- Merits
During Times of Fear
- views4 min read
- Zurāra narrates: I asked Imām Bāqir(a), "What would you say about an individual who visits your father1 in a state of apprehension?" Imām(a) responded, "On the Day of Judgment, such an individual will find solace in Allah's protection, and angels will welcome him. They will bring him the joyful news, declaring, 'Fear not, nor grieve. Today is the day of your triumph.'"
- Ibn Bukayr narrates: I confided to Imām Ṣādiq(a), "Often, I journey to Arjan, and my heart yearns for the ziyārah of your father's grave (i.e. Imām Ḥusayn(a)). Yet, I am gripped by fear during the journey -- a fear of rulers, their governors, and their armed men until my return."
Imām(a) consoled, "O' son of Bukayr! Don't you want Allah to witness your fear for us? Don't you know that Allah will shield under His throne those who fear because of our fear, and Ḥusayn(a) will speak to them beneath that throne? Don't you realise that Allah will safeguard them from the Day of Judgment's horrors? They will remain fearless when others are stricken with terror. And if they feel frightened, the angels will console them and calm their hearts with good tidings."
- Muʿāwīya b. Wahab narrates: Imām Ṣādiq(a) advised, "O' Muʿāwīya! Do not neglect the ziyārah of Ḥusayn's(a) grave out of fear. The person who shuns Ḥusayn's(a) ziyārah for any reason will feel such regret that he will wish his grave was adjacent to him. Don't you yearn for Allah to count you among those for whom The Messenger of Allah(p), Amīr al-Muʼminīn(a), Lady Fāṭima(a), and the Imāms(a) pray? Don't you wish to be among those forgiven for their past sins and return from his ziyārah with a pardon for seventy years' worth of sins? Don't you long to be among those who face no questioning about their sins when they depart this life? Don't you aspire to be among those whose hands The Messenger of Allah(p) will grasp on the Day of Judgment?"
- Yunus b. Thabyan narrates: I asked Imām Ṣādiq(a), "May I be your sacrifice! How should one perform the ziyārah of Ḥusayn's grave during times requiring taqiyyah?" Imām(a) directed, "First, perform a ghusl in the Euphrates and then dress in your most purified clothes. Next, approach the grave and recite, 'May Allah's blessings be upon you, O' Abū ʿAbdillāh, thrice.'2 After doing this, your ziyārah is fulfilled."
- Muḥammad b. Muslim narrates: Imām Bāqir(a) inquired, "Do you visit Ḥusayn's(a) grave?" I acknowledged, "Yes. But I do so in fear and dread." Imām(a) enlightened, "The reward for performing his ziyārah corresponds to the level of fear and apprehension experienced. The greater the fear, the greater the reward. On the Day of Judgment, when people are resurrected before the Lord of the Worlds, Allah will calm the hearts of those who performed the ziyārah of Ḥusayn(a) while in fear. Those who go for Ḥusayn's ziyārah in fear will return absolved. The angels send their salutations to them, and The Messenger of Allah(p) will perform their ziyārah and will pray for them. They will return 'with Grace and bounty from Allah: no harm ever touched them: For they followed the good pleasure of Allah: And Allah is the Lord of boundless bounties.'"3.