اَللّٰھُمَّ اِنِّیْ اَسْتَوْدِعُكَ الْیَوْمَ نَفْسِیْ وَ اَھْلِیْ وَ مَالِیْ وَوُلْدِیْ وَ كُلَّ مَنْ كَانَ مِنِّیْ بِسَبِیْلٍ الشَّاھِدَ مِنْهُمْ وَ الْغَائِبَ اَللّٰھُمَّ احْفَظْنَا بِحِفْظِكَ بِحِفْظِ الْاِیْمَانِ وَ احْفَظْ عَلَیْنَا اَللّٰھُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا فِیْ حِرْزِكَ وَ لَا تَسْلُبْنَا نِعْمَتَكَ وَ لَا تُغَیِّرْ مَا بِنَا مِنْ نِعْمَۃٍ وَّ عَافِیَۃٍ وَّ زِدْنَا مِنْ فَضْلِكَ اِنَّا اِلَیْكَ رَاغِبُوْنَ۔
1. Before leaving the house keep three fasts, on the third day perform the ritual bath (Ghusl) as Imam Sadiq (a.s.) taught to Safwan, which we would mention in the discussion on the 7th Ziarat. Shaykh Mohammad bin Mashadi has mentioned in the prefaces to the Ziarats of two Eids that when you decide to perform the Ziarat of Imam (a.s.) you must keep three fasts and perform the Ghusl on the third day and then gather your family members around you and recite as follows:
لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَ اللهُ اَكْبَرُ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ
Then leave your home with humility and respect and continue to repeat
Continue to praise Allah and send blessings on Mohammad and his Progeny and walk with demenour and patience. Traditions say that from each drop of perspiration of the visitor to the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.), the Almighty Allah creates 70000 angels who beg forgiveness on behalf of the Imam and his visitor till the day of Qiyamat.
2. It is related from Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) that when you go for the Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) you must go in a sorrowful way, your hair awry, smeared with dust and in a hungry and thirsty condition, as Imam (a.s.) was also martyred in this condition. And ask for your legitimate needs and come back from there, do not make it your hometown.
3. Do not carry with you delicacies like biryani, sweets etc. as provisions of the journey when you travel for the Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.). You should instead have plain meals like bread and milk or bread and curd. It is related from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that he said:
I have heard that some people go for the Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) carrying delicious foods like roasted goats and sweets, while they go to the graves of their fathers and friends without these things.
In another reliable tradition it is mentioned that he (a.s.) told Mufaddal Ibne umar:
Perform the ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) as it is better than not performing it and do not perform the Ziarat as it is better than performing it.
Mufaddal said: Your honour has broken my back. He (a.s.) said:
By Allah, when you visit the graves of your fathers you do it in a sorrowful condition and when you go for the Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) you carry with yourself different types of food and sweets, while you should go smeared with dust and with your hair disheveled.
لَسْنَا فِیْ عُرْسٍ فَمَا نَصْنَعُ بِهَا۔
The writer says: How nice it would be if in this journey, affluent and business people follow these things and in the journey to Kerbala they do not accept the invitation of any friend and they do not accept the gifts of roasted chicken and biryani etc. They should clearly say that they are travelers to Kerbala and such delicacies are not suitable for them. Shaykh Kulaini (r.a.) has reported that after the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.) his wife Kalbiya arranged a Majlis, she herself wept and all the women and servants also wept till their tears dried up. A gift was sent to this lady from somewhere containing a chicken dish that would enable them to regain strength for weeping more. The lady asked: What is it? People said that such and such person has sent it so that you may be helped in the mourning of Imam (a.s.). She replied:
We are not in a gathering of wedding celebration. What do we have to do with such delicacies? Then she ordered that it be taken out of the house.
یَا اِخْوَتَاهُ، جَائَتْ مَسْكَنَۃُ الْآخِرَۃِ، وَ ذَهَبَ مُلْكُ الدُّنْیا،اِنْزِلُوْا عَنْ خُیُوْلِكُمْ وَ امْشُوْا عَلٰی اَرْجُلِكُمْ۔
4. It is recommended that during the journey for Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) we must be in all humility and respect and travel like a lowly slave. Thus those who travel in modern vehicles should take care that they are not afflicted with pride and compare themselves to the poor pilgrims who trek and trudge for the Ziarat. They should not consider them lowly. The scholars have mentioned in details about the people of the cave that they were special subjects of king Dakyaanoos and they were like his ministers. But when the mercy of Allah favoured them they thought of Allah's worship and their personal reformation. Thus they decided that their well-being was in secluding themselves from the people and take refuge in the cave to concentrate on the worship of Allah. So they mounted their horses and left the town. When they had traveled a distance of three miles, Tamleekha, one of their associates said:
Brothers! This is the path to the Hereafter. It should be traveled like a beggar and poor person and we must leave the worldly kingdom and riches. Now dismount the horses and walk towards God on foot. Maybe your Lord would have mercy upon you and ease your affair for you.
