Horizons of Thoughts

Ziyarah of Believers

Islam highly encourages one to visit his/her Muslim brother/sister. However, it does not emphasize on any kind of ziyarah whatsoever. It encourages meaningful ziyarah- ziyarah with a purpose and aim. Observe the following traditions: Imam al-Sadiq ('a) is reported to have said:

'Visit one another, for verily in your visitation is the revival of your hearts, and a remembrance of our speeches; our speeches make you harbor affection for one another; and if you act according to them, you would be guided and saved, and if you shun them, you would go astray and perish; therefore follow them while I guarantee your salvation.'[^21]

And Imam al-Baqir ('a) is reported to have said:

'Visit one another in your homes for surely in that is the life of our affair; may Allah's Mercy be upon one who revives our affair.'[^22] It should be noted that the revival of the affair discussed in the above traditions is nothing but the revival of Islamic values, for the Ahl al-Bayt ('a) are protectors of Islamic values and to remember them and their teachings is to elevate the human spirit in reality. One should not conjecture that there is any personal again that these infallible leaders of truth derive from such gatherings. Rather it is their followers who benefit.

Another important point to bear in mind is that 'the revival of their affair' cannot be mereby achieved by thoughts and words.We must sow the seeds of resolution in our visitations to reap the fruits of applying the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt ('a).

So far ziyarah has been reduced to visitation in the earthly abode. The Islamic worldview, however, due its sharp and accurate cognition of reality as taught by the Holy Qur'an, the Holy Prophet (s) and his infallible successors, does not limit ziyarah to the corporeal reality. It rather believes that human beings can communicate with those who have transcended this limited world of matter and can listen to them as well. In our daily prayer, we address the Holy Prophet (s) as follows:

Peace be unto you O Prophet and may Allah's Mercy and Blessings be on you.[^23]

This statement presumes the presence of the mukhatab (the addressee). And therefore we believe that the Prophet (s) is present and can behold our presence too.

One of the important etiquette of entering the shrine of the Holy Prophet (s) and the infallible Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt ('a) is to read the well-known idhn al-dukhul (recital of permission to enter). The za'ir (visitor) adopts a very humble attitude, and appreciating the presence of the Holy Prophet (s) seeks his permission to enter his hospice. In this well-known recital, we say:

…and I know that Your Apostle and vicegerents (upon whom be peace) are alive, receiving sustenance in Your neighborhood, they see where I stand presently, and hear my speech and respond to my salutation…[^24]

Unlike those who consider the human being as an entity which perishes after this worldly death, Islam teaches mankind that death is a purgatory and bridge to the realm beyond. In fact, to be more accurate, death is "tearing of some veils" from the final result of the reality of every thing. Great people like Imam 'Ali ('a), due to their intense purity, could boldly claim that they can behold the ultimate form of the reality of this world while they still exist in this earthly abode. In one of his famous dictums, Imam 'Ali ('a) is reported to have said:

If the curtains were unveiled nothing would be added to my conviction.[^25]

The tearing of veils, however, should not be considered as being limited to the Prophets (upon whom be peace) and infallible Imams ('a). Those human beings who are entirely submissive to the laws of Almighty Allah and have purified their hearts can also enjoy such exalted positions. In fact, Almighty Allah calls the human beings to appreciate the kernel of this word in the following verse:

And do they not look into the kernel of the heavens and the earth?[^26]

Hence there is an invitation to tear the veils that we have created for ourselves by sinning. In other interesting dictum of the Holy Prophet (s) we are told:

Was is not for the Satans circling around the hearts of the off-springs of Adam, they would have beheld the kernel of the heavens and the earth.[^27] Therefore, the more purity we enjoy, the better can we communicate with those exalted spirits who have left this material world, are alive in the real sense of the word, and due to their exalted station of existential mediation (about which we shall soon discuss in detail) can influence the world of contingent existence and even benefit us in different ways. There have been ample narratives indicating how people visited the shrines of the Ahl al-Bayt ('a) and solved very great problems in life.

Our aim of ziyarah, however, must transcend seeking personal benefits. It is therefore important to first define the purpose of ziyarah, and the reason why our holy Imams ('a) would teach us particular recitals for visiting the tomb of their grandfather Imam al-Hussein ('a). Of course this does mean that one should not seek personal benefits from the great personalities, but he/she must at least have realized the ultimate purpose of ziyarah.

It is through such realization, my brothers and sisters, that rain falls from the hearts and embraces every human being, rather every creature beyond time and place. Such realizations tear the veils of the past and future, and release the human being in the world of perpetual bliss and ecstasy. Soon the reader shall understand the words of this nondescript, for the world of Ahl al-Bayt ('a) is a world yet unknown. Their followers have no share save appreciating the tip of the iceberg:

Imam 'Ali ('a) is reported to have said to Abu Dharr:

Know O Aba Dharr that I am [only] a slave of Allah and His vicegerent over His servants; do not consider us as Lords and you may say whatever you want about our merits, for you cannot appreciate the essence of our perfection, nor its zenith…[^28]

And in another tradition he ('a) is reported to have said:

...None from this Ummah can be compared with the progeny of Muhammad (upon whom be peace)…[^29]