The month of Safar is well-known for bringing bad luck; and nothing can remove bad luck except almsgiving, supplication to Almighty Allah, and traditional supplications of seeking His protection against Satan and bad things. Al-Muhaddith al-Faydh and other scholars have mentioned that if you desire to be saved from the misfortunes and bad luck of the month of Safar, you may repeat the following supplicatory prayer ten times every day in this month:

شهر صفر معروف بالنّحوسة ولا شيء أجدى لرَفع النّحوسة من الصّدقة والأدعية والاستعاذات المأثورة ومن أراد أن يصان ممّا ينزل في هذا الشّهر من البلاء فليقل كلّ يوم عشر مرّات كما روى المحدّث الفيض وغيره

يَا شَدِيدَ الْقِوَىٰ وَيَا شَدِيدَ الْمِحَالِ يَا عَزِيزُ يَا عَزِيزُ يَا عَزِيزُ ذَلَّتْ بِعَظَمَتِكَ جَمِيعُ خَلْقِكَ فَاكْفِنِي شَرَّ خَلْقِكَ يَا مُحْسِنُ يَا مُجْمِلُ يَا مُنْعِمُ يَا مُفْضِلُ يَا لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَكَذلِكَ نُنْجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَصَلَّىٰ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ الطَّاهِرِينَ

O Lord of mighty prowess! O Lord of mighty power! O Exalted in might! O Exalted in might! O Exalted in might! Submissive to Your Almightiness are all of Your creatures; so, (please) save me from the evil of Your creatures. O All-liberal! O All-bountiful! O Source of all bounties! O Doer of favors! O He save Whom there is no god! All glory be to You! Verily, I have been a wrongdoer. So We heard his prayer and saved him from the anguish. Thus do We save the believers. May Allah send blessings to Muhammad and his Household, the pure and immaculate.

The first day of Safar

اليوم الأوّل

On the first of Safar, AH 37, the battle of Siffin broke out. According to some narrations, on this day in AH 61, the head of Imam al-Hussein, the chief of martyrs, entered the city of Damascus, the capital of the Umayyad rulers, on spearheads after it had been carried to it from al-Kufah, Iraq. Therefore, the Umayyad rulers betook that day as feast day. A poet says:

فيه في السّنة السّابعة والثّلاثين ابتدئ القتال في واقعة صفّين وفيه على بعض الأقوال في السّنة الحادية والسّتين أدخل دمشق رأس سيّد الشّهداء (عليه السلام) فجعله بنو أميّة عيداً لهم وهو يوم يتجدّد فيه الأحزان

While they were days of sadness in Iraq, the Umayyad rulers and proponents in Levant betook them as feast days.

كانَتْ مَاتِمُ بِالْعِراقِ تَعُدُّها                   أَمَوِيَّةُ بِالشّامِ مِن أَعْيادِها

In fact, on this day, the grievances of Imam al-Hussein’s adherents should be aroused. According to some narrations, on the first, or the third, of Safar, Zayd ibn Ali ibn al-Hussein was martyred.

وفيه أيضاً على بعض الأقوال أو في الثّالث منه في السّنة الحادية والعشرين بعد المائة استشهد زيد بن عليّ بن الحسين (عليه السلام)

The third of Safar

اليوم الثّالث

Sayyid Ibn Tawus writes down on the authority of the books of some Imamiyyah scholars that it is recommended, on the third of Safar, to offer a two unit prayer at the first of which Surah al-Fatihah and Surah al-Fath should be recited and at the second, Surah al-Fatihah and Surah al-Tawhid should be recited. After accomplishment, invocation of blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household, invocation of curse upon the Umayyad dynasty, and imploration for forgiveness repeated one hundred times each. After all that, one may pray for granting his needs. The invocation of curse upon the Umayyad dynasty should be in the following form:

O Allah, curse the family of Abu-Sufyan.

روى السّيد ابن طاوس عن كتب أصحابنا الاماميّة استحباب الصّلاة في هذا اليوم ركعتين يقرأ في الأُولى الحمد وسورة إِنّا فَتَحنا وفي الثّانية الحمد والتّوحيد ويصلّي بعد السّلام على محمّد وآله مائة مرّة ويقول مائة مرّة ويستغفر مائة مرّة ثمّ يسئل حاجته

اللَّهُمَّ الْعَنْ آلَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ

The seventh of Safar

اليوم السّابع

According to the opinions of al-Shahid and al-Kafʿami, Imam al-Hassan al-Mujtaba was martyred on the seventh of Safar, AH 50. As for the two Sheikhs, Imam al-Hassan was martyred on the twenty-eighth of Safar. On the seventh of Safar, AH 128, Imam Musa ibn Jaʿfar al-Kazhim was born at al-Abwaa—a place between Mecca and Medina.

استشهد فيه في سنة خمسين الامام الحسن المجتبى (عليه السلام) على قول الشّهيد والكفعمي وغيرهما وكانت الشّهادة في اليوم الثّامن والعشرين من الشّهر على قول الشّيخين وفيه في سنة 128 كانت ولادة الامام موسى بن جعفر (عليهما السلام)في أبواء وهو منزل بين مكّة والمدينة

The twentieth of Safar; the Arbaeen Day

اليوم العشرون؛ يوم الأربعين

In the word of the two Sheikhs, on the twentieth of Safar, the family of Imam al-Hussein arrived in Medina returning from Syria. On this day too, Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari, the first to visit the tomb of Imam al-Hussein, arrived there. It is recommended to visit the holy tomb of Imam al-Hussein on this day. Concerning this, Imam al-Hassan al-Askari is reported to have said:

وعلى قول الشّيخين هو يوم ورود حرم الحسين (عليه السلام) المدينة عائداً من الشّام وهو يوم ورود جابر بن عبد الله الأنصاري كربلاء لزيارة الحسين وهو اوّل من زاره (عليه السلام) ويستحبّ فيه زيارته (عليه السلام) وعن الامام العسكري (عليه السلام) قال

“The signs of a true believer are five: (1) offering fifty-one units of daily obligatory and supererogatory prayers, (2) visiting the tomb of Imam al-Hussein on the twentieth of Safar, (3) putting a ring in the right hand, (4) covering one’s forehead with dust (i.e. prostrating oneself to Almighty Allah earnestly), and (5) repeating the Basmalah (Bismil-lahir-rahmanir-rahim: In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful) audibly in certain prayers.

علامات المؤمن خمس: صلاة احدى وخمسين الفرائض والنّوافل اليوميّة ، وزيارة الأربعين ، والتّختّم في اليمين وتعفير الجبين والجهر بـبسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Salutatory prayer on the twentieth of Safar; the Arbaeen

زيارة الأربعين

Two salutatory prayers to be said upon visiting Imam al-Hussein’s holy tomb on the twentieth of Safar have been mentioned in traditions:

وقد رويت زيارة قبر الإمام الحسين عليه السلام في هذا اليوم على نحوين

The first is reported by Sheikh al-Tusi, in Tahdhib al-Ahkam and Misbah al-Mutahajjid, from Safwan al-Jammal who said:

أحدهما ما رواه الشّيخ في التّهذيب والمصباح عن صفوان الجمّال قال

My master al-Sadiq instructed me to visit Imam al-Hussein on the Arbaeen Day, advisably in the early forenoon, and to say:

قال لي مولاي الصّادق صلوات الله عليه في زيارة الأربعين: تزُور عند ارتفاع النّهار وتقول:

