~ Don't take the Imams lightly ~

Narrated that Abu Abd-Allah Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) said to a group of people who were with him,

"What is the matter with you that take us lightly (khafeef)?"

A man from Khurasan stood up and said, "Allah forbid that we should take you lightly or anything concerning your matter!"

The Imam replied, "Yes, you indeed are one of those who took me lightly."

The man said, "Allah forbid that I should take you lightly!"

The Imam then said to him, "Woe to you! Did you not hear so-and-so, when we were near al-Juhfah, saying to you, 'Carry me for the distance of a mile, for by Allah, I am exhausted'?

By Allah, you did not even lift your head to acknowledge him, and you certainly took him lightly.

And whoever takes a believer from among our followers lightly, has taken lightly and has neglected the sanctity of Allah (عز وجل)."

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هَارُونَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام)
قَالَ قَالَ لِنَفَرٍ عِنْدَهُ وَ أَنَا حَاضِرٌ مَا لَكُمْ تَسْتَخِفُّونَ بِنَا قَالَ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ خُرَاسَانَ فَقَالَ مَعَاذٌ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ أَنْ نَسْتَخِفَّ بِكَ أَوْ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ أَمْرِكَ فَقَالَ بَلَى إِنَّكَ أَحَدُ مَنِ اسْتَخَفَّ بِي فَقَالَ مَعَاذٌ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ أَنْ أَسْتَخِفَّ بِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ وَيْحَكَ أَ وَ لَمْ تَسْمَعْ فُلَاناً وَ نَحْنُ بِقُرْبِ الْجُحْفَةِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ لَكَ احْمِلْنِي قَدْرَ مِيلٍ فَقَدْ وَ اللَّهِ أَعْيَيْتُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا رَفَعْتَ بِهِ رَأْساً وَ لَقَدِ اسْتَخْفَفْتَ بِهِ وَ مَنِ اسْتَخَفَّ بِمُؤْمِنٍ فِينَا اسْتَخَفَّ وَ ضَيَّعَ حُرْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

(Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 8, Hadith. 73)

Narrated that Abu Abd-Allah Imam al-Sadiq (عليه السلام) used to say the following when faced with a calamity:

"Praise be to Allah, who did not make my calamity to be in my religion.
Praise be to Allah, who, had He willed, could have made my calamity greater than what it was.
And praise be to Allah for the matter that He willed to happen, and so it happened."

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ
كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) يَقُولُ عِنْدَ الْمُصِيبَةِ الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي لَمْ يَجْعَلْ مُصِيبَتِي فِي دِينِي وَالْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي لَوْ شَاءَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ مُصِيبَتِي أَعْظَمَ مِمَّا كَانَتْ وَالْحَمْدُ لله عَلَى الأمْرِ الَّذِي شَاءَ أَنْ يَكُونَ فَكَانَ

(Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 3, Pg. 262)

The narrator says,

I wrote to Abu Muhammad Imam Al-Askari (عليه السلام) saying,

"It has been narrated to us from your forefathers (عليهم السلام), that your Hadith (traditions/teachings) is difficult and considered difficult; it cannot be borne by a proximate angel, a sent prophet, or a believer whose heart Allah has tested for faith."

The Imam replied back to him: 

"Its meaning is that an angel cannot bear it within himself [keep it contained] without passing it on to another angel like him; a prophet cannot bear it without passing it on to another prophet like him; and a believer cannot bear it without passing it on to another believer like him. 

Its meaning is that one cannot contain it in their heart due to the sweetness of what is in their chest, until they share it with someone else."

أبي رحمه الله - قال: حدثنا أحمد بن إدريس، عن الحسين بن عبد الله، عن محمد بن عيسى بن عبيد، عن بعض أهل المدائن قال: كتبت إلى أبي محمد عليه السلام: روي لنا عن آبائكم عليهم السلام أن حديثكم صعب مستصعب لا يحتمله ملك مقرب ولا نبي مرسل ولا مؤمن امتحن الله قلبه للايمان. قال: فجاءه الجواب: إنما معناه أن الملك لا يحتمله في جوفه حتى يخرجه إلى ملك مثله، ولا يحتمله نبي حتى يخرجه إلى نبي مثله، ولا يحتمله مؤمن حتى يخرجه إلى مؤمن مثله، إنما معناه أن لا يحتمله في قلبه من حلاوة ما هو في صدره حتى يخرجه إلى غيره.

