Kunniyat : Abu al-Hasan | Laqab (Title): Al-Kazim
Birth: at Madinah on 7th Safar 129 A.H.
Martyrdom Poisoned after imprisonment for 19 years by Harun al-Rashid 25th Rajab 183 A.H.
Shrine-Kazimiyyah near Baghdad in Iraq
Father- Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as)
Mother: Hamidah al-Barbariyyah
Daughter- Lady Masooma Qom
Son- Imam Ali Reza (as)
If visiting: You may then stop in front of the holy tomb, making the kiblah direction and say the following :
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ولِيَّ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنَ وَلِيِّهِ
alssalamu `alayka ya waliyya allahi wabna waliyyihi
Peace be upon you, O Allah’s intimate servant and son of His intimate servant.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حُجَّةَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنَ حُجَّتِهِ
alssalamu `alayka ya hujjata allahi wabna hujjatihi
Peace be upon you, O Allah’s argument and son of His argument.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا صَفِيَّ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنَ صَفِيِّهِ
alssalamu `alayka ya safiyya allahi wabna safiyyihi
Peace be upon you, O Allah’s choice and son of His choice.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا امِينَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنَ امينِهِ
alssalamu `alayka ya amina allahi wabna aminihi
Peace be upon you, O Allah’s trustee and son of His trustee.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا نُورَ ٱللَّهِ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ ٱلارْضِ
alssalamu `alayka ya nura allahi fi zulumati al-ardi
Peace be upon you, O Allah’s light in the darkness of the earth.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا إِِمَامَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ
alssalamu `alayka ya imama alhuda
Peace be upon you, O leader to the true guidance.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا عَلَمَ ٱلدِّينِ وَٱلتُّقَىٰ
alssalamu `alayka ya `alama alddini walttuqa
Peace be upon you, O signpost of religiousness and piety.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا خَازِنَ عِلْمِ ٱلنَّبِيِّينَ
alssalamu `alayka ya khazina `ilmi alnnabiyyina
Peace be upon you, O keeper of the knowledge of the Prophets.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا خَازِنَ عِلْمِ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
alssalamu `alayka ya khazina `ilmi almursalina
Peace be upon you, O keeper of the knowledge of the Messengers.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا نَائِبَ ٱلاوْصِيَاءِ ٱلسَّابِقِينَ
alssalamu `alayka ya na'iba al-awsiya'i alssabiqina
Peace be upon you, O deputy of the preceding Successors (of the Prophets).
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا مَعْدِنَ ٱلْوَحْي ِٱلْمُبِينِ
alssalamu `alayka ya ma`dina alwahyi almubini
Peace be upon you, O essence of the manifest Revelation.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا صَاحِبَ ٱلْعِلْمِ ٱلْيَقِينِ
alssalamu `alayka ya sahiba al`ilmi alyaqini
Peace be upon you, O holder of the certain knowledge.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا عَيْبَةَ عِلْمِ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
alssalamu `alayka ya `aybata `ilmi almursalina
Peace be upon you, O case of the knowledge of the Messengers.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ ايُّهَا ٱلإِمَامُ ٱلصَّالِحُ
alssalamu `alayka ayyuha al-imamu alssalihu
Peace be upon you, O righteous leader.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ ايُّهَا ٱلإِمَامُ ٱلزَّاهِدُ
alssalamu `alayka ayyuha al-imamu alzzahidu
Peace be upon you, O ascetic leader.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ ايُّهَا ٱلإِمَامُ ٱلْعَابِدُ
alssalamu `alayka ayyuha al-imamu al`abidu
Peace be upon you, O oft-worshipping leader.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ ايُّهَا ٱلإِمَامُ ٱلسَّيِّدُ ٱلرَّشِيدُ
alssalamu `alayka ayyuha al-imamu alssayyidu alrrashidu
Peace be upon you, O prudent leader and chief.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ ايُّهَا ٱلْمَقْتُولُ ٱلشَّهِيدُ
alssalamu `alayka ayyuha almaqtulu alshshahidu
Peace be upon you, O slain and martyred.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنَ وَصِيِّهِ
alssalamu `alayka yabna rasuli allahi wabna wasiyyihi
Peace be upon you, O son of Allah’s Messenger and son of his successor.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا مَوْلاَيَ مُوسَىٰ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ
alssalamu `alayka ya mawlaya musa bna ja`farin
Peace be upon you, O my master Musa son of Ja`far.
وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
wa rahmatu allahi wa barakatuhu
Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.
اشْهَدُ انَّكَ قَدْ بَلَّغْتَ عَنِ ٱللَّهِ مَا حَمَّلَكَ
ashhadu annaka qad ballaghta `an allahi ma hammalaka
I bear witness that you conveyed faithfully that which Allah ordered You to convey,
وَحَفِظْتَ مَا ٱسْتَوْدَعَكَ
wa hafizta ma istawda`aka
safeguarded that which He entrusted with you,
وَحَلَّلْتَ حَلاَلَ ٱللَّهِ
wa hallalta halala allahi
decided as lawful all that which Allah has deemed lawful,
وَحَرَّمْتَ حَرَامَ ٱللَّهِ
wa harramta harama allahi
decided as unlawful all that which Allah has deemed unlawful,
وَاقَمْتَ احْكَامَ ٱللَّهِ
wa aqamta ahkama allahi
carried out the decrees of Allah,
وَتَلَوْتَ كِتَابَ ٱللَّهِ
wa talawta kitaba allahi
recited the Book of Allah,
وَصَبَرْتَ عَلَىٰ ٱلاذَىٰ فِي جَنْبِ ٱللَّهِ
wa sabarta `ala al-adha fi janbi allahi
endured harm for the sake of Allah,
وَجَاهَدْتَ فِي ٱللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ
wa jahadta fi allahi haqqa jihadihi
and strove in the way of Allah as it ought to be striven
حَتَّىٰ اتَاكَ ٱلْيَقِينُ
hatta ataka alyaqinu
until death came upon you.
وَاشْهَدُ انَّكَ مَضَيْتَ
wa ashhadu annaka madayta
I also bear witness that you passed away
عَلَىٰ مَا مَضَىٰ عَلَيْهِ آبَاؤُكَ ٱلطَّاهِرُونَ
`ala ma mada `alayhi aba'uka alttahiruna
carrying the same principles on which your immaculate fathers
وَاجْدَادُكَ ٱلطَّيِّبُونَ
wa ajdaduka alttayyibuna
and pure forefathers
ٱلاوْصِيَاءُ ٱلْهَادُونَ
al-awsiya'u alhaduna
the successors, guides,
ٱلائِمَّةُ ٱلْمَهْدِيُّونَ
al-a'immatu almahdiyyuna
leaders, and rightly guided ones passed away.
