Imam al-Husain Ibn Ali (PBUH), the Chief of Martyrs, was the grandson of the Prophet (PBUH&HF) and the third divinely appointed guide after him. He, along with 18 members of his family and relatives as well as 72 faithful companions, was slain while thirsty on the lands of Karbala, Iraq on the tenth of Muharram (known as Day of Ashura) in the year 61 AH (680 AD) by the brutal army of Yazid in an inequitable and imposed battle. Since then, his place of martyrdom has been the visiting place for the lovers of Ahl al-Bait (PBUT) who struggle to reach there enduring all the hardships and barriers placed before them. They come to his shrine to show their love and respect, honor his sacrifice, renew their covenant, pledge themselves to his goals, and follow the Prophet’s advice about him.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِاللَّهِ (ص)، وَ الْحَسَنُ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ (ع) عَلَىفَخِذِهِ يَلْثِمُهُمَا وَ يَقُولُ: اللَّهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالاَهُمَا وَعَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُمَا. ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ كَأنَّنِيأنْظُرُ شَيْبَةَ ابْنِيَ الْحُسَيْنِ تُخْضَبُ مِنْ دَمِه،ِ يَدْعُوفَلاَ يُجَابُ وَ يَسْتَنْصِرُ فَلاَ يُنْصَرُ. قُلْتُ: وَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ: شِرَارُ أُمَّتِي لاَ أنَالَهُمُ اللَّهُ شَفَاعَتِي.ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ مَنْ زَارَهُ عَارِفاً بِحَقِّهِ كَتَبَاللَّهُ لَهُ ثَوَابَ ألْفِ حَجَّةٍ وَ ألْفِ عُمْرَةٍ. ألاَ وَ مَنْزَارَهُ فَقَدْ زَارَنِي وَ مَنْ زَارَنِي فَكَأنَّمَا قَدْ زَارَ اللَّهَوَ حَقُّ الزَّائِرِ عَلَى اللَّهِ أنْ لاَ يُعَذِّبَهُ بِالنَّارِ. ألاَوَ إنَّ الإِْجَابَةَ تَحْتَ قُبَّتِهِ وَ الشِّفَاءَ فِي تُرْبَتِهِ وَالأَْئِمَّةَ (ع) مِنْ وُلْدِهِ‏. ... يا ابنَ عَبّاس وِلايَتُهُموِلايَتي وَ وِلايَتي وِلايَةُ اللهِ، وَ حَربُهُم حَربي وَ حَربي حَربُاللهِ، وَ سِلمُهُم سِلمي وَ سِلمي سِلمُ اللهِ. ثم قال (ص): يُرِيدُونَلِيُطْفِؤُا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأفْواهِهِمْ وَ يَأْبَى اللَّهُ إلاَّ أنْيُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْكافِرُونَ.

I came to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) and saw al-Hasan (PBUH)on his shoulder and al-Husain (PBUH) on his thigh; the Prophet(PBUH&HF) was kissing them saying, “O Allah befriend him whobefriends them and be hostile to him who is hostile to them.” Then he(PBUH&HF) said, “O Ibn Abbas! It is as if I see the beard of my sonal-Husain dyed with his blood, calling people but is not beinganswered, asking for help but is not being helped.” I asked, “Who willdo this?” He replied, “The wicked of my nation. May Allah deny them myintercession!” He then continued, “O Ibn Abbas! He who visits him whilerecognizing his rights, Allah shall write for him the reward of 1000Hajj and 1000 Umra. Behold! He who visits him has indeed visited me,and he who visits me, it is as if he has visited Allah. And the rightof the visitor of Allah over Him (1) is that He shall not punish him byFire. Behold! Answering (of supplications) is guaranteed under the domeof his grave, cure is placed in the soil of his place (of martyrdom),and the (succeeding) Imams (PBUT) are from his progeny… O Ibn Abbas!Their Wilaya is my Wilaya, which is the Wilaya of Allah. Fighting themis fighting me, which is fighting Allah. Making peace with them ismaking peace with me, which is making peace with Allah. He(PBUH&HF) then recited: ‘Their intention is to put out the light ofAllah with their mouths; but Allah will complete His light, even thoughthe disbelievers may detest.’ (61:8)” (2)
The Ahl al-Bait (PBUT) put great emphasis on Ziyarat of the Chief ofthe Martyrs (PBUH) and urged their followers to it. In this manner,they kept alive the two important principles of faith, which are tolove the friends of Allah (Tawalli) and to disassociate from theirenemies (Tabarri).
