PEACE BE UPON YOU, O MESSENGER OF ALLAH AND UPON YOUR
PURE AND IMMACULATE HOUSEHOLD O Medina, how honorable you are for holding the pure body of the superior of the creatures, source of pride of all beings, and most beloved of Allah in your arms. O Medina, you have amazed not only the terrestrial but also
PURE AND IMMACULATE HOUSEHOLD
O Medina, how honorable you are for holding the pure body of the superior of the creatures, source of pride of all beings, and most beloved of Allah in your arms. O Medina, you have amazed not only the terrestrial but also the celestial beings with your glory for becoming the descending place of God's favor and blessings. إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلى النَّبِيِّ، يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيماً
�Surely Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who believe! Call for Divine blessings on him and salute him with a becoming salutation. (The Holy Quran; 33:56)�
This illuminated garden, which is as Paradise in the eyes of the pilgrims, is the holy shrine of the Messenger of Allah�Prophet
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Mohammad, may the blessings of Allah be upon him and his progeny. Every Muslim has the wish to visit the tomb of the Holy Prophet (saw) at least once in his lifetime. Thanks to God for giving us the honor of visiting this holy shrine.
�And reckon not those who are killed in Allah's way as dead; nay, they are alive (and) are provided sustenance from their Lord. (3:169)�
The Holy Quran has likened the unbelievers to the dead: قَدْ يَئِسُوا مِنَ الآخِرَةِ كَما يَئِسَ الْكُفَّارُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْقُبُورِ.
�Indeed, they despair of the hereafter as the unbelievers despair of those in tombs. (60:13)�
Sheikh Mufid, may Allah be pleased with him, in his book titled al-Maqalaat, writes down: وإنَّ رسولَ اللهِ والأئمةَ منْ عِترتهِ عليهمُ السلامُ خاصّةً لا تخفَى عَليهِم بعدَ الوفاةِ أحوالَ شيعتهِمْ في دارِ الدّنيا بإعلامِ اللهِ تعالى لهمْ ذلكَ حالاً بعدَ حالٍ ويسمَعونَ كلامَ المُناجي لهمْ في مَشاهدهم المُكرّمةِ العِظامِ بلطيفةٍ من لطائفِ اللهِ تعالى بيَّنَهم بها مِن جمهورِ العِبادِ، وتبلُغُهم المُناجاةُ مِن بُعدٍ كما جاءتْ به الروايةُ.
God's Messenger and the Imams of his household are, adfter decease, ware of the state of their followers in this world, and no state of their followers is hidden from them. God, Exalted is He, informs them about all these matters. They hear the supplications of those who speak to them in their dignified, handsome shrines due to one of God's special favors so that He will distinguish them from others.
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They, too, are aware of the supplications of those who are far away.1
Abdullah ibn Bukeir quotes Imam Sadiq (a.s) as saying in relation to Imam Hussein (a.s): وَإنَّهُ لَيَنْظُرُ إلى زُوّارِهِ فهُوَ أعْرَفُ بهِمْ وبأَسمائِهِم وَأَسماءِ آبائهِمْ وما في رِحالهِمْ منْ أَحَدِهِم بوُلدِهِ. وإنّهُ لَيَنظُرُ إلى مَن يَبكيهِ فَيَستَغفِرُ لهُ وَيَسألُ أباهُ الاسْتِغفارَ ويقولُ: أيّها الباكي، لَو عَلِمتَ ما أعَدَّ اللهُ لكَ لَفَرِحتَ أكثَرَ ممّا حَزَنتَ. وإنّهُ لَيَسْتغفِرُ له مِن كلِّ ذنبٍ وخَطيئَةٍ.
Most surely, he looks at the visitors of his tomb and knows them by the name of themselves, their fathers, and the provisions they have with them better than a father might know his own children. He looks at the supplicants favorably and asks forgiveness for them, saying: O Suppliant, if you know what Allah has prepared for you, your happiness will exceed your sorrows, for he asks forgiveness for every wrongdoing and sin of the supplicant.�2
Therefore, we realize that the special favors of God's disciples are felt within the precincts of the Imams' holy shrines more than anywhere else. Hence, we should expose ourselves to such favors and say:
1 See Bihar ul-Anwar; vol. 27 p. 301
2 See Bihar ul-Anwar; vol. 27 p. 300 (as quoted from Kamil uz-Ziyarat)
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عَزَّ وجَلَّ بكُم وَمُتَقَرِّبٌ بكُم إلَيهِ وَمُقَدِّمُكُم أَمامَ طَلِبَتي وَحَوائِجي وَإِرادَتي في كُلِّ أحْوالي وَأُموري.