لَمْ تُؤْثِرْ عَمىًٰ عَلَىٰ هُدىًٰ
lam tu'thir `aman `ala hudan
You never preferred blindness to true guidance
وَلَمْ تَمِلْ مِنْ حَقٍّ إِلَىٰ بَاطِلٍ
wa lam tamil min haqqin ila batilin
and never slanted from right to wrong.
وَاشْهَدُ انَّكَ نَصَحْتَ لِلَّهِ
wa ashhadu annaka nasahta lillahi
I also bear witness that you acted sincerely to Allah,
وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلاِمِيـرِ ٱلْمُؤمِنِينَ
wa lirasulihi wa li'amiri almu'minina
to His Messenger, and to the Commander of the Faithful,
وَانَّكَ ادَّيْتَ ٱلامَانَةَ
wa annaka addayta al-amanata
fulfilled the trust,
وَٱجْتَنَبْتَ ٱلْخِيَانَةَ
wajtanabta alkhiyanata
avoided betrayal,
وَاقَمْتَ ٱلصَّلاَةَ
wa aqamta alssalata
performed the prayers,
وَآتَيْتَ ٱلزَّكَاةَ
wa atayta alzzakata
defrayed the poor-rate,
وَامَرْتَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ
wa amarta bilma`rufi
enjoined the right,
وَنَهَيْتَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنْكَرِ
wa nahayta `an almunkari
forbade the evil,
وَعَبَدْتَ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصاً
wa `abadta allaha mukhlisan
and served Allah earnestly
مُجْتَهِداً مُحْتَسِباً
mujtahidan muhtasiban
and painstakingly, expecting His reward,
حَتَّىٰ اتَاكَ ٱلْيَقِيـنُ
hatta ataka alyaqinu
until death came upon you.
فَجَزَاكَ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلإِسْلاَمِ وَاهْلِهِ
fajazaka allahu `an al-islami wa ahlihi
So, may Allah reward you on behalf of Islam and its people
افْضَلَ ٱلْجَزَاءِ وَاشْرَفَ ٱلْجَزَاءِ
afdala aljaza'i wa ashrafa aljaza'i
with the best reward and the most honoring reward.
اتَيْتُكَ يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ زَائِراً
ataytuka yabna rasuli allahi za'iran
I have come to you, O son of Allah’s Messenger, visiting you,
عَارِفاً بِحَقِّكَ
`arifan bihaqqika
recognizing your right,
مُقِرّاً بِفَضْلِكَ
muqirran bifadlika
admitting your precedence,
مُحْتَمِلاًَ لِعِلْمِكَ
muhtamilan li`ilmika
knowing about your knowledgeability,
مُحْتَجِباً بِذِمَّتِكَ
muhtajiban bidhimmatika
seeking shield with your inviolability,
عَائِذاً بِقَبْرِكَ
`a'idhan biqabrika
seeking protection with your grave,
لاَئِذاً بِضَرِيـحِكَ
la'idhan bidarihika
resorting to your tomb,
مُسْتَشْفِعاً بِكَ إِِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ
mustashfi`an bika ila allahi
seeking your intercession with Allah,
مُوَالِياً لاِوْلِيَائِكَ
muwaliyan li'awliya'ika
declaring loyalty to your loyalists,
مُعَادِياً لاِعْدَائِكَ
mu`adiyan li'a`da'ika
incurring the animosity of your enemies,
مُسْتَبْصِراً بِشَانِكَ
mustabsiran bisha'nika
seeking insight of your standing
وَبِٱلْهُدَىٰ ٱلَّذِي انْتَ عَلَيْهِ
wa bilhuda alladhi anta `alayhi
and true guidance you are leading to,
عَالِماً بِضَلاَلَةِ مَنْ خَالَفَكَ
`aliman bidalalati man khalafaka
and having full acquaintance with the straying of those who dissent from you
وَبِٱلْعَمَىٰ ٱلَّذِي هُمْ عَلَيْهِ
wa bil`ama alladhi hum `alayhi
and the blindness they are following.
بِابِي انْتَ وَامِّي
bi'abi anta wa ummi
Ransoms for you be my father, mother,
وَنَفْسِي وَاهْلِي
wa nafsi wa ahli
myself, my family members,
وَمَالِي وَوَلَدِي
wa mali wa waladi
my property, and my sons.
يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ
yabna rasuli allahi
O son of Allah’s Messenger,
اتَيْتُكَ مُتَقَرِّباً بِزِيَارَتِكَ إِِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ تَعَالَىٰ
ataytuka mutaqarriban biziyaratika ila allahi ta`ala
I have come to you seeking nearness to Allah the All-exalted by visiting you
وَمُسْتَشْفِعاً بِكَ إِِلَيْهِ
wa mustashfi`an bika ilayhi
and seeking your intercession for me with Him;
فَٱشْفَعْ لِي عِنْدَ رِبِّكَ
fashfa` li `inda rabbika
So, (please) intercede for me with your Lord
لِيَغْفِرَ لِي ذُنُوبِي
liyaghfira li dhunubi
so that He may forgive my sins,
وَيَعْفُوَ عَنْ جُرْمِي
wa ya`fuwa `an jurmi
pardon my offences,
وَيَتَجَاوَزَ عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِي
wa yatajawaza `an sayyi'ati
overlook my evildoings,
وَيَمْحُوَ عَنِّي خَطِيئَاتِي
wa yamhuwa `anni khati'iati
erase my wrongdoings,
وَيُدْخِلَنِي ٱلْجَنَّةَ
wa yudkhilani aljannata
allow me to enter Paradise,
وَيَتَفَضَّلَ عَلَيَّ بِمَا هُوَ اهْلُهُ
wa yatafaddala `alayya bima huwa ahluhu
endue me with favors that suit His generosity,
وَيَغْفِرَ لِي وَلآِبَائِي
wa yaghfira li wa li'aba'i
and forgive me, my forefathers,
وَلإِِِخْوَانِي وَاخَوَاتِي
wa li'ikhwani wa akhawati
my brothers, my sister,
وَلِجَمِيعِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ
wa lijami`i almu'minina walmu'minati
and all believing men and women
فِي مَشَارِقِ ٱلارْضِ وَمَغَارِبِهَا
fi mashariqi al-ardi wa magharibiha
in the east and west of the earth,
بِفَضْلِهِ وَجُودِهِ وَمَنِّهِ
bifadlihi wa judihi wa mannihi
out of His favoring, magnanimity, and benevolence.