What follows is a brief presentation of the importance and benefits ofvisiting Imam al-Husain (PBUH) while recognizing him as an Imam whoseobedience is obligatory, as mentioned in the traditions. For the sakeof brevity, references are given only from Kamil al-Ziyarat, compiledby Ja’far Ibn Quliwayh al-Qummi (d. 368 AH), which is one of theearliest reliable texts specifically dedicated to this issue. (3) Mostof these precious traditions are also found in other reliablecollections of the traditions, including the four major books of Hadith:
1- Visiting Imam al-Husain (PBUH) is the sign of love for Ahl al-Bait(PBUT). Whoever loves Ahl al-Bait (PBUT) should aspire to visit thegrave of al-Husain (PBUH). One who does not visit Imam al-Husain(PBUH), is deficient in faith, and if he ever enters Paradise, his rankwill be below the rank of believers in Paradise. (4)
2- When Allah intends goodness for a servant, He places love of al-Husain (PBUH) and love of visiting him in his heart. (5)
3- According to several traditions, Ziyarat of Imam al-Husain (PBUH) is the best deed. (6)
4- If a wretched person performs the Ziyarat of Imam al-Husain (PBUH),felicity shall be written for him, and he shall be continuouslyimmersed in the blessings of Allah. (7)
5- He who wishes to look towards Allah (8) on the Day of Judgment, berelieved from the agony of death, and pass the stops of the Day ofJudgment with ease, should go for visitation of the grave of the Chiefof Martyrs (PBUH) frequently. (9)
6- The Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) will embrace the visitors of Imam al-Husain (PBUH) on the Day of Judgment. (10)
7- By performing the Ziyarat of the Chief of the Martyrs (PBUH), onehas made/observed a relationship with the Messenger of Allah(PBUH&HF) and the guiding Imams (PBUT). The requests of the pilgrimat his grave are fulfilled, his supplications are answered, sooner orlater, and what the pilgrim had left behind is protected. (11)
8- On the Day of Judgment, the visitors of Imam al-Husain (PBUH) willbe seated on tables of light. Because of what Allah will grant them interms of endless dignity and honor, none will be on the Day of Judgmentexcept that he would wish to have been a pilgrim to the grave of Imamal-Husain (PBUH). They shall be around heavenly tables with the Prophet(PBUH&HF), Lady Fatima (PBUH), and the Imams (PBUT) while peopleare held in reckoning. (12)
9- On the Day of Judgment, the Leader of the Faithful (PBUH) willcommand the bridge (al-Sirat) over Hell to yield to the visitors ofImam al-Husain (PBUH), and will command the fire (surrounding it) tohold back its scorching heat before them until they pass it with anAngel accompanying them. (13)
10- If people know what Allah has placed in the visitation of the graveof Imam al-Husain (PBUH) in terms of excellence, they would die out ofeagerness, and their breath would stop with a sigh. (14)
11- The Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF), Lady Fatima (PBUH), and theImams (PBUT) pray to Allah for forgiveness of the visitors of Imamal-Husain (PBUH). (15)
12- The Angels pray to Allah for their forgiveness, welcome theirarrival, accompany them in their departure, visit their sick, attendtheir funeral prayers whenever they die, continue to pray for themafter their death, and open for them a gate to Paradise in theirgraves. (16)
13- Allah has appointed 70,000 Angels around the blessed grave of theChief of the Martyrs (PBUH), who stay there until the Day of Judgmentand perform prayers; each of their prayers is equal to 1000 prayers ofhuman beings. The rewards and merits of these prayers are offered tothe visitors of Imam al-Husain (PBUH). (17)
14- The Angels cover the pilgrims with their wings in such a way that they feel the blessings of their presence. (18)
15- For each day that a pilgrim resides in that sacred place, the reward of 1000 months (of worship) is written for him. (19)