السَّلاَمُ عَلَىٰ وَلِيِّ اللَّهِ وَحَبِيبِهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَىٰ خَلِيلِ اللَّهِ وَنَجِيبِهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَىٰ صَفِيِّ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ صَفِيِّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَىٰ الْحُسَيْنِ الْمَظْلُومِ الشَّهِيدِ السَّلاَمُ علىٰ أَسِيرِ الْكُرُبَاتِ وَقَتِيلِ الْعَبَرَاتِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُ وَلِيُّكَ وَابْنُ وَلِيِّكَ وَصَفِيُّكَ وَابْنُ صَفِيِّكَ الْفَائِزُ بِكَرَامَتِكَ أَكْرَمْتَهُ بِالشَّهَادَةِ وَحَبَوْتَهُ بِالسَّعَادَةِ وَاجْتَبَيْتَهُ بِطِيبِ الْوِلاَدَةِ وَجَعَلْتَهُ سَيِّداً مِنَ السَّادَةِ وَقَائِداً مِنَ الْقَادَةِ وَذَائِداً مِنْ الذَّادَةِ وَأَعْطَيْتَهُ مَوَارِيثَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَجَعَلْتَهُ حُجَّةً عَلَىٰ خَلْقِكَ مِنَ الأَوْصِيَاءِ فَأَعْذَرَ فِي الدُّعَاءِ وَمَنَحَ النُّصْحَ وَبَذَلَ مُهْجَتَهُ فِيكَ لِيَسْتَنْقِذَ عِبَادَكَ مِنَ الْجَهَالَةِ وَحَيْرَةِ الضَّلالةِ وَقَدْ تَوَازَرَ عَلَيْهِ مَنْ غَرَّتْهُ الدُّنْيَا وَبَاعَ حَظَّهُ بِالأَرْذَلِ الأَدْنَىٰ وَشَرَىٰ آخِرَتَهُ بِالثَّمَنِ الأَوْكَسِ وَتَغَطْرَسَ وَتَرَدَّىٰ فِي هَوَاهُ وَأَسْخَطَكَ وَأَسْخَطَ نَبِيَّكَ وَأَطَاعَ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ أَهْلَ الشِّقَاقِ وَالنِّفَاقِ وَحَمَلَةَ الأَوْزَارِ الْمُسْتَوْجِبِينَ النَّارَ فَجَاهَدَهُمْ فِيكَ صَابِراً مُحْتَسِباً حَتَّىٰ سُفِكَ فِي طَاعَتِكَ دَمُهُ وَاسْتُبِيحَ حَرِيـمُهُ اللَّهُمَّ فَالْعَنْهُمْ لَعْناً وَبيلاً وَعَذِّبْهُمْ عَذَاباً اليماً السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ سَيِّدِ الأَوْصِيَاءِ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ أَمِينُ اللَّهِ وَابْنُ أَمِينِهِ عِشْتَ سَعيداً وَمَضَيْتَ حَمِيداً وَمُتَّ فَقِيداً مَظْلُوماً شَهِيداً وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ مُنْجِزٌ مَا وَعَدَكَ وَمُهْلِكٌ مَنْ خَذَلَكَ وَمُعَذِّبٌ مَنْ قَتَلَكَ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ وَفَيْتَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَجَاهَدْتَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ حَتَّىٰ أَتَاكَ الْيَقِينُ فَلَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَكَ وَلَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ ظَلَمَكَ وَلَعَنَ اللَّهُ أُمَّةً سَمِعَتْ بِذٰلِكَ فَرَضِيَتْ بِهِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُشْهِدُكَ أَنِّي وَلِيٌّ لِمَنْ وَالاَهُ وَعَدُوٌّ لِمَنْ عَادَاهُ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ كُنْتَ نُوراً فِي الأَصْلاَبِ الشَّامِخَةِ وَالأَرْحَامِ الْمُطَهَّرَةِ لَمْ تُنَجِّسْكَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةُ بِأَنْجَاسِهَا وَلَمْ تُلْبِسْكَ الْمُدْلَهِمَّاتُ مِنْ ثِيَابِهَا وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ مِنْ دَعَائِمِ الدِّينِ وَأَرْكَانِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَمَعْقِلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ الإِمَامُ الْبَرُّ التَّقِيُّ الرَّضِيُّ الزَّكِيُّ الْهَادِي الْمَهْدِيُّ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ الأَئِمَّةَ مِنْ وُلْدِكَ كَلِمَةُ التَّقْوَىٰ وَأَعْلاَمُ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْعُرْوَةُ الْوُثْقَىٰ وَالْحُجَّةُ علىٰ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا وَأَشْهَدُ أَنِّي بِكُمْ مُؤْمِنٌ وَبِإِيَابِكُمْ مُوقِنٌ بِشَرَايِعِ دِينِي وَخَوَاتِيمِ عَمَلِي وَقَلْبِي لِقَلْبِكُمْ سِلْمٌ وَأَمْرِي لأَمْرِكُمْ مُتَّبِعٌ وَنُصْرَتِي لَكُمْ مُعَدَّةٌ حَتَّىٰ يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ فَمَعَكُمْ مَعَكُمْ لَامَعَ عَدُوِّكُمْ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَلَىٰ أَرْوَاحِكُمْ وَأَجْسَادِكُمْ وَشَاهِدِكُمْ وَغَائِبِكُمْ وَظَاهِرِكُمْ وَبَاطِنِكُمْ آمِينَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Peace be upon the intimate servant of Allah and His most-beloved. Peace be upon the friend of Allah and His elite. Peace be upon the choice of Allah and son of His choice. Peace be upon al-Hussein the wronged and martyred. Peace be upon the captive of agonies and victim of the shed tears. O Allah, I do bear witness that he is verily Your intimate servant and son of Your intimate servant, Your choice and son of Your choice, and the winner of Your honoring. You have honored him with martyrdom, endued him with happiness, privileged him with legitimate birth, made him one of the chiefs, one of the leaders, and one of the defenders (of Your religion), gave him the inheritances of the Prophets, and chose him as argument against Your created beings and one of the Prophets’ successors. So, he called to you flawlessly, gave advices, and sacrificed his soul for You to save Your servants from ignorance and perplexity of straying off. Yet, those whom were seduced by this worldly life, who sold their share (of reward) with the lowliest and meanest, retailed their Hereafter with the cheapest price, acted haughtily, perished because of following their desires, brought to themselves Your wrath and the wrath of Your Prophet, and obeyed the dissident and hypocritical servants of You and the bearers of the burdens (of sins) who deserve Hellfire—all those supported each other against him. However, he fought against them painstakingly with steadfastness expecting Your reward until his blood was shed on account of his obedience to You and his women were violated. So, O Allah, pour heavy curses on them and chastise them with painful chastisement. Peace be upon you, O son of Allah’s Messenger. Peace be upon you, O son of the chief of the Prophets’ successors. I bear witness that you are verily the trustee of Allah and the son of His trustee. You lived with happiness, passed away with praiseworthiness, and died missed, wronged, and martyred. I also bear witness that Allah shall inevitably fulfill His promise to You, exterminate those who disappointed you, and chastise those who slew you. I also bear witness that you fulfilled your pledge to Allah and strove hard in His way until death came upon you. So, may Allah curse those who slew you. May Allah curse those who wronged you. May Allah curse the people who, when informed about that, were pleased with it. O Allah, I do ask You to witness for me that I am loyalist to those who are loyalists to him and enemy of those who are enemies of him. May my father and mother be accepted as ransoms for you, O son of Allah’s Messenger. I bear witness that you were light in the sublime loins and purified wombs; the impurities of the Ignorance Era could not object you to filth nor could its murky clothes dress you. I also bear witness that you are one of the mainstays of the religion, the supports of Muslims, and the haven of the believers. I also bear witness that you are the God-fearing, pious, pleased, immaculate, guide, and well-guided Imam. And I bear witness that the Imams from your progeny are the spokesmen of piety, the signs of guidance, the firmest handle (of Islam), and the decisive Argument against the inhabitants of the world. I also bear witness that I believe in you all and in your Return, I have full confidence in the laws of my religion and in the seals of my deeds, my heart is at peace with you all, all my affairs are based on your commands, and my support for you all is already all set until Allah permits you. So, I am with you. I am with you, not with your enemies. Allah’s blessings be upon you, upon your souls, upon your bodies, upon the present and the absent from you, and upon the apparent and the invisible from you. Respond to us, O Lord of the Worlds.

ثمّ تصلّي ركعتين وتدعو بما أحببت وترجع

You may then offer a two-unit prayer and then pray Almighty Allah for anything you like. Then, you may return.

The second is reported from Jabir. Atta has reported the following: I was accompanying Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari on the twentieth of Safar. When we arrived at al-Ghadhiriyyah,⁽[1]⁾ he bathed himself from the water of its river and then put a pure (i.e. clean and ceremonially pure) shirt that he had carried with him. After that, he asked me, “Do you carry with you any fragrance?” I handed some fragrance over to him and he put some of it on his head and other organs. He then walked barefooted until he stopped at the side of Imam al-Hussein’s head. He then repeated three times the Takbir statement. He then fell to the ground fainted. When he recovered consciousness, I could hear him saying these words:

الزّيارة الأُخرى هي ما يروى عن جابر وهي انّه روي عن عطا قال: كُنت مع جابر بن عبد الله الأنصاري يوم العشرين من صفر، فلمّا وصلنا الغاضريّة اغتسل في شريعتها ولبس قميصاً كان معه طاهراً ثمّ قال لي: أمعك شيء من الطّيب يا عطا ؟ قلت: سعد، فجعل منه على رأسه وساير جسده ثمّ مشى حافياً حتّى وقف عند رأس الحسين (عليه السلام) وكبّر ثلاثاً ثمّ خرّ مغشيّاً عليه، فلمّا أفاق سمعته يقول