All of them dismounted and that day those great people covered a distance of seven farsakhs on foot, till their feet were injured and bleeding. Thus the visitors to this grave should keep these things in mind and should know that whoever displays humility in this journey would be exalted in status by Allah. So whoever goes for Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.), for each of his step Allah writes a thousand good deeds and erases a thousand sins and elevates his status in Paradise by a thousand grades. Thus when you reach the Furaat Canal, perform ghusl there and become barefooted and carry your footwear in your hands and walk like a humiliated slave.
5. If one sees that pilgrims on foot are tired and need some help one must give preference to their assistance and help them reach the destination. Beware! Do not consider them respectless and do not ignore their requests. Shaykh Kulaini (a.r.) has narrated a reliable tradition from Abu Haroon that he said: I was present with Imam Sadiq (a.s.) when he told those around him:
What has happened to you that you consider us lowly?
A person from Khorasan stood up and said: We seek Allah's refuge that we should consider you lowly. Imam (a.s.) said:
Yes, you are also of those who have considered us unimportant and lowly.
The man said: I seek Allah's refuge that I should consider you lowly. Imam (a.s.) said:
Woe on you, when you were with me at Johfa you did not pay heed to the person who was begging you to let him ride for a mile on your mount, "By Allah I am very tired." By Allah you did not even look towards him and considered him lowly. One who considers a believer lowly has insulted us and dishonoured the Almighty.
The writer says: We have related a tradition from Ali bin Yaqtin in the ninth etiquette of Ziarat. Though it is common for all Ziarats, it is specially significant during the Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.). Therefore it is most advisable that readers apply the same etiquette here.
6. It is narrated from the great Mohammad bin Muslim that he asked Imam Baqir (a.s.): When we go to the Ziarat of your respected forefather, Husain Ibne Ali (a.s.) are we not like when we go for Hajj? 'Yes', said the Imam (a.s.). Then all those things that are necessary for a Haji pilgrim also apply here? Imam (a.s.) said:
It is necessary that you behave with kindness with your co-travelers and except for kind words speak little. You must remember Allah much. Your dress should be clean and ritually pure. Perform the ghusl before entering the precincts. Send salawat on Mohammad and Aale Mohammad as much as possible. It is necessary that your avoid those things that do not befit you. Avoid the harmful things, be kind to those of your believing brothers, who are in problems. If you see that someone has exhausted the provisions of the journey you must help him and distribute your provision between him and yourself. Taqaiyyah is necessary for you, it is the basis of religion. It is compulsory to avoid the things prohibited by Allah. You must avoid fights, arguments and dispute that necessitate swearing. If you follow all these things you will get the full reward of Hajj and Umrah. You will become eligible for the reward from the One for Whom you have spent your money and separated from your family. You will return after having your sins forgiven and after achieving Allah's pleasure.
7. In the chapter of the Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.), Abu Hamza Somali (r.a.) has narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that when you reach the land of Nainawa you should remove your shoes. And till the time you stay there you must not apply oil, wear surma and eat meat.
8. You must perform ghusl with the water of Furaat as it is praised too much in traditions. In one tradition Imam Sadiq (a.s.) is quoted that one who does ghusl in Furaat and performs the Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) would be purified of his sins as if he were born on that day even if he had major sins in his account. It is narrated that Imam Sadiq (a.s.) was asked: Many a times it is seen that when we go for the Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) it is very difficult for us to bathe due to cold climate etc? Imam (a.s.) said:
One who does ghusl in Furaat and performs the Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) has unlimited merits written for him.
Bashir Dahan has narrated that Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said:
One who goes for the Ziarat of the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.) and does Wuzu or ghusl in Furaat, for each step that he takes he would get the reward for a Hajj and Umrah.