�My father, mother, family, property, and possessions are at your disposal. Allah and you bear witness that I believe in you, thereby have faith in you: I renounce your enemies, and that by which they have disowned you, I am fully aware of your glorious purpose, and that which leads astray in your hostility; I am your friend, and a friend of your friends, I dislike your enemies and strive against their designs, I am at peace with those who make peace with you, I take the field against those who march against you, I accept as true that which acknowledges your truth, I prove false that which takes a stand against you, I follow in your footsteps. I am fully aware of your rights and privileges, I recognize your superiority over others, I carry and preserve your knowledge, I take refuge under your prospective shelter, I respond to you, I know for sure that you will come back, I believe in your promised return, I anticipate and look for your (just and fair) order, I pray for your (good) administration, I hold fast to that which you have said, I carry out your orders, I take shelter in your neighborhood, I make a visit to do homage and praise you, for me your 'resting abode' are sanctuaries; in the court of the Almighty you are my advocates, I seek His nearness through you, for seeking fulfillment of my wants and desire, under all circumstances, I follow you to make headway.�1
�He said: What was then your object, O Samiri? He said: I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful of the dust from the footsteps of the messenger, and then I threw it in the casting. (20:95-6)�
We should reflect on the Quranic truth that the life of an angel is so effective and influential that when he walks on the earth as a human
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1 Ziyarat al-Jami'a al-Kabira
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being, the dust under his foot becomes a source of life in a dead being. The dust of the tombs of God's disciples, especially the tomb of the master of the martyrs; Imam Hussein (a.s), has a healing, life-giving peculiarity. When God gives such an effect to the dust under Gabriel's foot, He can give the same to the dust of the grave of the Messenger and his household who are more honorable that archangels: يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ.
�He specially chooses for His mercy whom He pleases; and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace. (The Holy Quran; 3:74)�
Evidently, the soul of an imperfect man has a very limited activity while that of perfect men, like prophets and Imams, has infinite activity so as healing the patients, meeting the request of the needy, guiding those who go astray, and solving unsolvable problems are very easy to them.
Now we are facing the Holy Shrine of the Messenger of Allah. It is an opportune time for expressing our love and need for him in view of his sublime spiritual position. He has been described as mercy for the worlds: وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
�And most surely you conform to sublime morality. (The Holy Quran; 68:4)� بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَؤُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ.
�To the believers, he is compassionate, merciful. (The Holy Quran; 9:128)� وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلا تَنْهَرْ.
�As for him who asks, do not chide. (The Holy Quran; 93:10)� وَإِذَا جَاءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ فَقُلْ سَلامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ أَنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنْكُمْ سُوءً يِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ.
�And when those who believe in Our communications come to you, say: Peace be on you, your Lord has ordained mercy on Himself, (so) that if any one of you does evil in ignorance, then turns after that and acts aright, then He is Forgiving, Merciful. (The Holy Quran; 6:54)�
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In the holy shrine of the Messenger of God (saw), we have an excellent opportunity to raise our hands of need before the house of his daughter (a.s) for no one leaves this holy shrine without having his request fulfilled. In the Holy Quran, God praises the Ahl ul-Bayt for giving their food to the poor, the orphan, and the captive in an excellent way: وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَيَتِيماً وَأَسِيراً. إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللهِ لا نُرِيدُ مِنْكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلا شُكُوراً
�And they give food out of love for Him to the poor and the orphan and the captive: we only feed you for Allah's sake; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks. (The Holy Quran; 78:8-9)�
After describing blessings in Paradise, God says: إِنَّ هَذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَاءً وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُمْ مَشْكُوراً
�Surely this is a reward for you, and your striving shall be recompensed. (The Holy Quran; 78:22)�
Therefore, we should stand before this door�door of Allah, and supplicate from the bottom of our hearts, saying: بِكُمْ أَخْرَجَنَا اللهُ مِنَ الذُّلِّ وَفَرَّجَ عَنّا غَمَراتُ الكُروبِ وأنْقَذَنا مِن شَفا جُرُفِ الهَلَكاتِ ومِن النّارِ
�It is on account of you that Allah pulls us out of the depth of degradation, sets us free from the clutches of hardships, takes us to safety from precipice of annihilation and from falling down into the Hell.�1
With his polite behavior, the Messenger of God intended to show part of the heavenly nature of his daughter so that the ummah would
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1 Ziyarat al-Jami'a al-Kabira
2 See al-Muhaddith al-Qummi's Bayt ul-Ahzaan; 8
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realize her worthy position and reach eternal happiness through infinite blessings of her holiness.
