Merit of visiting the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.)
Visiting the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.) is recommended, while emphasis upon visiting his grave is among the necessities of the Religion. It is related that the visitation to his grave is essential upon every believer and is obligatory upon every man and woman. While one who abandons it, in fact has abandoned the rights of Allah and His Prophet, while abandoning it is ungratefulness with the Prophet of Allah (S) and is a result of a defect in his belief and Religion. And the one who deliberately avoids it, he shall be among the dwellers of hell.
Imam Muhammad al Baqir (a.s.) told Muhammad bin Muslim that, “Direct our Shi’ah to visit the grave of Husayn bin Ali (a.s.), for it has been made obligatory by Allah, the Mighty, the Sublime, upon every believer who considers Husayn (a.s.) to be his Imam”.
Imam Ja’far as Sadiq (a.s.) says that,
“Whenever anyone amongst you go for the Hajj and then do not go for the pilgrimage of Imam Husayn (a.s.) has abandoned the right from among the rights of the Prophet of Allah (S). For the right of Husayn (a.s.) is made obligatory upon every Muslim by Allah”.
He says that, “The one who dies without going to the head of the grave of Husayn (a.s.), while he still considers himself to be our Shi’ah, is in fact not our Shi’ah, and even if he goes to Paradise, he will remain as a guest of the inhabitants of Paradise”.
He (Imam Sadiq) asked Aban bin Taghlib,
“O Aban! When did you go for the pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.)?”
Aban replied, “By Allah, O son of the Prophet of Allah! A lengthy time has passed since I did not renew the pledge”. Imam (a.s.) replied,
“Glory be to my Lord, the Sublime, and praise to Him! Inspite of being a nobleman among the Shi’ah you have abandoned the visitation to the grave of Husayn (a.s.)? The one who visits the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.), Allah writes down good deeds for him at every step, and forgives his sins at each step. Then He forgives all of his past and future sins”.
It is related in numerous traditions that,
“Do not avoid visiting the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.) even during the days of prohibition. And one who visits him (his grave) in fear (of the enemies), Allah will give him refuge from the great fear of Qiyamah and he will gain reward proportionate to the fear. And the one who fears due to their fear, Allah will bestow him a refuge under the shade of His empyrean while he shall remain along with Imam Husayn (a.s.) and shall be protected from the fear of the day of Qiyamah”.
It is related in traditions from Imam Ja’far as Sadiq (a.s.) that,
“The wealthy should visit the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.) twice every year, while the indigent should visit once every year”.
He (a.s.) said,
“Those who live near should visit at least once every month, while those who live far away, once every three years”.
It is also related from him that,
“It is not fair to avoid it for more than four years”.
It is related from Imam Abul Hasan (a.s.) that,
“Whoever visits the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.) thrice a year shall remain safe from indigence. It is emphasized that one should visit his grave with sincerity and eagerness. Then the one who goes to his grave with eagerness, he is among the favored slaves (of Allah) and will remain under the standard of Husayn bin Ali (a.s.). And the one who visits him for the sake of Allah, Allah will forgive his sins similar to a newly born, and the Angels will accompany him in his journey”.
It is related in another tradition that,
“Jibra’eel, Mika`eel and Israfeel accompany him until he returns back to his home”.
It is related from Humran (bin A’ayan), that I went to visit the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.). When I returned back to my home, Imam Muhammad al Baqir (a.s.), accompanied by Umar bin Ali bin Abdullah bin Ali, came to visit me. Imam Baqir (a.s.) said,
“O Humran! Accept glad tidings that the one who visits the graves of the martyrs of the Prophet’s family, intending Allah’s proximity and solidarity to His Prophet, he shall be freed from sins similar to the day his mother gave birth to him”.
Imam Ja’far as Sadiq (a.s.) said, that when the day of Qiyamah approaches, an announcer will call out, “Where are the pilgrims of Husayn (a.s.)?” A large multitude will arise, computing whose numbers would not be possible by anyone except Allah, the Mighty, the Sublime. Allah will ask them,
“Why did you visit the grave of Husayn?”