In one tradition it is said that one should perform the ghusl in Furaat at the spot facing the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.). As told in traditions it is better that when we reach the Furaat we should recite 100 times ALLAAHO AKBAR, 100 times LAA ELAAHA ILLAL LAAH and recite salawat 100 times.
9. When one decides to enter the precincts one should enter from the East as told by Imam Sadiq (a.s.) to Yusuf bin Kanasi.
10. It is mentioned in the tradition of Ibne Qulwayh (r.a.) that Imam Sadiq (a.s.) told Mufazzal Ibne Umar:
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا وَارِثَ اٰدَمَ صَفْوَۃِ اللهِ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا وَارِثَ نُوْحٍ نَبِیِّ اللهِ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا وَارِثَ اِبْرَاهِیْمَ خَلِیْلِ اللهِ اَلسلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا وَارِثَ مُوْسٰی كَلِیْمِ اللهِ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا وَارِثَ عِیْسٰی رُوْحِ اللهِ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا وَارِثَ مُحَمَّدٍ حَبِیْبِ اللهِ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا وَارِثَ عَلِیٍّ وَصِیِّ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا وَارِثَ فَاطِمَۃَ بِنْتِ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا وَارِثَ الْحَسَنِ الرَّضِیِّ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ اَیُّهَا الشَّهِیْدُ الصِّدِّیْقُ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ اَیُّهَا الْوَصِیُّ الْبَآرُّ التَّقِیُّ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَی الْاَرْوَاحِ الَّتِیْ حَلَّتْ بِفِنَآئِكَ وَ اَنَاخَتْ بِرَحْلِكَ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلٰی مَلَآئِكَۃِ اللهِ الْمُحْدِقِیْنَ بِكَ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّكَ قَدْ اَقَمْتَ الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ اٰتَیْتَ الزَّكٰوۃَ وَ اَمَرْتَ بِالْمَعْرُوْفِ وَ نَهَیْتَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ عَبَدْتَ اللهَ مُخْلِصاً حَتّٰی اَتٰیكَ الْیَقِیْنَ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ وَ رَحْمَۃُ اللهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهٗ۔
O Mufaddal when you reach the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.) you should stand at the entrance of the shrine and recite the following words as in lieu of each word you would get a portion of divine mercy:
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا حُجَّۃَ اللهِ فِیْ اَرْضِهٖ وَ سَمَآئِهٖ
Then go towards the grave and remember that for each step you take you would be rewarded equal to the person who baths in his blood on the path of Allah. When you reach the grave place your hand upon it and say:
Then turn your attention towards namaz. Whatever prayers you pray there you would be rewarded for them equal to the person who has performed a thousand Hajjs and Umrahs, freed a thousand slaves and rose up to fight jihad with a messenger a thousand times.
11. Abu Saeed Madaa-eni is reported to have said: I went to Imam Sadiq (a.s.) and asked: Shall I go for the Ziarat of the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.)? Yes, the Imam replied.
Go for the Ziarat of the son of the Prophet, who was the best of the righteous people. When you perform his Ziarat you must stand at the head of the grave and recite the Tasbeeh of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) thousand times and recite 2 rakats Namaz at the feet, and in those 2 rakats after Surah Hamd recite surah Yasin and surah Rahman. If you do this you would be highly rewarded.