The Messenger of God (saw) is quoted -by both Shiite and Sunni Muslims- as saying: فاطِمَةُ بِضعَةٌ مِنّي، مَن آذاها فَقَد آذاني وَمَن آذاني فَقَد آذى اللهَ.
�Fatima is part of me and I am part of her. He who hurts her is hurting me and whoever hurts me is hurting Allah.� يا فاطِمَةُ، إنَّ اللهَ يَرضى لِرِضاكِ ويَغضَبُ لِغَضَبِكِ.
�O Fatima, surely Allah becomes wrathful when you are wrathful and pleased when you are pleased.�
To hurt Lady Fatima is to hurt the Messenger of God, and to hurt the Messenger of God entails God's curse: إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَعَنَهُمُ اللهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَاباً مُهِيناً.
�Surely as for those who hurt Allah and His Apostle, Allah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter, and He has prepared for them a chastisement bringing disgrace. (The Holy Quran; 33:57)�
Since we do not exactly know where the great lady of Islam was buried, we shed tears on the earth of Baqie cemetery for the likelihood that her grave is there, and say: السَّلامُ عَليكِ يا بنتَ رسولِ اللهِ.
Peace be upon you, O' daughter of the Messenger of Allah.
We sometimes stand between the grave and mimbar of the Holy Prophet (saw) for the visitation of her grave, based on the saying of the Messenger of God (saw): ما بَينَ قَبري ومِنبَري رَوضَةٌ من رِياضِ الجَنَّةِ.
The area between my grave and mimbar is a garden of Paradise.
We sometimes go behind the Holy Prophet's grave, where the house of Fatima (a.s), for salutation. We shed tears by the graves of Fatima (a.s) and her sons until the reappearance of her eleventh progeny, Imam Mahdi under whose just rule we will calm down.
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O Allah, I believe in the sanctity of the one buried in this holy shrine in his/her absence as in his/her presence. I know that Your Messenger and vicegerents are alive and given sustenance by You. They see my standing place, hear my words, and answer my salutation.1
The four Imams who have given dignity to Baqie cemetery are Imam Hasan, Imam Sajjad, Imam Baqir, and Imam Sadiq (a.s): اَللَّهُمّ ارزُقنا زِيارَتهُم في الدّنيا وشَفاعَتَهم في الآخرة.
O Allah, grant us their visitation in this world and their intercession in the Hereafter.
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1 Part of the Permission of Entering the Holy Shrines (as quoted from al-Kaf'ami's)
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sacrifices were made in defense of Islam and the Holy Quran. We should both follow their ways and visit their graves to pay homage to them.
Some of those pioneers who sacrificed their lives in the way of God are the martyrs of the battle of Uhud, may Allah be pleased with them, who bravely fought for Islam when it, as well as the Messenger of God were isolated, lost their lives, found eternal life, and made us indebted to them forever. Therefore, we stand by their graves and say: السّلامُ عَليكُم يا أنْصارَ دِينِ اللهِ وأَنصارَ رَسولِهِ عَلَيهِ وآلهِ السَّلامُ. سَلامٌ عَلَيكُم بمِا صَبَرْتُم فَنِعْمَ عُقبى الدّارِ. أَشْهَدُ أنَّ اللهَ اختارَكُم لِدينهِ واصطَفاكُم لرَسولهِ وأَشهَدُ أنَّكم قَد جاهَدتم في اللهِ حقَّ جِهادِهِ وذَبَبتُم عن دينِ اللهِ.
�Peace be upon you, O helpers of the religion of Allah and helpers of His Messenger (peace be upon him and his progeny). Peace be upon you for your forbearance. What an excellent habitation the Hereafter is. I bear witness that Allah has chosen you for His religion and for Him Messenger. I bear witness that you fought for the sake of Allah a true fighting and defended the religion of Allah and His Prophet.�1
The honorable uncle of the Holy Prophet, Hamza, had an important role in helping the religion of God and His Messenger. Hence, among the martyrs of Uhud, he has such great rank about whom the Holy Prophet (saw) has said: مَن زارَني وَلم يَزُر قَبرَ عمِّي حَمزَةَ فَقد جَفاني.
