Merits

Abū Wahab al-Baṣrī narrates:

I entered Medina and went to Imām al-Ṣādiq^(a) and said, “May I be sacrificed for you! I have come to you but I have not yet performed the ziyārah of ʾAmīr al-Muʾminīn^(a).”

Imām^(a) replied, “How awful! If you were not one of our Shīʿa, then I would not have even acknowledged you. Do you not wish to perform the ziyārah of the one whom Allāh and His angels perform the ziyārah of and the one whose ziyārah the prophets and believers perform?”. I said, “May I be sacrificed for you! I did not know this.”

Imām^(a) said, “Then know that the position of ʾAmīr al-Muʾminīn^(a) with Allāh is higher than all of the Imāms^(a).”

Mufaḍḍal b. ʿUmar narrates:

I went to Abū ʿAbd Allāh¹ and said, ‘I long for Ghari²’. Imām^(a) asked, “Why do you long for it?” I replied, “Because I love ʾAmīr al-Muʾminīn^(a) and I love to perform his ziyārah.”. Imām^(a) asked, “Do you know the merits of performing his ziyārah?” I replied, “No, O son of Allāh’s Messenger! Please inform me.”

Imām^(a) said, “When you desire to perform the ziyārah of ʾAmīr al-Muʾminīn^(a) know that you will be performing the ziyārah of the bones of Adam^(a), the flesh of Noah^(a), and the body of ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib^(a).”
I asked, “Adam^(a) descended in Sarandib in the middle of the day and it is believed his bones were next to Allāh’s sacred house (Kaʿba). How did his bones get to Kūfa?”

Imām^(a) replied, “When Noah^(a) was in the Ark, Allāh^(s) sent revelation to him to go to the Kaʿba and circulate around it for seven days. Noah^(a) did as Allāh ordered. Then he descended into the water from the Ark until the water was up to his knees. He then brought out of the water a coffin, which contained the bones of Adam^(a), and he carried them onto the Ark. He then continued circulating around the Kaʿba for as long as Allāh willed. After he went to Kūfa and stopped his ark inside Masjid al-Kūfa. This is when Allāh ordered the earth, “swallow down your water”³. Then the earth swallowed its water beginning from Masjid al-Kūfa, which is also, where the flood began.

Those who were with Noah^(a) in the ark all went in separate directions. Noah^(a) carried the coffin and buried it in Ghari which is part of the mountain upon which Allāh spoke to Moses^(a), purified Jesus^(a), chose Abraham^(a) as His friend and Muḥammad^(s) as His beloved. Allāh chose that land as the dwelling place of the prophets. I swear by Allāh that from the time of his purified fathers, Adam^(a) and Noah^(a), no one more honourable than ʾAmīr al-Muʾminīn^(a) has lived there. Therefore, when you go to Najaf, perform the ziyārah of the bones of Adam^(a), the flesh of Noah^(a) and the body of ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib^(a). By doing this, you will have performed the ziyārah of the first fathers of Muḥammad^(s) who is the seal of all prophets and of ʿAlī who is the master of all successors. The doors of paradise will be opened for those who perform the ziyārah of ʾAmīr al-Muʾminīn^(a) so do not neglect performing this great act.”⁴

Imām al-Ṣādiq^(a) said:

“Al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī^(a) asked Rasūl Allāh^(s), “O Father! What is the reward for those who perform your ziyārah?” Rasūl Allāh^(s) replied, “O my son! On the day of judgment, it will be obligatory upon me before Allāh to perform the ziyārah of those who performed my ziyārah, either during my life or after I leave this world, and those who performed the ziyārah of your father. And I will absolve them of their sins.”

Imām al-Ṣādiq^(a) said:

"If one performs the ziyārah of ʾAmīr al-Muʾminīn^(a) in such a condition that he believes him to be the Imām whose obedience is compulsory and that he is the immediate successor of the Messenger of Allāh^(s), and he performs this ziyārah without pride and arrogance, the Almighty Allāh would give him the reward of a hundred thousand martyrs. All his past and future sins would be forgiven. On the day of Judgement he would be safe and secure from the difficulties of that day. His accounting would be easy. Angels would welcome him. When he returns after ziyārah, the angels would accompany him till his house. If he falls sick, the angels would visit him, if he dies, the angels would condole him and seek forgiveness for him."