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا آلَ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا صَفْوَةَ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا خِيَرَةَ اللَّهِ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا سَادَةَ السَّادَاتِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا لُيُوثَ الْغَابَاتِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا سُفُنَ النَّجَاةِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْحُسَيْنُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ عِلْمِ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ آدَمَ صَفْوَةِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ نُوحٍ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ذَبِيحِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ مُوسَىٰ كَلِيمِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ عِيسَىٰ رُوحِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ مُحَمَّدٍ حَبِيبِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُصْطَفَىٰ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ عَلِيٍّ الْمُرْتَضَىٰ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ فَاطِمَةَ الزَّهْرَاءِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ خَدِيجَةَ الْكُبْرَىٰ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا شَهِيدُ ابْنَ الشَّهِيدِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا قَتِيلُ ابْنَ الْقَتِيلِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَلِيَّ اللَّهِ وَابْنَ وَلِيِّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حُجَّةَ اللَّهِ وَابْنَ حُجَّتِهِ عَلَىٰ خَلْقِهِ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ أَقَمْتَ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَيْتَ الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرْتَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَيْتَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَرُزِئْتَ بِوَالِدَيْكَ وَجَاهَدْتَ عَدُوَّكَ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ تَسْمَعُ الكَلاَمَ وَتَرُدُّ الْجَوَابَ وَأَنَّكَ حَبِيبُ اللَّهِ وَخَلِيلُهُ وَنَجِيبُهُ وَصَفِيُّهُ وَابْنُ صَفِيِّهِ يَا مَوْلاَيَ وَابْنَ مَوْلاَيَ زُرْتُكَ مُشْتَاقاً فَكُنْ لِي شَفِيعاً إِلَىٰ اللَّهِ يَا سَيِّدِي وَأَسْتَشْفِعُ إِلَىٰ اللَّهِ بِجَدِّكَ سَيِّدِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَبِأَبِيكَ سَيِّدِ الْوَصِيِّينَ وَبِأُمِّكَ فَاطِمَةَ سَيِّدَةِ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ الاَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ قَاتِلِيكَ وَلَعَنَ اللَّهُ ظَالِمِيكَ وَلَعَنَ اللَّهُ سَالِبِيكَ وَمُبْغِضِيكَ مِنَ الأَوَّلِينَ وَالآخِرِينَ وَصَلَّىٰ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ الطَّاهِرِينَ

Peace be upon you all, O Household of Allah. Peace be upon you all, O elite of Allah. Peace be upon you all, O best of Allah’s creatures. Peace be upon you all, O masters of all masters. Peace be upon you all, O lions of jungles. Peace be upon you all, O arks of redemption. Peace be upon you, O Abu-Abdullah al-Hussein. Peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you, O inheritor of the knowledge of the Prophets. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Adam the elite of Allah. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Noah the Prophet of Allah. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Abraham the intimate friend of Allah. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Ishmael the slaughtered for the sake of Allah. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Moses the spoken by Allah. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Jesus the spirit from Allah. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Muhammad the dearly beloved by Allah. Peace be upon you, O son of Muhammad the Chosen Prophet. Peace be upon you, O son of Ali the well-Pleased. Peace be upon you, O son of Fatima the luminous lady. Peace be upon you, O son of Khadijah the grand lady. Peace be upon you, O martyr and son of the martyr. Peace be upon you, O slain and son of the slain. Peace be upon you, O saint and son of the saint. Peace be upon you, O argument of Allah and son of His argument against His creatures. I bear witness that you performed the prayers, gave the poor-rate, enjoined the right, forbade the wrong, were deprived of your parents, and strove against your enemies. I also bear witness that you can now hear the speech and answer back and you are verily the beloved of Allah, His intimate friend, His selected servant, His elite, and son of His elite. O my master and son of my master, I am visiting you because of my eagerness to you; so, (please) my master, be my interceder before Allah. I also seek the intercession of your grandfather the chief of the Prophets before Allah, I seek the intercession of your father the chief of the Prophets’ Successors, and I seek the intercession of your mother the Chief of the women of the worlds. May Allah curse those who slew you. May Allah curse those who wronged you. May Allah curse those who deprived you (of your right) and those who hated you from the past and the coming generations. May Allah send blessings upon our chief Muhammad and upon his Household the immaculate and pure

The twenty-eighth of Safar

اليوم الثّامن والعشرون

On the twenty-eight of Safar, AH 11, the Holy Prophet Muhammad departed life. As is unanimously agreed, it was Monday. The Holy Prophet was sixty-three years old when he departed life. At the age of forty, he was commissioned, by Almighty Allah, to convey the Divine Mission; and Archangel Gabriel began conveying to him the commandments of Almighty Allah and the Divine Revelation. At Mecca, he invited people to follow the religion of monotheism for thirteen years. He then immigrated to Medina at the age of fifty-three. He departed life in the tenth year after his immigration (Hegira). Hence, Imam Ali Amir al-Mu’minin did the funeral rituals and then offered the ritual Prayer of the Dead for his soul. The companions, in groups, then would come near him to offer prayers individually without having any imam to lead them in prayer. Imam Ali buried him in the holy room where he—may Allah send peace and blessings upon him and his Household—departed life.

اليوم الثّامن والعشرون من سنة احدى عشرة يوم وفاة خاتم النّبيّين صلوات الله عليه وآله وقد صادفت يوم الاثنين من ايّام الأسبوع باتّفاق الآراء وكان له عندئذ من العمر ثلاث وستّون سنة هبط عليه الوحي وله أربعون سنة ثمّ دعا النّاس الى التّوحيد في مكّة مدّة ثلاث عشرة سنة ثمّ هاجر الى المدينة وقد مضى من عمره الشّريف ثلاث وخمسون سنة وتوفي في السّنة العاشرة من الهجرة فبدأ أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام) في تغسيله وتحنيطه وتكفينه ثمّ صلّى عليه ثمّ كان الأصحاب يأتون أفواجاً فيصلّون عليه فرادى من دون امام يأتمّون به وقد دفنه امير المؤمنين صلوات الله عليه في الحجرة الطّاهرة في الموضع الذي توفي فيه

It has been narrated that Anas ibn Malik said: “As soon as we accomplished the ceremonies of burying the Holy Prophet, Lady Fatima came to me and said, ‘How could you be bold enough to pile up soil on the face of the Messenger of Allah?’ She then wept and shouted, ‘Oh for my father whose prayers were responded by the Lord! Oh for my father; how nigh he is from his Lord!’…etc.”

عن أنس بن مالك قال: لمّا فرغنا من دفن النّبي صلى الله عليه وآله أتت اليّ فاطمة (عليها السلام) فقالت: كيف طاوعتكم أنفسكم على أن تهيلوا التّراب على وجه رسول الله ثمّ بكت وقالت: يا أَبَتاهُ أَجابَ رَبّاً دَعاهُ يا أَبَتاهُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ ما أَدْناهُ… الخ

According to a considerable narration, Lady Fatima al-Zahra took a handful of the soil of the Holy Prophet’s tomb, put it between her eyes, and said:

وعلى رواية معتبرة انّها أخذت كفّاً من تراب القبر الطّاهر فوضعته على عينيها وقالت

Indeed! If one who smells the soil of Ahmad’s tomb, one shall never smell any perfume any more! If the misfortunes that have been poured on me were poured on days, they should turn to black nights!

ماذا عَلَى الْمُشْتَمِّ تُرْبَةَ أَحْمَد                   أَنْ لا يَشَمَّ الزَّمــــــــــــــــــــــــــانِ غَوالِيا

صُبَّتْ عَليَّ مَصَائِبٌ لَوْ أَنَّها                  صُبَّتْ عَلَى الأَيّامِ صِرْنَ لَيالِيا

In al-Durr al-Nazhim, Sheikh Yusuf al-Shami mentioned that Lady Fatima al-Zahra composed the following verses, elegizing her father:

وروى الشّيخ يوسف الشّامي في كتاب الدّرّ النّظيم انّها قالت في رثاء أبيها

Tell him who is concealed under the layers of soil: If you can hear my scream and my call. If the misfortunes that have been poured on me were poured on days, they should turn to black nights!

قُلْ لِلْمُغيَّبِ تَحْتَ أَثْوابِ الثَّرى                        إِنْ كُنْتَ تَسْمَعُ صَرْخَتي وَنِدائيا

صُبَّتْ عَلَيَّ مَصائِبٌ لَوْ أَنَّها                           صُبَّتْ عَلَى الأَيّامِ صِرْنَ لَيـــــــــالِيا

Under the shadow of Muhammad, I used to be sheltered and I did not anticipate any grievance since he was my haven. but today I am made subservient to the lowly, suffering grievances, and I have to ward off the wrongdoer with my dress. If a turtledove weeps on a branch in eves out of grief, I will weep in morns. I shall betake grief, after you, as my entertainment and I shall betake shedding tears, for you, as my sash.

قَدْ كُنْتُ ذاتَ حِمىً بِظِلِّ مُحَمَّد               لا أَخْشَ مِنْ ضَيْم وَكانَ حِمالِيـــــــــــــــــــا

فَالْيَوْمَ أَخْضَعُ لِذَّليلِ وَأَتَّقي                   ضَيْمي وَأَدْفَعُ ظالِمي بِرِدائيــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــا

فَإِذا بَكَتْ قُمْرِيَّةٌ في لَيْلِها                     شَجَناً عَلى غُصْن بَكَيْتُ صَباحِيا

فَلأَجْعَلَنَّ الْحُزْنَ بَعْدَكَ مُونِسي                وَلأَجْعَلَنَّ الدَّمْعَ فيكَ وِشاحيـــــــــــــــــا

The last day of Safar

اليوم الأخير من صفر

According to the narration of al-Tabirsi and Ibn al-Athir, Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha was martyred on the last day of Safar, AH 203, because of poison that was mixed with grapes and offered to him. He was fifty-five years old when he departed life. His tomb was at the house of Hamid ibn Qahtabah in the village of Sanabad in the city of Tus. In the same house, Harun, the Abbasid ruler, was buried, too.

