~ Imam Ali (as): The Religion of Allah ~

From the Ziyarat of Imam Ali (عليه السلام) that is narrated to have been recited by Imam Ali ibn Muhammad al-Naqi (عليه السلام) on the day of Ghadir:

"Peace be upon you, O the upright Religion of Allah, and His Straight Path (Sirat al-Mustaqim).

Peace be upon you, O the Great News (Naba al-Azeem), about which they are in disagreement, and about which they shall be questioned."

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا دِينَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْقَوِيمَ وَصِرَاطَهُ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبَأُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ٱلَّذِي هُمْ فِيهِ مُخْتَلِفُونَ وَعَنْهُ يُسْأَلُونَ

(Source: al-Mazar, ibn Mashhadi, Pg. 264)

From the supplication by Imam Ali bin Husain (ع) upon seeing clouds and lightning and hearing sounds of thunder:

“Oh Allah! bless Muhammad (ص) and his household (ع), send down upon us the benefit of these clouds and their blessings and turn away from us their harm and the injury”

اللهم صلى على محمد و آله وانزل علينا نفع هذه السحآئب و بركاتها واصرف عنا اذاها و مضرتها

(Source: Sahifa Sajjadiyah, Supplication. 36)

Narrated that Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) said as part of a narration:

"There is no eye that weeps for us except that it will be delighted by looking at Al-Kawthar (the heavenly river/fountain), and it will be given a drink from it for whoever loves us. Indeed, the one who drinks from it will be given a level of pleasure, taste, and desire that is greater than what is given to those who are below them in their love for us."

عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) قال: وَ مَا مِنْ عَيْنٍ بَكَتْ لَنَا إِلَّا نُعِّمَتْ بِالنَّظَرِ إِلَى الْكَوْثَرِ- وَ سُقِيَتْ مِنْهُ مَنْ أَحَبَّنَا وَ إِنَّ الشَّارِبَ مِنْهُ لَيُعْطَى مِنَ اللَّذَّةِ وَ الطَّعْمِ وَ الشَّهْوَةِ لَهُ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يُعْطَاهُ مَنْ هُوَ دُونَهُ فِي حُبِّنَا. 

(Source: Kamil al-Ziyarat, Ch. 32, Hadith. 1)

~ The signs of the Shia ~

In a Hadith narrated from Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (عليه السلام), the Imam narrates from his father going up to Imam Ali (عليه السلام), that Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله) said to Imam Ali (عليه السلام):

"O Ali (عليه السلام), Blessed be whoever loves you and acknowledges you. Woe be to whoever hates you and denies you. Your lovers are known in the seventh heaven and the lower seventh earth and what is in between them.

They are religious, pious, good-mannered, and humble to Allah (عز و جل). 

Their gazes are humble, and their hearts are wary of remembering Allah (عز و جل). 

They have recognized the rights of your Wilayah (mastership). 

Their tongues are busy mentioning your merits (Fadhail). 

Their eyes are shedding tears sympathizing with You and the Imams from your progeny. 

They obey Allah what He has commanded them in His Book and what has reached them of His Prophet (ص) traditions (Sunnah). 

They act as per what the Ulil-Amr (Those with authority i.e. the Imams) have commanded them.

They are united/connected with each other and are not separate from each other. They love each other and have no hate for one another."

حدثنا عبد الله بن محمد بن عبد الوهاب قال: أخبرنا أبو نصر منصور بن عبد الله بن إبراهيم الأصفهاني قال: حدثنا علي بن عبد الله الإسكندراني قال: حدثنا أبو علي أحمد بن علي بن مهدي الرقي قال: حدثنا أبي قال: حدثنا علي بن موسى الرضا قال: حدثني أبي موسى بن جعفر عن أبيه جعفر بن محمد عن أبيه محمد بن علي عن أبيه الحسين بن علي عن أبيه علي بن أبي طالب عليهم السلام قال: قال رسول الله (ص): (يا علي طوبى لمن أحبك وصدق بك وويل لمن أبغضك وكذب بك محبوك معروفون في السماء السابعة والأرض السابعة السفلى وما بين ذلك هم أهل الدين والورع والسمت (1) الحسن والتواضع لله عز وجل خاشعة أبصارهم وجله قلوبهم لذكر الله عز وجل وقد عرفوا حق ولايتك وألسنتهم ناطقة بفضلك وأعينهم ساكبة تحننا عليك وعلى الأئمة من ولدك يدينون لله بما أمرهم به في كتابه وجاءهم به البرهان من سنه نبيه عاملون بما يأمرهم به أولو الامر منهم متواصلون غير متقاطعين متحابون غير متباغضين ان الملائكة لتصلى عليهم وتؤمن على دعائهم وتستغفر للمذنب منهم وتشهد حضرته وتستوحش لفقده يوم القيامة