They will reply, “O Lord! We did that due to the friendship with the Prophet of Allah (a.s.) and for the sake of Ali (a.s.) and Fatemah (a.s.), and due to the sorrow that befell him”. It will be said to them,
“Here are Muhammad (S), Ali (a.s.), Fatemah (a.s.), Hasan (a.s.) and Husayn (a.s.). Go and unite with them, you shall remain along with them in their status. Unite under the standard of the Prophet of Allah (S) and remain under its shade, that is in the hands of Ali (a.s.) until all of you enter Paradise”.
Then they shall come to the standard from behind, the right and the left.
It is related in numerous traditions, that the visitation of Imam Husayn (a.s.)’s grave shall result in forgiveness of sins, be a means of entering Paradise, and grant liberty from hell. It shall also result in the negation of evils, elevation of rank and fulfillment of desires. The one who goes to visit the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.), while being cognizant of his right, Allah will forgive all of his past and future sins.
In another tradition it is related that,
“His intercession will be accepted for seventy sinful people. And there is no desire that is asked at the head of his grave, except that Allah fulfils it”.
Imam Ja’far as Sadiq (a.s.) asked Abdullah bin Najjar that,
“Do you go for the pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.) while sailing in the boats?”
He replied in the affirmative. Imam (a.s.) continued,
“Do you not know that when your boat capsizes, it is said to you: O you who have been cleansed, while Paradise is pleased with you?”
Qa’ed Hannat told Imam (a.s.), “People come to the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.) with women who recite elegies and bring food along with them”. Imam (a.s.) said,
“Yes, I have heard it”.
Then he (a.s.) continued,
“O Qa’ed! The one who comes to the head of the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.), being cognizant of his rights, all his past and future sins shall be forgiven”.
It is related that,
“The pilgrims of the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.) will enter Paradise forty years before others, who will be engaged in accountability and abeyance. While his pilgrim will turn his sins into a bridge upon the door of his house, and will pass upon it as you pass upon the bridge while leaving it behind”.
It is related, that it will be said to the pilgrims of Imam Husayn (a.s.) on the day of Qiyamah that, “Catch hold of the hands of anyone whom you befriend and enter them into Paradise”. Then each man will catch hold of the hand of another until a man will say to another, “Do you not recognize me? I am the one who had risen for you on such and such day?” He shall enter him into Paradise without any hindrance or restrain.
Sulayman bin Khalid inquired from Imam Ja’far as Sadiq (a.s.) that, “I have heard that you have said, that Allah beholds the earth every day and night for a hundred thousand times. Then He forgives anyone whom He pleases and He chastises anyone whom He pleases? And that He shall forgive the pilgrim of the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.) and his family and anyone whom he intercedes for on the day of Qiyamah, whoever he be? Then shall the one, who is worthy of hell-fire, also be forgiven?” Imam (a.s.) replied,
“Yes, even the one worthy of hell-fire, provided that he is not an enemy of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)”.
It is related in numerous traditions, that visiting his grave is equal to Hajj and Umrah, and striving in the way of Allah (Jihad), and emancipation of slaves, rather it is equal to twenty Hajj, and better than twenty Hajj, rather Allah will write down eighty Hajj in his account.
While his pilgrimage is equal to the Hajj performed along with the Prophet of Allah (S), rather the one who goes for his pilgrimage, being cognizant of his rights, will be equal to the one who has performed Hajj hundred times accompanying the Prophet of Allah (S). While the one who goes for his pilgrimage barefoot, with each step that he takes forward and backwards, he will get reward of emancipating slaves from among the progeny of (Prophet) Isma’eel (a.s.).
Imam Ja’far as Sadiq (a.s.) says that,
“If I relate to you the merit of visiting his grave, you shall abandon the Hajj, while a group from among you would not go for the Hajj. Woe be to you! Do you not know that Allah preferred Karbala to be the Sanctuary of His peace and affluence before He chose Makkah to be His Sanctuary?”
Imam (a.s.) continued, “
One day Imam Husayn (a.s.) was seated in the lap of his grandfather, while he was caressing him and smiling.”
Seeing this Ayesha said, “O Prophet of Allah! How much do you love this child?” He (S) replied,
“Woe be to you! How should I not cherish him and not be pleased with him? He is the fruit of my heart and the light of my eyes. Beware! Verily my nation will kill him, then whoever visits him (his grave) after his death, Allah will write down one of my Hajj in his account”.