Ziarat: Showing Honor and Reverence Towards Worthy People

In the present day, we witness how people of different nations, groups, and societies show appreciation to their scholars of literature, science, and art by holding conferences and seminars. Within the conferences they list all achievements of the scholars and express their pride in being a part of that scholar's nation or religion.
In Islam, this act of showing honor and reverence towards worthy people, people who established culture and whose names made a difference in history, is called Ziarat.
Doing Ziarat of prominent people results in the continuation and permanence of their scientific and spiritual lives. Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.)has stated that the effect of doing Ziarat of the Prophets and the Imams after their death has the same positive effect as if one met them when they were alive.(1)
Ziarat Jami'ah Kabirah is a Ziarat taught by Imam Ali al-Naqi (A.S.) to one of his students (2). This Ziarat has helped us know more about the characteristics and virtues of the Imams (A.S.). It is the most fluent and eloquent of all Ziarats.
Although this Ziarat seems to be merely an explanation of the characteristics of a perfect human being, a representative of Allah (SWT), a deeper context of this Ziarat educates us about Tawhid (3), in such a way that we do not mistake it for Shirk (4). This Ziarat fills one's spirit with the knowledge, insight, and acquaintance of Wilayah.
In this Ziarat, Imam Hadi (A.S.) has introduced the Imams (A.S.) from different aspects, so that the pilgrim would make them his/her role models. This would give the pilgrim an opportunity to improve himself/herself. This Ziarat does not give free reign to others to add something new about Imamat.
The Ziarat begins with the best salutations to the Imams (A.S.). It then discusses the noble and pure beliefs brought and taught by the Prophets and Imams (A.S.). As mentioned in the above statements, though the phrases of this supplication seem simple, they carry deep meanings that need interpretation and explanation. May our souls be filled with faith by following these holy people:
"Peace be upon you, O People of the House (family) of the Prophet! (You are) the seat of the (Divine) mission. (Unto you) the Angels turn, (You are) the destination of the Divine revelation, the originating source of mercy, the treasures of wisdom, the ultimate in forbearance, the foundation of generosity, the leaders of (all) nations. (You) administer and distribute bounties without interruption; (you are) the elements of virtues, the pillars of goodness; (you) direct and guide mankind, protect and support lands wherein people live, let in and lead on to faith. The Beneficent assigned to you the responsibility of dealing with His benevolence. (You are the) distinguished descendants of the Prophets, the cream of the nobly born children of the Messengers, the pure family of the "Best Individual" (Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). In the estimation of the Lord of the Worlds, (all of you are the) mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be upon the Guides (Imams) who show us the Right Path, fill the darkness with light, teach and demonstrate the awareness of boundaries laid down by Allah, are (masters of) reason and intelligence, advocate and encourage forethought and deliberation, keep safe the mortals; have taken over the heritage of the Prophets, set examples of highest standard, enjoin in the good, and serve as a decisive argument (Hujjat) of Allah over the mankind in this world and in the Hereafter. (All of you are the) mercy and blessings of Allah …" (Selected from "Adabe Fanaye Muqarraban", by Ayatullah Jawadi Amuli)
Footnotes:
1-"O! Ali, anyone who meets me during my life or does Ziarat after my death, or does the same towards you or any of your sons, I will guarantee to make him free of the difficulties and worries of the day hereafter, till I bring him up to my level." Wasa'il al-Shia, Baab al-Mazar, the second Baab, vol. 14, p. 332
2-Musa ibn Abdullah al-Nakha'ei
3- Monotheism
4- Polytheism