Seerah

The author of the book Kaameluz Ziyarat is Abul Qasim Jafar Ibne Mohammad Ibne Jafar Ibne Moosa Ibne Qulawayh Qummi famous as Ibne Qulawayh.This book is available in Arabic with Persian translation. The Persian translation has been done by Sayyid Mohammad Jawad Zahni Tehrani. The book contains 108 chapters. Out of 108 chapters, 84 chapters deal specifically with Sayyudush Shohada, which will be our topic of discussion.

The remaining 24 chapters deal with Ziarat of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), Imam Ali (a.s.) and other Imams (a.s.). Keeping in view the brevity of the treatise, we will discuss some of the topics dealt in the book pertaining to Imam Husain Ibne Ali (a.s.), which highlight the exalted stature of Imam Husain (a.s.).

1. Wailing of all the creatures on Imam Husain ibne Ali (a.s.)

Imam Mohammad Baqir (a.s.) said:

Men and jinn, birds and animals wail on Imam Husain b. Ali (a.s.) till tears flow profusely.'

(Chapter 26, tradition no. 1, pg. 251)

The tradition points towards the importance of crying and wailing for Imam Husain (a.s.) on one hand and on the other, underlines the folly of those people who brand crying for Imam Husain (a.s.) as innovation and polytheism. When all creatures are crying on Imam Husain (a.s.), then it is nothing but 'Sunnat-e-Ilahi' and 'Sunnat-e-Ilahi' cannot be innovation and polytheism.

2. Pigeons curse the killers of Imam Husain (a.s.)

Dawood Ibne Farqad a companion of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) narrates: I was sitting in the house of Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.) and heard a pigeon cooing for quite a long time. Imam (a.s.) turned towards me and questioned,

'O Dawood, what this bird is saying?'

I showed my ignorance in this regard. Imam (a.s.) said:

'It is cursing the killers of Imam Husain b. Ali (a.s.). Take it to your house.'

(Chapter 30, tradition no. 2, pg. 316)

The above tradition exhorts us to perform the similar act which the pigeon was performing i.e. cursing the killers of Imam Husain (a.s.). The implication being that if a dumb and ignorant bird curses Imam's (a.s.) killers, then we being humans and knowledgeable must definitely do so.

3. Reward for crying on Imam Husain (a.s.)

Abu Abdillah (a.s.) informed:

If our remembrance brings out a tear which is equal to a wing of a fly then that person's sins will be forgiven, even if they are equal to the froth in the sea.

(Chapter 32, tradition no. 8, pg. 335)

Crying to the extent of a wing of a fly over the hardships inflicted on Imam Husain (a.s.) becomes the cause of forgiveness of all sins. The hardships inflicted on Imam Husain (a.s.) were so severe that tears start flowing only on listening about them.

4. Reward for the one who recited elegy on the calamities of Imam Husain (a.s.) and cries and make others cry.

Abu Abdillah (a.s.) narrated to Abu Haroon:

O Abu Haroon! One who recites elegy on the calamities of Imam Husain (a.s.) and cries and two other people cry with him then paradise is obligatory on them. And if one recites an elegy on the calamities of Imam Husian (a.s.) and cries and other persons also cry along with him, then paradise is obligatory on all of them. One who listens to the calamities of Imam Husain (a.s.) and sheds a tear to the extent of a fly, then his reward is with Allah. And Allah will not be satisfied till He gives him paradise.

(Chapter 33, tradition no. 1, pg. 338-339)

This shows the importance of salutations, elegy and poems recited on the calamities of Imam Husain (a.s.).

5. Reward for the one who remembers the thirst of Imam Husain (a.s.) and curses his killers after drinking water.

Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) said to his companion Dawood:

"O Dawood! Curse the killers of Imam Husain (a.s.). There is not a servant that after drinking water remembers Imam Husain (a.s.) and curses his killers, but that Allah will write in his deeds one lakh good deeds, will forgive one lakh sins and raise his position by one lakh grades. (Perhaps it is freeing one lakh people from sins). On the Day of Judgment, Allah will make his heart contented and satisfied. "

(Chapter 34, Tradition No. 1, Pg. 346)

If somebody desires the satisfaction of Allah and reward from Him then he should remember the thirst of Imam Husain (a.s.), his family members and his companions.

6. Visitors of the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.) will do intercession for others

Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) said:

"The visitor of the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.) on the Day of Judgment will intercede on behalf of 100 inhabitants of hell.'

(Chapter 68, tradition no. 2, pg. 567)

7. Superiority and reward of prayers of angels for the visitors of Imam Husain's (a.s.) grave

Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) said:

"Seventy thousand angels worship near the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.). One namaz of one of them is equal to thousand namaz of mankind. The reward of this namaz is for the visitors of Imam Husain's (a.s.) grave. The curse of Allah, His angels and all mankind is forever upon the killers of Imam Husain (a.s.)."

(Chapter 42, tradition no. 1, pg. 393)

These few traditions are a mere drop in the ocean of traditions which throw light on virtues and superiority of Imam Husain (a.s.). As a few drops cannot quench the thirst, we have mentioned below some of the topics discussed in the book:

• Prophecy of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) about the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.) as revealed through Hazrat Jibrael (a.s.)
• Curse of Allah and all His Prophets (a.s.) on the killers of Imam Husain (a.s.)
• Crying of the sky and the earth on the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.)
• Elegies of Jinn on the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.)
• Proofs in the tradition that Imam Husain (a.s.) is Sayyedush Shohada
• Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) by the Prophets (a.s.)
• Supplication of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) for the visitors of the graves of Imam Husain (a.s.)
• Reward of spending money on Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.)
• Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) is superior to all actions
• Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) and other Imams (a.s.) is like Ziarat of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
• Visitors of Imam Husain's (a.s.) grave will be the first to enter paradise
• Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) erases sins
• Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) is equal to one Hajj and one Umrah
• Reward of Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) on the day of Arafah
• Virtues of Karbala and Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.)
• Soil of the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.) is a means of cure and peace
• Etiquette of reciting Ziarat of Imam Husain (a.s.) in the house