Chapter Seven

Thanks to God we have had the honor to visit the House of God and completed the Hajj rites. We now will go to Medina to visit the tombs of the Holy Prophet (saw) and the Imams (a.s). We approach their holy shrines, which are full of mercy and a fount of blessings: يا سادَتي وَمَوالِيَّ، إنّي تَوَجَّهتُ بِكُم، أَئِمَّتي وعُدَّتي لِيَومِ فَقْري وَحاجَتي إلى اللهِ، وَاسْتَشْفَعْتُ بِكُم إلى اللهِ فَاشْفَعوا لي عِندَ اللهِ واسْتَنْقِذونِي مِن ذُنوبي عِندَ اللهِ، فَإنَّكُم وَسيلَتي إلى اللهِ وَبحُبِّكُم وبِقُربِكُم أَرْجو نجَاةً مِن اللهِ فَكونوا عِندَ اللهِ رَجائي، يا سَادَتي يا أوْلِياءَ اللهِ.
�O my chiefs, O my masters, I turn to Allah through you, O my Imams, my supporters on the days of my destitution. I seek your advocacy before Allah, I request you to speak in my favor before Allah, obtain pardon for me from Allah, and deliver me from my sins, through my love of you and nearness to you, obtain deliverance from me from Allah. O my chiefs, O close friends of Allah.�1
____________
1 Duaa at-Tawassul

---

( 176 ) According to the Holy Quran, the love for the household of the Holy Prophet (saw) as the reward of prophethood is obligatory on the ummah: قُلْ لاَ أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْراً إِلاّ الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى
�Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives. (The Holy Quran; 42:23)�
According to traditions reported by both the Shia and Sunnah, the word 'near relatives' has been interpreted as the household of the Messenger of Allah (saw). Hence, love of them is aimed at being guided under their heavenly light, attaining eternal happiness, and getting rid of the bonds of Satan. In this relation, the Holy Quran says: قُلْ مَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ إِلاّ مَنْ شَاءَ اتَّخَذَ إِلى رَبِّهِ سّبيلاً
�Say: I do not ask you aught in return except that he who will, may take the way to his Lord. (25:57)�
Taking the way to God, according to traditions, can be realized only under the shelter of the Ahl ul-Bayt; therefore , courtesy to them is in the interest of the ummah and not in the interest of the household as the Holy Quran expressly says: قُلْ مَا سَأَلْتُكُمْ مِنْ أَجْرٍ فَهُوَ لَكُمْ.
�Say: Whatever reward I have asked of you, that is only for yourselves. (34:47)�
  Consensus among the Shiites is that God's acceptance of Muslims' deeds depends on belief in the Imamate of Imam Ali and the Imams of the Ahl ul-Bayt (a.s). Traditions related to this matter have reached us through both Shiite and Sunni reference books by successive hearsay.1 Suleiman Aamash quotes Imam Sadiq (a.s) and his honorable fathers as saying: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيهِ وآلِهِ:
يا عَليُّ، أنتَ أمِيرُ المُؤمِنينَ وإِمامُ المُتَّقينَ.
____________
1 See Bihar ul-Anwar; vol. 27 p. 166

---

( 177 ) �The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
O Ali, you are the commander of the faithful and the Imam of the pious.
O Ali, you are the master of the vicegerents, inheritor of the knowledge of prophets, the best of the truthful, and the head of the foremost in faith.
O Ali, you are the husband of the chiefess of the world women and you are the successor of the Messengers.
O Ali, you are the master of the believers.
O Ali, you are the proof of Allah among all human beings after me. Whoever loves you deserves Paradise and whoever antagonizes you will enter into fire.
O Ali, (I swear) by One Who appointed me as prophet and chosen me from among people, if a man worships Allah for thousand years, his worship will not be accepted by Allah save with belief in your Imamate and that of your sons. Belief in your Imamate is not accepted save by disavowal of your enemies and those of your progeny. Archangel Gabriel (a.s) informed me of it. Whoever accepts it is a believer and whoever denies it is an unbeliever.� 1
Abu-Hamza reported that Imam Sajjad (a.s) asked, 'Which areas are the best?' I answered, 'Allah, His Messenger, and son of His Messenger know best.' He (a.s) then said:
____________
1 See Bihar ul-Anwar; vol. 27 p. 199 (as quoted from Ibn Shathan's al-Manaaqib)