فيه في سنة ثلاث ومائتين على رواية الطّبرسي وابن الأثير استشهد الامام الرّضا (عليه السلام) بعنب دسّ فيه السّم وكان له من العمر خمس وخمسون سنة وقبره الشّريف في بيت حميد بن قحطبة في قرية سناباد بأرض طوس وفي ذلك البيت دفن الرّشيد أيضاً في شهر ربيع الأوّل

PILGRIMAGE TO THE TOMB OF IMAM ALI IBN Musa Al–Ridha

زيارة مرقد الإمام علي بن موسى الرضا عليه السلام

According to Sheikh al-Saduq’s Man-la-Yahdharuhul-Faqih, when you intend to visit Imam al-Ridha in Tus, you may bathe yourself before you leave your house (at your hometown) and say:

O Allah, (please) cleanse me, cleanse my heart, expand my breast, and let Your praise and eulogy flow out from my tongue; since indeed there is neither might nor power except with You. O Allah, (please) establish it as a means of cleansing and healing for me.

في كتاب مَن لا يحضره الفقيه: انّك اذا أردت زيارة قبر الرّضا (عليه السلام) بطُوس فاغتسل قبلما تخرج من الدّار وقُل وأنت تغتسل

اللَّهُمَّ طَهِّرْنِي وَطَهِّرْ قَلْبِي وَاشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَأَجْرِ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِي مِدْحَتَكَ وَالثَّنَاءَ عَلَيْكَ فإِنَّهُ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِكَ اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لِي طَهُوراً وَشِفاءً

As you leave your house, say:

In the name of Allah; the All-beneficent, the All-merciful. In the Name of Allah (I begin), in Allah (I trust), to Allah and towards the son of Allah’s Messenger (I trun my face). Allah is Sufficient unto me and on Allah do I rely. O Allah, I have set out to You, directed toward You, and desired for what You have in possession.

وقل وأنت تخرج

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَبِاللَّهِ وَإِلَىٰ اللَّهِ وَإِلَىٰ ابْنِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَىٰ اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ تَوَجَّهْتُ وَإلَيْكَ قَصَدْتُ وَمَا عِنْدَكَ أَرَدْتُ

When you go out of your house, you may stop at the door and say:

O Allah, to You am I turning my face and with You do I keep my family members, my property, and everything with which You have allowed me to behave. I have trusted in You; so, do not disappoint me. O He Who saves those who trust in Him from disappointment and He Who does not give up those whom He safeguards. O Allah, (please do) send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad and guard me under Your custody, since nothing that You guard may be ruined.

فاذا خرجت فقف على باب دارك وقُل

اللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِي وَعَلَيْكَ خَلَّفْتُ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي وَمَا خَوَّلْتَنِي وَ بِكَ وَثِقْتُ فَلاَ تُخَيِّبْنِي يَا مَنْ لَايُخَيِّبُ مَنْ أَرَادَهُ وَلَا يُضَيِّعُ مَنْ حَفِظَهُ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَاحْفَظْنِي بِحِفْظِكَ فَإِنَّهُ لا يَضِيعُ مَنْ حَفِظْتَ

When you arrive there safely and you intend to visit the Imam’s tomb, you may bathe yourself and say meanwhile:

O Allah, (please) cleanse me, cleanse my heart for me, expand my breast, and let Your praise, eulogy, and love flow out from my tongue; since indeed there is no power except with You. I know for sure that the basis of my faith is to submit to Your decree, to keep to the traditions of Your Prophet, and to bear witness to all Your creatures. O Allah, (please) make it curative and light for me. You verily have power over all things.

فاذا وافيت سالماً ان شاء الله فاغتسل اذا أردت أن تزُور وقُل حين تغتسل

اللَّهُمَّ طَهِّرْنِي وَطَهِّرْ لِي قَلْبِي وَاشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَأَجْرِ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِي مِدْحَتَكَ وَمَحَبَّتَكَ وَالثَّنَاءَ عَلَيْكَ فإِنَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِكَ وَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ قِوَامَ دِينِي التَّسْلِيمُ لأَمْرِكَ وَالِاتِّبَاعُ لِسُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكَ وَالشَّهَادَةُ عَلَىٰ جَمِيعِ خَلْقِكَ اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لِي شِفَاءً وَنُوراً إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

You may put on the purest and cleanest of your clothes, walk barefooted with tranquility and submission, and mention Almighty Allah in your heart, repeating:

Allah is the Most Great. There is no god save Allah. All glory be to Allah. All praise be to Allah.

والبس أطهر ثيابك وامشِ حافياً، وعليك السّكينة والوقار واذكُرِ الله بقلبك وقُل

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ

While entering the sacred shrine, you may walk slowly and say:

In the Name of Allah (I begin), in Allah (I trust), and the course of Allah’s Messenger (I follow), peace be upon him and his Household. I bear witness that there is no god save Allah, One and Only God and having no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger and Ali is Allah’s most intimate servant.

وقصّر خطاك وقُل حين تدخل الرّوضة المُقدّسة

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَبِاللَّهِ وَعَلَىٰ مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّىٰ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَاإِلٰهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَاشَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَأَنَّ عَلِيّاً وَلِيُّ اللَّهِ

You may then walk towards the tomb to stop there, face it, and say:

I bear witness that there is no god save Allah, One and Only God and having no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, the chief of the past and the coming generations, and the chief of the Prophets and Messengers. O Allah, (please) bless Muhammad, Your servant, messenger, prophet, and the chief of all Your creatures, with such blessings that none can calculate save You. O Allah, (please) bless the Commander of the Faithful Ali the son of Abi-Talib, Your servant and the brother of Your Messenger, whom You have selected on the basis of Your knowledge and thus made lead (to the truth) whomever You willed amongst Your creatures and made the guide to those whom You sent with Your messages, the establisher of the true religion owing to Your justice, the decisive judge among Your creatures, and the prevalent over all that. Peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon him. O Allah, (please) send blessings on Fatima the daughter of Your Prophet, the wife of Your friend, the mother of the two grandsons al-Hassan and al-Hussein the two chiefs of the youth of Paradise; (she is) the genuinely pure, the immaculate, the purified, the pious, the perfect, the pleased, the pristine, and the chief of all the women of Paradise, (bless her) with such blessings that none can count except You. O Allah, (please) send blessings upon al-Hassan and al-Hussein, the two grandsons of Your Prophet, the two chiefs of the youth of Paradise, the two who establish authority among Your creatures, who guide to those whom You sent with Your messages, who manage the religious affairs on the basis of Your justice, and who judge on the basis of Your decrees among Your creatures. O Allah, (please) send blessings upon Ali the son of al-Hussein, Your servant who undertakes Your mission among Your creatures, who guides to those whom You sent with Your messages, who manages the religious affairs on the basis of Your justice, who judges according to Your decrees among Your creatures, and who is the prime of all worshippers. O Allah, (please) send blessings on Muhammad the son of Ali, Your servant and Your representative in Your lands, who split asunder the knowledge of the Prophets. O Allah, (please) send blessings upon Jaʿfar the son of Muhammad, Your servant, the authority of Your religion, Your argument against all of Your creatures, the veracious, and the dutiful. O Allah, (please) send blessings upon Musa the son of Jaʿfar, Your righteous servant, Your spokesman among Your creatures, who speaks with Your judgment, and who is the argument against Your created beings. O Allah, (please) send blessings upon Ali the son of Musa, the cordial, the well-pleased, the servant of You, the authority of Your religion, who undertakes the mission with Your justice, who calls to the religion of You and of his veracious fathers; (bless him) with such blessings that none can count except You. O Allah, (please) send blessings upon Muhammad the son of Ali, Your servant, Your authority, who undertakes the mission by Your command and calls to Your path. O Allah, (please) send blessing upon Ali the son of Muhammad, Your servant and the authority of Your religion. O Allah, (please) send blessings upon al-Hassan the son of Ali who carries out Your commands, who undertakes the mission among Your creatures, Your argument who acts on behalf of Your Prophet, Your witness on Your creatures, the exclusively endued with Your honor, and the caller to the obedience to You and to Your Messenger. Your blessings be upon them all. O Allah, (please) send blessings upon Your argument and authority who undertakes the mission among Your creatures with such blessing that is perfect, ever-increasing, and everlasting due to which You may hasten his Relief, grant him victory, and include us with him in this world and the Hereafter. O Allah, I am seeking nearness to You through bearing love for them, and I am loyal to their loyalists and enemy of their enemies. So (please) provide me in their names the goodness of this world and the Hereafter and fend off from me the evils of this world and the Hereafter as well as the horrors of the Resurrection Day.