(Source: Ma'ani al-Akhbar, Pg. 188)

From the Sermon of Zaynab bint Ali (عليها السلام) in Kufa,

"Woe to you. Do you realise which heart of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و آله) you have ripped apart? And which blood of His you shed? And which of His noble womenfolk you have targeted?"

"Indeed you have done a terrible thing, Whereby the heavens are about to be torn apart, and the earth split asunder and the mountains fall in pieces."(19:89-90)

ويلكم أتدرون أي كبد لمحمد فريتم ، وأي دم له سفكتم، وأي كريمة له أصبتم ؟ " لقد جئتم شيئا إدا، تكاد السماوات يتفطرن منه وتنشق الأرض وتخر الجبال هدا "

(Source al-Amali, Shaikh Mufid, Pg. 321)

~ Go to the grave of the Prophet and complain ~

Narrated that Qays ibn Rummanah, said:

"I went to Abu Jafar Imam Baqir (عليه السلام) and complained to Him about debt and financial difficulty."

The Imam (عليه السلام) said to me, "Go to the grave of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله), complain to Him, and then come back to Me."

So I went and did as he instructed, then I returned to him.

The Imam (عليه السلام) said to me, "Lift the prayer mat and take what is under it."

I lifted it and found dinars underneath. I said, "No, by Allah! May I be sacrificed for You; I did not complain to You so that you would give me something."

The Imam (عليه السلام) said to me, "Take it and do not inform anyone about your need, lest they look down upon you."

So, I took it, and it was three hundred dinars."

حَمْدَوَيْهِ وَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ، قَالا حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُوسَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَسْبَاطٍ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ رُمَّانَةَ، قَالَ: أَتَيْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (ع) فَشَكَوْتُ إِلَيْهِ الدَّيْنَ وَ خِفَّةَ الْمَالِ، قَالَ، فَقَالَ ايتِ قَبْرَ النَّبِيِّ (ص) فَاشْكُ‌ إِلَيْهِ وَ عُدْ إِلَيَّ! قَالَ، فَذَهَبْتُ فَفَعَلْتُ الَّذِي أَمَرَنِي ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ لِي ارْفَعِ الْمُصَلَّى وَ خُذِ الَّذِي تَحْتَهُ! قَالَ فَرَفَعْتُهُ فَإِذَا تَحْتَهُ دَنَانِيرُ، فَقُلْتُ لَا وَ اللَّهِ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا شَكَوْتُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُعْطِيَنِي شَيْئاً، قَالَ، فَقَالَ لِي: خُذْهَا وَ لَا تُخْبِرْ أَحَداً بِحَاجَتِكَ فَيَسْتَخِفَّ بِكَ، فَأَخَذْتُهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ ثَلَاثُمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ

(Source: Rijal al-Kashshi, Vol. 1, Pg. 183)

From the sermon of Sayeda Zaynab bint Ali (عليها السلام) in court of Yazid:

فكد كيدك ، واسع سعيك ، وناصب جهدك ، فوالله لا تمحو ذكرنا ، ولا تميت وحينا ، ولا تدرك أمدنا ، ولا ترحض عنك عارها.

"So plan your plots and strive your hardest, and exert your utmost efforts, but by Allah you will not be able to erase Our remembrance (zekr) or extinguish Our message or reach Our status or wash off disgrace/shame [of your actions] from you."

(Source: al-Malhoof – Sayed Ibn Tawus, Pg. 218)

~ Knowing Allah ~

Narrated that Abu Jafar Imam al-Baqir (عليه السلام) said:

"Only he who knows Allah worships Allah. As for him who does not know Allah, he only worships Him in a state of misguidance (straying)."

The narrator said: "May I be sacrificed for you! What is the recognition (Ma'rifah) of Allah?"

The Imam replied:
"It is to testify to Allah (عز وجل), and to testify to His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله), and to love (Muwalat) Imam Ali (عليه السلام), and to follow him and the Imams of Guidance (peace be upon them) as leaders, and to disavow (Bara'ah) unto Allah (عز وجل) from their enemies. In this way, Allah (عز وجل) is known."