Whoever visits my grave but does not visit the grave of my uncle Hamza, has indeed been unkind to me.
So, we should pay homage to him by saying: السّلامُ عَلَيكَ يا عَمَّ رَسولِ الله صَلّى اللهُ عَليهِ وآلهِ، السّلامُ عَلَيكَ يا خَيرَ الشُّهَداءِ، السّلامُ عَلَيكَ يا أَسَدَ اللهِ وَأَسَدَ رَسولهِ... وَأَنتَ ِممَّن أَمَرَنِيَ اللهُ بِصِلَتِهِ وَحَثَّني عَلى بِرِّهِ ودّلَّني عَلى فَضلهِ وهَداني لحُبِّهِ ورَغَّبَني في الوِفادَةِ إليهِ وألهَمَني طَلَبَ الحوائِجِ عِندَه.
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1 Ziyarat of the martyrs of (the battle of) Uhud
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�Peace be upon you, O uncle of the Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you, O the best of martyrs. Peace be upon you, O the lion of Allah and the lion of the Messenger of Allah� and you are one of those with whom Allah has commanded me to have relation, to whom Allah has enjoined me to do good, to whose virtue and friendship He has guided me, and with whose visitation and asking my needs from him, Allah has inspired me.�1
O God, send peace and blessings upon Mohammad and the progeny of Mohammad (saw) and grant us pilgrimage to Your Sacred House and visitation of the graves of Your Prophet and the Imams (a.s) in every year. Do not deprive us, O Lord, of visiting such dignified and sacred places. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and greetings of Allah be upon Mohammad and his pure and immaculate progeny.
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1 Ziyarat of Hamza
�Surely Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who believe! Call for Divine blessings on him and salute him with a becoming salutation. (The Holy Quran; 33:56)�
This illuminated garden, which is as Paradise in the eyes of the pilgrims, is the holy shrine of the Messenger of Allah�Prophet
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Mohammad, may the blessings of Allah be upon him and his progeny. Every Muslim has the wish to visit the tomb of the Holy Prophet (saw) at least once in his lifetime. Thanks to God for giving us the honor of visiting this holy shrine.
SOULS OF TRUE BELIEVERS KEEP ON LIVING AFTER DEATH
AND THEY ARE AWARE OF ALL EVENTS
Based on logical proof, man's soul keeps on living after departing from the body. It has also been proved that the souls of true believers, prophets, and Imams, after departing from their bodies and going to heaven, become more illuminated, their knowledge of this world become vaster, and their influence on the world become more effective. About those martyred for God's sake, the Holy Quran says: وَلا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ أَمْوَاتاً بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ.AND THEY ARE AWARE OF ALL EVENTS
�And reckon not those who are killed in Allah's way as dead; nay, they are alive (and) are provided sustenance from their Lord. (3:169)�
The Holy Quran has likened the unbelievers to the dead: قَدْ يَئِسُوا مِنَ الآخِرَةِ كَما يَئِسَ الْكُفَّارُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْقُبُورِ.
�Indeed, they despair of the hereafter as the unbelievers despair of those in tombs. (60:13)�
Sheikh Mufid, may Allah be pleased with him, in his book titled al-Maqalaat, writes down: وإنَّ رسولَ اللهِ والأئمةَ منْ عِترتهِ عليهمُ السلامُ خاصّةً لا تخفَى عَليهِم بعدَ الوفاةِ أحوالَ شيعتهِمْ في دارِ الدّنيا بإعلامِ اللهِ تعالى لهمْ ذلكَ حالاً بعدَ حالٍ ويسمَعونَ كلامَ المُناجي لهمْ في مَشاهدهم المُكرّمةِ العِظامِ بلطيفةٍ من لطائفِ اللهِ تعالى بيَّنَهم بها مِن جمهورِ العِبادِ، وتبلُغُهم المُناجاةُ مِن بُعدٍ كما جاءتْ به الروايةُ.
God's Messenger and the Imams of his household are, adfter decease, ware of the state of their followers in this world, and no state of their followers is hidden from them. God, Exalted is He, informs them about all these matters. They hear the supplications of those who speak to them in their dignified, handsome shrines due to one of God's special favors so that He will distinguish them from others.