16- If the pilgrim is killed by a transgressor on his way to Ziyarat ofImam al-Husain (PBUH), for the first drop of his blood, all hismistakes shall be forgiven. The Angels shall wash his character,cleansing and purifying it of the impurities merged in it from thecharacteristics of the people of disbelief, until it becomes pure likethe purity of the immaculate prophets (PBUT), and they shall cleansehis heart and broaden his chest. He shall be rewarded with the right tointercede for his family and 1000 of his friends. His grave shall bewidened and illuminated. The Angels shall bring gifts for him fromParadise. On the Day of Judgment, the first people to embrace him shallbe the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) and his executors (PBUH). (20)
17- If the pilgrim is detained on his way to Ziyarat of Imam al-Husain(PBUH), for each day of his captivity and distress, he shall havecertain happiness (in this world and after his death) until the Day ofJudgment. For any pain that his body receives, one million good deedsare written for him and one million evil deeds are removed from hisrecord. On the Day of Judgment, He shall be able to speak with theMessenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) until he is discharged from reckoning.The carriers of the throne shall embrace him and shall tell him, “Askfor what you wish.” On the other hand, the person that has harmed himshall be taken to Hell without questioning and reckoning, and Allah’srequital and His punishment for him shall be shown to whom he hadharmed. (21)
18- A pilgrim who goes to Ziyarat of Imam al-Husain (PBUH) in a stateof fear and insecurity, he or she shall receive security on the day ofgreat terror (22),  and shall be under the shadow of the throne on thatday. He shall return from the Ziyarat forgiven and covered with mercy.The Angels shall greet him and the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF)shall receive him and shall pray for him. (23)
19- If a person comes to Ziyarat of the Chief of the Martyrs (PBUH) byship, and the ship sinks and he is drowned, a caller will call from theheaven, giving him glad tidings of Paradise. (24)
20- For a single penny that the one gives as charity during the Ziyaratjourney, or pays to accommodate the journey of a visitor of Imamal-Husain (PBUH), Allah shall grant him 10,000 bounties. As per anotherHadith, Allah shall write for him good deeds to the extent of the mountof Uhud, and shall reimburse the money he has spent many fold. (25)
21- For each footstep of one who goes to Ziyarat of Imam al-Husain(PBUH) on foot, Allah, the mighty and the majestic, writes a good deedfor him and removes a sin from his record. When he reaches thesanctified place, Allah will write him amongst the prosperous. (26)
22- He who ritually rinses his body (Ghusl) in the Euphrates (al-Furat)intending the Ziyarat of the Chief of the Martyrs (PBUH), will be freeof sins (27) like the day he was born. (28)
23- He who sets out for the Ziyarat of Imam al-Husain (PBUH) leavesbehind his sins on the door of his house like a person who crosses abridge. He returns to his family while all his burdens and faults havebeen wiped out from his record. His sustenance increases, and Allahsuffices him from what he is concerned about the affairs of his worldlylife. No distressed one goes there, except that Allah returns himdelighted. (29)
24- When the pilgrim intends to leave the sacred place of Imamal-Husain (PBUH), a heavenly caller will call, and were it possible forthe pilgrim to hear his voice, he would stay beside the grave of theImam (PBUH) forever. The caller states, “Blessedness (Tuba) (30) is foryou O servant! Indeed, you profited, are saved (from Hell), and areforgiven for the past (sins). Thus, resume (good) deeds.” (31)
25- Numerous traditions confirm that he who visits the grave ofal-Husain (PBUH) believing that he is an Imam assigned by Allah andthat his obedience is obligatory, Allah shall forgive his past andfuture sins. (32) In one of many traditions that convey this, Imamal-Sadiq (PBUH) swore by the name of Allah three times when statingthis fact. (33)
