Things which are Makrūh

Imām Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq^(a) narrates: “I have been told there are some who go for the ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a) whilst carrying different kinds of food with them, including akhbisah¹ and other similar desserts. However, they would never have gone to the graves of their loved ones whilst carrying any of these things.”

Abū al-Maḍā narrates: Imām Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq^(a) asked me, “Do you go to the grave of Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Ḥusayn^(a)?”

I replied, “Yes.”

Imām^(a) said, “Do you take different kinds of food with you?”

I replied, “Yes.”

Imām^(a) said, “If you were going to the graves of your own fathers and mothers, you would never do a thing such as this.”

I asked, “Then what should we eat?” Imām^(a) replied, “Bread and milk.”

Abū al-Maḍā added, “ʿAbd al-Karīm b. `Amr narrated the he said to Imām Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq^(a), “May I be sacrificed for you! Some people perform the ziyārah of the grave of al-Ḥusayn^(a) and take delicious foods with them.”

Imām^(a) said, “If they were going to the graves of their own mothers and fathers, they would have never done a thing such as this.”

Imām Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq^(a) narrates: “I have been informed some of the people who go for the ziyārah of Al-Ḥusayn b. ʿAlī^(a) are carrying with them various kinds of food including akhbisah and other similar desserts. Alas! they would never take such things with them to visit the graves of their loved ones.”

Imām Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq^(a) narrates: “Performing the ziyārah of Imām al-Ḥusayn^(a) is better than not performing it. But there are occasions when it is better to not perform his ziyārah than to perform it.” I exclaimed, “You broke my back!” Imām^(a) replied, “By Allāh! When you go to the graves of your fathers you are saddened and grief-stricken but when you go for the ziyārah of al-Ḥusayn^(a) you carry various kinds of food with you. No! It is better for you to not go unless you go while being disheveled and covered with dust.”