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)[211]
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.[212]
Imam Sadiq (a.s) says:
اِبدَؤوا بمَكَّةَ واخْتِموا بنا.
“Start Hajj with Mecca and complete it with us.”[213]
Yahya ibn Yessar reported: During the Hajj, we passed by Imam Sadiq (a.s) who said to us:
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![214]
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.[215]
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).”[216]
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 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.”[217]
Imam Sadiq, on the authority of his fathers, reported that the Messenger of God addressed to Imam Ali (a.s):
يا أبا الحَسَنِ، إنَّ اللهَ جَعلَ قَبرَكَ وَقَبرَ وُلدِكَ بِقاعاً مِن بقاعِ الجَنّةِ وعَرَصاتٍ مِن عَرَصاتِها. وإنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وجَلَّ جَعلَ قُلوبَ نجَباءٍ مِن خَلقِهِ وصَفْوَةٍ مِن عِبادِهِ تحِنُّ إلَيكُم وتحْتَمِلُ المَذَلَّةَ والأذى فيكُم فَيَعْمُرونَ قُبورَكُم ويُكثِرونَ زِيارَتَها تَقَرُّباً مِنهُم إلى اللهِ ومَوَدَّةً مِنهم لرَسولِهِ صَلّى اللهُ عَليهِ وآلهِ وسَلَّمَ. أولئِكَ يا عَليُّ المَخصوصونَ بشَفاعَتي والوارِدونَ حَوضي وهُمْ زُوّاري وجيراني غَداً في الجَنَّةِ.
يا عَليُّ، مَن عَمَرَ قُبورَهُم وتَعاهَدَها فَكَأَنمّا أعانَ سُلَيمانَ بنَ داوُدَ عَلى بِناءِ بَيتِ المَقدِسِ، وَمَن زارَ قُبورَهم عَدَلَ ذلِكَ ثوابَ سَبعينَ حِجَّةً بَعدَ حِجَّةِ الإسلامِ وَخَرجَ مِن ذُنوبهِ حَتى يرجِعَ مِن زِيارَتِكُم كَيَومِ وَلَدَتهُ أمُّهُ.
فَأبْشِرْ يا عَليُّ وَبَشِّر أولِيائَكَ وَمحِبِّيك مِن النَّعيمِ بما لا عَينٌ رَأَتْ ولا أُذُنٌ سَمِعَت ولا خَطَرَ عَلى قَلبِ بَشَرٍ. ولكِنَّ حُثالةً مِن الناسِ يُعَيِّرونَ زُوّارَ قُبورِكُم كما تَعَيَّرُ الزّانِيَةُ بزِناها, أولئِك شِرارُ أُمَّتي لا تَنالهُم شَفاعَتي ولا يَرِدونَ حَوضي.
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 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).[218]
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 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 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 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. They, too, are aware of the supplications of those who are far away.[219]
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.”[220]
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 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.”[221]