---

( 178 )
إنَّ أفْضَلَ البِقاعِ ما بَينَ الرُّكْنِ وَالمَقامِ. وَلَوْ أنَّ رَجُلاً عَمَّرَ ما عَمَّرَ نُوحٌ عَليهِ السّلامُ في قَومِهِ �ألْفَ سَنَةٍ إلا خَمْسين عاماً- يَصومُ النَّهارَ ويَقومُ اللّيلَ في ذلِكَ المَقامِ ثُمَّ لَقِيَ اللهَ عزّ وجَلَّ بِغَيرِ وِلايَتِنا لم يَنْتَفِعْ بِذلِكَ شَيئاً.
The best area �in the world- is that lying between the Rukn (corner of the Kaaba) and Maqam (standing-place of Prophet Ibrahim). If a man lives as long as Prophet Noah �nine hundred and fifty years- and spends all this period with fasting during days and worshipping Allah during nights in that area, all his acts of worship will be worthless unless he believes in our wilaya �divine leadership-.
  Meaath ibn Kathir reported: It was big crowds on that season of Hajj when I approached Imam Sadiq (a.s) and said, 'Really, the performers of Hajj are so many.' He (a.s) turned his sight towards them and asked me to be nearer to him. As I did, He (a.s) said: غُثاءٌ يأتي بهِ المَوجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكانٍ! وَاللهِ ما الحَجُّ إلا لَكُم. لا واللهِ، ما يَتَقَبَّلُ اللهُ إلا مِنكُمْ.
They are just like scum that waves bring from everywhere. By Allah I swear, true Hajj is only yours. Certainly, Allah will accept your Hajj only.1
Al-Harith ibn al-Mughira reported: I was sitting near Imam Sadiq (a.s) when somebody came in and asked, 'Son of Allah's Messenger, the performers of Hajj this year were so many.' The Imam answered (a.s): إنْ شَاؤُوا فَلْيَكثُروا وإنْ شَاؤوا فَلْيَقِلُّوا. واللهِ ما يَقْبَلُ اللهُ إلاّ مِنكُم ولا يَغْفِرُ إلا لَكُمْ
Let they be so many or so few. By Allah I swear, He will not accept but the Hajj that you perform, and none will be forgiven except you.2
Abu'l-Jaroud reported: I said to Imam Baqir (a.s) in Mecca, or Mina, that the performers of Hajj were so many. He (a.s) said:
____________
1 See Bihar ul-Anwar; vol. 27 p. 172 (as quoted from Sheikh at-Tusi's al-Amaali).
2 See Bihar ul-Anwar; vol. 27 p. 185 (as quoted from al-Mahaasin).

---

( 179 )
مَا أَقَلَّ الحَاجَّ! ما يُغفَرُ إلاّ لكَ ولأَصْحابكَ وَلا يُتَقَبَّلُ إلا مِنكَ ومِن أصحابِكَ
In fact, they are so few. None will be forgiven except your companions and you, and nobody's act will be admitted (by God) except your companions' and yours.1
Mansour as-Sayqal reported: I was with Imam Sadiq (a.s) in his pavilion in Mina (during the season of Hajj) when he looked at people and said: يأكُلونَ الحَرامَ ويَلبَسونَ الحَرامَ ويَنكِحونَ الحَرامَ. وتأْكُلونَ الحَلالَ وَتلْبَسونَ الحَلالَ وتَنكِحونَ الحَلالَ. لا واللهِ، ما يحِجُّ غَيرُكُم ولا يُتَقَبَّلُ إلا مِنكُم.
They eat, dress, and marry illegally. But you eat, dress, and marry legally. By Allah, it is only you whose Hajj is valid and whose deeds are accepted.2
Zureyq reported: I asked Imam Sadiq (a.s) about the best deed after the recognition of God. He (a.s) said: ما مِن شَيءٍ بَعدَ المَعرِفَةِ يَعدِلُ هَذِهِ الصَّلاةَ، ولا بَعدَ المَعرِفَةِ والصَّلاةِ شَيءٌ يَعدِلُ الزَّكاةَ، ولا بَعدَ ذلِكَ شَيءٌ يَعدِلُ الصَّومَ، ولا بَعدَ ذلكَ شَيءٌ يَعدِلُ الحَجَّ، وفاتِحَةُ ذلكَ كُلِّهِ وخاتِمَتُهُ مَعرِفَتُنا.
____________
1 See Bihar ul-Anwar; vol. 27 p. 196 (as quoted from Bisharat al-Mustafa).
2 See Bihar ul-Anwar; vol. 27 p. 199 (as quoted from Sheikh Saduq's Fadhaail ush-Shia).
It seems that 'they' in this narration refers to those who antagonize the Prophet's household, and the reason why their eating, dressing, and marriage are illegal is because they refrain from paying the obligatory tax of Khums. In this regard many narrations are reported. Imam Ali (a.s) is quoted as saying:
هَلَكَ النّاسُ في بُطونِهِم وفُروجِهِم لأنَّهُم لم يُؤَدّوا إلَينا حَقَّنا. ألا وإنَّ شيعَتَنا مِن ذلِكَ في حِلٍّ.
People perish in matters related to their eating and marriage. This is because they do not fulfill our rights that are divinely incumbent upon them. Our Shia are released from the fulfillment of such rights. (see al-Wafi; vol. 2 Section: Khums, p.42)
Imam Sadiq (a.s) is quoted as saying:
النّاسُ كُلُّهُم يَعيشونَ في فَضْلِ مَظْلَمَتِنا. ألا إننا أحْلَلْنا شيعَتَنا مِن ذلِكَ.
All people are plunging in the wronging against us. We however have released our Shia �adherents- from being involved in such wronging.
 