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They, too, are aware of the supplications of those who are far away.1
Abdullah ibn Bukeir quotes Imam Sadiq (a.s) as saying in relation to Imam Hussein (a.s): وَإنَّهُ لَيَنْظُرُ إلى زُوّارِهِ فهُوَ أعْرَفُ بهِمْ وبأَسمائِهِم وَأَسماءِ آبائهِمْ وما في رِحالهِمْ منْ أَحَدِهِم بوُلدِهِ. وإنّهُ لَيَنظُرُ إلى مَن يَبكيهِ فَيَستَغفِرُ لهُ وَيَسألُ أباهُ الاسْتِغفارَ ويقولُ: أيّها الباكي، لَو عَلِمتَ ما أعَدَّ اللهُ لكَ لَفَرِحتَ أكثَرَ ممّا حَزَنتَ. وإنّهُ لَيَسْتغفِرُ له مِن كلِّ ذنبٍ وخَطيئَةٍ.
Most surely, he looks at the visitors of his tomb and knows them by the name of themselves, their fathers, and the provisions they have with them better than a father might know his own children. He looks at the supplicants favorably and asks forgiveness for them, saying: O Suppliant, if you know what Allah has prepared for you, your happiness will exceed your sorrows, for he asks forgiveness for every wrongdoing and sin of the supplicant.�2
Therefore, we realize that the special favors of God's disciples are felt within the precincts of the Imams' holy shrines more than anywhere else. Hence, we should expose ourselves to such favors and say:
بأَبي أنْتُم وَأُمِّي وَأهْلي وَمالي وَأُسْرَتي، أُشْهِدُ اللهَ وَأُشْهِدُكُم أنِّي مُؤْمِنٌ بِكُم وبمِا آمَنتُم بهِ، كافِرٌ بعَدُوِّكُم وبما كَفَرْتمْ بهِ، مُسْتَبْصِرٌ بِشأنِكُم وَبِضَلالَةِ مَن خالَفَكُم، مُوالٍ لكُمْ وَلأولِيائِكُم، مُبغِضٌ لأعْدائِكُم وَمُعادٍ لهُم، سِلْمٌ لمَنْ سَالَمَكُمْ وَحَربٌ لمَنْ حارَبَكُم، محُقِّقٌ لما حَقَّقْتُم مُبْطِلٌ لما أَبطَلتُم، مُطيعٌ لكُمْ عارِفٌ بحَقِّكُم، مُقِرٌّ بفَضلِكُم محْتَمِلٌ لِعِلْمِكُم محْتَجِبٌ بذِمَّتِكُم مُعْتَرِفٌ بكُم مُؤمِنٌ بإِيابِكُم مُصَدِّقٌ برَجْعَتِكُم مُنتَظِرٌ لأمْرِكُم مُرتَقِبٌ لِدَولتِكُم آخِذٌ بقَولِكُم عامِلٌ بأَمْرِكُم مُستَجيرٌ بكُم زائِرٌ لكُم عائِذٌ بِقُبورِكُم مُسْتَشْفِعٌ إلى اللهِ
____________1 See Bihar ul-Anwar; vol. 27 p. 301
2 See Bihar ul-Anwar; vol. 27 p. 300 (as quoted from Kamil uz-Ziyarat)
( 186 )
عَزَّ وجَلَّ بكُم وَمُتَقَرِّبٌ بكُم إلَيهِ وَمُقَدِّمُكُم أَمامَ طَلِبَتي وَحَوائِجي وَإِرادَتي في كُلِّ أحْوالي وَأُموري.
