During Times of Fear

Zurāra narrates: I asked Imām al-Bāqir^(a), “What do you say about one who performs the ziyārah of your father (i.e. Imām al-Ḥusayn^(a)) while being in a state of apprehension?” Imām^(a) replied, “On the Day of Great Terror Allāh will keep him safe and the angels will receive him. They will give him glad tidings by saying “Do not be afraid or saddened. This is the day of your success.”

Ibn Bukayr narrates: I said to Imām Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq^(a), “I often travel to Arjan and my heart pulls me towards the ziyārah of the grave of your father (Imām al-Ḥusayn^(a)). Yet when I go I feel fear; I dread the rulers, their governors, and their armed men until I return.” Imām^(a) replied, “O’ son of Bukayr! Do you not want Allāh to see you in fear for us? Do you not know that Allāh will shelter under the shade of His throng those who are in fear because of our fear and that al-Ḥusayn^(a) will be speaking to them while under the throne? Do you not know that Allāh will keep them safe from the terrors of the Day of Judgment? They will not be afraid while others will be terrified. And if they become frightened, the angels will calm them and soothe their hearts by giving them glad tidings.”

Muʿāwīya b. Wahab narrates: Imām Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq^(a) said: “O’ Muʿāwīya! Do not neglect performing the ziyārah of the grave of al-Ḥusayn^(a) due to fear. He who abandons the ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a) for any reason will regret it so much that he will wish that his grave was next to him. Do you not desire for Allāh to see you amongst those whom Rasūl Allāh^(s), ʾAmīr al-Muʾminīn^(a), Lady Fāṭima^(a), and the Imāms^(a) pray for? Do you not desire to be amongst those who return with forgiveness for their past sins and do you not desire to return from his ziyārah with seventy years of sins forgiven for you? Do you not desire to be amongst those who will not have any sins about which they will be questioned when they leave this life? Do you not desire to be amongst those whose hands Rasūl Allāh^(s) will shake tomorrow on the Day of Judgment?”

Yunus b. Thabyan narrates: I asked Imām Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq^(a), “May I be sacrificed for you! How should one perform the ziyārah of the grave of al-Ḥusayn^(a) in times which involve taqiyyah?” Imām^(a) replied, “Perform a ghusl in the Euphrates and then wear your most purified clothes. Then pass by the grave and recite: ‘May the blessings of Allāh be upon you, O’ Abū ʿAbd Allāh! May the blessings of Allāh be upon you, O’ Abū ʿAbd Allāh! May the blessings of Allāh be upon you, O’ Abū ʿAbd Allāh!’¹. Imām^(a) then said, “After doing this, your ziyārah is complete.”

Muḥammad b. Muslim narrates: Imām Muḥammad al-Bāqir^(a) asked me, “Do you visit the grave of al-Ḥusayn^(a)?” I replied, “Yes. But I do so in fear and dread.” Imām^(a) replied, “The amount of reward for performing his ziyārah is based upon the amount of fear and apprehension involved. The greater the fear the greater the reward. On the Day of Judgment when people are raised for the Lord of the Worlds, Allāh will make peaceful the hearts of those who performed the ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a) while in fear. Those who go for the ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a) while in fear will return forgiven. The angels send their salutations to them and Rasūl Allāh^(s) will perform their ziyārah and will pray for them. They will return “with Grace and bounty from Allāh: no harm ever touched them: For they followed the good pleasure of Allāh: And Allāh is the Lord of infinite bounties”².