(Continued from the previous issue of AlMuntazar, Special issue Muharram 1429)
(3) “Salutations upon the one, whose soil (dust) is blessed with healing powers.”
The above sentence infers that Allah the Almighty has decreed the soil, upon which the pure blood of Imam Husain (a.s.) was spilled, to become a cure for every ailment.
Our magazine Al-Qaem Al- Munatazar (Muharram Special Issues) has devoted many articles in previous issues to ‘the dust with healing powers. For more details, people should refer to these articles. However, we present just one tradition for the benefit our revered readers. Our seventh Imam, Hazrat Musa Kazim (a.s.) narrates in his will:
“…And do not eat anything of the soil of our graves for blessing. Surely, the (eating) of all soils has been prohibited except the dust of (the grave) of our forefather Husain (a.s.). Verily, Allah (s.w.t.) has made it a cure for our Shias and our friends…”
(Behaar al-Anwaar, Vol. 58, P. 225, extract of Oyoon -O- Akhbaar Ar-Reza Vol. 1, P. 85)
He (a.s.) mentions in another tradition: “Our Shias are never devoid of four possessions: (1) Mat made from date leaves on which he can pray namaz (2) A ring on his finger (3) Miswaak for brushing (4) A rosary made from the dust of Husain (a.s.)’s grave having 33 beads in it. When he turns the beads in Allah’s remembrance (Zikr), Allah writes forty rewards for every bead. And when he turns them unmindfully, Allah writes for him, twenty rewards.”
(Behaar al-Anwaar, Vol. 76, P. 135, extract of Raudhah al-Waaezeen)
(4) “Salutations upon the one, under the dome of whose shrine, prayers are accepted.”
Without doubt, there is no place in the universe more revered and purer than the shrine of the Chief of the Martyrs (a.s.) where prayers are accepted. ..
Allamah Shaikh Muhammad Baqir Majlisi (a.r.) writes in his invaluable work ‘Behaar al Anwaar:
I have read this incident in the books of a few Shia Ulama that Sulaiman al-A’mash narrates, “I lived in Kufah. I had a neighbour whom I frequently visited. I met him one Thursday night and asked his opinion about the ziyarat of the grave of Husain (a.s.). He replied that the ziyarat of the grave of Husain (a.s.) was an innovation (bid’at). And every innovation was a deviation and all deviants would go to Hell.
Sulaiman says: Hearing this, I stood up in anger and rage. I deliberated that I would go to him the next morning and narrate some of the excellences and virtues of Imam Husain (a.s.). If he remained upon his hatred and enmity after this, I would kill him. I left for his house the next morning, knocked on his door and called out his name. (To my utter amazement) his wife answered that he had left for the ziyarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) late last night.
Sulaiman continues: I followed him to Karbala. On entering the shrine, I saw a person performing prostrations to Allah, praying and crying. He was asking forgiveness from the Mighty Lord. He lifted his head after a long time and I recognised him. I asked him: O Shaikh! Just a day before, you were telling me that ziyarat of Husain (a.s.) was an innovation and that all innovations are deviations and that deviants would taste hellfire. And now, you yourself have come for the ziyarat? He replied: O Sulaiman, do not rebuke me for I was not a believer in the Imamat of Ahle Bait (a.s.) until last night. But the vision I had dreamt in the first part of the night has shaken me. I enquired: And what did you dream of? He continued: I saw a noble person, of medium height, of such great stature and grace that words cannot describe. There were other personalities with him as if in a procession. There was a horse in front of them. He wore a four pointed crown with studded jewels whose brilliance could illuminate a distance of a journey of three days. I asked a few of his servants: Who is this dignified personality? They replied: He is Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.w.a.). I questioned: Who is the other person? They informed: Hazrat Ali Murtuza (a.s.), the successor of the Prophet. I looked beyond them. I saw a camel which was a brilliant light. A saddle of light was placed upon it with ladies sitting upon it. The camel was flying between the heavens and the earth. I asked: Whose camel is this? The answer came: The camel of Janabe Khadijah al-Kubra (s.a.) and Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.). I further enquired: Who is this youth? They replied: This is Imam Hasan Ibn Ali (a.s.). I asked: Where are these Pure Personalities going?
They replied: To visit the shrine of the martyr of Karbala, the oppressed of Nainawa,
Imam Husain Ibn Ali (a.s.). I attempted to go towards the camel on which the princess, Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) was sitting when suddenly some pages with something written on them started to rain from the sky. I solicited: What are these Pages? The answer came: These are permits of freedom from the hell-fire for the pilgrims of Imam Husain (a.s.), those visitors who go for the ziyarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) on Thursday night. On hearing this, I too requested for a permit. I was told: But you are of the view that visiting the shrine of Imam Husain (a.s.) is an innovation. You will definitely not receive a permit until you visit the shrine of Imam Husain (a.s.) and be steadfast in the belief of his greatness and elevated status.
As soon as I heard this, I woke up fearful and left immediately for the ziyarat of my master, Husain Ibn Ali (a.s.). I repent to God upon my past. By Allah! O Sulaiman, I will not separate from the grave of Husain (a.s.) until death overtakes me.
(Behaar al-Anwaar, Vol. 45, P. 401)
(5) “Salutations upon the one in whose progeny continues the chain of Imamat”.