If visiting: may then embrace the zarih, touch your two cheeks on it, and pray to Almighty Allah for your hajaat. You may then turn to the side of the Imam’s head and say the following words:
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا مَوْلاَيَ
alssalamu `alayka ya mawlaya
Peace be upon you, O my master
يَا مُوسَىٰ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ
ya musa bna ja`farin
Musa the son of Ja`far.
وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
wa rahmatu allahi wa barakatuhu
Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.
اشْهَدُ انَّكَ ٱلإِمَامُ ٱلْهَادِي
ashhadu annaka al-imamu alhadi
I bear witness that you are verily the guiding leader
وَٱلْوَلِيُّ ٱلْمُرْشِدُ
walwaliyyu almurshidu
and the guardian who leads to the right guidance,
وَانَّكَ مَعْدِنُ ٱلتَّنْزِيلِ
wa annaka ma`dinu alttanzili
you are verily the core of the Revelation,
وَصَاحِبُ ٱلتَّاوِيلِ
wa sahibu altta'wili
the man of true interpretation,
وَحَامِلُ ٱلتَّوْرَاةِ وَٱلإِنْجِيلِ
wa hamilu alttawrati wal-injili
the bearer of the Torah and the Gospel,
وَٱلْعَالِمُ ٱلْعَادِلُ
wal`alimu al`adilu
the knowledgeable, the decent,
وَٱلصَّادِقُ ٱلْعَامِلُ
walssadiqu al`amilu
the veracious, and the one who puts his knowledge in practice.
يَا مَوْلاَيَ انَا ابْرَا إِِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ اعْدَائِكَ
ya mawlaya ana abra'u ila allahi min a`da'ika
O my master, I repudiate your enemies in the presence of Allah
وَاتَقَرَّبُ إِِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ بِمُوَالاَتِكَ
wa ataqarrabu ila allahi bimuwalatika
and I seek nearness to Allah through loyalty to you.
فَصَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ
fasalla allahu `alayka
So, may Allah bless you,
وَعَلَىٰ آبَائِكَ وَاجْدَادِكَ وَابْنَائِكَ
wa `ala aba'ika wa ajdadika wa abna'ika
your fathers, your forefathers, your descendants,
وَشِيعَتِكَ وَمُحِبِّيكَ
wa shi`atika wa muhibbika
your partisans, and your devotees.
وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
wa rahmatu allahi wa barakatuhu
May Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon them.
You may then offer the two-unit prayer of ziyarah, reciting Surah Yasin (No. 36) after Surah al-Fatihah in the first unit, and Surah al-Rahman (No. 55) after Surah al-Fatihah in the second unit. (You may also recite any surah instead of Surah Rahman and Surah Yaseen).
Then, you may pray Almighty Allah for whatever you need
Shaykh al-Mufid, al-Shahid, and Muhammad ibn al-Mashhadi have said the following: If you intend to visit Imam al-Kazim (`a) in Baghdad, you may first bathe yourself with the intention of visiting him, direct to the holy shrine, stop at its gate, ask permission of entrance, and then enter there while saying the following words:
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ وَبِٱللَّهِ
bismi allahi wa billahi
In the Name of Allah (I begin), in Allah (I trust),
وَفِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ
wa fi sabili allahi
on the way of Allah (I proceed),
وَعَلَىٰ مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ
wa `ala millati rasuli allahi
and on the norm of the Messenger of Allah,
صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ
salla allahu `alayhi wa alihi
may Allah bless him and his Household,
وَٱلسَّلاَمُ عَلَىٰ اوْلِيَاءِ ٱللَّهِ
wa alssalamu `ala awliya'i allahi
and peace be upon the intimate servants of Allah.
If visiting: You may then walk until you stop in front of the grave of Musa ibn Ja`far (`a). When you stop there, you may say the following words:
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا نُورَ ٱللَّهِ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ ٱلارْضِ
alssalamu `alayka ya nura allahi fi zulumati al-ardi
Peace be upon you, O light of Allah in the darkness of the earth.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَلِيَّ ٱللَّهِ
alssalamu `alayka ya waliyya allahi
Peace be upon you, O Allah’s intimate servant.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حُجَّةَ ٱللَّهِ
alssalamu `alayka ya hujjata allahi
Peace be upon you, O Allah’s argument.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بَابَ ٱللَّهِ
alssalamu `alayka ya baba allahi
Peace be upon you, O door to Allah.
اشْهَدُ انَّكَ اقَمْتَ ٱلصَّلاَةَ
ashhadu annaka aqamta alssalata
I bear witness that you performed the prayers,
وَآتَيْتَ ٱلزَّكَاةَ
wa atayta alzzakata
defrayed the poor-rate,
وَامَرْتَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ
wa amarta bilma`rufi
enjoined the right,
وَنَهَيْتَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنْكَرِ
wa nahayta `an almunkari
forbade the wrong,
وَتَلَوْتَ ٱلْكِتَابَ حَقَّ تِلاَوَتِهِ
wa talawta alkitaba haqqa tilawatihi
recited the Book as it should be recited,
وَجَاهَدْتَ فِي ٱللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ
wa jahadta fi allahi haqqa jihadihi
strove for the sake of Allah as exactly as strife should be,
وَصَبَرْتَ عَلَىٰ ٱلاذَىٰ فِي جَنْبِهِ مُحْتَسِباً
wa sabarta `ala aladha fi janbihi muhtasiban
endured harm for His sake expecting His reward,
وَعَبَدْتَهُ مُخْلِصاً حَتَّىٰ اتَاكَ ٱلْيَقِيـنُ
wa `abadtahu mukhlisan hatta ataka alyaqinu
and served Him sincerely until death came upon you.
اشْهَدُ انَّكَ اوْلَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وِبِرَسُولِهِ
ashhadu annaka awla billahi wa birasulihi
I bear witness that you are the closest to Allah and His Messenger
وَانَّكَ ٱبْنُ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ حَقّاً
wa annaka ibnu rasuli allahi haqqan
and you are verily the son of Allah’s Messenger.
ابْرَا إِِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ اعْدَائِكَ
abra'u ila allahi min a`da'ika
I repudiate your enemies in the presence of Allah
وَاتَقَرَّبُ إِِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ بِمُوَالاَتِكَ
wa ataqarrabu ila allahi bimuwalatika
and seek nearness to Allah through my loyalty to you.
اتَيْتُكَ يَا مَوْلاَيَ عَارِفاً بِحَقِّكَ
ataytuka ya mawlaya `arifan bihaqqika
I have come to you, O my master, recognizing your right,
مُوَالِياً لاِوْلِيَائِكَ
muwaliyan li'awliya'ika
declaring loyalty to your loyalists,
مُعَادِياً لاِعْدَائِكَ
mu`adiyan li'a`da'ika
and incurring the animosity of your enemies;
فَٱشْفَعْ لِي عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ
fashfa` li `inda rabbika
so, (please) intercede for me with your Lord.