26- He who wishes to personally own a palace in Paradise, should visitthe grave of Imam al-Husain (PBUH). He who dies while he has notvisited Imam al-Husain (PBUH) (due to negligence) is not a true Shia,and even if he is admitted to Paradise due to his love for the Ahlal-Bait (PBUT), he will dwell there as a guest of the people ofParadise. (34)
27- Visiting the grave of the Chief of the Martyrs (PBUH) will increaseone’s sustenance, prolongs one’s life, and repels the cannons of evil.On the other hand, avoiding it will decrease one’s natural lifetime and(spiritual) sustenance. (35)
28- On the Day of Judgment, the visitor of Imam al-Husain (PBUH) willbe allowed to intercede for 100 people of his choice even if for all ofwhom Hell had been necessitated, except for a Nasibi (36) because noone can intercede for a Nasibi. (37)
29- Any number of pilgrimages to the House of Allah in Mecca, with allits due importance, cannot replace the Ziyarat of Imam al-Husain(PBUH). One who performs the pilgrimage to Mecca yearly, yet does notvisit al-Husain (PBUH), has indeed neglected one of the rights of Allahand His Messenger, because performing it is a duty (38) for everycapable believing man and woman. (39)
The excellence of the reward of the Ziyarat of Imam al-Husain (PBUH) isso much so that even some of the lovers of Ahl al-Bait (PBUT) who livedduring their lifetime could not digest the traditions in this regard.Dharih al-Muharibi narrated:

عَن ذَريحِ المُحارِبي قالَ: قُلتُ لِأبي عَبدِ اللهِ ع ما ألقى مِنقَوْمي وَ مِن بَني إذا أنا أخبرَتُهُم بِما في إتيانِ قَبرِ الحُسَينِ(ع) مِنَ الخَيرِ إنّهم يُكَذِّبوني وَ يَقولونَ إنَّكَ تَكذِبُ عَلىجَعفَرِ بنِ مُحمدٍ. قال: يا ذَريح دَعِ النّاسَ يَذهَبونَ حَيثُ شاءُوا.و اللهِ إنّ الله لَيُباهي بِزائرِ الحُسينِ وَ الوافِدُ يَفِدُهُالملائِكَةُ المقرّبونَ وَ حَمَلةُ عَرشِهِ حَتّى أنه لَيَقولُ لَهم: أ ماتَرَوْنَ زُوّارَ قَبرِ الحُسَينِ، أتَوهُ شَوقاً إليهِ وَ إلى فاطِمةَبِنتِ رَسولِ الله أما وَ عِزَّتي وَ جَلالي وَ عَظَمَتي لَأوجِبَنَّلَهُم كَرامَتي وَ لَأُدخِلَنَّهُم جَنَّتيَ الَّتي أعدَدتُها لِأَولِيائيوَ لِأنبِيائي وَ رُسُلي. يا مَلائِكَتي هؤلاءِ زُوّارُ الحُسينِ حَبيبِمُحمّدٍ رَسولي. وَ مُحمّدٌ حَبيبي وَ مَن أحَبَّني أحَبَّ حَبيبي وَ مَنأحَبَّ حَبيبي أحَبَّ مَن يُحِبّهُ. وَ مَن أبغَضَ حَبيبي أبغَضَني. وَمَن أبغَضَني كانَ حَقّاً عَلَيَّ أن أُعَذِّبَهُ بِأشَدِّ عَذابي، وَأُحرِقَهُ بِحَرِّ ناري، وَ أجعَلَ جَهَنَّمَ مَسكَنَهُ وَ مَأواهُ، وَأُعَذِّبَهُ عَذاباً لا أُعَذِّبَهُ أحَداً مِنَ العالمَينَ.‏

I said to Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH), “When I narrate to my folks and familysome of the rewards of the pilgrimage to the grave of al-Husain (PBUH),they deny my narrations, and say that I am associating lies to Ja’farIbn Muhammad (PBUH).” The Imam (PBUH) replied, “O Dharih! Let peoplebelieve what they want. By Allah! Allah recounts His glory (to theAngels) for having servants who are visitors of al-Husain (PBUH). Whena new pilgrim arrives, the favored Angels and the carriers of thethrone receive him. Allah tells them, ‘Don’t you see the pilgrims ofthe grave of al-Husain (PBUH) who have come to him eagerly, and in lovefor him and for Fatima, the daughter of Allah’s Messenger? By My might,majesty, and glory, I shall certainly make incumbent My honor for them,and shall surely enter them to My Paradise that I have prepared for Myfriends, Prophets, and Messengers. O My Angels! These are the visitorsof al-Husain (PBUH), the beloved of Muhammad (PBUH&HF), MyMessenger, and Muhammad (PBUH&HF) is My beloved. Whoever loves Me,should love My beloved, and whoever loves My beloved, should love whomhe loves. He who hates My beloved, has hated Me, and he who hates Me,it is My right to make him suffer with My severest torment, burn himwith the heat of My fire, make Hell his abode, and torment him with apunishment that I have not punished anyone with in the worlds.’” (40)

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