ZIYARAH ON THE DAY OF ARAFAT

MERITS

Be it known to you that the traditions that are reported from the Ahl al-Bayt the Immaculate and infallible about the merits and advantages of visiting Imam al-Husayn (‘a) on the ‘Arafat Day are innumerable. Heading for filling the dear believers with desire for visiting Imam al-Husayn (‘a) on this day, we will hereinafter cite a few number of these traditions:

Bashir al-Dahhan, through a valid chain of authority, has reported that he, once, said to Imam al-Sadiq (‘a), “Some years, I miss the hajj season; therefore, I present myself at the tomb of al-Husayn (‘a).” The Imam (‘a) commented, “Well done, Bashir! Any faithful believer who comes to the tomb of al-Husayn, Allah’s blessings be upon him, with full recognition of his real position on a day other than the feast days, he shall be granted the reward of twenty times of admissible and acceptable hajj and twenty times of admissible and acceptable ‘umrah as well as the reward of participation in twenty campaigns with a commissioned prophet or a decent leader. Moreover, whoever comes to his (i.e. Imam al-Husayn) tomb on the ‘Arafat Day, with full recognition of his real position, will be granted the reward of one thousand times of admissible and acceptable hajj and one thousand times of admissible and acceptable ‘umrah as well as the reward of participating in one thousand campaigns with a commissioned prophet or a decent leader.”

Bashir said, “What shall I be awarded if I present myself at Mount ‘Arafat on that day?”

Somewhat angrily, the Imam (‘a) looked at him and said, “Bashir, if a faithful believer comes to the tomb of al-Husayn, Allah’s blessings be upon him, on the ‘Arafat Day, washes himself with the water of the River Euphrates, and then turns his face for visiting him, Almighty Allah shall record for him the reward of an entire hajj along with all of its rituals for every step he makes.”

The reporter then added, “Most probably, the Imam (‘a) added to this the reward of an entire ‘umrah (or campaign, according to another form of this report).”

According to many validly reported traditions, on the ‘Arafat Day, Almighty Allah looks at the visitors of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb with mercy before He looks at those gathering on ‘Arafat Mountain.( )

According to another validly reported tradition, Rafa’ah reported that Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) once asked him, “Did you go on hajj this year?”

Rafa’ah answered, “May Allah accept me as ransom for you! I did not have enough resources to go to hajj. Rather, I could present myself at the tomb of al-Husayn (‘a).”

The Imam (‘a) commented, “Rafa’ah, you have thus not failed to gain what those who presented themselves at Mina have gained! Were it not for that I do not want people to desert going on hajj, I would pass on to you a discourse that if you hear it, you will never leave visiting the tomb of al-Husayn, Allah’s blessings be upon you.”

The Imam (‘a) then paused for a while and then continued, “My father has told me that whoever travels to the tomb of al-Husayn (‘a) recognizing his actual position and showing no pride, will be accompanied by one thousand angels on his right side and one thousand angels on his left. The reward of one thousand times of hajj and one thousand times of ‘umrah with a prophet or a prophet’s successor will also be recorded for him.”

METHOD

The method of visiting Imam al-Husayn’s tomb on the ‘Arafat Day, according to the words of master scholars and chiefs of our sect and faith, is as follows:

If you intend to visit Imam al-Husayn (on the ‘Arafat Day), you may bathe yourself using water from the River Euphrates if possible and any other possibly obtained water. You may then put on the purest (and cleanest) of your clothes and walk towards the holy shrine with tranquility and solemnity. When you reach the gate of the holy shrine (i.e. Ha’ir), you may profess Almighty Allah’s most greatness:

Then, say the following words:

You may then enter the shrine, stop next to the side of the Imam’s head, and say the following words:

You may then kiss the tomb and offer a two-unit prayer in which you may recite any Surah you wish. Upon accomplishment, you may say the following supplicatory words:

You may then turn to the side of the Imam’s feet and visit ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (‘a) whose head is at the side of Imam al-Husayn’s feet, and say these words:

You may then turn your face to the martyrs and visit them with the following words:

You may then return to the side of Imam al-Husayn’s head and pray as frequently as possible for yourself, your family members, and your brethren-in-faith.

Sayyid Ibn Tawus and al-Shahid added the following:

You may then walk to the shrine of al-’Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him. When you reach there, you may stop at the tomb and say the following words:

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

You may then kiss the tomb and offer there the prayer of ziyarah as well as any other prayer you wish to offer. When you intend to bid farewell to him, you may say the words that have been previously cited at bidding farewell.