Tradition 1: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: It is an obligation on wealthy to perform the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) twice a year and on the poor, once a year.

Tradition 2: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: Perform the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) once a year.

Tradition 3: Same as no. 2.

Tradition 4: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) was asked about the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a). He ('a) said, “Go once a year, because I don't want you to be identified.”

Tradition 5: Same as no. 1.

Tradition 6: Same as no. 4.

Tradition 7: Imam Al-Kadhim ('a) said: Don't be negligent of Imam Al-Husayn ('a). The wealthy should go once every four months and as for insolvents:

لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

“Allah does not impose on any soul a duty but to the extent of its ability.” (2:286).

Tradition 8: Same as no. 4.

Tradition 9: Same as no. 2.

Tradition 10: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) was asked, “Is there an obligatory prayer after the Ziyarah of the grave of Imam Al-Husayn ('a)?”

Imam ('a) replied, “There are no obligatory prayers for Ziyarah.”

I (the narrator) asked, “How frequently should I go to his Ziyarah?”

Imam ('a) replied, “As much as you like.”

Tradition 11: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said to me (the narrator), “O Ali! I have heard that some of our Shia allow a year or two to pass without going to the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a)!”

I replied, “May I be sacrificed on you, I know many who are like this.”

Imam ('a) said, “By Allah, they have turned their backs to their own fortune, they declined Allah's rewards and they have distanced themselves from nearness to Muhammad (S).”

I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you, how often should one go to his Ziyarah?”

Imam ('a) replied, “O Ali! If you go to his Ziyarah once every month, do so.”

I said, “I cannot do that, because I am a manual labourer; I have pending work on my hands and I cannot be absent from my work for even a day.”

Imam ('a) replied: You are excused, as are other manual labourers. I was referring to people other than manual labourers; people who can go for the Ziyarah every week. Such people will have no excuse before Allah and His Messenger on Judgment Day.

I asked, “Is it permissible for them to send someone on their behalf?”

Imam ('a) replied: Yes, but it is better for them and they will have a greater reward with their Lord if they go themselves, for He will see them sleepless at night and tired during the day in their journey to Karbala.

Allah will look at them with a glance, which will inevitably cause them to dwell with Muhammad and his family in the greatest places of Firdaus. Hence compete with one another in going to the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) and be of those who adhere to it.

Tradition 12: Same as no. 2.

Tradition 13: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) was asked, “After one returns from the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a), how soon should he perform it again? And how often should one go to his Ziyarah? And what is the longest time one is allowed to stay from his Ziyarah?”

Imam ('a) replied: It is not permissible to forsake his Ziyarah for longer than a month (for those who live nearby).

But for those who live far, it should be performed at least once every three years.

If three years pass and they don't go to his Ziyarah, they are ungrateful to Allah's Messenger and they have dishonoured him, except those who have a valid excuse.

Tradition 14: Ubaidullah Halabi said: I said to Imam As-Sadiq (‘a), “We perform the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) two or three times a year.”

Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) replied, “I don't like you to go there frequently. Go once a year.”

I asked, “How should I invoke blessings on him during the Ziyarah?”

Imam ('a) replied, “Stand behind the grave besides his shoulders and invoke blessings on the Prophet and then invoke blessing on Imam Al-Husayn ('a).”

Tradition 15: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: A Muslim should not refrain from going to the Ziyarah of Imam Al-Husayn's ('a) grave for longer than four years.

Tradition 16: Same point as mentioned before.

Tradition 17: Same points as mentioned before.

Then Imam ('a) said: Those who live near his grave, should not go to his Ziyarah less than once a month. But those who live afar, should perform it at least once every three years.

If three years pass and they don't go to his Ziyarah, they are ungrateful to Allah's Messenger and they have disowned him, except those who have a valid excuse.

If the visitor of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) knew how happy he made Allah's Messenger, Amir Al-Mu’minin, Fatimah, the Imams ('a) and the martyrs among our family and how they pray for him and the rewards prepared for him in this life and Hereafter, he would have wished that his house was at the grave of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) as long as he lived.

Indeed, when the visitor leaves Karbala to return after the Ziyarah, his shadow does not cover anything without it praying for him. And when the sun shines on him, it burns up his sins just like fire burns firewood.

The sun will not allow any of his sins to remain. Thus, he will return without any sins while his rank has been elevated for him to a level, which cannot be achieved even by those who are smeared with their own blood in the way of Allah.

Then an angel will be appointed on him who will replace him in performing Imam Al-Husayn's ('a) Ziyarah and who will seek forgiveness for him until he returns or until three years pass or until he dies before three years.