The Reward for the Ziyārah of Abil Ĥasan ‘Ali ibn Mūsā Al-Riďā (a.s.) in Ťūs

I heard Abā Ja’far the Second (Imam Jawād (a.s.)) say: Those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of my father (Imam Riďā (a.s.)) will be rewarded with Paradise.

I heard Abā Ja’far the Second (Imam Jawād (a.s.)) say: Those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of my father (a.s.) will be rewarded with Paradise.

I went to Abī Ja’far the Second (Imam Jawād (a.s.)) and asked him, “What is the reward for those who go to the Ziyārah of your father (a.s.) in Ťūs?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Allāh forgives the past and future sins of those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of my father (a.s.) in Ťūs.” Thereafter, I met with Ayyūb ibn Nūḥ ibn Durrāj and said to him, “O Abal Ḥusain! I heard my master, Abā Ja’far (Imam Jawād (a.s.)) say, ‘Allāh forgives the past and future sins of those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of my father (a.s.) in Ťūs.” Ayyūb said, “Should I tell you more about this?” I replied, “Yes.” He said, “I heard him – referring to Abī Ja’far (Imam Jawād (a.s.)) – say, ‘Verily on the Day of Judgment, a pulpit will be placed beside the pulpit of the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) for those who go to the Ziyārah of my father (a.s.) (and they will sit on it) while the rest of the people complete the judgment process.”

Abul Ḥasan (Imam Riďā (a.s.)) said: Those who come to my Ziyārah, even though my house is far and my grave is distant, will be visited by me on three occasions on the Day of Judgment and I will save them from its terrors: when the books will be spread to the right and left, at the Bridge, and by the Scale. Sa’d added: Later, I heard this Ḥadīth from Sāliḥ ibn Muḥammad Al-Hamdāni himself.

One day when the children of Abil Ḥasan, Mūsā (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)), were gathered around him, his son (Imam Riďā (a.s.)), who was young at the time, passed by him. Imam (Kāżim (a.s.)) said: This son of mine will die lonely in a distant land. Verily those who go to his Ziyārah while submitting to him and knowing his rights will be regarded by Allāh, the Great and Almighty, as the martyrs of (the Battle of) Badr.

I heard – or a man heard – Abā Ja’far (Imam Jawād (a.s.)) say, “Allāh forgives the past and future sins of those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of my father (a.s.) in Ťūs.” After performing the Ziyārah, I went for Hajj where I met Ayyūb ibn Nūḥ. He said to me, “Abū Ja’far (Imam Jawād (a.s.)) has said, ‘Allāh forgives the past and future sins of those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of my father (a.s.) in Ťūs and (on the Day of Judgment) He will set up a pulpit for them beside the pulpit of the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) and the pulpit of ‘Ali (a.s.) where they will sit until Allāh finishes judging the creation.” Thereafter, I met with Ayyūb ibn Nūḥ again and he had come to the Ziyārah (of Imam Riďā (a.s.)) and he said, “I have come seeking the pulpit!” The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chain: Muḥammad ibn Ya’qūb, ‘Ali ibn Ḥusain, and others, from ‘Ali ibn Ibrāhīm, from Ḥamdān ibn Isḥāq, from Abī Ja’far (a.s.) – or from someone from Abī Ja’far (a.s.).

I said to Abī Ja’far (Imam Jawād (a.s.)): (Let’s assume there is) a person (who) decides to go to Hajj to perform his obligatory Hajj after having performed the ‘Umrah of Tamattu’ and Allāh helps him and he completes his Hajj and ‘Umrah. Then he goes to Madīnah and says Salām to the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.), then comes to you, while believing in your rights and knowing that you are Allāh’s Decisive Proof on His creation and the door which leads to Allāh, and says Salām to you. Thereafter, he goes to (the Ziyārah of) Abī ‘Abdillāh Al-Ḥusain (a.s.) and says Salām to him, and then he goes to Baghdād and says Salām to Abil Ḥasan, Mūsā ibn Ja’far (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)), and then returns to his home country. If Allāh sustains this person in the next year with enough wealth to go for Hajj again, is it better for him to repeat the Hajj as he did in the last year or to go to Khurāsān to (the Ziyārah of) your father, ‘Ali ibn Mūsā Al-Riďā (a.s.), and say Salām to him? Imam (a.s.) replied: It is better to go to Khurāsān and say Salām to Abil Ḥasan (Imam Riďā (a.s.)). He should go in the month of Rajab but this is not applicable now because there is fear for us and for you from the King and it outrages him.”

I asked Abā Ja’far (Imam Jawād (a.s.)), “What is the reward for those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Imam Riďā (a.s.)?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “I swear to Allāh that their reward is Paradise.”

I read the following in the letter of Abil Ḥasan Al-Riďā (a.s.): Tell my Shia that coming to my Ziyārah in the eyes of Allāh is equal to performing one thousand Hajj. So I asked Abā Ja’far (Imam Jawād (a.s.)), “One thousand Hajj!?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “I swear to Allah, yes! And (the reward is) one million Hajj for those who go to his Ziyārah while knowing his rights.”

Abul Ḥasan, Mūsā ibn Ja’far (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) said: Those who go to the Ziyārah of this son of mine – and pointed to Abil Ḥasan Al-Riďā (a.s.) – will be rewarded with Paradise.

I asked Abā Ja’far (Imam Jawād (a.s.)), “May I sacrifice myself for you! Is (going to) the Ziyārah of Imam Riďā (a.s.) better or (going to) the Ziyārah of Abī ‘Abdillāh, Ḥusain ibn ‘Ali (a.s.)?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “(Going to) the Ziyārah of my father (a.s.) is better. The reason is that everyone goes to the Ziyārah of Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Ḥusain (a.s.)) but only the chosen ones from among the Shia go to the Ziyārah of my father (a.s.).”

Abul Ḥasan, Mūsā ibn Ja’far (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) said, “Allāh will register seventy accepted Hajj for those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of my son (Imam Riďā (a.s.)).” I asked, “Seventy Hajj?!” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes and even seven hundred Hajj.” I asked, “Seven hundred Hajj?!!” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes and even seventy thousand Hajj.” I asked, “Seventy thousand Hajj?!!!” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes and going to Hajj is not always accepted. Verily those who go to his Ziyārah and spend the night next to him are like those who go to the Ziyārah of Allāh on His Throne.” I asked, “Like those who go to the Ziyārah of Allāh on His Throne?!!!!” Imam (a.s.) replied: Yes! On the Day of Judgment, there will be four people from the past (nations) and four people from the last (nation) on the Throne of Allāh. The four who are from the past (nations) are Nūḥ, Ibrāhīm, Mūsā, and ‘Isā (a.s.) and the four people from the last (nation) are Muḥammad, ‘Ali, Ḥasan, and Ḥusain – may Allāh’s blessings be upon all of them. Then a barrier will be extended and (only) those who have gone to the Ziyārah of the graves of the Imams (a.s.) will sit with us. Verily the highest ones in rank and the closest ones to us who will be honoured will be those who have gone to the Ziyārah of the grave of my son, ‘Ali (a.s.). The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chain: My father, from Sa’d ibn ‘Abdillāh, from ‘Ali ibn Ḥusain Al-Naysābūri, from Ibrāhīm ibn Riyāb, through the above Isnād from Abil Ḥasan, Mūsā ibn Ja’far (a.s.).