I said: Please teach me the Tasbeeh of Ali (a.s.) and Fatemah (a.s.). Imam (a.s.) said:
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِیْ لَا تَنْفَدُ خَزَائِنُهٗ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِیْ لَا تَبِیْدُ مَعَالِمُهٗ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِیْ لَا یَفْنٰی مَا عِنْدَهٗ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِیْ لَا یُشْرِكُ اَحَدًا فِیْ حُكْمِهٖ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِیْ لَا اضْمِحْلَالَ لِفَخْرِهٖ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِیْ لَا انْقِطَاعَ لِمُدَّتِهٖ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِیْ لَا اِلٰهَ غَیْرُهٗ۔
O Abu Saeed! The Tasbeeh of Ali is as follows:
سُبْحَانَ ذِی الْجَلَالِ الْبَاذِخِ الْعَظِیْمِ سُبْحَانَ ذِی الْعِزِّ الشَّامِخِ الْمُنِیْفِ سُبْحَانَ ذِی الْمُلْكِ الْفَاخِرِ الْقَدِیْمِ سُبْحَانَ ذِیْ الْبَهْجَۃِ وَ الْجَمَالِ سُبحَانَ مَنْ تَرَدّٰی بِالنُّوْرِ وَ الْوِقَارِ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ یَّرٰی اَثَرَ الْنَّمْلِ فِی الصَّفَا وَ وَقْعَ الطَّیْرِ فِی الْهَوَاءِ۔
And the Tasbeeh of Fatemah (s.a.) is as follows:
12. Recite your obligatory and Nafelah prayers near the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.) because a prayer recited there would be accepted. Sayyid Ibne Taaoos (r.a.) says: Try to perform your obligatory and Nafelah prayers in the sanctuary. Indeed tradition says that reciting obligatory prayers at the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.) carries the reward of Hajj and reciting Nafelah prayers is as rewarding as Umrah. The writer says: In the tradition of Mufaddal the performance of Namaz in the holy precincts has been mentioned as very rewarding. It is related from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) in a reliable tradition that one who perform the Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) and recites 2 or 4 rakats near his grave, will have the reward of Hajj and Umrah written for him. And it is apparent from traditions that the Namaz-e-Ziarat etc, should be recited behind the grave and above the head. However, if one recites it above the head one should stand a little behind so that one is not exactly opposite the actual grave. And it is mentioned in the tradition of Abu Hamza Sumaali (r.a.) that Imam Sadiq (a.s.) is reported to have said, 'One should recite 2 rakats Namaz above the head. In the first rakat after surah Hamd recite Surah Yasin and in the second rakat after Surah Hamd recite Surah Yasin? If one wants one can also pray behind the grave, but at the headside it is better. After the prayer recite any other prayers. But this 2 rakat prayer is necessary to be recited at every grave that is visited. Ibne Qulwayh (r.a.) has narrated from Imam Mohammad Baqir (a.s.) that he told one person:
O so and so! Who stops you from it that whenever you have a need you go to the grave of Husain (a.s.) and recite 4 rakats prayer and then pray for your needs? Doubtlessly, reciting obligatory prayer near him is equal to Hajj and reciting Nafelah prayer is equal to Umrah.