If visiting: You may then embrace the zarih, kiss it, place both your cheeks on it, turn to the side of the Imam’s head, stop there, and say the following words:
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ
alssalamu `alayka yabna rasuli allahi
Peace be upon you, O son of Allah’s Messenger.
اشْهَدُ انَّكَ صَادِقٌ
ashhadu annaka sadiqun
I bear witness that you are veracious.
ادَّيْتَ نَاصِحاً
addayta nasihan
You fulfilled [your duty] sincerely,
وَقُلْتَ امِيناً
wa qulta aminan
spoke honestly,
وَمَضَيْتَ شَهِيداً
wa madayta shahidan
and passed away as martyr.
لَمْ تُؤْثِرْ عَمىًٰ عَلَىٰ ٱلْهُدَىٰ
lam tu'thir `aman `ala alhuda
You never preferred blindness to the true guidance
وَلَمْ تَمِلْ مِنْ حَقٍّ إِلَىٰ بَاطِلٍ
wa lam tamil min haqqin ila batilin
and never slanted from right to wrong.
صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ
salla allahu `alayka
May Allah send blessings upon you,
وَعَلَىٰ آبَائِكَ وَابْنَائِكَ ٱلطَّاهِرِينَ
wa `ala aba'ika wa abna'ika alttahirina
upon your fathers, and upon your sons the immaculate.
You may then kiss the grave and offer a two-unit prayer. After that, you may prostrate yourself and say the following dua:
اَللَّهُمَّ إِِلَيْكَ ٱعْتَمَدْتُ
allahumma ilayka i`tamadtu
O Allah, I have had recourse to You,
وَإِِلَيْكَ قَصَدْتُ
wa ilayka qasadtu
made my way to You,
وَبِفَضْلِكَ رَجَوْتُ
wa bifadlika rajawtu
hoped for Your favoring,
وَقَبْرَ إِِمَامِيَ ٱلَّذِي اوْجَبْتَ عَلَيَّ طَاعَتَهُ زُرْتُ
wa qabra imamiya alladhi awjabta `alayya ta`atahu zurtu
visited the tomb of my Imam the obedience to whom You have made obligatory on me,
وَبِهِ إِِلَيْكَ تَوَسَّلْتُ
wa bihi ilayka tawassaltu
and I have chosen him as my means to You;
فَبِحَقِّهِمُ ٱلَّذِي اوْجَبْتَ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِكَ
fabihaqqihimu alladhi awjabta `ala nafsika
so, [I beseech You] in the name of their rights which You have made incumbent upon Yourself,
ٱغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
ighfir li wa liwalidayya wa lilmu'minina
forgive me, my parents, and the believers,
يَا كَرِيـمُ
ya karimu
O All-generous.
You may then put your right cheek on the ground and say the following :
اَللَّهُمَّ قَدْ عَلِمتَ حَوَائِجِي
allahumma qad `alimta hawa'iji
O Allah, You have already known my requests;
فَصَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَٱقْضِهَا
fasalli `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin waqdiha
so, bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad and settle them for me.
You may then put your left cheek on the ground and say the following words:
اَللَّهُمَّ قَدْ احْصَيْتَ ذُنُوبِي
allahumma qad ahsayta dhunubi
O Allah, You have certainly taken account of my sins;
فَبِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
fabihaqqi muhammadin wa ali muhammadin
so, [I beseech You] in the name of Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,
صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
salli `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin
send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,
وَٱغْفِرْهَا وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيَّ بِمَا انْتَ اهْلُهُ
waghfirha wa tasaddaq `alayya bima anta ahluhu
forgive them, and grant me as charity that which suits You.
You may then return to the position of prostration and repeat the following word one hundred times: SHUKRAN (Thanks)
You may then raise your head from prostration and pray for whatever you wish and whomever you wish.
book of Misbah al-Za'ir, the sublime Sayyid Ibn Tawus, has mentioned a form of invoking blessings on him, which contains references to some of the Imam’s virtues, merits, method of worship, and misfortunes.
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَاهْلِ بَيْتِهِ
allahumma salli `ala muhammadin wa ahli baytihi
O Allah, (please) send blessings upon Muhammad and his Household
وَصَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ
wa salli `ala musa bni ja`farin
and send blessings upon Musa the son of Ja`far,
وَصِيِّ ٱلابْرَارِ
wasiyyi al-abrari
the successor of the righteous ones,
وَإِِمَامِ ٱلاخْيَارِ
wa imami al-akhyari
the leader of the excellent ones,
وَعَيْبَةِ ٱلانْوَارِ
wa `aybati al-anwari
the case of illuminations,
وَوَارِثِ ٱلسَّكِينَةِ وَٱلْوَقَارِ
wa warithi alssakinati walwaqari
and the inheritor of tranquility, solemnity,
وَٱلْحِكَمِ وَٱلآثَارِ
walhikami wal-athari
wisdoms, and traditions,
ٱلَّذِي كَانَ يُحْيِي ٱللَّيْلَ بِٱلسَّهَرِ إِِلَىٰ ٱلسَّحَرِ
alladhi kana yuhyi allayla bilssahari ila alssahari
who used to spend nights sleeplessly up to the early dawn
بِمُوَاصَلَةِ ٱلِٱسْتِغْفَارِ
bimuwasalati alistighfari
with continuous implorations for forgiveness.
حَلِيفِ ٱلسَّجْدَةِ ٱلطَّوِيلَةِ
halifi alssajdati alttawilati
He was inseparable associate of lengthy prostrations,
وَٱلدُّمُوعِ ٱلْغَزِيرَةِ
walddumu`i alghazirati
heavy tears,
وَٱلْمُنَاجَاةِ ٱلْكَثِيـرَةِ
walmunajati alkathirati
very much confidential talks,
وَٱلضَّرَاعَاتِ ٱلْمُتَّصِلَةِ
walddara`ati almuttasilati
and incessant implorations.
وَمَقَرِّ ٱلنُّهَىٰ وَٱلْعَدْلِ
wa maqarri alnnuha wal`adli
He was the center of understanding, justice,
وَٱلْخَيْرِ وَٱلْفَضْلِ
walkhayri walfadli
goodness, virtue,
وَٱلنَّدَىٰ وَٱلْبَذْلِ
walnnada walbadhli
generosity, and liberality.
