Merits

The Prophets(a) visit Imām Ḥusayn(a)

4 min read
  • Narrated by Isḥāq b. ʿAmmār, he recollects hearing Imām Ṣādiq(a) state: "There is no prophet, whether in heaven or earth, who does not seek Allah's permission to perform ziyārah of Ḥusayn(a). A constant stream of prophets descends from the heavens for his ziyārah, as another ascends back."
  • Narrated by Isḥāq b. ʿAmmār, he recollects hearing Imām Ṣādiq(a) state: "There is no prophet, whether in heaven or earth, who does not seek Allah's permission to perform ziyārah of Ḥusayn(a). A constant stream of prophets descends from the heavens for his ziyārah, as another ascends back."
  • Ḥusayn b. Abū Hamzah Thumali's daughter, narrates an intriguing episode from the twilight years of the Bani Marwān rule. Incognito, he made a pilgrimage to Imām Ḥusayn's holy site, wary of being noticed by the people of Shām. On reaching Karbalā, he sought refuge in the village outskirts until the stroke of midnight, at which point he began his tentative approach towards Imām Ḥusayn's(a) grave.

    Just as he neared his destination, an unknown figure appeared, urging him to retreat, assuring him his pilgrimage had already been accepted. Ḥusayn immediately withdrew out of fear.

    As dawn approached, he initiated his second attempt to reach the grave. However, the mysterious figure intercepted him once more, advising him to postpone his visit yet again. Perplexed, Ḥusayn pleaded, explaining his journey from Kūfa to pay respects and his fear of being discovered by people of Shām.

    The stranger asked him to wait a while longer, revealing that Prophet Mūsā(a) had sought and received divine permission to perform ziyārah of Imām Ḥusayn's(a) grave. Accompanied by seventy thousand angels, they had descended from the heavens and awaited dawn to ascend back. Curious, Ḥusayn inquired about the identity of the messenger, to which he responded that he was an angel tasked with guarding Imām Ḥusayn's(a) grave and praying for forgiveness for his visitors.

    Leaving the vicinity, Ḥusayn found himself in a state of deep confusion. However, at dawn, he returned to the grave. This time, he was not barred from approaching. Paying his respects to Imām Ḥusayn(a), cursing his killers, and offering morning prayers, he quickly retreated, still wary of being spotted by the people of Shām.
  • Ibn Sinān narrates hearing Imām Ṣādiq(a) say: "The sacred boundaries of Ḥusayn b. ʿAlī's(a) Ḥaram1 span twenty ells by twenty ells2. This place, a garden among the gardens of Paradise, serves as the ascension point for angels towards the heavens. Every eminent angel and prophet petitions Allah for the privilege to perform ziyārah of Ḥusayn(a). Perpetually, a group descends from the heavens for this purpose, as another ascends back."
  • Ṣafwān Jamāl shares an intriguing encounter with Imām Ṣādiq(a) when he visited al-Ḥīra3. The Imām asked him, "Do you perform the ziyārah of Ḥusayn(a)?" In response, Ṣafwān asked if the Imām himself did the same. The Imām said, "How could I not, when even Allah himself pays tribute to Ḥusayn(a)? Each Thursday night, Allah descends to him, joined by angels, prophets, successors, Muḥammad(p) - the final Prophet, and us, the last Successors." Ṣafwān then queried if they should also perform the ziyārah on Thursday nights to join this divine congregation. The Imām(a) advised, "Indeed, Ṣafwān! Consistently perform the ziyārah of Ḥusayn(a) every Thursday night, and it shall be recorded for you. What an honour! Indeed, it's a great honour."

Footnotes

  1. Ḥaram (Arabic: حَرَم, Holy Site), is the area surrounding a holy place with a special holiness due to its association with an Islamic sacred concept and therefore is treated differently. ↩

  2. Twenty ells is approximately 22 meters. ↩

  3. Al-Ḥīra (Arabic: الحيرة) was an ancient city in Mesopotamia located south of what is now Kūfa in south-central Iraq. ↩