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام)
إِنَّمَا يَعْبُدُ الله مَنْ يَعْرِفُ الله فَأَمَّا مَنْ لا يَعْرِفُ الله فَإِنَّمَا يَعْبُدُهُ هَكَذَا ضَلالاً قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَمَا مَعْرِفَةُ الله قَالَ تَصْدِيقُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَتَصْدِيقُ رَسُولِهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَمُوَالاةُ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَالائْتِمَامُ بِهِ وَبِأَئِمَّةِ الْهُدَى (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) وَالْبَرَاءَةُ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْ عَدُوِّهِمْ هَكَذَا يُعْرَفُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ

(Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Pg. 180)

Narrated from Abu Abd-Allah Imam al-Sadiq (عليه السلام):

"Whoever visits [the grave of] al-Husayn (عليه السلام) seeking reward from Allah—neither out of arrogance, nor pride, nor showoff (riya), nor seeking reputation—his sins will be cleared from him just as a cloth is cleansed with water, leaving no stain upon it.

For every step he takes, a Hajj is recorded for him, and every time he raises his foot, an Umrah is recorded."

حدَّثني أبي رحمه‌الله وعليُّ بن الحسين ؛ ومحمّد بن الحسن جميعاً ، عن محمّد بن يحيى العطّار ، عن حَمدانَ بنِ سليمانَ النّيسابوريِّ قال : حدَّثنا عبدالله بن محمّد اليمانيُّ ، عن مَنيع بن الحَجّاج ، عن يونسَ بن عبدالرَّحمن ، عن قُدامَةَ بن مالك ، عن أبي عبدالله عليه‌السلام « قال : مَن زارَ الحسين مُحتسباً لا أشَرَاً ولا بَطَراً ولا رياء ولا ولا سُمْعَةً مُحِصَتْ عنه ذنوبُه[١]كما يمحص الثَّوب بالماء ، فلا يبقى عليه دَنَس ، ويكتب له بكلِّ خُطْوةٍ حَجّة ، وكلّما رفع قدماً عُمرة ».

(Source: Kamil al-Ziyarat, Ch. 57, Hadith. 1)

~ Obligation of knowing the Imam ~

Narrated as part of a narration that Zurarah asked Imam Baqir (عليه السلام):

"What do you say about those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, and accept as true everything that Allah has revealed to His Messenger – is the right of knowing you obligatory upon those?"
The Imam said, "Yes. Do these people not know so-and-so and so-and-so? [i.e. referring to muslims following other self made caliphs & Imams]" 

I (the narrator) said, "Yes." 

The Imam said, "Do you think that it is Allah who placed the knowledge of those people [i.e. false Imams] in their hearts? By Allah, none but Satan placed that in their hearts! And by Allah no one but Allah (عز وجل) has inspired our rights to the believers."

قُلْتُ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِيمَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ وَ يُصَدِّقُ رَسُولَهُ فِي جَمِيعِ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ يَجِبُ عَلَى أُولَئِكَ حَقُّ مَعْرِفَتِكُمْ قَالَ نَعَمْ أَ لَيْسَ هَؤُلَاءِ يَعْرِفُونَ فُلَاناً وَ فُلَاناً قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ أَ تَرَى أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الَّذِي أَوْقَعَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَعْرِفَةَ هَؤُلَاءِ وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَوْقَعَ ذَلِكَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَّا الشَّيْطَانُ لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَلْهَمَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَقَّنَا إِلَّا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ 

(Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Pg. 180-181)

~ Beer, Chess & Yazid ~

Narrated that Imam al-Ridha (عليه السلام) said,

"When the head of al-Husain (عليه السلام) was taken to Damascus (sham), Yazid, may Allah curse him, ordered for the head to be placed down and a table of food to be set up over it. Then he and his companions came and began to eat and drink barley beer. When they finished, he ordered the head to be placed in a tray under his bed and a chessboard was spread over it, and Yazid, may Allah curse him, sat down playing chess, He talked about al-Husain, His Father, and His Grandfather (عليهم السلام) and mocked them.

Whenever he gambled with his companion, he would take barley beer and would drink three times, and then pour the rest of it on the ground near the tray.