وَمَالَفِ ٱلْبَلْوَىٰ وَٱلصَّبْرِ
wa ma'lafi albalwa walssabri
He was also accustomed to ordeals and endurance
وَٱلْمُضْطَهَدِ بِٱلظُّلْمِ
walmudtahadi bilzzulmi
and he was persecuted wrongfully,
وَٱلْمَقْبُورِ بِٱلْجَوْرِ
walmaqburi biljawri
entombed unjustly,
وَٱلْمُعَذَّبِ فِي قَعْرِ ٱلسُّجُونِ
walmu`adhdhabi fi qa`ri alssujuni
and tortured in the bottom of jails
وَظُلَمِ ٱلْمَطَامِيـرِ
wa zulami almatamiri
and darkness of cells.
ذِي ٱلسَّاقِ ٱلْمَرْضُوضِ بِحَلَقِ ٱلْقُيُودِ
dhi alssaqi almardudi bihalaqi alquyudi
He is the one whose leg was bruised by the rings of chains
وَٱلْجِنَازَةِ ٱلْمُنَادَىٰ عَلَيْهَا بِذُلِّ ٱلِٱسْتِخْفَافِ
waljanazati almunada `alayha bidhulli alistikhfafi
and whose funeral was called with calls of humility of belittling.
وَٱلْوَارِدِ عَلَىٰ جَدِّهِ ٱلْمُصْطَفَىٰ وَابِيهِ ٱلْمُرْتَضَىٰ
walwaridi `ala jaddihi almustafa wa abihi almurtada
He is the one who joined his grandfather the Chosen Prophet, his father the Well-pleased leader,
وَامِّهِ سَيِّدَةِ ٱلنِّسَاءِ
wa ummihi sayyidati alnnsa'i
and his mother the doyenne of women
بِإِرْثٍ مَغْصُوبٍ
bi'irthin maghsubin
with usurped inheritance,
وَوَلاَءٍ مَسْلُوبٍ
wa wala'in maslubin
robbed loyalty,
وَامْرٍ مَغْلُوبٍ
wa amrin maghlubin
overpowered state,
وَدَمٍ مَطْلُوبٍ
wa damin matlubin
unavenged blood,
وَسَمٍّ مَشْرُوبٍ
wa sammin mashrubin
and poisoned drink.
اَللَّهُمَّ وَكَمَا صَبَرَ عَلَىٰ غَلِيظِ ٱلِْمحَنِ
allahumma wa kama sabara `ala ghalizi almihani
O Allah, just as he suffered hard-hitting ordeals tolerantly,
وَتَجَرَّعَ غُصَصَ ٱلْكُرَبِ
wa tajarra`a ghusasa alkurabi
swallowed chokes of agonies,
وَٱسْتَسْلَمَ لِرِضَاكَ
wastaslama liridaka
surrendered to Your pleasure,
وَاخْلَصَ ٱلطَّاعَةَ لَكَ
wa akhlasa altta`ata laka
obeyed You sincerely,
وَمَحَضَ ٱلْخُشُوعَ
wa mahada alkhushu`a
adopted reverence for You,
وَٱسْتَشْعَرَ ٱلْخُضُوعَ
wastash`ara alkhudu`a
adapted himself with submission to You,
وَعَادَىٰ ٱلْبِدْعَةَ وَاهْلَهَا
wa `ada albid`ata wa ahlaha
stood against heresies and their bearers,
وَلَمْ يَلْحَقْهُ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ اوَامِرِكَ وَنَوَاهِيكَ لَوْمَةُ لاَئِمٍ
wa lam yalhaqhu fi shay'in min awamirika wa nawahika lawmatu la'imin
and did not care for the blame of any blamer in the course of following Your orders and refraining from Your prohibitions;
صَلِّ عَلَيْهِ صَلاَةً نَامِيَةً
salli `alayhi salatan namiyatan
so, (please) bless him with ever-increasing,
مُنْيفَةً زَاكِيَةً
munifatan zakiyatan
towering, and purifying blessings
تُوجِبُ لَهُ بِهَا شَفَاعَةَ أُمَمٍ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ
Tūjibu lahu bihā shafāʿata umamin min khalqik
By it, You grant him the intercession for nations among Your creation
وَقُرُونٍ مِنْ بَرَايَاكَ
Wa qurūnin min barāyāk
And generations among Your creatures
وَبَلِّغْهُ عَنَّا تَحِيَّةً وَسَلاَماً
wa ballighhu `anna tahiyyatan wa salaman
And convey to him greetings and salutation from us,
وَآتِنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ فِي مُوَالاَتِهِ فَضْلاًَ وَإِِحْسَاناً
wa atina min ladunka fi muwalatihi fadlan wa ihsanan
give us from You on account of our loyalty to him favors, bounty,
وَمَغْفِرَةً وَرِضْوَاناً
wa maghfiratan wa ridwanan
forgiveness, and pleasure.
إِِنَّكَ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَمِيمِ
innaka dhulfadli al`amimi
Verily, You are the Lord of prevalent favor
وَٱلتَّجَاوُزِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
walttajawuzi al`azimi
and great exoneration,
بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا ارْحَمَ ٱلرَّاحِمينَ
birahmatika ya arhama alrrahimina
in the name of Your mercy; O most merciful of all those who show mercy.
Second form of Salawat on Imam Musa bin Jafar Al-Kazim (as)
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَىٰ
allahumma salli `ala `aliyyi bni musa
O Allah, (please) send blessings upon `Ali the son of Musa
ٱلَّذِي ٱرْتَضَيْتَهُ وَرَضَّيْتَ بِهِ مَنْ شِئْتَ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ
alladhi irtadaytahu wa raddayta bihi man shi'ta min khalqika
whom You have accepted and through whom You have satisfied whomever of Your creatures that You wish.
اَللَّهُمَّ وَكَمَا جَعَلْتَهُ حُجَّةً عَلَىٰ خَلْقِكَ
allahumma wa kama ja`altahu hujjatan `ala khalqika
O Allah, as You have made him act as argument against Your creatures,
وَقَائِماً بِأَمْرِكَ
wa qa'iman bi'amrika
undertake the mission by Your command,
وَنَاصِراً لِدِينِكَ
wa nasiran lidinika
support Your religion,
وَشَاهِداً عَلَىٰ عِبَادِكَ
wa shahidan `ala `ibadika
witness against Your servants,
وَكَمَا نَصَحَ لَهُمْ فِي ٱلسِّرِ وَٱلْعَلاَنِيَةِ
wa kama nasaha lahum fi alssirri wal`alaniyati
and as he acted sincerely towards them in secret and in open
وَدَعَا إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِكَ
wa da`a ila sabilika
and called to Your way
بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ
bilhikmati walmaw`izati alhasanati
with wisdom and excellent exhortation,
فَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِ
fasalli `alayhi
so also (please) bless him
أَفْضَلَ مَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ أَحَدٍ
afdala ma sallayta `ala ahadin
with the most favorite blessings that You have ever bestowed
مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِكَ وَخِيَرَتِكَ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ
min awliya'ika wa khiyaratika min khalqika
upon any of Your intimate servants and Your choice ones over Your creatures.