---

( 180 )
Nothing after the recognition of Allah may mount to prayer. Nothing, after the recognition of Allah and the prayer, may mount to zakat. Nothing after these may mount to fasting. Nothing after these may mount to Hajj. The opening and the end of all these is the recognition of us (i.e. the divine leadership of the Imams).1
Prophet Mohammad (saw) said: مَن أَرادَ أنْ يَتَمَسَّكَ بالعُروَةِ الوُثقى فَلْيَتَمَسَّكْ بحُبِّ عَلِيٍّ وأهْلِ بَيتي.
He who wants to hold fast to the Firmest Handle must cling to love for Ali and my household �the Ahl ul-Bayt-.
  Imam Reza (a.s) says: ثُمَّ تَزورُ قَبرَ محَمَّدٍ المُصطَفى صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيهِ وآلِهِ فَإنَّهُ قالَ: مَنْ حَجَّ وَلم يَزُرْني فَقَد جَفاني. وَتَزورُ قَبرَ السّادَةِ عَليْهِمُ السّلامُ.
Then you will visit the tomb of Mohammad (saw), for the Holy Prophet has said: �Whoever performs the Hajj rites but does not visit my tomb will be unkind to me.� And then visit the tombs of the Sayyids (a.s)2
Imam Baqir (a.s) looked at those who were circumambulating the Holy House and said: أُمِروا أنْ يَطُوفوا بهَذا ثُمَّ يأْتونا فَيُعَرِّفونا مَوَدَّتَهُم ثُمَّ يَعرِضوا عَلَينا نَصْرَهُم.
They are ordained to circumambulate (the House) then come to us to show us their love (loyalty) for us and then offer their support for us.3
Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: اِبدَؤوا بمَكَّةَ واخْتِموا بنا.
�Start Hajj with Mecca and complete it with us.�4
Yahya ibn Yessar reported: During the Hajj, we passed by Imam Sadiq (a.s) who said to us:
____________
1 See Bihar ul-Anwar; vol. 27 p. 202 (as quoted from Sheikh at-Tusi's al-Amaali).
2 See Fiqh ur-Ridha
3 See Mustadrak ul-Wasaail; Kitab al-Hajj Section: Visatation p. 189
4 See Mustadrak ul-Wasaail; Kitab al-Hajj Section: Visatation p. 189