(Source: Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha, Vol. 2, Pg. 236, Hadith. 21)

~ Moving towards death ~

From a long narration narrated from Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام):

"Imam Husayn (عليه السلام) moved forward until He reached al-Udhayb, where He had a bried nap at noon. He then woke up from His sleep while crying and His son asked Him, What causes You to cry, O Father?"

Imam Husayn (عليه السلام) replied, "My dear Son, this is a time (of sleep) during which dreams are not false. I saw a vision in my dream in which someone said to Me, "You are moving fast on Your journey, while death is leading You to Paradise."

ثم سار حتى نزل العذيب ، فقال فيها قائلة الظهيرة، ثم انتبه من نومه باكيا، فقال له ابنه: ما يبكيك يا أبه؟ فقال: يا بني، إنها ساعة لا تكذب الرؤيا فيها، وإنه عرض لي في منامي عارض فقال: تسرعون السير، والمنايا تسير بكم إلى الجنة

(Source: al-Amali, Shaikh Saduq, Pg. 218)

~ Muhammad (ص) and Ali (ع) ~

Narrated through a chain of trustworthy narrators from Abu Abd-Allah Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام),

About the saying of Allah (تبارك وتعالى), "Have We not expanded for you [O Prophet] your chest?" (94:1)

The Imam said, "It was through the Mastership (Wilayah) of Amir al-Momineen Ali (عليه السلام)."

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ جَمِيلٍ وَ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ‌ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (ع) فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى‌ أَ لَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ‌ قَالَ فَقَالَ بِوَلَايَةِ أَمِيرِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيٍّ

(Source: Basair al-Darajat, Pg. 72)

~ Muharram the month of grief ~

Narrated that Imam al-Rida (عليه السلام) said:

"Indeed, Muharram is a month in which the people of the Jahiliyyah (the pre-Islamic era of ignorance) used to forbid fighting. Yet, in this month, the shedding of our blood was made permissible, our respect was violated, our children and women were taken prisoners, our tents were set on fire, and our possessions within them were plundered. And the sanctity [respect/holiness] of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله) was not respected regarding Us.

Surely, The day of Husayn (عليه السلام) has wounded our eyelids, made our tears flow, and humiliated our respected ones in a land of grief and affliction (Karb wa Bala'). Making us inherit grief and affliction until the end of days. So those who cry should cry for the likes of Imam Husayn (عليه السلام), for indeed, crying wipes away the great sins."

Then the Imam (ع) said,

"When the month of Muharram would begin, my father [Musa Kazim (صلوات الله عليه)] would not be seen smiling. Sorrow would overcome him for the first ten days. When the tenth day arrived, it was his day of tragedy, grief, and weeping, and he would say: 'This is the day on which Husayn (صلوات الله عليه) was killed.'"

