VISITING IMAM HUSAYN (A) ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS
The rewards of visitations to Imam al-Husayn’s tomb increase when these visitations are made on special occasions, especially those related to Imam al-Husayn (‘a) himself, such as the Mubahalah Day (i.e. the day of invoking Almighty Allah’s curse on the lying party; the twenty-fourth of Dhu’l-Hijjah), the day of the revelation of Surah Hal-Ata (No. 76, also called Surah al-Insan or Surah al-Dahr; the twenty-fifth of Dhu’l-Hijjah), Imam al-Husayn’s birthday (i.e. the third of Sha’ban), Friday nights, and other blessed days of the year.
As maintained from some traditions, Almighty Allah looks at Imam al-Husayn’s tomb every Friday night with an honoring look; He therefore sends all Prophets and Prophets’ successors to visit him.
Ibn Qawlawayh has reported that Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) said, “Whoever visits the tomb of al-Husayn (‘a) on Fridays, shall be forgiven by Almighty Allah, shall not leave this worldly life with regret, and shall be in Paradise with al-Husayn (‘a).”
The narration of al-A’mash includes that one of his neighbors said to him, “In sleep, I saw pieces of paper coming down from the heavens carrying security for any one who visits al-Husayn (‘a) on Friday nights.”
An indication of this narration will be mentioned in the coming chapter about the recommended acts al-Kazimiyyah when the story of Hajj ‘Ali al-Baghdadi will be cited.
It has been also narrated that when he was asked whether there is a more favorable time than other times for visiting the tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a), Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) answered, “You may visit him every time, because visiting him is the most favorable predetermined act. So, whoever pays him more visits will have a bigger share of goodness; but whoever pays him less visits will have a less share. However, you may exert more efforts to visit him on the blessed occasions, because rewards for righteous deeds are multiplied on these occasions and the angels come down from the heavens to visit him thereon.”
However, I could find a form of ziyarah restricted to these blessed occasions although there is a supplicatory prayer that is recommended to be said on the third of Sha’ban, Imam al-Husayn’s birthday, and reported from the Sacred Side (i.e. Imam al-Mahdi) as one of his signed documents. This supplicatory prayer has been already cited in this book within the recommended deeds on the third of Sha’ban (pp. 614 of Vol. 1).
VISITING IMAM AL-HUSAYN (‘A) FROM DISTANT PLACES
It is also worth mentioning that to visit Imam al-Husayn (‘a) from any place other than Karbala’ brings about abundant reward. To highlight this fact, let us refer to two traditions only, quoted from al-Kafi (by Shaykh al-Kulayni), man-la-yahzuruhul-faqih (by Shaykh al-Saduq), and Tahdhib al-Ahkam (by Shaykh al-Tusi):
First Tradition: Ibn Abi-’Umayr has reported on the authority of Hisham that Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) said, “If you are too remote (to come to Imam al-Husayn’s tomb), you may go up the highest point of your houses, offer a two-unit prayer, and point to our groups while greeting us. If you do so, your act will reach us.”
Second Tradition: Hannan ibn Sadir has reported on the authority of his father that Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) once asked his father, “Sadir, do you visit the tomb of al-Husayn (‘a) everyday?”
“No,” answered Sadir, “I do not. May Allah accept me as ransom for you.”
“How antipathetic you are! Do you visit him every week?” Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) asked.
“No, I do not,” answered Sadir.
“Do you visit him once a month?” asked the Imam (‘a).
“No, I do not,” answered Sadir.
“Do you visit him once a year?” asked the Imam (‘a).
“Perhaps,” answered Sadir, “I do.”
The Imam (‘a) commented, “Sadir, how antipathetic with al-Husayn (‘a) you are! You should have known that there are two thousand (or one million according to the report mentioned in Tahdhib al-Ahkam and man-la-yahzuruhul-faqih) angels of Almighty Allah who are ceaselessly visiting Imam al-Husayn (‘a) with dusty hair and appearance. What will harm you, O Sadir, if you visit the tomb of al-Husayn (‘a) fives times a week or once a day?”
Sadir answered, “May Allah accept me as ransom for you! Very long distance separates us from Imam al-Husayn’s tomb.”
The Imam (‘a) instructed, “You can go up the roof of your house, take a look to the right and the left sides, raise your head towards the sky, turn towards the side of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb, and say the following words:
