One’s Behaviour during Ziyārah

Muḥammad b. Muslim narrates: I asked Imām Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq^(a), “When we go for the ziyārah of your father Imām al-Ḥusayn^(a), are we in Ḥajj?”

Imām^(a) replied, “Yes.”

I asked, “Then does that which applies to those in Ḥajj apply to us?”

Imām^(a) asked, “To what are you referring?” I replied, “The behavior of those at Ḥajj.”

Imām^(a) said, “You should be a good companion to those who accompany you, speak less and say on that which is good, mention Allāh to a great extent, wear purified clothes, perform ghusl before going to al-Ḥāʾir¹, be humble, perform prayers often, send blessings on Muḥammad^(s) and his household^(a), be honorable by not taking that which does not belong to you, refrain from looking at that which is forbidden, help your brothers in need and give them solace, and act in accordance with taqiyyah which is a pillar of your religion. You should abstain from that which is forbidden, from fighting, from swearing oaths, and from quarrels that lead to the swearing of oaths. If you follow this which I have mentioned, your Ḥajj and ʿUmrah will be complete. And by doing this you will earn the forgiveness, the mercy, and pleasure of Allāh whose blessings you have sought by spending money during your journey, by being away from your family, and by having the desire to perform the ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a).”

Mufaḍḍal b. 'Umar narrates: Imām Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq^(a) said, “Performing ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a) is better than not performing it, but there are times when it is better for you that you do not perform the ziyārah than for you to perform it.”

I said, “You broke my back!”

Imām^(a) said, “By Allāh! You people go to the graves of your own fathers filled with sorrow and grief, but when you go for his ziyārah, you carry various kinds of foods with you. No! It is better for you to not go to him unless you go disheveled and covered with dust.”

Imām Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq^(a) narrates: “When you want to perform the ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a), do so while being sorrowful, heartbroken, grief-stricken, disheveled, covered with dust, hungry, and thirsty. For al-Ḥusayn^(a) was martyred while being sorrowful, heartbroken, grief-stricken, disheveled, covered with dust, hungry and thirsty. After you perform his ziyārah, ask him for your needs and then leave. Do not settle in Karbalā.”