إِنَّكَ جَوَادٌ كَرِيمٌ
innaka jawadun karimun
Verily, You are All-magnanimous, All-generous.
In this connection, it seems suitable to mention the story of Hajj `Ali al-Baghdadi, the delighted, righteous, elite, and pious man whose story has been mentioned by our mentor in his two books of Jannat al-Ma'wa and al-Najm al-Thaqib. In the latter book, he writes, “Even if this book does not comprise anything except this authentically and accurately reported story, which contains abundant advantages and took place in this age, the book will still be highly valuable and precious.” After some introductory words, the author starts narrating the story: Hajj `Ali, may Allah support him, narrated the following: An amount of eighty Tumans (Persian currency) that I was liable to pay as khumus (one-fifth) tax amassed on me. I therefore travelled to the holy city of al-Najaf to defray twenty Tumans of them to His Eminence Shaykh Murtada the epitome of true guidance and piety, may Allah raise his status. I defrayed other twenty Tumans to His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad Husayn al-Mujtahid al-Kazimi and other twenty Tumans to His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad al-Shuruqi. So, only twenty Tumans remained with me, which I had the intention to pay to Shaykh Muhammad Hasan ªl-Yasin al-Kazimi, may Allah support him, when I would return from al-Najaf. As soon as I arrived in Baghdad, I wished to pay the rest of the khumus tax that I was liable to pay. So, I went directly to al-Kazimiyyah on that day, which was Thursday, and visited the two great Imams; al-Kazim and al-Jawad. I then came to His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad Hasan, may Allah save him, and gave him a part of that amount of twenty Tumans. I also promised him that I would defray the remainder, by giving it to the beneficiaries respectively, as soon as I would sell some goods of mine. I then prepared myself to leave al-Kazimiyyah after I had refused the Shaykh’s insistent invitation to stay with him. My excuse was that I had to pay the employees in my textile factory their wages, since I had already decided to pay the employees their weekly wages on Thursday afternoons. I therefore took my way to Baghdad. After I covered a third of the way, I saw a handsome-looking sayyid turning his way towards me while he was directing towards al-Kazimiyyah. He approached me, greeted me, and stretched his hand to shake hands with me. He also embraced and welcomed me, saying, “Welcome!” He then embraced me to his chest and we exchanged kisses. Turbaned with a vividly green turban and having a big black mole on the face, the man stopped and asked me, “Hajj `Ali, where are you heading for?”
“I have visited al-Kazimayn and I am now on my way to Baghdad,” I answered.
“Go back to al-Kazimayn,” the sayyid ordered. “It is Friday night.”
“I cannot go back,” I said.
“Yes, you can,” the sayyid said, “so that I will witness for your being one of the loyalists to my grandfather the Commander of the Faithful and to us. The shaykh will also witness for you, because the All-exalted Lord has said, ‘And call in to witness two witnesses.’”
This was an insinuation to what I have already hoped from the shaykh to write for me a piece of paper so that I would place it in my shroud in which he would witness for me that I am one of the loyalists to the Ahl al-Bayt. I therefore asked him, “How do you know me and how can you witness for me?”
The sayyid answered, “Is it possible for one to ignore those who have carried out their duty towards him?”
“What kind of duty do you mean?” I asked.
“I mean the financial duty that you have defrayed to my deputy,” he answered.
“Who is your deputy?” I asked.
“Shaykh Muhammad Hasan,” he answered.
“Is he your deputy?” I asked.
“He is,” he answered. “So is Sayyid Muhammad.”
As a matter of fact, I had not known this man before but he called me by name; therefore, I thought that we had probably known each other earlier. I also said to myself that the man might have wanted me to give him a part of the khumus duty. I therefore wished to give him something of the Imam’s share of that duty. I thus said to him, “Sayyid, I am liable to pay something of your financial due. I had referred to His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad Hasan to allow me to pay this remaining amount to you.” The sayyid smiled in my face and said, “Yes, you have defrayed a portion of our due to our deputies in the holy city of al-Najaf.”
“Has that portion which I have paid been accepted?” I asked.
“Yes, it has been accepted,” he answered.
I then noticed that this sayyid had been referring to the master scholars as his deputies. This was hard for me to consent. However, I returned to inadvertence of what was going between him and me. The sayyid then asked me to go back with him to visit his grandfather. I therefore complied with his desire and returned with him. All the way back to al-Kazimiyyah, my left hand was grasping the sayyid’s right hand. While we were walking, I found to our right side a river of pure water. I also found trees of lemon, bitter orange, grapes, pomegranate, and other fruits overshadowing us and all of these trees were fruitful although it was not the season of their fruiting. When I asked the sayyid about this, he answered, “The river and the trees accompany every one of our loyalists when he visits our grandfather and us.”
I then said, “I have a question that I would like to put before you.”
“Yes,” the sayyid said. “Go ahead.”
“One day,” I said, “I joined the class of Shaykh `Abd al-Razzaq, one of the teachers, and could hear him saying, ‘Even if one dedicates his entire lifetime to observing fasting in days and spending the whole nights with acts of worship, and goes on hajj for forty times, and goes on `umrah for forty times, and dies while he is standing between Mount al-Safa and Mount al-Marwah, but he was not loyalist to the Commander of the Faithful, he will have no reward at all for all that.’ Is this accurate?”
“Yes, it is,” answered the sayyid. “Such one will have no reward at all.”
I then asked him about one of my relatives whether he is loyalist to the Commander of the Faithful or not. The sayyid answered, “Yes, he is as well as all those who relate to you.”
I then said, “May I ask you another question, sayyid?”
“Yes, you may,” he answered.
I said, “The orators in the consolation ceremonies of Imam al-Husayn (`a) have narrated that a man came to Sulayman al-A`mash and asked him about visiting the tomb of the Chief of Martyrs (i.e. Imam al-Husayn), but Sulayman answered that it was an unfounded innovative. The man then saw in sleep a hodaw between the sky and the earth carrying Lady Fatimah al-Zahra' and Lady Khadijah al-Kubra. When he asked where these two ladies were going, he was informed that they were going to visit al-Husayn (`a) at that very night, which was Friday night. He also saw pieces of paper falling on the earth from that hodaw with the following inscription: This is security against Hellfire for those who visit al-Husayn (`a) at Friday nights. This is security against Hellfire on the Resurrection Day. Is this tradition authentic?”