---

( 181 )
حُجّاجُ بَيتِ اللهِ وزُوّارُ قَبرِ نَبيِّهِ صَلّى اللهُ عَليهِ وآلهِ وَشيعَةُ آلِ محَمَّدٍ، هَنيئاً لكُم.
O Pilgrims of the House of Allah, visitors of His Prophet's tomb, and adherents (Shia) of Mohammad's household, congratulations!1
Al-Hasan ibn al-Washa reported: I asked Imam Reza (a.s) about the reward of him who visits the tomb of any of the Imams (a.s), and he answered: لهُ مِثلُ مَن أَتى قَبرَ أبي عَبدِ اللهِ عَليهِ السّلامُ... الجَنَّةُ واللهِ.
He (who visits the tomb of any of the Imams) will be rewarded as same as him who visits the tomb of Abu-Abdilah (Imam Hussein) (a.s) that is Paradise, I swear it by Allah.2 مَن زارَنا في ممَاتِنا فَكَأنمَّا زارَنا في حَياتِنا، وَمَن جاهَدَ عَدُوَّنا فَكأنمَّا جاهَدَ مَعَنا، ومَن تَوَلّى لمحِبِّنا فَقَدْ أحَبَّنا، وَمَن سَرَّ مُؤمِناً فَقَد سَرَّنا، وَمَن أعانَ فَقيرَنا كانَ مُكافاتُهُ عَلى جَدِّنا محَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وآله.
�He who comes to visit our tombs after our decease will have the same reward of him who visited us in our lifetime. He who fights our enemy will be regarded as if he fought alongside us. He who loves those who love us will love us. He who pleases a believer will indeed please us. He who helps a poor man belonging to us will be recompensed by our grandfather Mohammad (saw).�3
Imam Sadiq (a.s) quotes the Holy Prophet (saw) as saying: إنَّ اللهَ قَدْ وَكَّلَ بفاطِمَةَ عَليها السّلامُ رَعيلاً مِنَ المَلائِكَةِ يحْفَظونَها مِن بَينِ يَدَيها وَمِن خَلْفِها وعَن يمِينِها وعَن يَسارِها وَهُمْ مَعَها في حَياتِها وعِندَ قَبرِها بعدَ مَوتِها يُكثِرونَ الصَّلاةَ عَلى أَبيها وبَعْلِها وَبَنيها. فَمَن زارَني بَعدَ وَفاتي فَكَأنمَّا زارَني في حَياتي، وَمَنْ زار فاطِمَةَ عَليها السّلامُ فَكَأَنمّا زارَني وَمَن زارَ عَلِيَّ بنَ أبي
____________
1 See al-Kafi; vo. 4 Kitab al-Hajj, p. 549
2 See Mustadrak ul-Wasaail; Kitab al-Hajj, section: Visitation p. 189
3 See Mustadrak ul-Wasaail; Kitab al-Hajj

---

( 182 )
طالِبٍ عَلَيهِ السَّلامُ فَكَأَنمَّا زارَ فاطِمَةَ عَلَيها السّلامُ وَمَنْ زارَ الحُسَينَ عَلَيهِ السّلامُ فَكَأَنمّا زارَ عَلياً عَليهِ السلامُ وَمَن زارَ ذُرِّيَّتَهُما فَكَأَنمّا زارَهُما.
�Allah has assigned a group of angels to guard Fatima (a.s) in front, behind, and on the left and right sides. Those angels are constantly accompanying her in her life, her grave after her death, and send greetings to her father, her husband, and her progeny. Therefore, whoever visits me after my death will be regarded as if he indeed visited me in my lifetime, whoever visits Fatima will be regarded as if he indeed visited me, whoever visits Ali Ibn Abi Talib will be regarded as if he indeed visited Fatima, whoever visits Hussein will be regarded as if he has indeed visited Ali (a.s), and whoever visits their progeny will be regarded as if he indeed visited those two honorable ones.�1
Imam Sadiq, on the authority of his fathers, reported that the Messenger of God addressed to Imam Ali (a.s):
O Abu'l-Hasan, Allah has certainly made your descendants' and your tombs areas and yards of Paradise. He, Glorified and Elevated is He, has also caused the
____________
1 See Mustadrak ul-Wasaail; Kitab al-Hajj, section: Visitation p. 189

---

( 183 )
hearts of some choice, pure servants of Him to yearn for them and tolerate humiliation and harm for you. They therefore will construct and frequent your tombs for nothing more than seeking nearness to Allah and showing love for His Messenger (saw). O Ali, those (servants) will be granted exclusively my Intercession, will come to my Divine Pool, and will be my visitors and neighbors in Paradise.
O Ali, he who constructs and takes care of your tombs will be regarded as if he helped (Prophet) Solomon son of (Prophet) David construct the Beit ul-Maqdis (the Sacred Mosque of Jerusalem). He who visits the tombs of your descendants will have the reward of seventy times of recommended Hajj and will be released from his sins as if he has just been given birth by his mother, and these rewards will be continuous until he returns home.
O Ali, enjoy the good tidings and convey them to your adherents and followers�you will be enjoying the bliss whose like has never been seen, heard, or even imagined. But there will come some people who dishonor the visitors of your tombs in the same way as a prostitute is dishonored. Those people are the evilest individuals of my ummah; they will not be granted my Intercession and will not be allowed to approach my Divine Pool (on the Day of Resurrection).1
____________
1 See al-Wafi; vol. 2 section: Ziyarat p. 196