So whoever is from Our Shia should refrain from drinking barley beer and playing chess. And whoever looks at barley beer or at chess, he should remember al-Husain (عليه السلام) and should curse Yazid and the family of Ziyad, then Allah (عز وجل) will erase his sins, even if they were as numerous as the stars."

وروى لنا عبد الواحد بن محمد بن عبدوس النيسابوري رضي الله عنه قال: حدثنا علي بن محمد بن قتيبة، عن الفضل بن شاذان قال: سمعت الرضا (عليه السلام) يقول: " لما حمل رأس الحسين (عليه السلام) إلى الشام أمر يزيد لعنه الله فوضع ونصب عليه مائدة، فأقبل هو وأصحابه يأكلون ويشربون الفقاع فلما فرغوا أمر بالرأس فوضع في طست تحت سريره وبسط عليه رقعة الشطرنج وجلس يزيد لعنه الله يلعب بالشطرنج ويذكر الحسين بن علي وأباه وجده (عليهم السلام) ويستهزئ بذكرهم، فمتى قامر صاحبه تناول الفقاع فشربه ثلاث مرات ثم صب فضلته على ما يلي الطست من الأرض فمن كان من شيعتنا فليتورع عن شرب الفقاع واللعب بالشطرنج، ومن نظر إلى الفقاع أو إلى الشطرنج فليذكر الحسين (عليه السلام) وليلعن يزيد وآل زياد، يمحو الله عز وجل بذلك ذنوبه ولو كانت بعدد النجوم

(Source: al-Faqih, Shaikh Saduq, Vol. 4, Pg. 419)

~ Getting close to AhlulBayt is getting close to Allah ~

Narrated from Imam Jafar bin Mohammad (as) from His Father Mohammad bin Ali (as) that, Imam Mohammad Baqir (as) looked at Hamran, cried and said:

"O Hamran, how strange are people! How have they neglected, forgotten or pretended to forget the saying of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله) when he was ill and people came to visit Him & greet Him, until the house b
ecame crowded with people.
Then Ali (عليه السلام) came and offered salutations, but He could not cross the people to reach the Prophet (ص) and the people did not give space to let Imam Ali (عليه السلام) pass.

When the Prophet (ص) saw that, He raised his pillow and called out, "Come to me, O Ali (as)!"
Upon seeing this the people pressed close to each other and gave space to let Imam Ali (as) pass through.

The Prophet (ص) seated Ali (عليه السلام) beside him and said, "O people, this is what you do with my family (AhlulBayt) while I am still alive! Then what will you do to them after my death?"

"By Allah, you do not get near to my Ahl al-Bayt (عليهم السلام) by any degree of closeness except that you get closer to Allah in station, and you do not distance yourselves from them by even a step or turn away from them except that Allah turns away from you."

"O people, listen to what I say to you! The satisfaction/agreement, pleasure (of Allah), and heaven will be for whoever loves Ali (as), takes him as Master [wali], takes him as a leader [Imam], accepts His merits/superiority [fadhl], and follows My successors after Him."

أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ قِرَاءَةً عَلَيْهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي قَيْسٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ الرُّمَّانِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ ابْنِ أُخْتِ خَالِدِ بْنِ مَخْلَدٍ الْقَطَوَانِيِ‌  قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ الثَّقَفِيُّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ(ع)أَنَّهُ نَظَرَ إِلَى حُمْرَانَ فَبَكَى ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا حُمْرَانُ عَجَباً لِلنَّاسِ كَيْفَ غَفَلُوا أَمْ نَسُوا أَمْ تَنَاسَوْا فَنَسُوا قَوْلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ(ص)حِينَ مَرِضَ فَأَتَاهُ النَّاسُ يَعُودُونَهُ وَ يُسَلِّمُونَ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى إِذَا غَصَّ بِأَهْلِهِ الْبَيْتُ‌  جَاءَ عَلِيٌّ(ع)فَسَلَّمَ وَ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَتَخَطَّاهُمْ إِلَيْهِ‌ وَ لَمْ يُوَسِّعُوا لَهُ فَلَمَّا رَأَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ(ص)ذَلِكَ رَفَعَ مِخَدَّتَهُ‌ وَ قَالَ إِلَيَّ يَا عَلِيُّ فَلَمَّا رَأَى النَّاسُ ذَلِكَ زَحَمَ‌ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً وَ أَفْرَجُوا حَتَّى تَخَطَّاهُمْ وَ أَجْلَسَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ(ص)إِلَى جَانِبِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ هَذَا أَنْتُمْ تَفْعَلُونَ بِأَهْلِ بَيْتِي فِي حَيَاتِي مَا أَرَى فَكَيْفَ بَعْدَ وَفَاتِي وَ اللَّهِ لَا تَقْرُبُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي قُرْبَةً إِلَّا قَرُبْتُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَنْزِلَةً وَ لَا تَبَاعَدُونَ عَنْهُمْ خُطْوَةً وَ تُعْرِضُونَ عَنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَعْرَضَ اللَّهُ عَنْكُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اسْمَعُوا مَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ أَلَا إِنَّ الرِّضَا وَ الرِّضْوَانَ وَ الْجَنَّةَ لِمَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيّاً وَ تَوَلَّاهُ وَ ائْتَمَّ بِهِ وَ بِفَضْلِهِ وَ بِأَوْصِيَائِي بَعْدَهُ وَ حَقٌّ عَلَى رَبِّي أَنْ يَسْتَجِيبَ لِي فِيهِمْ إِنَّهُمْ اثْنَا عَشَرَ وَصِيّاً وَ مَنْ تَبِعَهُ‌ فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي‌ إِنِّي مِنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ مِنِّي وَ دِينِي دِينُهُ وَ دِينُهُ دِينِي وَ نِسْبَتُهُ نِسْبَتِي وَ نِسْبَتِي نِسْبَتُهُ‌ وَ فَضْلِي فَضْلُهُ وَ أَنَا أَفْضَلُ مِنْهُ وَ لَا فَخْرَ يُصَدِّقُ قَوْلِي قَوْلُ رَبِّي- ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُها مِنْ بَعْضٍ وَ اللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ‌
 
(Source: al-Ghaybah by Nomani, Chapter. 4, Hadith. 22)

~ Labbaik Ya Husain (as) ~

From a Ziyarat of Imam Husain (عليه السلام) as narrated from Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام):

"At Your Service (Labbaik), O Caller from/to Allah, Even though my body did not respond to Your call [in Karbala], but then my heart, my hair, my skin, my thoughts, and my desires have all answered Your call upon submission (tasleem) to the successor of the Messenger Prophet, the chosen Grandson, the knowledgeable guide, the entrusted guardian, and the pleasing eloquent one, and the oppressed & wronged."

لَبَّيْكَ داعِيَ الله [لَبَّيْكَ داعِيَ الله] ، إنْ كانَ لَمْ يَجِبْكَ بَدَني فَقَدْ أجابَكَ قَلْبي وَشَعْري وَبَشَري وَرَأْيي وَهَوايَ عَلَى التَّسْليمِ لَخَلَفِ النَّبيِّ المُرْسَلِ ، وَالسِّبْطِ المُنْتَجَبِ ، وَالدَّلِيلِ العالِمِ ، وَالأمَينِ المُسْتَخْزَنِ ، وَالمَرْضيِّ البَلِيغ وَالمظْلُوم المُهْتَضَمِ

(Source: Kamil al-Ziyarat, Pg. 233)

Part of long narration from Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) teaching a Ziyarah of Imam Husain (عليه السلام):

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا وَليَّ اللهِ ، السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا أبا عَبْدِاللهِ ، أنْتَ لي جُنَّةٌ مِنَ الْعَذابِ ، وَهذا أوانُ أنْصِرافي عَنْكَ ؛ غَيرَ راغِبٍ عَنْكَ ، وَلا مُسْتَبْدِلٍ بِكَ سِواكَ ، وَلا مؤثِرٍ عَلَيْكَ غَيرَكَ ، وَلا زاهِدٍ في قُرْبِكَ ، جُدْتُ بِنَفْسي لِلْحَدَثانِ ، وَتَرَكْتُ الاُهْلَ وَالأوطانَ ، فَكُنْ لي يَومَ حاجَتي وَفَقْرِي ، وَفاقَتي ، يَومَ لا يُغْني عَنّي والِدي وَلا وَلَدي ، وَلا حَميمِي ولا قَرِيبي

"Salam upon You, O Wali of Allah. Salam upon You, O' Aba Abdillah (عليه السلام). You are my protection from the chastisement. This is the time for me to leave You although I am not turning away from you, And I am not replacing You with anyone other than You. And I am not giving preference to someone else over you. And have not lost the desire to be near you."