حدثنا جعفر بن محمد بن مسرور (رحمه الله)، قال: حدثنا الحسين بن محمد بن عامر، عن عمه عبد الله بن عامر، عن إبراهيم بن أبي محمود، قال: قال الرضا (عليه السلام): إن المحرم شهر كان أهل الجاهلية يحرمون فيه القتال، فاستحلت فيه دماؤنا، وهتكت فيه حرمتنا، وسبي فيه ذرارينا ونساؤنا، وأضرمت النيران في مضاربنا، وانتهب ما فيها من ثقلنا، ولم ترع لرسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله) حرمة في أمرنا. إن يوم الحسين أقرح جفوننا، وأسبل دموعنا، وأذل عزيزنا، بأرض كرب وبلاء، أورثتنا الكرب والبلاء، إلى يوم الانقضاء، فعلى مثل الحسين فليبك الباكون، فإن البكاء يحط الذنوب العظام.
ثم قال (عليه السلام): كان أبي (صلوات الله عليه) إذا دخل شهر المحرم لا يرى ضاحكا، وكانت الكآبة تغلب عليه حتى يمضي منه عشرة أيام، فإذا كان يوم العاشر كان ذلك اليوم يوم مصيبته وحزنه وبكائه، ويقول: هو اليوم الذي قتل فيه الحسين (صلوات الله عليه)

(Source: al-Amali, Shaikh Sadooq, Pg. 190)

~ Let the Tears flow ~

From a lengthy narration as narrated from Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام):

وما من عين أحب إلى الله ولا عبرة من عين بكت ودمعت عليه، وما من باك يبكيه الا وقد وصل فاطمة (عليهما السلام) وأسعدها عليه، ووصل رسول الله وادي حقنا

"There are no eyes and tears loved more by Allah than the eyes of those who cry and shed tears over Imam Husayn (عليه السلام).

And there is none who cries upon Him, but that he has connected with Fatimah (عليها السلام) and he supported Her upon it, and has connected with the Prophet of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله) and has fulfilled our rights."

(Source: Kamil al-Ziyarat, Pg. 168)

Remember: The central purpose of Azadari is to shed tears upon Imam Husain (عليه السلام).

Narrated that Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) said,

Amir al-Momineen (عليه السلام) looked at Imam Husain (عليه السلام) and said, "O Tear of every believer."

حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي(رحمه الله)وَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ رَحِمَهُمُ اللَّهُ جَمِيعاً عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جَنَاحٍ عَنْ أَبِي يَحْيَى الْحَذَّاءِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ(ع)قَالَ نَظَرَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ(ع)إِلَى الْحُسَيْنِ فَقَالَ يَا عَبْرَةَ كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ

(Source: Kamil al-Ziyarat, Ch. 36, H. 1)

~ The Unforgettable Thirst ~

The narrator says:

"I was with Abu Abd-Allah Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) when the Imam asked for some water. When the Imam drank it, I saw Him crying and His eyes were overflowing with tears."

Then the Imam (عليه السلام) said,

"O Dawood, May Allah curse the killers of Husayn (عليه السلام). There is no one who drinks water and remembers (zekr) Husayn (عليه السلام) and curses His killers, but that Allah will write down hundred thousand good deeds for him and will remove hundred thousand sins from him and will raise him by hundred thousand ranks and it will be as if he has freed a hundred thousand slaves and Allah will resurrect him on the day of Qayamat with a satisfied heart."

حدَّثني محمّد بن جعفر الرَّزَّاز الكوفيُّ ، عن محمّد بن الحسين ، عن الخشّاب ، عن عليِّ بن حَسّان ، عن عبدالرَّحمن بن كثير ، عن داودَ الرَّقّيّ « قال : كنت عند أبي عبدالله عليه‌السلام إذ استسقى الماءَ ، فلمّا شربه رأيته قد استعبر واغْرَورَقتْ عَيناه بدُمُوعِه ، ثمَّ قال لي : يا داودُ لعن الله قاتل الحسين ، فما مِن عبدٍ شرب الماءَ فذكر الحسين عليه‌السلام ولعنَ قاتله إلاّ كتب الله له مائة ألف حَسَنةٍ ، وحطّ عنه مائة ألف سيّئةٍ ، ورفع له مائة ألف درجةٍ ، وكأنّما أعتق مائة ألف نَسَمةٍ ، وحَشَره الله تعالى يوم القيامة ثلجَ الفُؤاد

(Source: Kamil al-Ziyarat, Ch. 34, Hadith. 1)

Part of narration from Abu Abd-Allah Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) on the believer seeing Prophet of Allah (صلى لله عليه وآله) & Imam Ali (عليه السلام) during death:

Then Imam Ali (عليه السلام) leans over the dying person and says, "O friend of Allah, good news for you. I am Ali ibn Abi Talib (عليه السلام), whom you loved. I am certainly going to benefit you."