�My father, mother, family, property, and possessions are at your disposal. Allah and you bear witness that I believe in you, thereby have faith in you: I renounce your enemies, and that by which they have disowned you, I am fully aware of your glorious purpose, and that which leads astray in your hostility; I am your friend, and a friend of your friends, I dislike your enemies and strive against their designs, I am at peace with those who make peace with you, I take the field against those who march against you, I accept as true that which acknowledges your truth, I prove false that which takes a stand against you, I follow in your footsteps. I am fully aware of your rights and privileges, I recognize your superiority over others, I carry and preserve your knowledge, I take refuge under your prospective shelter, I respond to you, I know for sure that you will come back, I believe in your promised return, I anticipate and look for your (just and fair) order, I pray for your (good) administration, I hold fast to that which you have said, I carry out your orders, I take shelter in your neighborhood, I make a visit to do homage and praise you, for me your 'resting abode' are sanctuaries; in the court of the Almighty you are my advocates, I seek His nearness through you, for seeking fulfillment of my wants and desire, under all circumstances, I follow you to make headway.�1
DUST FROM MESSENGERS' FOOTSTEPS IS LIFE-GIVING
About the story of the Golden Calf of Samiri, the Holy Quran says: قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكَ يَا سَامِرِيُّ. قَالَ بَصُرْتُ ِبمَا لم يَبْصُرُوا بِهِ فَقَبَضْتُ قَبْضَةً مِنْ أَثَرِ الرَّسُولِ فَنَبَذْتُهَا.�He said: What was then your object, O Samiri? He said: I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful of the dust from the footsteps of the messenger, and then I threw it in the casting. (20:95-6)�
We should reflect on the Quranic truth that the life of an angel is so effective and influential that when he walks on the earth as a human
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1 Ziyarat al-Jami'a al-Kabira
( 187 )
being, the dust under his foot becomes a source of life in a dead being. The dust of the tombs of God's disciples, especially the tomb of the master of the martyrs; Imam Hussein (a.s), has a healing, life-giving peculiarity. When God gives such an effect to the dust under Gabriel's foot, He can give the same to the dust of the grave of the Messenger and his household who are more honorable that archangels: يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ.
�He specially chooses for His mercy whom He pleases; and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace. (The Holy Quran; 3:74)�
Evidently, the soul of an imperfect man has a very limited activity while that of perfect men, like prophets and Imams, has infinite activity so as healing the patients, meeting the request of the needy, guiding those who go astray, and solving unsolvable problems are very easy to them.
Now we are facing the Holy Shrine of the Messenger of Allah. It is an opportune time for expressing our love and need for him in view of his sublime spiritual position. He has been described as mercy for the worlds: وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
�And most surely you conform to sublime morality. (The Holy Quran; 68:4)� بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَؤُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ.
�To the believers, he is compassionate, merciful. (The Holy Quran; 9:128)� وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلا تَنْهَرْ.
�As for him who asks, do not chide. (The Holy Quran; 93:10)� وَإِذَا جَاءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ فَقُلْ سَلامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ أَنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنْكُمْ سُوءً يِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ.
�And when those who believe in Our communications come to you, say: Peace be on you, your Lord has ordained mercy on Himself, (so) that if any one of you does evil in ignorance, then turns after that and acts aright, then He is Forgiving, Merciful. (The Holy Quran; 6:54)�
( 188 )
In the holy shrine of the Messenger of God (saw), we have an excellent opportunity to raise our hands of need before the house of his daughter (a.s) for no one leaves this holy shrine without having his request fulfilled. In the Holy Quran, God praises the Ahl ul-Bayt for giving their food to the poor, the orphan, and the captive in an excellent way: وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَيَتِيماً وَأَسِيراً. إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللهِ لا نُرِيدُ مِنْكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلا شُكُوراً
�And they give food out of love for Him to the poor and the orphan and the captive: we only feed you for Allah's sake; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks. (The Holy Quran; 78:8-9)�
After describing blessings in Paradise, God says: إِنَّ هَذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَاءً وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُمْ مَشْكُوراً
�Surely this is a reward for you, and your striving shall be recompensed. (The Holy Quran; 78:22)�
Therefore, we should stand before this door�door of Allah, and supplicate from the bottom of our hearts, saying: بِكُمْ أَخْرَجَنَا اللهُ مِنَ الذُّلِّ وَفَرَّجَ عَنّا غَمَراتُ الكُروبِ وأنْقَذَنا مِن شَفا جُرُفِ الهَلَكاتِ ومِن النّارِ
�It is on account of you that Allah pulls us out of the depth of degradation, sets us free from the clutches of hardships, takes us to safety from precipice of annihilation and from falling down into the Hell.�1
SHIITES ARE IN SEARCH OF FATIMA'S GRAVE IN MEDINA
Where is the grave of Fatima? Where was she buried? Is it in Baqie cemetery, between the mimbar (pulpit) and grave of the Holy Prophet (saw) or in her own house? Where is the grave of the honorable lady before whose arrival the Holy Prophet (saw) would rise up, welcome her, kiss her hand, and give his own place to her?2With his polite behavior, the Messenger of God intended to show part of the heavenly nature of his daughter so that the ummah would
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1 Ziyarat al-Jami'a al-Kabira
2 See al-Muhaddith al-Qummi's Bayt ul-Ahzaan; 8
( 189 )
realize her worthy position and reach eternal happiness through infinite blessings of her holiness.