وسِر حتّى تقف على قبره وتستقبل وجهه بوجهك وقُل

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَاإِلٰهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَاشَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَأَنَّهُ سَيِّدُ الأَوَّلِينَ وَالآخِرِينَ وَأَنَّهُ سَيِّدُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ وَرَسُولِكَ وَنَبِيِّكَ وَسَيِّدِ خَلْقِكَ أَجْمَعِينَ صَلاَةً لَايَقْوَىٰ عَلَىٰ إِحْصَائِهَا غَيْرُكَ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَبْدِكَ وَأَخِي رَسُولِكَ الَّذِي انْتَجَبْتَهُ بِعِلْمِكَ وَجَعَلْتَهُ هَادِياً لِمَنْ شِئْتَ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ وَالدَّلِيلَ عَلَىٰ مَنْ بَعَثْتَهُ بِرِسَالاَتِكَ وَدَيَّانَ الدِّينِ بِعَدْلِكَ وَفَصْلِ قَضَائِكَ بَيْنَ خَلْقِكَ وَالْمُهَيْمِنَ عَلَىٰ ذٰلِكَ كُلِّهِ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْهِ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ نَبِيِّكَ وَزَوْجَةِ وَلِيِّكَ وَأُمِّ السِّبْطَيْنِ الْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ سَيِّدَيْ شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ الطُّهْرَةِ الطَّاهِرَةِ الْمُطَهَّرَةِ التَّقِيَّةِ النَّقِيَّةِ الرَّضِيَّةِ الزَّكِيَّةِ سَيِّدَةِ نِسَاءِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ أَجْمَعِينَ صَلاَةً لَايَقْوَىٰ عَلَىٰ إِحْصَائِهَا غَيْرُكَ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ الْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ سِبْطَيْ نَبِيِّكَ وَسَيِّدَيْ شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ الْقَائِمَيْنِ فِي خَلْقِكَ وَالدَّلِيلَيْنِ عَلَىٰ مَنْ بَعَثْتَ بِرِسَالاَتِكَ وَدَيَّانَيِ الدِّينِ بِعَدْلِكَ وَفَصْلَيْ قَضَائِكَ بَيْنَ خَلْقِكَ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَبْدِكَ الْقَائِمِ فِي خَلْقِكَ وَالدَّلِيلِ عَلَىٰ مَنْ بَعَثْتَ بِرِسَالاَتِكَ وَدَيَّانِ الدِّينِ بِعَدْلِكَ وَفَصْلِ قَضَائِكَ بَيْنَ خَلْقِكَ سَيِّدِ الْعَابِدِينَ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَبْدِكَ وَخَلِيفَتِكَ فِي أَرْضِكَ بَاقِرِ عِلْمِ النَّبِيِّينَ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّادِقِ عَبْدِكَ وَوَلِيِّ دِينِكَ وَحُجَّتِكَ عَلَىٰ خَلْقِكَ أَجْمَعِينَ الصَّادِقِ الْبَارِّ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَبْدِكَ الصَّالِحِ وَلِسَانِكَ فِي خَلْقِكَ النَّاطِقِ بِحُكْمِكَ وَالْحُجَّةِ عَلَىٰ بَرِيَّتِكَ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ عَليِّ بْنِ مُوسَىٰ الرِّضَا الْمُرْتَضَىٰ عَبْدِكَ وَوَلِيِّ دِينِكَ الْقَائِمِ بِعَدْلِكَ وَالدَّاعِي إِلَىٰ دِينِكَ وَدِينِ آبَائِهِ الصَّادِقِينَ صَلاَةً لَايَقْوَىٰ عَلَىٰ إِحْصَائِهَا غَيْرُكَ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَبْدِكَ وَوَلِيِّكَ الْقَائِمِ بِأَمْرِكَ وَالدَّاعِي إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِكَ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ عَليِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ وَوَلِيِّ دِينِكَ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْعَامِلِ بِأَمْرِكَ الْقَائِمِ فِي خَلْقِكَ وَحُجَّتِكَ الْمُؤَدِّي عَنْ نَبِيِّكَ وَشَاهِدِكَ عَلَىٰ خَلْقِكَ الْمَخْصُوصِ بِكَرَامَتِكَ الدَّاعِي إِلَىٰ طَاعَتِكَ وَطَاعَةِ رَسُولِكَ صَلَوَاتُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ حُجَّتِكَ وَوَلِيِّكَ الْقَائِمِ فِي خَلْقِكَ صَلاَةً تَامَّةً نَامِيَةً بَاقِيَةً تُعَجِّلُ بِهَا فَرَجَهُ وَتَنْصُرُهُ بِهَا وَتَجْعَلُنَا مَعَهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيْكَ بِحُبِّهِمْ وَأُوَالِي وَلِيَّهُمْ وَأُعَادِي عَدُوَّهُمْ فَارْزُقْنِي بِهِمْ خَيْرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي بِهِمْ شَرَّ الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَأَهْوَالَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ

You may then sit to the side of the Imam’s head and say:

Peace be upon you, O Allah’s friend. Peace be upon you, O Allah’s argument. Peace be upon you, O Allah’s light in the darkness of the earth. Peace be upon you, O pillar of the religion. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Adam the choice of Allah. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Noah the prophet of Allah. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Abraham the intimate friend of Allah. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Ishmael the slain for the sake of Allah. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Moses the spoken by Allah. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Jesus the spirit of Allah. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Muhammad the messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of the Commander of the Faithful Ali the authority of Allah and the successor of the Messenger of the Lord of the worlds. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Fatima the luminous lady. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of al-Hassan and al-Hussein the two chiefs of the youth of Paradise. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Ali the son of al-Hussein the adornment of the worshippers. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Muhammad the son of Ali the splitter of the knowledge of the past and the last generations. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Jaʿfar the son of Muhammad the veracious and dutiful. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Musa the son of Jaʿfar. Peace be upon you, O ever-truthful and martyr. Peace be upon you, O dutiful and pious successor. I bear witness that you performed the prayers, defrayed the poor-rate (and alms), enjoined the right, forbade the wrong, and serve Allah sincerely until death came upon you. Peace be upon you, O Abu’l-Hasan. Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

ثمّ تجلس عند رأسه وتقُول

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَلِيَّ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حُجَّةَ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا نُورَ اللَّهِ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الأَرْضِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا عَمُودَ الدِّينِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ آدَمَ صَفْوَةِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ نُوحٍ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ إِسْمَاعيلَ ذَبيحِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ مُوسَىٰ كَلِيمِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ عِيسَىٰ رُوحِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيٍّ وَلِيِّ اللَّهِ وَوَصِيِّ رَسُولِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ فَاطِمَةَ الزَّهْرَاءِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ الْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ سَيِّدَيْ شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ عَليِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ زَيْنِ الْعَابِدِينَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ بَاقِرِ عِلْمِ الأَوَّلِينَ وَالآخِرِينَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّادِقِ الْبَارِّ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ مُوسَىٰ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا الصِّدِّيقُ الشَّهِيدُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا الْوَصِيُّ الْبَارُّ التَّقِيُّ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ أَقَمْتَ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَيْتَ الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرْتَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَيْتَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَعَبَدْتَ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصاً حَتَّىٰ أَتَاكَ الْيَقِينُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

You may then throw yourself on the tomb and say:

O Allah, for Your sake alone have I set out from my homeland and covered many countries in the hope of winning Your mercy; so, (please) do not disappoint me and do not make me return without having my needs settled (by You), and have mercy upon my turning over on the tomb of the son of Your Prophet’ brother, Your blessings be upon him and his Household. May my father and mother be ransoms for you, O my master. I have come to you visiting and getting to you, seeking protection against all that which I have committed against myself and overburdened my back with. So, (please) be my intercessor with Allah on the day of my poverty and neediness, for you enjoy with Allah a praiseworthy position and you are worthy of regard with Him.

ثمّ تنكبّ على القبر وتقول:

اللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ صَمَدْتُ مِنْ أَرْضِي وَقَطَعْتُ الْبِلاَدَ رَجَاءَ رَحْمَتِكَ فَلاَ تُخَيِّبْنِي وَلَا تَرُدَّنِي بِغَيْرِ قَضَاءِ حَاجَتِي وَارْحَمْ تَقَلُّبِي عَلَىٰ قَبْرِ ابْنِ أَخِي رَسُولِكَ صَلَوَاتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي يَا مَوْلاَيَ أَتَيْتُكَ زَائِراً وَافِداً عَائِذاً مِمَّا جَنَيْتُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِي وَاحْتَطَبْتُ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِي فَكُنْ لِي شَافِعاً إِلَىٰ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ فَقْرِي وَفَاقَتِي فَلَكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَقَامٌ مَحْمُودٌ وَأَنْتَ عِنْدَهُ وَجِيهٌ

You may then raise your right hand towards the sky, stretch out your left hand on the tomb, and say:

O Allah, I do seek nearness to You through bearing love for them and being loyal to them; I am loyal to the last of them in the same way as I am loyal to the first and I repudiate any adherence to any one other than them. O Allah, pour curses on those who have altered Your bounty, suspected Your Prophet, denied Your signs, scoffed at Your Imam, and placed the burden of the people upon the shoulders of Muhammad’s Household. O Allah, I do seek nearness to You through invoking curse on these peoples (i.e. the enemies of the Holy Prophet’s Household) and disavowing them in this world and the Hereafter, O All-beneficent Lord.