اَللّٰهُمَّ قَدْ تَریٰ مَكَانِيْ وَ تَسْمَعُ كَلَامِيْ وَ تَرٰی مَقَامِیْ وَ تَضَرُّعِیْ وَ مَلَاذِیْ بِقَبْرِ حُجَّتِكَ وَ ابْنِ نَبِیِّكَ وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ یَا سَیِّدِیْ حَوَائِجِیْ وَ لَا یَخْفٰی عَلَیْكَ حَالِیْ وَ قَدْ تَوَجَّهْتُ اِلَیْكَ بِاِبْنِ رَسُوْلِكَ وَ حُجَّتِكَ وَ اَمِیْنِكَ وَ قَدْ اَتَیْتُكَ مُتَقَرِّبًا بِهٖ اِلَیْكَ وَإلیٰ رَسُوْلِكَ فَاجْعَلْنِیْ بِهٖ عِنْدَكَ وَجِیْهًا فِی الدُّنْیَا وَ الْآخِرَۃِ وَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِیْنَ وَ اَعْطِنِیْ بِزِیَارَتِیْ اَمَلِیْ وَ هَبْ لِیْ مُنَایَ وَ تَفَضَّلْ عَلَیَّ بِشَهْوَتِیْ وَ رَغْبَتِیْ وَ اقْضِ لِیْ حَوَائِجِیْ وَ لَا تَرُدَّنِیْ خَائِبًا وَّ لَا تَقْطَعْ رَجَائِیْ وَ لَا تُخَیِّبْ دُعَائِیْ وَ عَرِّفْنِیْ الْاِجَابَۃَ فِی جَمِیْعِ مَا دَعَوْتُكَ مِنْ اَمْرِ الدِّیْنِ وَ الدُّنْیَا وَ الْآخِرَۃِ وَ اجْعَلْنِيْ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ الَّذِیْنَ صَرَفْتَ عَنْهُمُ الْبَلَایَا وَ الْاَمْرَاضَ وَ الْفِتَنَ وَ الْاَعْرَاضَ مِنَ الَّذِیْنَ تُحْیِیْهِمْ فِیْ عَافِیَۃٍ وَّ تُمِیْتُهُمْ فِیْ عَافِیَۃٍ وَّ تُدْخِلُهُمُ الْجَنَّۃَ فِی عَافِیَۃٍ وَ تُجِیْرُهُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ فِیْ عَافِیَۃٍ وَ وَفِّقْ لِیْ بِمَنٍّ مِنْكَ صَلَاحَ مَا اُؤَمِّلُ فِیْ نَفْسِیْ وَ اَهْلِیْ وَ وُلْدِیْ وَ اِخْوَانِیْ وَ مَالِیْ وَ جَمِیْعِ مَا اَنْعَمْتَ بِهٖ عَلَیَّ یَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِیْنَ۔
13. We should know that the best action in the Shrine of Imam Husain (a.s.) is Dua. Because the acceptance of prayers below his dome is one of the things bestowed by Allah in lieu of the martyrdom. The pilgrim should consider it in his favour and he must not be lazy in invocating, praying and weeping. Many meaningful duas have been recorded in connection with the Ziarat of this Imam. If we had not intended conciseness here we would have related some of the duas. It is better to recite as much as possible from the duas of Sahifa Kamelah. We would mention a dua after Ziarat-e-Jaameah at the end the of this chapter that can be recited in any Shrine. But we also give here a dua which is mentioned in connection with Ziarat. The dua is as follows and one should recite it inside the shrine with hands raised to the sky:
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰی مُحَمَّدٍ وَّ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّ صَلِّ عَلَی الْحُسَیْنِ الْمَظْلُوْمِ الشَّهِیْدِ قَتِیْلِ الْعَبَرَاتِ وَ اَسِیْرِ الْكُرُبَاتِ صَلٰوۃً نَامِیَۃً زَاكِیَۃً مُبَارَكَۃً یَصْعَدُ اَوَّلُهَا وَ لَا یَنْفَدُ اٰخِرُهَا اَفْضَلَ مَا صَلَّیْتَ عَلٰی اَحَدٍ مِّنْ اَوْلَادِ الْاَنْبِیَآءِ وَ الْمُرْسَلِیْنَ یَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِیْنَ اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی الْاِمَامِ الشَّهِیْدِ الْمَقْتُوْلِ الْمَظْلُوْمِ الْمَخْذُوْلِ وَ السَّیِّدِ الْقَآئِدِ وَ الْعَابِدِ الزَّاهِدِ الْوَصِیِّ الْخَلِیْفَۃِ الْاِمَامِ الصِّدِّیْقِ الطُّهْرِ الطَّاهِرِ الطَّیِّبِ الْمُبَارَكِ وَ الرَّضِیِّ الْمَرْضِیِّ وَ التَّقِیِّ الْهَادِی الْمَهْدِیِّ الزَّاهِدِ الذَّآئِدِ الْمُجَاهِدِ الْعَالِمِ اِمَامِ الْهُدٰی سِبْطِ الرَّسُوْلِ وَ قُرَّۃِ عَیْنِ الْبَتُوْلِ صَلَّی اللهُ عَلَیْهِ وَ اٰلِهٖ وَ سَلَّمَ اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰی سَیِّدِیْ وَ مَوْلَایَ كَمَا عَمِلَ بِطَاعَتِكَ وَ نَهٰی عَنْ مَّعْصِیَتِكَ وَ بَالَغَ فِیْ رِضْوَانِكَ وَ اَقْبَلَ عَلٰی اِیْمَانِكَ غَیْرَ قَابِلٍ فِیْكَ عُذْرًا سِرًّا وَ عَلَانِیَۃً یَدْعُوْ الْعِبَادَ اِلَیْكَ وَ یَدُلُّهُمْ عَلَیْكَ وَ قَامَ بَیْنَ یَدَیْكَ یَهْدِمُ الْجَوْرَ بِالصَّوَابِ وَ یُحْیِیْ السُّنَّۃَ بِالْكِتَابِ فَعَاشَ فِیْ رِضْوَانِكَ مَكْدُوْدًا