The Prophets^(a) visit Imām al-Ḥusayn^(a)

Isḥāq b. ʿAmmār narrates: “I heard Abū ʿAbd Allāh say: “There is no prophet in the heavens or on the earth who does not ask Allāh for permission to perform the ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a). There is always an assembly of prophets descending from the heavens going for his ziyārah while another assembly is ascending back to the heavens.”

Al-Ḥusayn son of Abū Hamzah Thumali’s daughter narrates: “Towards the end of the reign of Bani Marwān, I went to the Ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a) whilst trying to hide from the people of Shām. When I arrived in Karbalā, I hid in the suburbs of the village until midnight. After which I began to approach the grave of Al-Ḥusayn^(a). When I was near to the grave, someone came towards me and said, “Return for you have already been rewarded. You will not be able to go to Him now.”

I immediately left out of fear. Then I waited for the dawn and once again began to approach the grave of al-Ḥusayn^(a). When I was near to the grave, again the same person came to me and said, “O’ man! You still may not go to Him.”

So I asked, “May Allāh keep you well! Why can I not go to Him? I have come from Kūfa for his ziyārah. Do not prevent me from doing so. I fear the sun will rise and if the people of Shām find me here, they will surely kill me.”

He replied, “Then wait for awhile for Mūsā b. Imran^(a) has asked Allāh for permission to perform the ziyārah of the grave of al-Ḥusayn^(a) and Allāh has granted His request. Mūsā^(a) descended from the heavens with seventy thousand angels and they have been here since the beginning of the night. They are waiting for dawn. At which time they’ll ascend to the heavens.” I asked, “May Allāh keep you well, who are you?” He replied, “I am one of the angels ordered with the protection of the grave of al-Ḥusayn^(a) and to seek the forgiveness of those who perform the Ziyārah of His grave.” So I left whilst being in a grave state of confusion. At dawn I returned back to the grave. This time I was not stopped. I went to the grave and bade Salam to al-Ḥusayn^{( a)}, sent lanat on His killers, prayed the fajr prayers and returned quickly due to my fear from the people of Shām.”

Ibn Sinān narrates: I heard Abū ʿAbd Allāh say: “The limits of the Ḥaram¹ of al-Ḥusayn b. ʿAlī^(a) are twenty ells (approximately 45 inches) by twenty ells. This location is a garden from the gardens of Jannah. The ascent of the angels towards the heavens begins from here. Every high-ranking angel and every prophet who was chosen as a messenger asks Allāh for permission to perform the ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a). There is an ever present crowd that is descending from the heavens to perform His ziyārah while another is ascending back to the heavens.”

Ṣafwān al-Jamāl narrates: When Abū ʿAbd Allāh came to Hirah, He asked me, “Do you perform the ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a)?” I replied, “May I be sacrificed for you! Do you also perform his ziyārah?” Imām^(a) replied, “How could I not perform his ziyārah when Allāh himself performs his ziyārah? Every Thursday night, Allāh descends to him with the angels, the prophets, the successors, and with Muḥammad^(s), the seal of the Prophets, and with us, the seal of the Successors.” I asked, “May I be sacrificed for you! Then should we also perform his ziyārah on Thursday nights so that we could be included with those who accompany the Lord in performing his ziyārah?” Imām^(a) replied, “Yes! O’ Ṣafwān! Remain committed to performing the ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a) every Thursday night so that it shall be recorded for you. What a privilege this is! What a privilege it is!”