ثمّ ترفع يدك اليُمنى وتبسط اليُسرى عَلى القبر وتقول

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيْكَ بِحُبِّهِمْ وَبِوِلاَيَتِهِمْ أَتَوَلَّىٰ آخِرَهُمْ بِمَا تَوَلَّيْتُ بِهِ أَوَّلَهُمْ وَأَبْرَأُ مِنْ كُلِّ وَلِيجَةٍ دُونَهُمْ اللَّهُمَّ الْعَنِ الَّذِينَ بَدَّلُوا نِعْمَتَكَ وَاتَّهَمُوا نَبِيَّكَ وَجَحَدُوا بِآيَاتِكَ وَسَخِرُوا بِإِمَامِكَ وَحَمَلُوا النَّاسَ عَلَىٰ أَكْتَافِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيْكَ بِالْلَّعْنَةِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَالْبَرَاءَةِ مِنْهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ يَا رَحْمٰنُ

You may turn to the side of the Imam’s feet and say:

Allah’s blessings be upon you, O Abu’l-Hasan. Allah’s blessings be upon your soul and body. You did act patiently and you are veracious and believed. May Allah kill those who killed you with hands and tongues.

ثمّ تحوّل عند رجليه وتقُولُ

صَلَّىٰ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ صَلَّىٰ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رُوحِكَ وَبَدَنِكَ صَبَرْتَ وَأَنْتَ الصَّادِقُ الْمُصَدَّقُ قَتَلَ اللَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَكَ بِالأَيْدِي وَالالسُنِ

You may then earnestly invoke the curse of Allah on the slayers of the Commander of the Faithful, the slayers of Imams al-Hassan and al-Hussein, and the slayers of the family members of the Holy Prophet.

ثمّ ابتهل في اللّعنة على قاتل أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام) وعلى قتلة الحسن والحسين وعلى جميع قتلة أهل بيت رسُول الله

You may then return to the side of the Imam’s head and offer a two-unit prayer in which you may recite Surah Yasin after Surah al-Fatihah in one unit and Surah al-Rahman after Surah al-Fatihah in the other. You may also pray and implore Almighty Allah as earnestly as possible, pray for yourself, your parents, and your brothers-in-faith as much as you can.

ثمّ تحوّل عند رأسه من خلفه وصلّ ركعتين تقرأ في احداهما يس وفي الأُخرى الرّحمن وتجتهد في الدّعاء والتّضرّع واكثر من الدّعاء لنفسك ولوالديك ولجميع اخوانك من المؤمنين وأقم عند رأسه ما شئت ولتكن صلوتك عند القبر

It is worth mentioning that invocation of Almighty Allah’s curse on the enemies of the Holy Imams can be said in any language or form. However, the most appropriate form may be the following, which is quoted from some validly reported supplications:

O Allah, pour curses on the slayers of the Commander of the Faithful, the slayers of al-Hassan and al-Hussein, peace be upon them, and the slayers of the members of Your Prophet’s Household. O Allah, curse the enemies and slayers of Muhammad’s family members, add up chastisement to the chastisement that You decide for them, add up humility to the humility that You decide for them, add up disgrace to the disgrace that You decide for them, and add up ignominy to the ignominy that You decide for them. O Allah, thrust them into Hellfire with disdainful thrusting, cast them down in the painful torment of You with violent casting, and drive them and their followers to Hell in groups.

واعلم ايضاً انّ اللّعن على قاتلي الائمة (عليهم السلام) حسن بأيّ لغة كان، ولعلّ الأنسب أن يكون اللّعن بهذه العبارة المتّخذة من بعض الأدعية

اللَّهُمَّ الْعَنْ قَتَلَةَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَقَتَلَةَ الْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ وَقَتَلَةَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّكَ اللَّهُمَّ الْعَنْ أَعْدَاءَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَقَتَلَتَهُمْ وَزِدْهُمْ عَذَاباً فَوْقَ الْعَذَابِ وَهَوَاناً فَوْقَ هَوَانٍ وَذُلاًّ فَوْقَ ذُلٍّ وَخِزْياً فَوْقَ خِزْيٍ اللَّهُمَّ دُعَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ النَّارِ دَعّاً وَأَرْكِسْهُمْ فِي اليمِ عَذَابِكَ رَكْساً وَاحْشُرْهُمْ وَأَتْبَاعَهُمْ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ زُمَراً

In Tuhfat al-Za’ir, Sheikh al-Mufid states that it is recommended, after accomplishing the prayer of visiting Imam al-Ridha’s tomb, to say:

O Allah, I beseech You, O Allah Who is permanent in His kingdom, self-subsisting in His almightiness, obeyed in His authority, unique in His pride, one and only in the perpetuity of His intransience, fair with His creatures, knowing of His issue, and noble in delaying His punishment. O my God, my requests are aimed at You and my hopes are addressed to You exclusively. As to all items of goodness that You have granted me the success to attain, it is You Who is my guide to them and my path towards them. O Omnipotent Who cannot be thwarted by requests! O All-encompassing to Whom desirous ones resort! I have been always endued with bounties from You and accustomed to receive conferrals and generosity from You. I beseech You in the name of the omnipotence to which all things are applicable, in the name of Your unstoppable decree that You may stop by the simplest entreaty, and in the name of the look with which You looked at the mountains and they thus towered, at the layers of the earth and they thus flattened, at the heavens and they thus rose, and at the seas and they thus gushed; O He Who is too Majestic to have the human beings’ organs of sight and Who is too Subtle to be comprehended by the finest line of thinking. Whenever You, O my master, are praised, this is due to a bestowal of success that You grant and that requires (us) to praise You for it. Whenever You are thanked for the least of Your favors, this requires (us) to thank You for this thanking of ours for You. Then, at what time can Your bounties be calculated, O my God, or can Your errands be recompensed, O my Lord, or can Your favors be paid off, O my Master? It is one of Your bounties that praisers praise You and it is one of Your thankworthy acts that thanksgivers thank You. You are also the trusted for pardoning sins, the One Who stretches the wing of Your covering on the wrongdoers, and the One Who relieves from harm with Your Hand. Too many have been the sins that Your forbearance concealed until they became hidden and too many are the good deeds that Your favoring multiplied until Your reward for them became massive. You are too Majestic for us to anticipate anything from You save justice and to desire for anything from You save good turn and favoring. So, (please) endue me with the favors that are incumbent upon You on the basis of Your graciousness and do not disappoint me of that which is required by Your justice. My Master, if the earth knew about my sins, it would swallow me; if mountains knew about them, they would collapse on me; if heavens knew about them, they would snatch me; and if oceans knew about them, they would down me! My Master! My Master! My Master! My Lord! My Lord! My Lord! Frequent has been my standing up in Your hospitability; so, (please) do not deprive me of that which You have promised those who present themselves for praying You. O Well-known by the cognitive ones! O Served by the worshippers! O Thanked by the thanksgivers! O Present in the sessions of the mindful ones! O Praised by the praisers of Him! O Nearby to those who seek for Him! O Described by those who profess His Oneness! O Dearest of those who love Him! O Aide of those who require Him! O Purpose of those who turn to Him frequently! O He save Whom none knows the hidden! O He save Whom none fends off evil! O He save Whom none manages the affairs! O He save Whom none forgives sins! O He save Whom none creates the created beings! O He save Whom none brings down rain! Pour down blessings upon Muhammad and Muhammad’s Household and forgive me, O best of all forgivers. O my Lord, I do implore for Your forgiveness timidly. I implore for Your forgiveness hopefully. I implore for Your forgiveness turning to You frequently. I implore for Your forgiveness desiring for You. I implore for Your forgiveness, fearing You. I implore for Your forgiveness obediently. I implore for Your forgiveness having faith in You. I implore for Your forgiveness professing of You. I implore for Your forgiveness sincerely. I implore for Your forgiveness piously. I implore for Your forgiveness, having full trust in You. I implore for Your forgiveness, showing submission to You. I implore for Your forgiveness, dedicating all my acts to You and fleeing from You towards You. So, (please) pour down blessings upon Muhammad and Muhammad’s Household and accept my and my parents’ repentance through the means by which You did and will accept the repentance of all Your creatures. O most merciful of all those who show mercy! O He Who is called the All-forgiving, the All-merciful. O He Who is called the All-forgiving, the All-merciful. O He Who is called the All-forgiving, the All-merciful. Pour down blessings upon Muhammad and Muhammad’s Household, accept my repentance, purify my deed, appreciate my efforts, have mercy upon my imploration, do not interdict my voice, and do not frustrate my prayers. O Aide of those who seek aid! And (please) convey my salutations and my prayers to my Leaders, accept their intercession for me with You in all of that which I have asked You for, deliver my present to them in a way befitting their status, and multiply that for them in a way befitting You with such folds that cannot be counted by anyone other than You. There is neither might nor power except with Allah the All-High and All-great. May Allah bless the purest of the Messengers Muhammad and his Immaculate Household.