وَ مَضٰی عَلٰی طَاعَتِكَ وَ فِیْ اَوْلِیَآئِكَ مَكْدُوْحًا وَ قَضٰی اِلَیْكَ مَفْقُوْدًا لَمْ یَعْصِكَ فِیْ لَیْلٍ وَ لَا نَهَارٍ بَلْ جَاهَدَ فِیْكَ الْمُنَافِقِیْنَ وَ الْكُفَّارَ اَللّٰهُمَّ فَاجْزِهٖ خَیْرَ جَزَآءِ الصَّادِقِیْنَ الْاَبْرَارِ وَ ضَاعِفْ عَلَیْهِمُ الْعَذَابَ وَ لِقَاتِلِیْهِ الْعِقَابَ فَقَدْ قَاتَلَ كَرِیْمًا وَ قُتِلَ مَظْلُوْمًا وَ مَضٰی مَرْحُوْمًا یَقُوْلُ: اَنَا بْنُ رَسُولِ اللهِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ ابْنُ مَنْ زَكّٰی وَ عَبَدَ فَقَتَلُوْهُ بِالْعَمْدِ الْمُعْتَمَدِ قَتَلُوْهُ عَلَی الْاِیْمَانِ وَ اَطَاعُوْا فِیْ قَتْلِهِ الشَّیْطَانَ وَ لَمْ یُرَاقِبُوْا فِیْهِ الرَّحْمٰنَ اَللّٰهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلٰی سَیِّدِیْ وَ مَوْلَایَ صَلٰوۃً تَرْفَعُ بِهَا ذِكْرَهٗ وَ تُظْهِرُ بِهَا اَمْرَهٗ وَ تُعَجِّلُ بِهَا نَصْرَهٗ وَ اخْصُصْهُ بِاَفْضَلِ قِسَمِ الْفَضَآئِلِ یَوْمَ الْقِیٰمَۃِ وَ زِدْهُ شَرَفًا فِیْ اَعْلٰی عِلِّیِّیْنَ وَ بَلِّغْهُ اَعْلٰی شَرَفِ الْمُكَرَّمِیْنَ وَ ارْفَعْهُ مِنْ شَرَفِ رَحْمَتِكَ فِیْ شَرَفِ الْمُقَرَّبِیْنَ فِی الرَّفِیْعِ الْاَعْلٰی وَ بَلِّغْهُ الْوَسِیْلَۃَ وَ الْمَنْزِلَۃَ الْجَلِیْلَۃَ وَ الْفَضْلَ وَ الْفَضِیْلَۃَ وَالْكَرَامَۃَ الْجَزِیْلَۃَ اَللّٰهُمَّ فَاجْزِهٖ عَنَّا اَفْضَلَ مَا جَازَیْتَ اِمَامًا عَنْ رَعِیَّتِهٖ وَ صَلِّ عَلٰی سَیِّدِیْ وَ مَوْلَایَ كُلَّمَا ذُكِرَ وَ كُلَّمَا لَمْ یُذْكَرْ یَا سَیِّدِیْ وَ مَوْلَایَ اَدْخِلْنِیْ فِیْ حِزْبِكَ وَ زُمْرَتِكَ وَ اسْتَوْهِبْنِیْ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَ رَبِّیْ فَاِنَّ لَكَ عِنْدَ اللهِ جَاهًا وَ قَدْرًا وَ مَنْزِلَۃً رَفِیْعَۃً اِنْ سَئَلْتَ اُعْطِیْتَ وَ اِنْ شَفَعْتَ شُفِّعْتَ۔ اَللّٰهَ اَللّٰهَ فِیْ عَبْدِكَ وَ مَوْلَاكَ لَا تُخَلِّنِیْ عِنْدَ الشَّدَآئِدِ وَ الْاَهْوَالِ لِسُوْٓءِ عَمَلِیْ وَ قَبِیْحِ فِعْلِیْ وَ عَظِیْمِ جُرْمِیْ فَاِنَّكَ اَمَلِیْ وَ رَجَآئِیْ وَ ثِقَتِیْ وَ مُعْتَمَدِیْ وَ وَسِیْلَتِیْ اِلَی اللهِ رَبِّیْ وَ رَبِّكَ لَمْ یَتَوَسَّلِ الْمُتَوَسِّلُوْنَ اِلَی اللهِ بِوَسِیْلَۃٍ هِیَ اَعْظَمُ حَقًّا وَ لَا اَوْجَبُ حُرْمَۃً وَ لَا اَجَلُّ قَدْرًا عِنْدَهٗ مِنْكُمْ اَهْلَ الْبَیْتِ لَا خَلَّفَنِیَ اللهُ عَنْكُمْ بِذُنُوْبِیْ وَ جَمَعَنِیْ وَ اِیَّاكُمْ فِیْ جَنَّۃِ عَدْنِ الَّتِیْ اَعَدَّهَا لَكُمْ وَ لِاَوْلِیَآئِكُمْ اِنَّهٗ خَیْرُ الْغَافِرِیْنَ وَ اَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِیْنَ اَللّٰهُمَّ اَبْلِغْ سَیِّدِیْ وَ مَوْلَایَ تَحِیَّۃً كَثِیْرَۃً وَ سَلَامًا وَارْدُدْ عَلَیْنَا مِنْهُ السَّلَامَ اِنَّكَ جَوَادٌ كَرِیْمٌ وَ صَلِّ عَلَیْهِ كُلَّمَا ذُكِرَ السَّلَامُ وَ كُلَّمَا لَمْ یُذْكَرْ یَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِیْنَ۔
14. One of the aamals of the shrine of Imam Husain (a.s.) is to recite durood upon him, tradition says that one should stand behind the Imam near his shoulder and recite durood on the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and on Imam Husain (a.s.). Sayyid Ibne Taaoos (a.r.) has quoted this salawat in Misbaahuz Zaaereen in connection with a Ziarat:
The writer says: We have quoted this Ziarat in the Aamal of the day of Ashura. And at the end of the chapter we would quote one salawat upon Hojaj-e-Taaherah (The Purified Proofs) (a.s.) and a short salawaat would also be quoted for Imam Husain (a.s.) and we must not omit reciting it.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّیْ اَعْتَزُّ بِدِیْنِكَ وَ اَكْرُمُ بِهِدَایَتِكَ وَ فُلَانٌ یُذِلُّنِیْ بِشَرِّهٖ وَ یُهِیْنُنِیْ بِاَذِیَّتِهٖ وَ یُعِیْبُنِیْ بِوِلَآءِ اَوْلِیَآئِكَ وَ یَبْهَتُنِیْ بِدَعْوَاهُ وَ قَدْ جِئْتُ اِلٰی مَوْضِعِ الدُّعَآءِ وَ ضِمَانِكَ الْاِجَابَۃَ اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰی مُحَمَّدٍ وَّ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَعْدِنِی عَلَیْهِ السَّاعَۃَ السَّاعَۃَ