"I took pains upon (sacrifised) myself in calamities/misfortunes (in going for ziyarat) and left my family and homeland. Therefore be there for me on the day of my need, poverty, and neediness, the day when my parents, my children, my intimate friends, my companions, and my relatives will not be of use to me."

(Source: Kamil Al-Ziyarat, Chapter. 84, Hadith. 2)

The following narrations is recorded by Sheikh Kulayni in Al-Kafi under the chapter:

"The Imams (عليهم السلام) know when they will die and they die voluntarily" - أن الأئمة عليهم السلام يعلمون متى يموتون و أنهم لا يموتون إلا باختيار منهم‏

عدة من أصحابنا، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن علي بن الحكم، عن سيف بن عميرة، عن عبدالملك بن أعين، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام) قال: أنزل الله تعالى النصر على الحسين (عليه السلام) حتى كان [ما] بين السماء والارض ثم خير: النصر، أو لقاء الله، فاختار لقاء الله تعالى

Narrated from Abu Jafar Imam Baqir (عليه السلام),

"Allah (تعالى) sent help for Imam al-Husain (عليه السلام) such that it filled up between the heavens and earth. Then He was given to choose either help or meeting Allah. He, however, choose the meeting of Allah (تعالى)."

(Source: Al-Kafi, Vol.1 Pg. 260)

Narrated that Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) said,

"I have not seen anything rush towards something faster than gray hair to a believer, and it (gray hair) is dignity/respect (Waqaar) for the believer in this world, and a radiant light on the Day of Resurrection."

With it Allah (تعالى) honored His friend Ibrahim (عليه السلام), So, Ibrahim (عليه السلام) said: "What is this, O Lord?"

Allah to him: "This is dignity."

So, Ibrahim (عليه السلام) said: "O Lord, increase me in dignity."

Abu Abdullah (عليه السلام) said: "Therefore part of honoring Allah is to honor the gray hair [old age] of the believer."

وبهذا الاسناد، عن رزيق، قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله (عليه السلام)، يقول: ما رأيت شيئا أسرع إلى شئ من الشيب إلى المؤمن، وإنه وقار للمؤمن في الدنيا، ونور ساطع يوم القيامة، به وقر الله (تعالى) خليله إبراهيم (عليه السلام)، فقال: ما هذا يا رب؟ قال له: هذا وقار، فقال: يا رب زدني وقارا. قال أبو عبد الله (عليه السلام): فمن إجلال الله إجلال شيبة المؤمن

(Source: al-Amali, Shaikh Tusi, Pg. 699)

~ Making the AhlulBayt (as) Happy ~

Narrated from Abu Abd-Allah Imam Al-Sadiq (عليه السلام) as part of longer narration:

"If the visitor of al-Husain (عليه السلام) knew the joy that enters the heart of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله), and the joy that reaches Amir al-Mominin (عليه السلام), and Fatimah (عليها السلام), the Imams, and the martyrs from among us—the Ahl al-Bayt; and if he knew the prayers [Dua] they offer for him, the rewards he gains in this life and the hereafter, and what is stored for him with Allah - he would wish that his home was there [near the shrine] for as long as he lived."

عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)

وَ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ زَائِرُ اَلْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ مَا يَدْخُلُ عَلَی‌ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ وَ مَا يَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ اَلْفَرَحِ وَ إِلَی‌ أَمِيرِ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ إِلَی‌ فَاطِمَةَ وَ اَلْأَئِمَّةِ وَ اَلشُّهَدَاءِ مِنَّا أَهْلَ اَلْبَيْتِ وَ مَا يَنْقَلِبُ بِهِ مِنْ دُعَائِهِمْ لَهُ وَ مَا لَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ اَلثَّوَابِ فِي اَلْعَاجِلِ وَ اَلْآجِلِ وَ اَلْمَذْخُورِ لَهُ عِنْدَ اَللَّهِ لَأَحَبَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَا ثَمَّ دَارَهُ مَا بَقِيَ

(Source: Kamil al-Ziyarat, Ch. 98, Hadith. 17)

Narrated that Abu Jafar Imam Baqir (عليه السلام) said,

"If people only knew the virtue (and reward) contained in visiting the grave of al-Husain (عليه السلام), they would have died out of longing [for it], and their souls would have torn apart in regret [over missing it].'"