وفي كتاب تحفة الزّائر انّه قال المفيد: يستحبّ أن يُدعى بهذا الدّعاء بعد صلاة زيارة الرّضا (عليه السلام)

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ يَا اللَّهُ الدَّائِمُ فِي مُلْكِهِ الْقَائِمُ فِي عِزِّهِ الْمُطَاعُ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ الْمُتَفَرِّدُ فِي كِبْرِيَائِهِ الْمُتَوَحِّدُ فِي دَيْمُومَةِ بَقَائِهِ الْعَادِلُ فِي بَرِيَّتِهِ الْعَالِمُ فِي قَضِيَّتِهِ الْكَرِيمُ فِي تَأْخِيرِ عُقُوبَتِهِ إِلٰهِي حَاجَاتِي مَصْرُوفَةٌ إِلَيْكَ وَآمَالِي مَوْقُوفَةٌ لَدَيْكَ وَكُلَّ مَا وَفَّقْتَنِي مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَأَنْتَ دَلِيلِي عَلَيْهِ وَطَرِيقِي إِلَيْهِ يَا قَدِيراً لَاتَؤُودُهُ الْمَطَالِبُ يَا مَلِيّاً يَلْجَأُ إِلَيْهِ كُلُّ رَاغِبٍ مَا زِلْتُ مَصْحُوباً مِنْكَ بِالنِّعَمِ جَارِياً عَلَىٰ عَادَاتِ الإِحْسَانِ وَالْكَرَمِ أَسْأَلُكَ بِالْقُدْرَةِ النَّافِذَةِ فِي جَمِيعِ الأَشْيَاءِ وَقَضَائِكَ الْمُبْرَمِ الَّذِي تَحْجُبُهُ بِأَيْسَرِ الدُّعَاءِ وَبِالنَّظْرَةِ الَّتِي نَظَرْتَ بِهَا إِلَىٰ الْجِبَالِ فَتَشَامَخَتْ وَإِلَىٰ الأَرَضِينَ فَتَسَطَّحَتْ وَإِلَىٰ السَّمَاوَاتِ فَارْتَفَعْت وَإِلَىٰ الْبِحَارِ فَتَفَجَّرَتْ يَا مَنْ جَلَّ عَنْ أَدَوَاتِ لَحَظَاتِ الْبَشَرِ وَلَطُفَ عَنْ دَقَائِقِ خَطَرَاتِ الْفِكَرِ لَاتُحْمَدُ يَا سَيِّدِي إِلاَّ بِتَوْفيقٍ مِنْكَ يَقْتَضِي حَمْداً وَلَا تُشْكَرُ عَلَىٰ أَصْغَرِ مِنَّةٍ إِلاَّ اسْتَوْجَبْتَ بِهَا شُكْراً فَمَتَىٰ تُحْصَىٰ نَعْمَاؤُكَ يَا إِلٰهِي وَتُجَازَىٰ آلاَؤُكَ يَا مَوْلاَيَ وَتُكَافَأُ صَنَائِعُكَ يَا سَيِّدِي وَمِنْ نِعَمِكَ يَحْمَدُ الْحَامِدُونَ وَمِنْ شُكْرِكَ يَشْكُرُ الشَّاكِرُونَ وَأَنْتَ الْمُعْتَمَدُ لِلذُّنُوبِ فِي عَفْوِكَ وَالنَّاشِرُ عَلَىٰ الْخَاطِئِينَ جَنَاحَ سِتْرِكَ وَأَنْتَ الْكَاشِفُ لِلضُّرِّ بِيَدِكَ فَكَمْ مِنْ سَيِّئَةٍ أَخْفَاهَا حِلْمُكَ حَتَّىٰ دَخِلَتْ وَحَسَنَةٍ ضَاعَفَهَا فَضْلُكَ حَتَّىٰ عَظُمَتْ عَلَيْهَا مُجَازَاتُكَ جَلَلْتَ أَنْ يُخَافَ مِنْكَ إِلاَّ الْعَدْلُ وَأَنْ يُرْجَىٰ مِنْكَ إِلاَّ الإِحْسَانُ وَالْفَضْلُ فَامْنُنْ عَلَيَّ بِمَا أَوْجَبَهُ فَضْلُكَ وَلَا تَخْذُلْنِي بِمَا يَحْكُمُ بِهِ عَدْلُكَ سَيِّدِي لَوْ عَلِمَتِ الأَرْضُ بِذُنُوبِي لَسَاخَتْ بِي أَوِ الْجِبَالُ لَهَدَّتْنِي أَوِ السَّمَاوَاتُ َلاخْتَطَفَتْنِي أَوِ الْبِحَارُ َلأَغْرَقَتْنِي سَيِّدِي سَيِّدِي سَيِّدِي مَوْلاَيَ مَوْلاَيَ مَوْلاَيَ قَدْ تَكَرَّرَ وُقُوفِي لِضِيَافَتِكَ فَلاَ تَحْرِمْنِي مَا وَعَدْتَ الْمُتَعَرِّضِينَ لِمَسْأَلَتِكَ يَا مَعْرُوفَ الْعَارِفيِنَ يَا مَعْبُودَ الْعَابِدينَ يَا مَشْكُورَ الشَّاكِرينَ يَا جَلِيسَ الذَّاكِرِينَ يَا مَحْمُودَ مَنْ حَمِدَهُ يَا مَوْجُودَ مَنْ طَلَبَهُ يَا مَوْصُوفَ مَنْ وَحَّدَهُ يَا مَحْبُوبَ مَنْ أَحَبَّهُ يَا غَوْثَ مَنْ أَرَادَهُ يَا مَقْصُودَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَيْهِ يَا مَنْ لَايَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ إِلاَّ هُوَ يَا مَنْ لَايَصْرِفُ السُّوءَ إِلاَّ هُوَ يَا مَنْ لَايُدَبِّرُ الأَمْرَ إِلاَّ هُوَ يَا مَنْ لَايَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ إِلاَّ هُوَ يَا مَنْ لَايَخْلُقُ الْخَلْقَ إِلاَّ هُوَ يَا مَنْ لَايُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ إِلاَّ هُوَ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَاغْفِرْ لِي يَا خَيْرَ الْغَافِرِينَ رَبِّ إِنِّي أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ اسْتِغْفَارَ حَيَاءٍ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ اسْتِغْفَارَ رَجَاءٍ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ اسْتِغْفَارَ إِنَابَةٍ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ اسْتِغْفَارَ رَغْبَةٍ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ اسْتِغْفَارَ رَهْبَةٍ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ اسْتِغْفَارَ طَاعَةٍ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ اسْتِغْفَارَ إِيـمَانٍ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ اسْتِغْفَارَ إِقْرَارٍ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ اسْتِغْفَارَ إِخْلاَصٍ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ اسْتِغْفَارَ تَقْوىٰ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ اسْتِغْفَارَ تَوَكُّلٍ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ اسْتِغْفَارَ ذِلَّةٍ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ اسْتِغْفَارَ عَامِلٍ لَكَ هَارِبٍ مِنْكَ إِلَيْكَ فَصَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ بِمَا تُبْتَ وَتَتُوبُ عَلَىٰ جَمِيعِ خَلْقِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ يَا مَنْ يُسَمَّىٰ بِالْغَفُورِ الرَّحِيمِ يَا مَنْ يُسَمَّىٰ بِالْغَفُورِ الرَّحِيمِ يَا مَنْ يُسَمَّىٰ بِالْغَفُورِ الرَّحِيمِ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَاقْبَلْ تَوْبَتِي وَزَكِّ عَمَلِي وَاشُكرْ سَعْيِي وَارْحَمْ ضَرَاعَتِي وَلَا تَحْجُبْ صَوْتِي وَلَا تُخَيِّبْ مَسْأَلَتِي يَا غَوْثَ الْمُسْتَغِيثِينَ وَأَبْلِغْ أَئِمَّتِي سَلاَمِي وَدُعَائِي وَشَفِّعْهُمْ فِي جَمِيعِ مَا سَأَلْتُكَ وَأَوْصِلْ هَدِيَّتِي إِلَيْهِمِ كَمَا يَنْبَغي لَهُمْ وَزِدْهُمْ مِنْ ذٰلِكَ مَا يَنْبَغِي لَكَ بِأَضْعَافٍ لَايُحْصِيهَا غَيْرُكَ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ وَصَلَّىٰ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ أَطْيَبِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ

Another Salutatory Prayer

زيارة أخرى

Ibn Qawlawayh reported one of the Holy Imams to have said: When you reach the tomb of Imam al-Ridha, you may say:

O Allah, (please) send blessings upon Ali the son of Musa, the cordial, the well-pleased, the Imam, the pious, the bright, Your argument against whoever is above the earth and whoever is beneath the dust, and the ever-truthful and martyr with such blessings that are very much, perfect, purified, continuous, uninterrupted, and consecutive, and with the best form of blessings that You have ever bestowed upon any of Your intimate servants.