15. Of the aamals of this Shrine Dua-e-Mazloom (Prayer of the oppressed) is also mentioned. That is, if one is oppressed one should recite this prayer inside the Shrine. The dua is such that the Shaykh-e-Taaefah (r.a.) has mentioned it in "Misbaahul Mutahajjid" in the aamal of Friday and said: It is recommended that one recites this Dua-e-Mazloom near the grave of Abi Abdullah Al-Husain (a.s.). The dua is as follows:
مَوْلَایَ اِمَامِیْ مَظْلُوْمٌ نِاسْتَعْدٰی عَلٰی ظَالِمِهِ النَّصْرَ النَّصْرَ
Then one should throw oneself on the grave and say:
یَا اَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّكَ تَشْهَدُ مَقَامِیْ وَ تَسْمَعُ كَلَامِیْ وَ اَنَّكَ حَیٌّ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ تُرْزَقُ فَاسْئَلْ رَبَّكَ وَ رَبِّیْ فِیْ قَضَآءِ حَوَآئِجِیْ۔
16. In the aamals of this Shrine is that dua also which Ibne Fahd quoted in Uddatud Daaee from Imam Sadiq (a.s.). He says: If one is having some need to be asked from Allah (s.w.t.), one should stand near the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.) and say:
17. In aamal only it is mentioned that 2 rakats namaz must be recited in the Shrine near the holy head, in which surah Rahman and Tabarak is recited. Sayyid Ibne Taaoos (r.a.) has narrated that one who performs this namaz would be rewarded equal to 25 accepted Hajjs performed with the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
اَسْتَخِیْرُ اللهَ بِرَحْمَتِہٖ خِیَرَۃً فِیْ عَافِیَۃٍ۔
18. One of the aamal of this blessed grave is also Istekhara. The method is same as mentioned by Allamah Majlisi (r.a.). The actual narration is in the book "Qarbul Asnaad' of Humairi (r.a.). He says: with correct chains it is narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that one who asks Allah for goodness in some affair a hundred times and standing near the head of Imam Husain (a.s.) he says: ALHAMDO LILLAAHE, WA LAA ELAAHA ILLAL LAAHO, SUHBAANAL LAAHE and remembers Allah with this greatness and praises and glorifies Him as is His right and asks for goodness in this affair a hundred times, Allah will surely show him whatever is good in this affair and bring it before him. According to another tradition one should pray for goodness a hundred times in the following manner:
19. Shaykh Abul Qasim Jafar Ibne Qulwayh (r.a.) has narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that he said:
Whenever you do the Ziarat of Abu Abdillah al-Husain (a.s.) except for speaking good keep quiet as the guarding angels come night and day to the angels who are present in the holy precincts and they shake hands with those angels, but due to intense lamentations they do not reply and they continue to weep and wait. Yet they fall silent at the time of Zawaal (afternoon) and Sunrise. Thus the guarding angels wait for the afternoon and sunrise, so that they can speak to them during these two times and ask them about the affairs of the heavens. But even in those times the Angels of the precincts do not talk, instead they remain busy in dua etc.
