Rank Ziyarat Masomeen

Rank of Ziyarat Masoeen a.s 

Intention of Ziarat

When a Shia makes the intention to go for Ziarat, he has laid the foundation for his journey. Imam Sadiq ( a.s.) narrates, 'Allah has appointed some angels at Imam Husain's grave. When a Shia makes the intention for Imam Husain's (a.s.) Ziarat, Allah forgives all his sins. When he takes a step to go for Ziarat, he erases his sins. His virtues multiply and they increase till the time he becomes worthy of Paradise'.

(Wasailul Mohibbeen, pg. 280)

Ghusl before commencing the journey for Ziarat

When a person intends to go for Ziarat and accordingly performs ghusl, at that time the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a .) calls out to him, 'O guests of Allah! I give you glad tidings of being with me in Paradise.'

While packing his luggage for the journey

Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) asked Jabir-e-Jo'fi (r.a.),

'What is the distance between you and Imam Husain's (a.s.) shrine?

Jabir (r.a.): 'May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, a days journey or even less.'

Imam (a.s.): 'Do you visit the shrine?'

Jabir (r.a.): 'Yes'

Imam (a.s.): 'Should I not give you glad tidings and inform you about the reward of the visitation?'

Jabir (r.a.): 'May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, do inform me.'

Imam (a.s.): 'When the visitor packs his luggage for Imam Husain's (a.s.) visitation, the divine angels are with him.'

While leaving his house

And when he leaves his house, be it by foot or on a mount, Allah sends 4,000 angels with him. They send salutations upon him ( i.e. the visitor) till they reach Imam Husain's (a.s.) grave.

(Behaarul Anwar,vol 101,p. 163,trad. 8; Kamiluz Ziaraat,p.206)

Divine protection from 6 sides

Safwan Jammaal narrates on the authority of Imam Sadiq ( a.s.),

'When a Shia leaves his house with the intention of performing Imam Husain's (a.s.) ziyarat, he is accompanied by 700 angels. They safeguard him from above and below, from the right and the left, from the front and the back, till such a time that he reaches his destination.'

(Behaarul Anwar, vol. 101, pg. 58, trad. 62;Kamiluz Ziaraat, pg 190)

Accompanied by 1,000 angels

According to another version of the tradition narrated by Raff'ah from Imam Sadiq (a.s .):

'When a Shia knows Imam Husain's (a.s.) right over the people and leaves his house for Imam's (a.s.) ziyarat in this condition, without any pride and conceit, then a 1,000 angels accompany him from the right, with another 1,000 angels on the left. And he will be rewarded as if he has performed 1,000 Hajj and 1,000 Umrah with a prophet or with the successor (wasi) of a prophet.'

(Behaarul Anwar, vol 101, pg 91, tradition 33)

Sun's rays consumes sins

Safwan Jammaal relates from Imam Sadiq (a.s.),

'When the rays of the sun fall on the visitor of Imam's ( a.s.) shrines, it consumes his sins like the fire consumes wooden sticks. The sun does not leave any sin on his body and he returns home sinless. In fact on his return he is granted a status that is not even given to those who shed their blood in Allah's path.'

(Behaarul Anwar, vol 101, pg 15, trad. 14; Kamiluz Ziaraat, pg 298)

Perspiration and fatigue

From every drop of perspiration on the body of Imam's (a.s.) visitor (in the course of Ziyarat). Allah creates 70,000 angels who glorify and seek forgiveness for Imam's ( a.s.) visitors till the Day of Judgment.

(Mustadrak vol 2, pg 204)

While stepping out of the house

When the visitor leaves the house, each and every spot that he steps on, prays for him.

(Behaarul Anwar, vol 101, pg 15, tradition 14)

If he goes for Ziarat on a mount, for each and every spot that his mount steps on, he will get one virtue and one sin will be forgiven.

(Thawaabul A'maal, pg 116)

In another tradition Imam Sadiq (a.s.) reveals,

'If one of our Shias goes for Imam Husain's (a.s.) Ziarat, then he will not return but all his sins will be forgiven. For every step that he or his mount takes, 1,000 virtues are written for him, 1,000 sins are forgiven and his status is elevated by a 1,000 degrees.'

(Behaarul Anwar, vol 101, pg 25, tradition 26; Kamiluz Ziaraat, pg 134)

Walking towards the shrine after ghusl in the Euphrates

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) narrated to Bashir b. Dahhaan: 'If any of you performs ghusl in the Euphrates and then goes for Ziyarat of Imam Hussain ( a.s.) with his recognition then for every time he steps on the earth and for every time he lifts his feet off the earth, he will be rewarded with 100 accepted Hajj and 100 accepted Umra and 100 battles in the company of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w).

(Kamiluz Ziaraat pg. 185)

Angels welcome the visitor

Aban b. Tughlab relates from Imam Sadiq (a.s.),

'There are 4,000 angels at the holy shrine of Imam Husain (a.s .). Their heads are covered with dust and they are wailing and will continue to do so till the Day of Judgment. Their leader is called 'Mansoor'. When a person comes to visit Imam's (a.s.) shrine, all these angels welcome him.'

(Kafi, vol 4, pg 581)

Angels record only the virtuous deeds

Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) exhorted Ali b. Maimoon As Sa'ig

'Visit Imam Husain's (a.s.) shrine and never leave it.' The narrator asked, 'If someone goes for Imam Husain's ( a.s.) ziarat, then what is his reward?'

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) revealed,

'If someone goes for ziarat on foot, for every step he takes, one virtue will be recorded in his name, one sin will be forgiven and his level will be raised one degree. Once he reaches the shrine, Allah will appoint two angels for him who will record only his good deeds and will omit his evil deeds. When he is about to depart from the shrine, the angels will bid farewell thus - O Allah's slave your sins have been forgiven, and you are now in Allah's party, His Prophet's ( s.a.w.a.) party and the Prophet's (s.a.w.a.) Ahle Bait (a.s.) party. By Allah, you shall never have to face the Fire and you shall never be made to taste it!'

(Kamiluz Ziaraat, pg 134)

Angels participate in shrouding, giving ghusl and the burial

Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) informed,

'If Imam Husain's (a.s.) visitor expires in the same year of the ziarat, then the angels of mercy participate in his ceremonial bath (ghusl) and shrouding. They seeks forgiveness for him. They are with his funeral till the grave. Then his grave becomes vast and spacious.'  

(Kamiluz Ziaraat, pg. 143, Behaarul Anwar vol 101, pg 18)

Merits of visiting Imam Husain's (a.s.) shrine are much more than can be outlined in this place. We have mentioned but a few so that readers can get some idea of this great virtue.

We have seen the tremendous reward and merit in each step of the visitation - right from the time he makes his intention with sincerity, makes preparations, commences his journey, completes one stage after another, reaches Karbala, performs ziarat and returns home finally.

We pray to Allah that He grants us limitless sincerity, and recognition of the highest order to perform ziarat of Imam Husain's (a.s.) shrine time and again. And we pray to Allah to grant us boundless taufeeq to defend our Imam's ( a.t.f.s.) wilayat like the martyrs of Karbala defended their Imam (a.s.), and to fight in his (a.t.f.s.) army and finally get martyred in his (a.t.f.s.) way. Inshallah.