روى ابن قولويه عن بعض الائمة (عليهم السلام) انّه قال: اذا صرت الى قبر الامام الرّضا (عليه السلام) فقُل

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَىٰ الرِّضَا الْمُرْتَضَىٰ الإِمَامِ التَّقِيِّ النَّقِيِّ وَحُجَّتِكَ عَلَىٰ مَنْ فَوْقَ الأَرْضِ وَمَنْ تَحْتَ الثَّرَىٰ الصِّدِّيقِ الشَّهِيدِ صَلاَةً كَثِيرَةً تَامَّةً زَاكِيَةً مُتَوَاصِلَةً مُتَوَاتِرَةً مُتَرَادِفَةً كَأَفْضَلِ مَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِكَ

A THIRD SALUTATORY PRAYER

زيارة ثالثة

In al-Muqniʿah, Sheikh al-Mufid, reporting this salutatory prayer, wrote: After performing the ritual bathing for pilgrimage and putting on the purest of your clothes, you may stop at the tomb of Imam al-Ridha and say:

Peace be upon you, O Allah’s authority and son of His authority. Peace be upon you, O Allah’s argument and son of His argument. Peace be upon you, O leader to true guidance and firmest handle (of Islam). Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you. I bear witness that you passed away carrying the same principles on which your immaculate fathers had passed away. Allah’s blessings be upon them. You never preferred blindness to true guidance and never slanted from right to wrong. And you acted for the sake of Allah and His Messenger sincerely and fulfilled the trust. May Allah reward you on behalf of Islam and its embracers with the most favorable reward. I have come to you—may my father and mother be accepted as ransoms for you—visiting you, recognizing your right, declaring loyalty to your loyalists, and showing enmity towards your enemies. So, intercede for me with your Lord.

وهي ما أوردها المفيد في المقنعة ، قال: تقف عند قبره (عليه السلام) بعد ما اغتسلت غُسل الزّيارة ولبست أنظف ثِيابك وتقول:

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَلِيَّ اللَّهِ وَابْنَ وَلِيِّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حُجَّةَ اللَّهِ وَابْنَ حُجَّتِهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا إِمَامَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْعُرْوَةُ الْوُثْقَىٰ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ مَضَيْتَ عَلَىٰ مَا مَضَىٰ عَلَيْهِ آبَاؤُكَ الطَّاهِرُونَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ لَمْ تُؤْثِرْ عَمىٰ عَلَىٰ هُدىٰ وَلَمْ تَمِلْ مِنْ حَقٍّ إِلَىٰ بَاطِلٍ وَأَنَّكَ نَصَحْتَ لِلَّهِ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَأَدَّيْتَ الأَمَانَةَ فَجَزَاكَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الإِسْلاَمِ وَأَهْلِهِ خَيْرَ الْجَزَاءِ أَتَيْتُكَ بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي زَائراً عَارِفاً بِحَقِّكَ مُوَالِياً لأَوْلِيَائِكَ مُعَادِياً لأَعْدَائِكَ فَاشْفَعْ لِي عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ

You may then throw yourself at the tomb, kiss it, put your both cheeks on it, turn to the side of the Imam’s head, and say:

Peace be upon you, O my master, O son of Allah’s Messenger. Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you. I bear witness that you are verily the guiding leader and the directing saint. I repudiate your enemies in the presence of Allah and seek nearness to Allah through declaring loyalty to you. May Allah bless you. Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

ثمّ انكبّ على القبر وقبّله وضَع جانبي وجهك عليه ثمّ تحوّل الى جانب الرّأس وقُل:

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا مَوْلاَيَ يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ الإِمَامُ الْهَادِي وَالْوَلِيُّ الْمُرْشِدُ أَبْرَأُ إِلَىٰ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَعْدَائِكَ وَأَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَىٰ اللَّهِ بِوِلاَيَتِكَ صَلَّىٰ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

You may then offer the two-unit visitation prayer after which you may offer any prayers you wish. You may then turn to the side of the Imam’s foot and pray Almighty Allah for anything you want.

ثمّ صلّ للزّيارة وصلّ بعدها ما شئت، ثمّ تحوّل الى جانب الرّجل فادعُ بما شئت ان شاء الله

A great reward is gained when Imam al-Ridha is visited on the occasions that are related to him, especially in the month of Rajab, on the twenty-third and twenty-fifth of Dhu’l-Qaʿdah, and on the sixth of Ramadan, as well as other days related to him.

لزيارته (عليه السلام) في السّاعات والأيّام الشّريفة المنتمية اليه بنوع من المناسبات فضل كثير ولا سيّما في شهر رجب، وفي الثّالث والعشرين من ذي القعدة، والخامس والعشرين منه، وفي السّادس من شهر رمضان كما ذكر في مواقعها من أعمال الشّهور والأيّام، وكذلك غير هذه الأيّام ممّا ينتمي اليه

When you intend to leave and bid farewell to the Imam, you may say the same salutatory prayer, previously cited for bidding farewell to the Holy Prophet:

واذا أردتَ أن تودّعه (عليه السلام) فودّعه بما كنت تودّع به النّبي صلى الله عليه وآله

Allah may not decide this compliment of me to be the last.

لَا جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ آخِرَ تَسْلِيمِي عَلَيْكَ

You may then add:

Peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you, O Allah’s authority. O Allah, (please) do not decide this visit to be the last of my visit to the son of Your Prophet and Your argument against Your creatures. Include me with him in Your Paradise and involve me with him and with his group with the martyrs and the righteous ones; and excellent the companionship of these is. I entrust you with Allah, ask Him to keep you under His custody, and invoke His blessings upon you. We believe in Allah, in the Messenger, and in whatever you have come with and instructed. So, (please) write us down with those who bear witness.

واذا أردت قُل

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَلِيَّ اللَّهِ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ اللَّهُمَّ لَاتَجْعَلْهُ آخِرَ الْعَهْدِ مِنْ زِيَارَتِي ابْنَ نَبِيِّكَ وَحُجَّتَكَ عَلَىٰ خَلْقِكَ وَاجْمَعْنِي وَإِيَّاهُ فِي جَنَّتِكَ وَاحْشُرْنِي مَعَهُ وَفِي حِزْبِهِ مَعَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولٰئِكَ رَفِيقاً وَأَسْتَوْدِعُكَ اللَّهَ وَأَسْتَرْعِيكَ وَأَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكَ السَّلاَمَ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالرَّسُولِ وَبِمَا جِئْتَ بِهِ وَدَلَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

⁽[1]⁾ Taking its name from Ghadhirah ibn Baghdh, one of the forefathers of the Banu-Asad, a famous Arab tribe, al-Ghadhiriyyah is a village near Karbala. More specifically, it is the very place where Imam al-Hussein was martyred and buried.

Abu-Mikhnaf, in his famous book Maqtal al-Hussein, has reported on the authority of al-Kalbi that when the caravan of Imam al-Hussein arrived in the land of Karbala on Wednesday, the horse of the Imam stopped. The Imam therefore rode off and took another horse. Yet, this horse, too, did not move any further step. The Imam therefore rode other seven horses all of which did not move. Having noticed this strange matter, the Imam asked, “O people, what is the name of this place?”

“It is called al-Ghadhiriyyah,” they answered.

“Does it have another name?” the Imam asked.

“Yes, it is also called Ninawa (Nineveh),” they answered.

“Does it have a third name?” the Imam asked.

“Yes, it is also called Shati’ al-Furat (the shore of the Euphrates),” they answered.

“Does it have a fourth name?” the Imam asked.

“Yes,” they answered, “It is called Karbala.”

Upon hearing this name, the Imam sighed deeply and said, “This is the land of agony (karb) and ordeal (bala’)! Halt here and never leave. This is, by Allah (I swear), the place where we will make our riding animals lie. This is, by Allah, the very place were our blood will be shed. This is, by Allah, the very place where our women will be despoiled. This is, by Allah, the very place where our men will be killed. This is, by Allah, the very place where our children will be slain. In this very place, our graves will be visited. This is the very soil of which my grandfather, the Messenger of Allah, foretold me (to be slain on it). Never failing is his prediction—Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.”

Refer to al-Damʿah al-Sakibah (by Baqir ibn Abd al-Karim al-Dahdashti al-Bahbahani), vol. 4, p. 256; Nasikh al-Tawarikh (by Muhammad Taqi al-Saphar), vol. 2, p. 168; Dhariʿat al-Najat (by Mirza Rafiʿ Garmrudi), p.76.

Imam al-Baqir is reported to have said, “Al-Ghadhiriyyah is the very spot on which Almighty Allah spoke to (Prophet) Moses the son of Imran and talked confidentially to (Prophet) Noah. It is the most honorable of all of His lands to Him. Had it not been so, He would not have entrusted with it the bodies of His most intimate servants and the descendants of His Prophets. So, visit our graves at al-Ghadhiriyyah.”

Refer to Bihar al-Anwar (by Allamah al-Majlisi), vol. 98, p. 108. [Translator]