It concurs that the chain of Imamat continued through Imam Husain (a.s.) and not through Imam Hasan Mujtaba (a.s.). This famous tradition of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) has been narrated by both Shia and Sunni scholars:
“O Abu Zar! …and soon nine of the Imams (a.s.) from the lineage of Husain (a.s.) who are infallible, will be steadfast on justice. And from us is the Mahdi of this ummah.” I asked: O Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.a.), how many are the Imams (a.s.) after you? He (s.a.w.a.) replied: “Their number is equal to the nuqaba of Bani Israel. (i.e. twelve).”
In yet another tradition, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) says:
“O Husain (a.s.)! You are an Imam, the son of an Imam, the brother of an Imam, the father of Imams. There will be nine Imams from your progeny.”
(Behaar al-Anwaar, Vol. 36, P. 312 narrating from Kifaayatul Asar)
It is possible that a question arises as to why the lineage progressed from Imam Husain (a.s.) and not Imam Hasan Mujtaba (a.s.)? This question was put forward by a companion of Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.). Imam (a.s.) replied:
“Surely Hazrat Musa (a.s.) and Hazrat Haroon (a.s.) were messengers, prophets and brothers. But, Allah established prophethood in the progeny of Hazrat Haroon (a.s.) and not Hazrat Musa (a.s.). And nobody has the right to question the authority of Allah regarding this. Verily, Imamat on this earth is the representation of God, and nobody has the right to ask why Allah established it in the progeny of Imam Husain (a.s.) and not Imam Hasan (a.s.)? For, there is wisdom in all the acts of Allah (A.W.J.). He will not be asked regarding His action but people will be questioned regarding their actions.”
(Kamaaluddin of Shaikh. Saduq, P. 358 and Yanaabiul Mawaddah of Hafez Shaikh Sulaiman Qondoozi)
(6) “Salutations upon the son of Seal of the Prophets.”
The seal of the Prophets is one of the · titles of our Prophet, Muhammad Mustafa
(s.a.w.a.). He (s.a.w.a.) was the seal of all Messengers and Prophets, i.e. there is neither any messenger nor any prophet after him. This is an open announcement of the Holy Quran and traditions. It is also a fundamental of Islamic faith. If someone harbours the belief that there can be any messenger or prophet after the Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad Ibn Abdillah (s.a.w.a.) or another shariah or a new religion, then surely he has departed from the religion of Islam. He will no longer be called a Muslim. The Holy Qur’an has announced this in Surah Ahzab: Verse 40.
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Apostle of Allah and the Last of the prophets…”
Those desirous of further information can refer to books written on this subject of Khaatamiyyat. To put it briefly, proponents of new religions like Qadiyaaniat or Bahaai’iat were indeed false claimants and pseudoProphets and their adherents and sympathizers are outside the pale of Islam.
It is elucidated in this verse of Ziyarate Naahiyah that Imam Husain (a.s.) is the son of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). A few of the ignorant and some of the opponents question the correctness of the assertion that Imam Husain (a.s.) is the son of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), while he (a.s.) is of the progeny of Hazrat Ali Murtuza (a.s.) and Janabe Fatima (s.a.). This question has been answered by the Holy Quran itself. At the time of revelation of Ayah Mubaahelaa
(Surah Aale. Imraan: Verse 61),
the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was ordered:
“..Then say (O Prophet): Come let us call our sons and your sons…” .
All Shia and Sunni exegeses are unanimous that, upon revelation of this verse, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had only taken Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husain (a.s.) along with him to the field of malediction (Mubahilah) as “our sons” of the verse. Innumerable narrations quote the Messenger of Islam (s.a.w.a.) saying: “my son Husain.” Hence the doubts are either due to ignorance or sheer enmity.
(7) “Salutations upon the son of the chief of vicegerents.”
It is apparent that the chief of vicegerents’ represents the master of the universe, Ameerul Momeneen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.). Imam Sadiq (a.s.) narrates: Hazrat Jibraeel (a.s.) came to the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and said:
“O Prophet) Surely Allah selected you as the chief of the messengers and made Ali as the chief of the vicegerents.”
Hence, Ameerul Momeneen (a.s.) is the chief and master of all the vicegerents, whether they precede him or the eleven Imams (a.s.) who succeed him. And this promise has been made by the Almighty God Himself. Imam Husain (a.s.) is the son of the chief of the vicegerents, which increases his superiority and excellence.
(8) “Salutations upon the son of Fatima Zahra (s.a.), Salutations upon the son of Khadijatul Kubra (s.a.).”
The world knows about the position and distinction of Fatima Zahra (s.a.). It is sufficient to note that she is the leader of the women of the world. Numerous verses have been revealed in the Holy Qur’an eulogizing her majesty and splendour.
She is the daughter of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), the wife of Ali (a.s.) and the mother of Imams (a.s.).
Similarly, narratives would fall short in describing the sacrifices of Janabe Khadijatul Kubra (s.a.). She is the lady who spent all her wealth in the way of the Lord. She also made such momentous contributions as a devout wife that people were astonished. She was a true helper of Islam.
Did the Muslims repay her kindness and obligations to Islam? Had they really done so, her grandson Husain (a.s.) would not have been martyred in the battlefield of Karbala with his family, friends and companions after being kept hungry and thirsty for three days.
The lineage of the chief of the martyrs was discussed in these verses of Ziyarate Nahiyaa. This was to clarify that the war of Karbala was not a fight between two princes (as some of the fools perceive) but a battle between the Divine and the Satanic, between truth and falsehood. (Will be continued in the next issue, Inshaallah).