The sayyid answered, “Yes, it is completely authentic.”
“Sayyid,” I asked, “Is it true that whoever visits al-Husayn (`a) on Friday nights will be secured?”
“Yes, it is,” he answered, his eyes shed tears, and he wept.
“May I ask another question, sayyid?” I asked.
“Yes, you may,” he answered.
In the year 1269, we were on our way for visiting Imam al-Rida (`a). In the city of Durud, we met an Arab man who hosted us. When we asked him about the loyalty to Imam al-Rida (`a), he answered, ‘Paradise is the loyalty to him!’ He then added, ‘This is the fifteenth day on which I have been feeding on the food of Imam al-Rida (`a). How dare then Munkar and Nakir approach me in my grave? My flesh and bone have grown on the food of Imam al-Rida (`a) in his guest house.’ Is it true that Imam al-Rida (`a) will come to this man in his grave to save him from Munkar and Nakir?”
“Yes, it is true,” the sayyid answered. “I swear it by Allah; my grandfather guarantees (salvation from torment).”
I then said, “Sayyid, there is another short question that I would like to put before you, if you permit.”
“You may ask,” he answered.
“As for my visit to Imam al-Rida (`a), has it been acceptable?” I asked. “It is acceptable, Allah willing,” he answered.
“May I ask another question?” I said.
“Yes, you may,” he answered.
“Has the visit of Hajj Muhammad Husayn Bazzaz Bashi, the son of the late Hajj Ahmad Bazzaz Bashi been accepted? I accompanied him on my way to the shrine of Imam al-Rida (`a); we therefore distributed expenditure between us.” The sayyid answered, “The visit of the righteous servant is accepted.”
“May I ask another question?” I said.
“Yes, you may ask, in the name of Allah,” he answered.
I thus asked, “Has the visit of so-and-so from Baghdad been accepted? He was with us on our way to Khurasan.”
However, the sayyid kept silent. He did not answer this question.
“May I ask another question?” I said.
“Yes, you may ask, in the name of Allah” he answered.
“Have you heard my previous question? Has the visit of that man been accepted?” I asked. The sayyid did not answer this question either.
The man about whom I asked the sayyid was one of the rich people of Baghdad. Throughout our journey to Imam al-Rida (`a), he and his friends used to play and amuse themselves profligately. The man was the killer of his mother. We then reached an open road facing the city of al-Kazimiyyah and surrounded by orchards from both sides. A side of this road, which lies to the right of those coming from Baghdad, had been owned by some orphan sayyids but the ruling authorities usurped it from them to make it part of the public way. Hence, the religious, pious people of al-Kazimiyyah used to refrain from walking in this side of the road. However, my companion did not refrain from walking in that side; I therefore said to him, “Sir, this place is owned by some orphan sayyids and it is thus improper to use it.” He answered, “It is owned by my grandfather, the Commander of the Faithful, his descendants, and our sons; therefore, it is permissible to our loyalists to use it.”
Near this place, there was to the right side an orchard owned by a man named Hajj Mirza Hadi, one of the rich Persians who lived in Baghdad. Hence, I said, “Sayyid, is it true that the land of this orchard is originally owned by Imam Musa ibn Ja`far (`a)?”
“What is your business with this issue?” the sayyid replied and refused to answer my question. We then reached a rivulet on the Tigris used for irrigating the farms and orchards. This rivulet crossed that road making it ramify into two streets; namely, the sultanic street and the street of the sayyids. My companion headed for the street of the sayyids after he had refused my invitation to take the other street. He thus said to me, “Let us take this street.” A few steps ahead, we found ourselves in the courtyard of the holy shrine of Imam al-Kazim (`a) near the shoes store without having passed by any market or alley. So, we entered the passage from the eastern side of the gate that is known as Bab al-Murad, which is to the side of the Imam’s feet. My companion did not stop there to ask permission of entrance of the holy portico. He then stopped at the gate of the holy shrine addressing at me with the following words: “You may now say the ziyarah form.”
“I cannot read,” I said.
“May I recite the ziyarah form for you?” he suggested.
“Yes, you may,” I answered.
So, he said, “O Allah, may I enter? Peace be upon you, O Allah’s Messenger. Peace be upon you, O Commander of the Faithful...”
He went on greeting the Holy Imams by this form. When he reached to Imam al-`Askari (`a), he said, “Peace be upon you, O Abu-Muhammad al-Hasan al-`Askari.”
He then said to me, “Do you know the Imam of your age?”
“How come that I do not known him?” I said.
“So, greet him,” he asked.
I said, “Peace be upon you, O Allah’s Argument, Patron of the Age, and son of al-Hasan.” He replied, “Peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you, too.” We then entered the holy shrine, threw ourselves on the holy tomb, and kissed it. He then said to me, “You may now say the ziyarah form.”
“I cannot read,” I said.
“May I recite it for you?” he asked.
“Yes, you may,” I answered.
“Which form of ziyarah do you wish to say?” He asked.
“You may say the most favorite of them,” I answered.
“Ziyarah of Aminullah is the most favorite,” he remarked.
He then went on visiting the Imams (`a) with this form of ziyarah, saying, “Peace be upon both of you, O Allah’s trustees in His land and His arguments against His servants...” up to the end of this form. At that moment, the lanterns of the holy shrine were lit, but I noticed that these lanterns and candles did not add any light to that very holy place, which seemed to have been shone with sunlight and these candles seemed as if they were lit in daylight. Despite all these extraordinary matters, I was completely diverted that I could not pay attention to these things. When he accomplished the ziyarah formula, he turned from the side of the Imam’s feet to the back of the holy tomb and stopped at the eastern side, “Will you visit my grandfather al-Husayn?” he asked.
“Yes, I will. This is Friday night,” I answered.
He therefore visited Imam al-Husayn (`a) with the ziyarah form that is known as Ziyarah Warith. At that moment, the caller to the Maghrib (sunset) Prayer finished from declaring the adhan (call to prayer). My companion then said to me, “Perform the prayer and join the congregation.” So, he came to the mosque that is situated behind the holy tomb where a congregational prayer was held. He stood alone to the right of the imam (leader of prayer) while I could find myself a place in the first line thus joining the congregation of the prayer. When I accomplished my prayer, I could not find my companion. So, I went out of the mosque and searched for him the entire shrine, but uselessly. I had the intention to give him a little amount of money and host him that night.
At that moment, I recovered my attention and began to think about the personality of that sayyid who had accompanied me to this place. Hence, the extraordinary events and miracles that I observed with the sayyid turned in my head. I thus remembered how I had surrendered to him totally and returned to al-Kazimiyyah forgetting the important matter that I had to do in Baghdad due to which I should not have come back to this city. The man called me by name although I had never seen him before. He also used the word, “the loyalists to us...” as well as other expressions such as, “I will witness for you.”