The Messenger of God (saw) is quoted -by both Shiite and Sunni Muslims- as saying: فاطِمَةُ بِضعَةٌ مِنّي، مَن آذاها فَقَد آذاني وَمَن آذاني فَقَد آذى اللهَ.
�Fatima is part of me and I am part of her. He who hurts her is hurting me and whoever hurts me is hurting Allah.� يا فاطِمَةُ، إنَّ اللهَ يَرضى لِرِضاكِ ويَغضَبُ لِغَضَبِكِ.
�O Fatima, surely Allah becomes wrathful when you are wrathful and pleased when you are pleased.�
To hurt Lady Fatima is to hurt the Messenger of God, and to hurt the Messenger of God entails God's curse: إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَعَنَهُمُ اللهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَاباً مُهِيناً.
�Surely as for those who hurt Allah and His Apostle, Allah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter, and He has prepared for them a chastisement bringing disgrace. (The Holy Quran; 33:57)�
Since we do not exactly know where the great lady of Islam was buried, we shed tears on the earth of Baqie cemetery for the likelihood that her grave is there, and say: السَّلامُ عَليكِ يا بنتَ رسولِ اللهِ.
Peace be upon you, O' daughter of the Messenger of Allah.
We sometimes stand between the grave and mimbar of the Holy Prophet (saw) for the visitation of her grave, based on the saying of the Messenger of God (saw): ما بَينَ قَبري ومِنبَري رَوضَةٌ من رِياضِ الجَنَّةِ.
The area between my grave and mimbar is a garden of Paradise.
We sometimes go behind the Holy Prophet's grave, where the house of Fatima (a.s), for salutation. We shed tears by the graves of Fatima (a.s) and her sons until the reappearance of her eleventh progeny, Imam Mahdi under whose just rule we will calm down.
( 190 )
AL-BAQIE CEMETERY, THE SACRED HALL OF UDIENCE
This is Baqie cemetery where thousands of great religious personalities, companions, wives, and children of the Holy Prophet (saw) are buried. What gives dignity to this cemetery is the pure bodies of four Imams (a.s). For this reason, the Ahl ul-Bayt's followers turn to Baqie lovingly during the Hajj season and weep bitterly though there is no mausoleum and the graves are at ground level: اللّهُمّ إني أعتَقِدُ حُرمَةَ صاحِبِ هذا المَشهَدِ الشّريفِ في غَيبَتِهِ كَما أعتَقِدُها في حَضرَتهِ وأَعلَمُ أنَّ رسولَكَ وخُلَفاءَكَ عليهِمُ السّلامُ أحياءٌ عِندَكَ يُرزَقونَ يَرَونَ مَقامي وَيسمَعون كَلامي ويَردُّونَ سَلامي.O Allah, I believe in the sanctity of the one buried in this holy shrine in his/her absence as in his/her presence. I know that Your Messenger and vicegerents are alive and given sustenance by You. They see my standing place, hear my words, and answer my salutation.1
The four Imams who have given dignity to Baqie cemetery are Imam Hasan, Imam Sajjad, Imam Baqir, and Imam Sadiq (a.s): اَللَّهُمّ ارزُقنا زِيارَتهُم في الدّنيا وشَفاعَتَهم في الآخرة.
O Allah, grant us their visitation in this world and their intercession in the Hereafter.
THE MARTYRS OF THE BATTLE OF UHUD
This religion under whose shade we have taken shelter and in the light of which we have come to know God, the Holy Quran, and the Ahl ul-Bayt have not reached us easily. Only does God know how many devoted persons sacrificed their lives, suffered hardships, and went through calamities in order to safeguard this religion and hand it over to us as it is. We, who hear the life-giving call of 'I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Mohammad is His Messenger,' from mosques' minarets, hold glorious congregational prayer in mosques, and hold mourning ceremonies for Imam Hussein (a.s), are rarely aware of the tragic events that happened to Islam and Muslims in the early days of our religion. Hence, it is necessary for our younger generation to study the history of the early days of Islam to see what____________
1 Part of the Permission of Entering the Holy Shrines (as quoted from al-Kaf'ami's)
( 191 )
sacrifices were made in defense of Islam and the Holy Quran. We should both follow their ways and visit their graves to pay homage to them.
