The Angels visit Imām al-Ḥusayn^(a)

Isḥāq b. ʿAmmār narrates: I heard Abū ʿAbd Allāh say: “There is no angel in the heavens or on the earth that does not ask Allāh for permission to perform the Ziyārah of the grave of al-Ḥusayn^(a). There is a continuous assembly of angels descending to perform the Ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a) whilst another is ascending back to the heavens.”

Dāwūd al-Raqee narrates: I heard Abū ʿAbd Allāh say: “Allāh has not created any of the creation greater in number than the angels. Every evening seventy thousand angels descend from the heavens. They perform Ṭawāf¹ around Ka’bah until the dawn. Afterwards they proceed to the grave of ʾAmīr al-Muʾminīn^(a) and give their salām to Him. Then they head to the grave of al-Ḥusayn^(a) and give their salām to him. After which they ascend back to the heavens. Then seventy thousand angels from amongst the day descend from the heavens. They also perform Ṭawāf around Bayt al-Ḥarām until sunset. After they proceed to the grave of ʾAmīr al-Muʾminīn^(a) and give their salām to him. Then they proceed to the grave of al-Ḥusayn^(a) and give their salām to Him. Then they ascend back to the heavens before the nightfall.”

Imām Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq^(a) narrates: “The space between the grave of al-Ḥusayn^(a) and the heavens is always filled with angels who are continuously ascending and descending for his ziyārah.”

Ibn Sinān narrates: I heard Abū ʿAbd Allāh say: “The boundaries of the Ḥaram of al-Ḥusayn^(a) are twenty ells (approximately 45 inches) by twenty ells. This location is a garden from the gardens of paradise. The ascension of the angels begins from here. Every high-ranking angel and prophet who was chosen as a messenger asks Allāh^{( s)} for permission to perform the ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a). There is always an assembly descending from the heavens for his ziyārah and ascending back.”

Isḥāq b. ʿAmmār narrates: I said to Abū ʿAbd Allāh, “May I be sacrificed for you, O’ Son of Rasūl Allāh^(s)! On the night of 'Arafah, I was in Hirah (the burial place of Imām Al-Ḥusayn asws and the surrounding area). I saw three to four thousand handsome and aromatic men wearing clothing of pure white who were praying all through the night. I wanted to go to the grave of al-Ḥusayn^(a), kiss it, and perform prayer there. But I could not reach it due to the large crowd of these men. It was not until after the dawn before I could perform sajda. When I raised my head, I could no longer see any of them.”

Imām^(a) asked me, “Do you know who they were?” I replied, “May I be sacrificed for you! No I do not.”

Imām^(a) replied, “My father narrated to me from his father who said, “Four thousand angels passed by al-Ḥusayn^(a) and ascended to the heavens as he was being martyred. Allāh revealed to them, “O ‘ assembly of angels! You passed by the son of my beloved and the chosen from my creation, Muḥammad^(s). He was being martyred and oppressed yet you did not help him. Descend to the earth and weep by his grave while being disheveled and covered in dust until the Day of Judgment.” Imām^(a) continued, “Now they remain by his grave and will do so until the rising of the Hour.”