him and the fourth usurper - Muawiyah. Then they (the second usurper, Qunfudh and Muawiyah) will be thrown in a well (of fire) which will be covered so no one can see them and they will not be able to see anyone.

So those who followed them (in this life) will say,

رَبَّنَا أَرِنَا اللَّذَيْنِ أَضَلَّانَا مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنْسِ نَجْعَلْهُمَا تَحْتَ أَقْدَامِنَا لِيَكُونَا مِنَ الْأَسْفَلِينَ

“Our Lord! show us those who led us astray from among the jinn and the men that we may trample them under our feet so that they may be of the lowest” (41:29).

Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will reply

وَلَنْ يَنْفَعَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ إِذْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ فِي الْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ

“It will not profit you this day that you are sharers in the chastisement” (43:39).

This is when they will scream in distress and call for destruction.

The Two will come to the Pool, (imprisoned) by the Keepers (of Hell) and will say to Amir Al-Mu’minin ('a), forgive us, give us some water and save us.”

They will be told:

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ زُلْفَةً سِيئَتْ وُجُوهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَقِيلَ هَٰذَا الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تَدَّعُونَ

“But when they shall see it nigh, the faces of those who disbelieve shall be sorry and it shall be said; This is that which you used to call for” (67:27).

By referring to yourselves as the commanders of the believers. Return to Hell thirsty. You shall receive no drink but Hamim and Ghislin.

فَمَا تَنْفَعُهُمْ شَفَاعَةُ الشَّافِعِينَ

“So, the intercession of intercessors shall not avail them” (74:48).

Tradition 12: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) was asked, “May I be sacrificed on you, which deed is better: Hajj or Sadaqah?”

Imam ('a) said, “If the money is sufficient for Hajj, going for Hajj is better than Sadaqah, otherwise Sadaqah is better.''

I asked, “What about Jihad?”

Imam ('a) said, “Fighting in the way of Allah at the time of Jihad is the best deed after obligatory prayers. But it is not accepted unless it is with an Imam.”

I asked, “What about Ziyarah?”

Imam ('a) replied, “Ziyarah of the Prophet (S), Hamza ('a), Ziyarah of successors ('a) and especially Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) in Iraq is best deed.”

I asked, “What are the rewards of Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a)?”

Imam ('a) replied: One who performs the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) will submerge in divine Mercy and earn His pleasure. Evil will be kept away from him; his sustenance will increase and angels will surround him. He will be surrounded with a light which will allow the Keepers to identify him and he will not pass by any of the Keepers without them praying for him.

Tradition 13: Imam Al-Kadhim ('a) was asked, “Which one is better: Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a), or Ziyarah of Amir Al-Mu’minin ('a), or... - and I named the other Imams ('a) one by one.”

Imam ('a) replied: Abdul Rahman! One who performs the Ziyarah of our first one is like one who performs the Ziyarah of our last one and one who performs the Ziyarah of our last one is like one who performs the Ziyarah of our first one.

One who follows our first one is like one who follows our last one and one who follows our last one is like one who follows our first one.

One who fulfils the needs of one of our followers is like one who fulfils the needs of all of us (the Imams ('a))

Abdur Rahman! Love us, love those who love us, love in our way and make others love for our sake. Befriend us and befriend those who befriend us and hate those who hate us.

Beware! One who refutes our words is like one who refutes the words of our grandfather, Allah's Messenger and one who refutes the words of Allah's Messenger is like one who refutes the words of Allah.

Beware, Abdur Rahman! One who hates us hates Muhammad and one who hates Muhammad hates Allah and one who hates Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, truly deserve to be sent to Hell by Allah and he shall have no helper.

Tradition 14: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: When Husayn ('a) was slain, our family in Medina heard an announcer announce, “Today afflictions have descended on this Ummah. You shall not see any pleasure until your Qa’im ('a) rises and pleases you by eliminating your enemies and avenging one by many.”

They were frightened on hearing this call and said that something must have happened about which they were unaware. After some time, they heard the news of the slaying of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) and when they counted the days, they discovered that he was slain on the same night they heard the herald.

I said, “May I be sacrificed on you, how long will you and we (Shia) remain under this fear and killing?

Imam ('a) replied, “Until seventy periods of relief take place in different intervals and until the time of seventy comes. Then the standards will approach one after another at the time of seventy and they will look like organized units. Those who survive till that time will see that which will please them.”

Imam ('a) added: When Imam Al-Husayn ('a) was slain, a man came to the camp of the enemies and screamed and rebuked them.

He said, “How can I not scream when Allah's Messenger is standing and looking at the earth and at your party. I am afraid that he will supplicate to Allah against the people of earth and I will be destroyed as one of them!”

So, the soldiers said to one another, “This is a man who has lost his mind.”

But the penitents said, “By Allah! What did we do to ourselves? We killed the Leader of the Youth of Paradise for the son of Sumayyah. Then they rose against Ubaidullah Ibn Ziyad and that which happened to them happened.

I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you! Who was the one who screamed?”

Imam ('a) replied, “We don't think that he was anyone but Jibra’il. Indeed, if he had been given permission, he would have screamed at them in such a way that their souls would have left their bodies and would have entered Hell. But they were given respite to increase their sins and they shall have a painful chastisement.”

I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you! What do you say about someone who has the ability to perform the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) but does not?”

Imam ('a) replied: I say that he has disowned Allah's Messenger and us. He has belittled a matter that is obligatory on him.

Allah will look after the needs of those who perform the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) and He will take care of every matter that is important to them in this life.

Going to the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) increases the sustenance of the servants of Allah and they will be recompensed for the money they spend.

Fifty years of sins will be forgiven and they will return to their kin having every sin and mistake erased from their scroll of deeds.

If they die during their Ziyarah, angels will descend and perform their Ghusl. Doors of Paradise will be opened and its fragrance will surround them until the day they are resurrected.

If they do not (die during their Ziyarah), a door from which their sustenance descends will be opened and they will be recomposed with ten thousand dirhams for every dirham they spent during their Ziyarah and their recompense will be kept safely for them.

Thus, when they are resurrected, they will be told, ''You have ten thousand Dirhams for every Dirham you spent and Allah (has postponed your recompense and) has kept it for you with Himself.”

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