فيقوم علي (عليه السلام) حتى يكب عليه، فيقول: يا ولي الله أبشر أنا علي بن أبي طالب الذي كنت تحبه أما لأنفعنك

(Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 3, Pg. 129)

Narrated from Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) from His Father Imam al-Baqir (عليه السلام), from Imam Ali ibn Husain (عليه السلام):

"Then Imam Husain (عليه السلام) advanced until he reached Karbala and the Imam asked what place is this?

Someone said, "This place is Karbala, O' Son of Messenger of Allah."

Then Imam Husain (عليه السلام) said, "This By Allah is the day (place) of sorrow (karb) and affliction (bala). And this is the place where our blood will be shed and Our honor will be violated."

ثم سار حتى نزل كربلاء، فقال: أي موضع هذا؟ فقيل: هذا كربلاء يا بن رسول الله. فقال: هذا والله يوم كرب وبلاء، وهذا الموضع الذي يهراق فيه دماؤنا، ويباح فيه حريمنا

(Source: al-Amali, Shaikh Saduq, Pg. 219)

~ Lets it come to the Cheeks ~

Narrated from Imam al-Ridha (عليه السلام) as part of a long narration:

"O son of Shabib, If you cried over Husain (عليه السلام) to the extent that your tears came onto your cheeks, Allah will forgive all of your sins which you have committed, minor or major, little or excessive.

يا بن شبيب، إن بكيت على الحسين (عليه السلام) حتى تصير دموعك على خديك غفر الله لك كل ذنب أذنبته، صغيرا كان أو كبيرا، قليلا كان أو كثيرا

(Source: al-Amali, Shaikh Saduq, Majalis, 27, Hadith 5)

~ Even before tears come out ~

Narrated that Imam Sadiq (as) said as part of a narration:

"And no one cries sympathizing with Us and for what (oppression) was done to Us, but that Allah will have mercy upon him even before a tear comes out of his eye. And if his tears flow down upon his cheek, so a drop of his tears falls into hell it would extinguish its heat until no heat would remain in it."

وما بكى أحدٌ رَحمةً لنا ولما لقينا إلاّ رحمه الله قبل أن تخرج الدَّمعة من عينه ، فإذا سالَتْ دُموعه على خَدِّه ، فلو أن قطرةً مِن دُموعه سَقَطتْ في جهنَّم لأطْفَئتْ حَرَّها حتى لا يوجد لها حَرٌّ

(Source: Kamil al-Ziyarat, Chapter. 32, Hadith. 7)

~ The Qaim ~

Part of a long narration from Abu Hamzah Thumali in which Abu Hamzah asks Imam Baqir (عليه السلام):

"Why was al-Qaim (the one who rises) named al-Qaim?"

The Imam replied, "When my grandfather al-Husayn (عليه السلام) was killed, the angels cried out to Allah (تعالى) with weeping and lamentation. They said, 'Our Allah and our Master! Do You overlook those who killed Your chosen one, the son of Your chosen one, and the best of Your creation?'

Then Allah (عز وجل) inspired them: 'Be at ease, My angels. By My Might and My Majesty, I will surely take revenge upon them, even if it is after some time.'

Then Allah (عز وجل) unveiled the Imams from the descendants of al-Husayn (عليه السلام) to the angels. The angels rejoiced at this, and one of them was standing (Qaim) in prayer.

Allah (عز وجل) said, "Through that standing one (al-Qaim), I will take revenge upon them."

