ZIYARAH OF IMAM HUSAYN (A) ON THE 1ST OF RAJAB

The first form of ziyarah is restricted to the first and the fifteenth of Rajab and the fifteenth of Sha’ban.

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said, “He who visits al-Husayn (‘a) on the first of Rajab will have all his sins forgiven by Almighty Allah.”

Abu-Nasr is reported to have narrated that he asked Imam al-Rida (‘a) about the best times of visiting Imam al-Husayn (‘a). The Imam (‘a) answered, “The best times are the fifteenth of Rajab and the fifteenth of Sha’ban.”

According to the opinion of Shaykh al-Mufid and Sayyid Ibn Tawus, the following form of ziyarah is dedicated to the first day of Rajab and the fifteenth night of Sha’ban. However, al-Shahid added that it is also dedicated to the first night of Rajab, the fifteenth night of it, the fifteenth day of it, and the fifteenth day of Sha’ban.

In conclusion, this form of ziyarah is dedicated to six times.

The form of this ziyarah is as follows:

When you intend to visit the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) at these times, you may bathe yourself, put on the cleanest of your clothes, stop at the gate of the holy shrine directing the face toward the kiblah direction, and invoke Almighty Allah’s greetings upon the Holy Prophet, Imam ‘Ali, Lady Fatimah al-Zahra’, Imam al-Hasan, Imam al-Husayn, and the Holy Imams - peace be upon them all.

The form of invocation of greetings and the form of asking permission to enter the holy shrine will be cited in the coming form of ziyarah known as Ziyarah on ‘Arafah (or ‘Arafat) Day.

You may then enter the shrine, stop at the holy tomb, and repeat the following word one hundred times:

You may then say the following words:

You may then kiss the holy tomb and put your right and then your left cheeks on it. You may then circumambulate it and kiss it from the four sides.

Shaykh al-Mufid adds: You may then direct towards the tomb of ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, stop there, and say the following words:

You may then throw yourself on the tomb and say the following words:

You may then direct towards the martyrs and say the following words:

You may then return to the side of the Imam’s head to offer the (two-unit) prayer of ziyarah and pray Almighty Allah for yourself, your parents, and your brethren-in-faith.

It is worth mentioning that Sayyid Ibn Tawus has mentioned a form of ziyarah of ‘Ali al-Akbar (the elder son of Imam al-Husayn) and the other martyrs mentioning them by names. However, I will not cite this form hereinwith because of its lengthiness.