Visitation to the Graves of Ahl al-Bayt

Visiting the graves of Ahl al-Bayt from near and far distance, especially enduring hardships in this way, has been recommended to the believers; an act which will have great reward.

On visiting the Holy Shrine of the Holy Prophet, it has been related:

If people abandon visiting the grave of the Holy Prophet, Muslim leaders have the duty to encourage them to do so, for abandoning visitation to his holy shrine is unkindness to him, which is unlawful to Muslims.[1]

Quoting Imam al-¯¡diq, Sheikh ¯ad£q has reported:

إذَا حَجَّ أحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَخْتِمْ حَجَّهُ بِزِيَارَتِنَا لأنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ تَمَامِ الْحَجِّ.

Whoever performs °ajj rites must complete it with visiting us, for to visit our graves makes °ajj perfect.[2]

Imam `Al¢ (a.s) is reported as saying:

أتِمُّوا بِرَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ حَجَّكُمْ إذَا خَرَجْتُمْ إلَى بَيْتِ اللهِ، فَإنَّ تَرْكَهُ جَفَاءٌ، وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُمْ. وَأتِمُّوا بِالْقُبُورِ الَّتِي ألْزَمَكُمُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ زِيَارَتَهَا وَحَقَّهَا وَاطْلُبُوا الرِّزْقَ عِنْدَهَا.

Make your °ajj rites perfect by visiting the Holy Prophet’s grave, for to abandon that would be an unkind act and against courtesy. You have been enjoined to this visitation. Also visit the graves which Allah has made obligatory and seek your sustenance beside those graves.[3]

Quoting his grandfather, Yaz¢d ibn `Abd al-Malik has reported: One day I went to the presence of Lady F¡§imah. She greeted me and asked, “What have you come here for?” I said, “Seeking blessings and reward.” Lady F¡§imah said, “My father told me that whoever salutes him and me for three days, Allah will make Paradise obligatory to him.” I asked, “During his and your life?” She said, “Yes, and also after our death.”[4]

Imam al-¯¡diq is reported as saying:

مَنْ زَارَنِي غُفِرَتْ لَهُ ذُنُوبُهُ وَلَمْ يَمُتْ فَقِيراً.

Whoever visits my grave, his sins will be forgiven and will not die as poor or distressed.[5]

Imam `Askar¢ has said:

مَنْ زَارَ جَعْفَراً وَأبَاهُ لَمْ يَشْكُ عَيْنَهُ وَلَمْ يُصِبْهُ سَقَمٌ وَلَمْ يَمُتْ مُبْتَلىً.

Whoever visits the tombs of Imam al-¯¡diq and Imam al-B¡qir will not have defect in his eye, will not be diseased, and will not die afflicted.[6]

The Holy Prophet has said:

مَنْ زَارَ الْحَسَنَ فِي بَقِيعِهِ ثَبُتَ قَدَمُهُ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ يَوْمَ تَزِلُّ فِيهِ الأقْدَامُ.

Whoever visits Imam °as¡n in Baq¢` Cemetery, his foot will be steadfast on the Sir¡§ when other feet will slide.[7]

Imam al-B¡qir (a.s) is reported by Mu¦ammad ibn Muslim as saying:

مُرُوا شِيعَتَنَا بِزِيَارَةِ قَبْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، فَإنَّ إتْيَانَهُ مُفْتَرَضٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ يُقِرُّ لِلْحُسَيْنِ بِالإمَامَةِ مِنَ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

Enjoin our followers to visit the grave of Imam °usayn, for visiting his grave is incumbent upon every believer who admits his Imamate.[8]

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) is reported as saying:

مَنْ زَارَ قَبْرَ الْحُسَيْنِ للهِ وَفِي اللهِ، أعْتَقَهُ اللهُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَآمَنَهُ يَوْمَ الْفَزَعِ الأكْبَرِ وَلَمْ يَسْألِ اللهَ حَاجَةً مِنْ حَوَائِجِ الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ إلاَّ أعْطَاهُ.

Whoever visits the grave of Imam °usayn for the sake of Allah and in His way will be set free from Hellfire, spared on the Day of the Greater Lamentation, and Allah will grant him whatever he needs in this world and the Hereafter.[9]

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) has also said:

مَنْ لَمْ يَأتِ قَبْرَ الْحُسَيْنِ حَتَّى يَمُوتَ كَانَ مُنْتَقَصَ الدِّينِ مُنْتَقَصَ الإيمَانِ، وَإنْ أُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ كَانَ دُونَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ.

Whoever does not visit the grave of Imam °usayn before his death, his faith is not perfect. Even if he enters Paradise, his rank will be lower than other believers.[10]

Imam al-Ri¤¡ has said:

مَنْ زَارَ قَبْرَ الْحُسَيْنِ بِشَطِّ الْفُرَاتِ كَانَ كَمَنْ زَارَ اللهَ فَوْقَ عَرْشِهِ.

Whoever visits the grave of °usayn at the bank of the Euphrates is like one who has visited Allah on His Throne.[11]