He showed me the flowing river and the trees, which were fruitful in a time other than their seasons. All these clear-cut indications, as well as many others that I saw from this sayyid, prove undoubtedly that this sayyid was Imam al-Mahdi, especially that he asked me whether I recognize the Imam of my age; and when I answered in the affirmative, he asked me to greet him. When I did, he smiled and responded to my greeting.
However, I came to the custodian of the shoes store and asked him about my companion. He told me that he had just left. He then asked me whether he was actually my companion. I answered, “Yes, he was.” I then came to the house where I resided as guest and spent the night there.
The next morning, I headed for His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad Hasan and inform him of the whole story. He put his hand on his mouth and warned me against divulging this story. He added, “May Allah lead you to more success.” I therefore used to keep it secret and refrain from letting anybody know about it. After one month of that incident, I met a reverent sayyid who approached and asked me, “What happened to you?” He was hinting at the incident, but I denied the matter, saying, “Nothing happened to me.” He repeated the same question and I repeated the same answer with more emphasis. He then hid himself and I could not see him after that.
Visiting and Offering Prayers in Masjid Buratha
Situated on the road between al-Kazimiyyah and Baghdad, Buratha Mosque (Masjid Buratha) is one of the most famous and blessed mosques. Although the visitors of the holy shrines pass by this mosque, they are unfortunately unaware of this holy place and the great standing and merit that it enjoys.
In his book of Mu`jam al-Buldan, al-Hamawi, one of the historians of the fifth century, says: Buratha is a district situated in the Karkh side of Baghdad to the south of Bab Mihwal. It had one mosque in which the Shi`ah used to offer prayers. However, this mosque was demolished to the ground. Before the reign of al-Radi billah the `Abbasid ruler, a group of the Shi`ah used to meet in this mosque and revile at the Sahabah (the companions of the Prophet)!! So, al-Radi attacked this mosque, arrested those whom he found there, put them in prison, and demolished the mosque to the ground. The Shi`ah informed the Emir-in-chief of Baghdad of this matter. So, he ordered to rebuild, expand, and strengthen the building of this mosque. He also inscribed the name of al-Radi on the front part of the mosque. Prayers were performed and offered in this mosque up to the year 450 or after that. However, this mosque was deserted up to now.
Before the construction of Baghdad, Buratha was a village by which (Imam) `Ali is claimed to have passed by on his way to fighting the Haruriyyah (i.e. al-Khawarij) in the famous battle of al-Nahrawan. It is also claimed that he offered a prayer in that mosque and entered a public bath in that village.
To this village, Abu-Shu`ayb al-Burathi is ascribed. A famous worshipper, this man was the first to reside in Buratha in a cottage, which he used for doing acts of worship. One day, a daughter of rich and worldly people who was brought up in palaces passed by him and liked his lifestyle. So, she became fond of him and offered him to accept her as a servant. He accepted on condition that she would deprive herself of her appearance, leave her previous lifestyle, and dress herself with the costume of ascetics so that she would be fit enough to imitate his lifestyle. She therefore dispossessed herself of everything, put on the costume of ascetics, and came to him. He married her, but when she entered his cottage, she noticed a leaf of a tree on which he would sit to prevent him from dew. She said, “I will not live with you before you take this leaf out, because I heard you saying, ‘The earth says to the son of Adam (i.e. human being): You set up a screen between you and me; but in the morrow, you will find yourself in my interior.’” So, Abu-Shu`ayb threw out that leaf and his wife remained with him for years sharing him in the best acts of worship. They both kept on this manner until they passed away.
Excellencies of Masjid Buratha
In my book of Hadiyyat al-Za'ir, I have written a few lines on the characteristics of Masjid Buratha. I have said that this mosque, as inferred from traditions, has many excellencies each one of which, if enjoyed by any other mosque, is sufficient to make one prepare oneself and cover long distances to visit it, seeking the pleasure of Almighty Allah through praying and supplicating Him therein.
First Excellency: Almighty Allah has decided that no army reside at this mosque except armies commanded by a Prophet or a Prophet’s successor. Second Excellency: Masjid Buratha was the house of Virgin Mary (`a).
Third Excellency: It was the residence of Prophet Jesus (`a).
Fourth Excellency: The spring that pour out for Virgin Mary (`a) is found in that mosque.
Fifth Excellency: Imam `Ali the Commander of the Faithful (`a) showed that spring by way of miracle.
Sixth Excellency: In that place, there is a white, blessed rock on which Virgin Mary (`a) put Prophet Jesus (`a) down from her shoulder.
Seventh Excellency: By way of miracle too, Imam `Ali the Commander of the Faithful (`a) showed that rock and set it up to the kiblah direction and then offered a prayer behind it.
Eighth Excellency: Imam `Ali (`a) and his two son, Imam al-Hasan the Divinely well-chosen and Imam al-Husayn the chief of martyrs (`a), offered prayers in this mosque.
Ninth Excellency: Imam `Ali the Commander of the Faithful (`a) resided in this mosque for four days.
Tenth Excellency: All Prophets, especially Prophet Abraham (`a) the Friend of the All-beneficent Lord, offered prayers in this mosque.
Eleventh Excellency: This mosque contains the grave of a Prophet, most probably Prophet Joshua. On the word of the Shaykh (may Allah have mercy upon him), the tomb of Prophet Joshua is in the yard opposite to Masjid Buratha.
Twelfth Excellency: It was the place where the sun was recoursed for Imam `Ali the Commander of the Faithful (`a).
The Visitors’ Inattention to Masjid Buratha
Unfortunately and strangely, the majority of visitors of the holy shrines in Iraq have been inattentive to visiting this holy mosque despite its sublime status and merits and its being the place where Divine signs and miracles of Imam `Ali (`a) were shown. Actually, this mosque is not situated in an isolated place where it is difficult to reach; rather, it is situated on the way that visitors take frequently on their way to the holy shrines. Perhaps, one of one thousand visitors may visit this place. It also happened that when a visitor comes to this mosque seeking the great reward of Almighty Allah that is decided for its visitors and finds its gate closed in his face unless he pays some money, he (the visitor) may be annoyed to pay, thus depriving himself of the great reward of the Lord. On the other hand, such visitor may pay much money for visiting the city of Baghdad and the edifices of the tyrants there or pay much more money for purchasing unnecessary means of living and dealing with the Jews of Baghdad to purchase their ill-omened and filthy goods, which have unfortunately been regarded as perfective parts of the journeys of the majority of visitors.
It is Allah only Whose help is sought.
Text, translation and recitation from Duas.org
