Merits

Abū Wahab Baṣrī narrates: Upon arriving in Medina, I sought out Imām Ṣādiq^(a) and exclaimed, "I've come to see you before performing the ziyārah of Amīr al-Muʼminīn^(a)."
Imām^(a) expressed his disappointment, saying, "Such a grave oversight! Had you not been one of our Shīʿa, I wouldn't have accepted your presence. Don't you desire to perform ziyārah to the one whom Allah, His angels, prophets, and believers honour with their ziyārah?" Caught off guard, I replied, "May I be sacrificed for you! I wasn't aware of this significance." The Imām^(a) imparted his wisdom, stating, "Bear in mind that Amīr al-Muʼminīn^(a) holds a position of greater esteem than all other Imāms^(a) in the eyes of Allah."

Mufaḍḍal b. ʿUmar narrates an enlightening encounter: "I approached Imām Ṣādiq^(a), expressing my yearning for Gharī¹." Imām^(a) curiously inquired, "What prompts this longing?" To which I replied, "My affection for Amīr al-Muʼminīn^(a) and my desire to perform his ziyārah."
Imām^(a) asked, "Are you aware of the profound significance of performing his ziyārah?" I confessed my ignorance, requesting the Imām^(a) to enlighten me.
The Imām^(a) explained, "When you undertake the ziyārah of Amīr al-Muʼminīn^(a), you essentially honour the remains of Adam^(a), the lineage of Noah^(a), and the legacy of ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib^(a)."
Perplexed, I asked, "Adam^(a) is believed to have descended in Sarandib and his remains resided next to Allah's sacred house (Kaʿba). How did his bones reach Kūfa?"
Imām^(a) unraveled the narrative, "During the flood, Allah instructed Noah^(a) to circumnavigate the Kaʿba seven times. Obediently, Noah^(a) immersed himself in the floodwater, reaching knee-depth. He then retrieved a coffin bearing the remains of Adam^(a) and loaded it onto the Ark. Afterward, he resumed his circumambulation of the Kaʿba, which continued as long as Allah decreed. Upon reaching Kūfa, he anchored the Ark at Kūfa mosque. This was when Allah ordered the Earth to absorb the floodwaters, beginning at Kūfa mosque - the same site where the deluge originated.
As the flood receded, the Ark's inhabitants scattered in different directions. Noah^(a) transported the coffin to Ghari and buried it there - a part of the mountain where Allah had interacted with Moses^(a), sanctified Jesus^(a), embraced Abraham^(a) as a friend, and held Muḥammad^(p) dear. This land has been chosen as the abode of the prophets. I assure you, since the time of Adam^(a) and Noah^(a), no one more distinguished than Amīr al-Muʼminīn^(a) has resided there.
Thus, when you visit Najaf, consider it as a ziyārah to the bones of Adam^(a), the lineage of Noah^(a), and the legacy of ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib^(a). By doing so, you honour the earliest forefathers of Muḥammad^(p) - the seal of prophets, and ʿAlī - the master of successors. The gates of paradise will swing open for those who undertake the ziyārah of Amīr al-Muʼminīn^(a). Never underestimate this profound act."

Imām Ṣādiq^(a) said: "Ḥasan b. ʿAlī^(a) once inquired from Rasūl Allah^(p), 'Dear Father, what rewards await those who perform your ziyārah?' Rasūl Allah^(p) replied, 'My son, on the Day of Judgment, I am obliged before Allah to reciprocate the honour to those who performed my ziyārah, either during my lifetime or after I've departed from this world, as well as those who have performed ziyārah of your father. And I shall seek forgiveness for their sins."

Imām Ṣādiq^(a) said: "If one performs ziyārah of Amīr al-Muʼminīn^(a), believing him to be the righteous Imām whose obedience is obligatory and accepting him as the immediate successor to the Messenger of Allah^(p), and does this without pride or arrogance, Allah in His magnificence will reward him with the merit of a hundred thousand martyrs. All past and future misdeeds shall be forgiven. On the Day of Judgment, he will find refuge from its hardships. His account of deeds will be simplified. He will be greeted by the angels. Upon returning from ziyārah, he will be escorted by angels to his home. If he falls ill, the angels shall visit him, and in the event of his death, the angels will mourn him and pray for his forgiveness."

Al-Ghari or al-Ghariyyan are other names for Najaf ↩

Footnotes