It is also related from him that
Allah has appointed 4000 Angels at the grave of Husain (a.s.) who lament for him with hair spread out from the morning till Zuhr, like a tragedy stricken person laments. As soon as it is Zuhr they fly away and another 4000 descend and continue to weep till the sunrise.
There are a lot of traditions on this subject, showing that weeping at his grave is very meritorious. It is the place of reciting Marsiya and lamentations for the shias. The tradition of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) related by Safwan tells us how angels invoke curses on the killers of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and Imam Husain (a.s.), how the jinns recite Nauhas, how the angels weep around the Zari of Imam Husain (a.s.) and how they mourn. If someone comes to know of it he would not bear to eat, drink or sleep anymore. And it is mentioned in the tradition of Abdullah bin Hammad Basri that Imam Sadiq (a.s.) told him:
I have learnt that some groups from around Kufa come for the Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) and apart from them other men and women also come and recite Nauha on Imam Husain (a.s.) and this happens on 15th Shaban. Some of them recite the Quran, some are busy in relating incidents and some recite the account of martyrdom.
I said: May I be sacrificed on you, I have also seen these things you mentioned. He said:
Thanks be to Allah that He created such persons among the people who come to us and praise us and made our enemies such that they ridicule them and terrify them and regard their deed as evil.
It is there in the beginning of this tradition that one who goes for their Ziarat and laments on him and one that does not go for his Ziarat but commemorates his sorrow and his heart is restless and one who remembers Imam Husain (a.s.) and has mercy on his condition and who glances at the grave of his son at his foot. In the desert where there were not any relatives and friends present and their right was usurped. Renegades and disbelievers gathered and in co-operation with each other martyred him and did not bury him. They just left him in the desert. And stopped the water of Furaat for him while even the animals drank this water. And they destroyed the right of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and they did not follow the bequest of the Prophet that he had made regarding his Ahle Bayt (a.s.). Ibne Qulwayh (r.a.) has narrated from Haaris Aa'war that Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) said:
May my parents be sacrificed on Husain who is martyred behind Kufa. By Allah, as if I see all types of wild animals with raised heads going towards his grave and weep on him the whole day. And when it happens you must beware of oppressing.
There are many other traditions on this subject.
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا مَوْلَایَ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا حُجَّۃَ اللهِ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا صِفْوَۃَ اللهِ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا خَالِصَۃَ اللهِ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا قَتِیْلَ الظَّمَآءِ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ یَا غَرِیْبَ الْغُرَبَآءِ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْكَ سَلَامَ مُوَدِّعٍ لَا سَئِمٍ وَ لَا قَالٍ فَاِنْ اَمْضِ فَلَا عَنْ مَلَالَۃٍ وَ اِنْ اُقِمْ فَلَا عَنْ سُوٓءِ ظَنٍّ بِمَا وَعَدَ اللهُ الصَّابِرِیْنَ لَا جَعَلَهُ اللهُ اٰخِرَ الْعَهْدِ مِنِّیْ لِزِیَارَتِكَ وَ رَزَقَنِیَ اللهُ الْعَوْدَ اِلٰی مَشْهَدِكَ وَ الْمَقَامَ بِفِنَآئِكَ وَ الْقِیَامَ فِیْ حَرَمِكَ وَ اِیَّاهُ اَسْئَلُ اَنْ یُسْعِدَنِیْ بِكُمْ وَ یَجْعَلَنِیْ مَعَكُمْ فِیْ الدُّنْیَا وَ الْاٰخِرَۃِ۔
20. Sayyed Ibne Taaoos (r.a.) says: It is recommended that when one completes his Ziarat and decides to come out from the Shrine, he should cling to the Zari, kiss it and say:
