The Last Luminary and Ways to Delve Into the Light

Responsibility 87: Visiting Masjid Jamkaran

Another responsibility is to visit Masjid Jamkaran and to perform the recommended actions in that sacred masjid. Masjid Jamkaran was built under the direct order of Imam Waliul ‘Asr (ajtf) and has specific acts of worship which are recommended to be performed in it.

In addition, it is one of the places which the Imam frequents and where the legitimate requests of the people are fulfilled and the Imam himself has ordered the people to visit this sacred site!

In regards to the construction of this masjid, the following has been narrated by Hasan Muthallah Jamkarani: “I was sleeping in my home in the village of Jamkaran on Tuesday night, the 17th of the month of Ramaďan in the year 313 ah. It was just after midnight that out of nowhere, a group of people came to my house, woke me up and said: ‘Wake up and answer the call of your Master, Imam Mahdi Sahib al-Zaman (ajtf) who has summoned you!’”

Hasan continued: “I woke up, collected myself and prepared to get dressed and said to the people: ‘Just let me put my shirt on.’

At that time, I heard a voice saying: ‘That is not your shirt!’

After removing the shirt, I reached for my pants, and again I heard a voice say: ‘Those are not your pants! Do not put them on!’

I removed them too and was able to find my own shirt and pants. I got dressed and then started to look for the key to unlock the door when a voice said: ‘The door is already unlocked and open!’
I went towards the door, opened it, and saw a group of pious, noble people. I offered them my greetings, to which they replied accordingly.

They took me to a place where the present location of Masjid Jamkaran is located and as I was looking around, I saw a couch surrounded by fine carpets and pillows. A young man, who looked to be around 30 years old, was reclining on the couch, resting against the pillows. An old man was sitting beside him reading a book out loud while more than 60 men were around them some of them dressed in white and others in green offering their Salat.

The old man, whom I later found out was Prophet Khiďr asked me to be seated. At that time, the Imam, who was sitting next to Prophet Khiďr, called me by name and said: “You must go to Hasan Muslim and give him the following message.

Tell him that for the past five years, you have been farming on this land, planting and growing many things, but whatever you grow is being destroyed. This land is sacred, and Allah the Almighty has chosen this land above all others and bestowed distinction and honor to it.

Even this year, you have intended to plough and cultivate this land, though you do not have the authorization to do so! Thus, whatever financial earnings you have earned from this land must be returned so that a Masjid can be built on this spot.

Since you have taken this land which does not belong to you, Allah the Glorious and Powerful, has taken two of your young children away from you, but still you have not realized the wrong you are doing! If you continue in this way, the punishment of Allah which is beyond your imagination, will strike you.’’

I said: “O’ my Master, I must have some convincing signs, since without this, the people will not believe me.”

The Imam said: “I will show you the signs at this spot so that your statement will prove to be truthful. You simply go and convey the message to the people. Go and see Sayyid Abul Hasan in Qum and tell him to come with you to visit Hasan Muslim and collect from him the earnings of the farm land for the past few years, and with this money, lay the foundation for the Masjid.

For the remaining expenditure, you may collect it from the village of Rihaq, in the Ardhal region (near Kashan) which belongs to me, to complete the building of the Masjid. Also, half of the estate of the village of Rihaq has been given as Waqf (endowment) for the maintenance of the Masjid. Tell the people to visit this place, and to respect and honor it by offering four Rak’at of Salat as follows:

The first Salat of two Rak’at should be prayed with the intention of ‘Salutation to the Masjid’ (تحية المسجد) where in each Rak’at, Suratul Fatiha is recited once, followed by Suratul IkhlaS seven times. In every Rak’at, the dhikr:

in Ruku’: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ

and in Sajdah: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْـلىٰ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ

Should be recited seven times, the second Rak’at should be recited exactly as the first one.

The second Salat is also two Rak’at and it should be prayed with the intention of ‘Salat for Imam al-Zaman’(ajtf) in which Suratul Fatiha is recited once, and the line:

is recited one hundred times. The surah should then be completed, followed by the recitation of Suratul IkhlaS once.

In every Rak’at, the dhikr:

in Ruku’: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ

and in Sajdah: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْـلىٰ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ

Should also be recited seven times each. The second Rak’at is to be recited exactly like the first one.

Once both of the Salat are finished, the following line should be said once:

Followed by the Tasbih of Fatimah az-Zahra (sa):

34 times:أَللهُ أَكْبَرُ
33 times:أَلْـحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ
33 times: سُبْحَانَ اللهِ

After this, you should go into sajdah and recite Salawat on Prophet Muhammad (S) and his family (as) one hundred times:

The Imam then said:

‘Whoever performs this Salat (will receive the same reward) as the one who prays inside the ‘Ancient House’ (the Holy Ka’bah).’”[^1]

[^1]: Najm al-Thaqib (al-Tabrisi), sec. 7, story 1