قُلْتُ فَلِمَ سُمِّيَ الْقَائِمُ قَائِماً قَالَ لَمَّا قُتِلَ جَدِّيَ الْحُسَيْنُ(ع)ضَجَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى بِالْبُكَاءِ وَ النَّحِيبِ وَ قَالُوا إِلَهَنَا وَ سَيِّدَنَا أَ تَغْفَلُ عَمَّنْ قَتَلَ صَفْوَتَكَ وَ ابْنَ صَفْوَتِكَ وَ خِيَرَتِكَ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِمْ قَرُّوا مَلَائِكَتِي فَوَ عِزَّتِي وَ جَلَالِي لَأَنْتَقِمَنَّ مِنْهُمْ وَ لَوْ بَعْدَ حِينٍ ثُمَّ كَشَفَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَنِ الْأَئِمَّةِ مِنْ وُلْدِ الْحُسَيْنِ(ع) لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ فَسُرَّتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ بِذَلِكَ فَإِذَا أَحَدُهُمْ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فَقَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِذَلِكَ الْقَائِمُ أَنْتَقِمُ مِنْهُمْ


(Source: ilal al-Sharae, Shaikh Saduq, Vol. 1, Ch. 129, Hadith. 1)

From Ziyarat al-Nahiya al-Muaqaddasah narrated to have come from Imam Mahdi (عليه السلام) through one of his deputies:

اَلسَّلامُ عَلى مَنْ طَهَّرَهُ الْجَليلُ
Peace be upon the one who was purified by the all-Majestic (Allah)

اَلسَّلامُ عَلى مَنِ افْتَخَرَ بِهِ جَبْرَئيلُ
Peace be upon the one who was the pride of Jibrail

اَلسَّلامُ عَلى مَنْ ناغاهُ فِي الْمَهْدِ ميكائيلُ
Peace be upon the one who was comforted in the cradle by Mikail

(Source: al-Mazar al-Kabir, Pg. 499)

Narrated that Imam al-Ridha (عليه السلام) said as part of a narration:

"O son of Shabib, If you are happy, in having the reward similar to the reward of the one who was martyred with Husain (عليه السلام), then whenever you mention/remember him, say: 'How I wish I was with them! I would have attained a great victory.

يا بن شبيب، إن سرك أن يكون لك من الثواب مثل ما لمن استشهد مع الحسين (عليه السلام) فقل متى ما ذكرته: يا ليتني كنت معهم فأفوز فوزا عظيما.

(Source: al-Amali, Shaikh Saduq, Majalis, 27, Hadith 5)

Narrated from Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام), part of a lengthy hadith on the method of Ziyarat of Imam Husain (عليه السلام):

"I cried for you, O chosen one of Allah and the son of His chosen one, and it is only right for me to cry over you. The heavens, the earths, the mountains, and the seas have cried over you, so what is my excuse if I do not cry over you? The beloved of my Lord [The Prophet] has cried for you, the Imams (as) have cried for you, and everyone from beyond the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary (Sidrat al-Muntaha) down to the earth has cried for you, out of grief over you."

بكيتك يا خيرة الله وابن خيرته، وحق لي أن أبكيك، وقد بكتك السماوات والأرضون والجبال والبحار، فما عذري ان لم أبكك، وقد بكاك حبيب ربي، وبكتك الأئمة صلوات الله عليهم، وبكاك من دون سدرة المنتهى إلى الثرى جزعا عليك

(Source: Kamil al-Ziyarat, Ch. 79, Hadith. 17)

From Ziyarat al-Nahiya al-Muaqaddasah narrated to have come from Imam Mahdi (عليه السلام) through one of his deputies:  

لقد قتلوا بقتلك الاسلام

"By killing you, they have killed Islam."

(Source: al-Mazar al-Kabir, Pg. 505)

~ The Dua in our Hearts ~

From Ziyarat Ashura as taught by Imam Baqir (عليه السلام):

"So I ask Allah, Who has honored your station, to honor me through you, and to grant me the opportunity to seek your vengeance/revenge along with a victorious Imam from the family of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله)."

فَأَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي أَكْرَمَ مَقَامَكَ أَنْ يُكْرِمَنِي بِكَ وَ يَرْزُقَنِي طَلَبَ ثَارِكَ مَعَ إِمَامٍ مَنْصُورٍ مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ (ص)


(Source: Kamil al-Ziyarat, Ch. 71, Hadith. 8)