حدَّثني الحسن بن عبدالله[١]، عن أبيه ، عن الحسن بن محبوب ، عن العَلاء بن رَزين ، عن محمّد بن مسلم ، عن أبي جعفر عليه‌ السلام « قال : لو يعلم النّاس ما في زيارة قبر الحسين عليه‌ السلام مِن الفضل لماتوا شَوقاً ؛ وتقطَّعتْ أنفسهم عليه حَسرات

(Source: Kamil al-Ziyarat, Ch. 56, Hadith. 3)

Narrated that Imam Ali (عليه السلام) said,

"How excellent is the humility of the wealthy toward the poor, seeking (the reward) that is with Allah; but even more excellent than that is the dignified pride of the poor toward the wealthy, out of trust in Allah."

وقال عليه السلام : مَا أَحْسَنَ تَوَاضُعَ الاْغْنِيَاءِ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ طَلَباً لِمَا عِنْدَ اللهِ! وأَحْسَنُ مِنْهُ تِيهُ الْفُقَرَاءِ عَلَى الاْغْنِيَاءِ اتِّكَالاً عَلَى الله

(Source: Nahjul Balagha, Saying 406)

Narrated that Imam Ali (عليه السلام) said,

وقال عليه السلام : مَنْ صَارَعَ الْحَقَّ صَرَعَهُ.

"Whosoever fights against the right/truth [Haq], it will overthrow him."

(Source: Nahjul Balagha, Saying 408)


And we have the following words for the Imams in Ziyarat al Jamiya as taught by Imam Ali Naqi (عليه السلام):

وَ اَلْحَقُّ مَعَكُمْ وَ فِيكُمْ وَ مِنْكُمْ وَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَ أَنْتُمْ أَهْلُهُ وَ مَعْدِنُهُ

"And the right/truth [Haq] is with you, within you, from you, towards you, and you are its people and its source."

(Source: al-Faqih, Shaikh Saduq, Vol. 2, Ch. 164, Hadith. 2)

~ Arrival in Shaam ~

Narrated from Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) from His father Imam Baqir (عليه السلام) who said,

I asked my father Ali ibn al-Husayn (عليه السلام) about how Yazid transported him.

Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (عليه السلام) said, "I was taken on a lame and saddleless camel, while the head of al-Husayn (عليه السلام) was raised on a standard/flag, and our women were behind me on bare-backed mules. The guards were behind us and to our sides, carrying spears.
If a tear fell from the eye of any one of us, his head would be struck with a spear.

If any of us wept, they would hit our heads with the spears. In this manner, we arrived at Sham, where a caller announced, 'O people of Sham! These are the prisoners from an accursed household."

فِي كِتَابِ الْمَصَابِيحِ بِإِسْنَادِهِ إِلَى جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع قَالَ: قَالَ لِي أَبِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ سَأَلْتُ أَبِي عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ حَمْلِ يَزِيدَ لَهُ فَقَالَ حَمَلَنِي عَلَى بَعِيرٍ يَظْلَعُ بِغَيْرِ وِطَاءٍ وَ رَأْسُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع عَلَى عَلَمٍ وَ نِسْوَتُنَا خَلْفِي عَلَى بِغَالٍ فأكف وَ الْفَارِطَةُ خَلْفَنَا وَ حَوْلَنَا بِالرِّمَاحِ إِنْ دَمَعَتْ مِنْ أَحَدِنَا عَيْنٌ قُرِعَ رَأْسُهُ بِالرُّمْحِ حَتَّى إِذَا دَخَلْنَا دِمَشْقَ صَاحَ صَائِحٌ يَا أَهْلَ الشَّامِ هَؤُلَاءِ سَبَايَا أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ اللعون [الْمَلْعُونِ‌]

(Source: Iqbal al-Aamal, ibn Tawoos, Vol. 2, Pg. 583)