Some of those pioneers who sacrificed their lives in the way of God are the martyrs of the battle of Uhud, may Allah be pleased with them, who bravely fought for Islam when it, as well as the Messenger of God were isolated, lost their lives, found eternal life, and made us indebted to them forever. Therefore, we stand by their graves and say: السّلامُ عَليكُم يا أنْصارَ دِينِ اللهِ وأَنصارَ رَسولِهِ عَلَيهِ وآلهِ السَّلامُ. سَلامٌ عَلَيكُم بمِا صَبَرْتُم فَنِعْمَ عُقبى الدّارِ. أَشْهَدُ أنَّ اللهَ اختارَكُم لِدينهِ واصطَفاكُم لرَسولهِ وأَشهَدُ أنَّكم قَد جاهَدتم في اللهِ حقَّ جِهادِهِ وذَبَبتُم عن دينِ اللهِ.
�Peace be upon you, O helpers of the religion of Allah and helpers of His Messenger (peace be upon him and his progeny). Peace be upon you for your forbearance. What an excellent habitation the Hereafter is. I bear witness that Allah has chosen you for His religion and for Him Messenger. I bear witness that you fought for the sake of Allah a true fighting and defended the religion of Allah and His Prophet.�1
The honorable uncle of the Holy Prophet, Hamza, had an important role in helping the religion of God and His Messenger. Hence, among the martyrs of Uhud, he has such great rank about whom the Holy Prophet (saw) has said: مَن زارَني وَلم يَزُر قَبرَ عمِّي حَمزَةَ فَقد جَفاني.
Whoever visits my grave but does not visit the grave of my uncle Hamza, has indeed been unkind to me.
So, we should pay homage to him by saying: السّلامُ عَلَيكَ يا عَمَّ رَسولِ الله صَلّى اللهُ عَليهِ وآلهِ، السّلامُ عَلَيكَ يا خَيرَ الشُّهَداءِ، السّلامُ عَلَيكَ يا أَسَدَ اللهِ وَأَسَدَ رَسولهِ... وَأَنتَ ِممَّن أَمَرَنِيَ اللهُ بِصِلَتِهِ وَحَثَّني عَلى بِرِّهِ ودّلَّني عَلى فَضلهِ وهَداني لحُبِّهِ ورَغَّبَني في الوِفادَةِ إليهِ وألهَمَني طَلَبَ الحوائِجِ عِندَه.
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1 Ziyarat of the martyrs of (the battle of) Uhud
( 192 )
�Peace be upon you, O uncle of the Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you, O the best of martyrs. Peace be upon you, O the lion of Allah and the lion of the Messenger of Allah� and you are one of those with whom Allah has commanded me to have relation, to whom Allah has enjoined me to do good, to whose virtue and friendship He has guided me, and with whose visitation and asking my needs from him, Allah has inspired me.�1
CONCLUSION OF THE JOURNEY
Here our spiritual journey comes to an end. God willing, we will return to our countries with our hearts purified from wrongdoings and our souls illuminated with the light of knowledge of God and His friends. We ask God through His Sacred House, the affinity of His Messenger and the pure and immaculate Household, and His grace to accept our Hajj, and make the rest of our lives safe from the temptations of Satan under the shelter of Imam Mahdi (a.s). Also, safeguard our children from moral deviations. اَللّهمَّ صَلِّ عَلى محَمَّدٍ وآلِ محَمَّدٍ وارْزُقْنا حَجَّ بَيتِكَ الحَرامِ وزِيارَةَ قَبرِ نَبِيِّكَ والأئِمَّةِ عَلَيهِمُ السّلامُ في كُلِّ عامٍ ولا تخَلّينا يا رَبَّنا مِن تلكَ المشَاهِدِ الشّريفَةِ والمَواقِفِ الكَريمَةِ ما أبقَيْتَنا. وَالحَمدُ للهِ ربِّ العالمَينَ وَصَلّى اللهُ عَلى محَمَّدٍ وآلهِ الطاهِرينَ.O God, send peace and blessings upon Mohammad and the progeny of Mohammad (saw) and grant us pilgrimage to Your Sacred House and visitation of the graves of Your Prophet and the Imams (a.s) in every year. Do not deprive us, O Lord, of visiting such dignified and sacred places. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and greetings of Allah be upon Mohammad and his pure and immaculate progeny.
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1 Ziyarat of Hamza