Question 124: Has anyone heard that you have to go for Hajj before you go for ziyarat? Someone advised me of this and I’ve never heard it before. So, tell me sholud I Going for Hajj or Ziyarat of Imam Hussain or Imam Reza?
Answer 124: If a wajib hajj become obligatory upon you, you would have to go for Hajj, first. If you are dubious whether to go for Hajj or visit the holy shrine of the Infallibles Imams (pbuth) you are supposed to act based on the few traditions, as follows: Read More
Question 378: Why did not Kumayl join the mission of Imam-al Hussain (a) in Karbala and where were Salman al-Farisi and Miqdad in the same time?
Answer 378: After the martyrdom of Imam Ali (as) in the holy month of Ramadan (40 A.H), Kumeil along with the people of Kufa gave allegiance to Imam Hasan (as). According to Majlesi (ra), Kumeil was one of the Imams (as) companions.[1]
Kumeil like Qanbar, the servant of Imam Ali (as) were imprisoned by Mu’āwīyya (la) due to his love and affection toward Ahlul Bayt (pbuth), during the time of Imam Hussain (as). He was freed from prison right after the day of Ashura.[2]
Miqdad passed away at the age of seventy in Jurf in 33 A.H, while the Story of Karbala happened in 61 A.h. Therefore, it is natural that he couldn’t be in Karbala with Imam Hussain (as) as he had passed away 28 years before Ashura.[4]
There have been mentioned some different opinions about the date of Salman al-Farsi’s demise. Some say he passed away in 36 A.H.[5]
In some sources it is mentioned that he had a long life and even some have considered his lifespan about 350 years.[6]
Salman had written this poem on his enshrouding cotton: I am heading toward the Munificent, lacking a sound heart and an appropriate provision. While taking a provision (with you) is the most dreadful deed, if you are going to the Munificent.[8]
Bilāl b. Rabāḥ known as Bilāl al-Ḥabashī: According to most history sources, his death was in 20 A.H in Damascus, however 17, 18 and 21 have mentioned as well.[9]
Some sources have specified plague as the cause for his death.[10]
It is widely ascribed that he is buried in Bab al-Saqir cemetery, in Damascus.[11]
He was older than sixty when he died, however the ages 63, 64, and 70 were also noted in some sources.[12]
For further information in this regards, please refer to the following answer:
Index: Every day is Ashura and Every Place is Karbala, answer 071.
Index: The number of soldiers who came to Karbala to fight against Imam Hussain (as), answer 568.
[1] . Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 44, Pg. 111; Al-Manaqeb, Vol. 4, Pg. 41.
[2] . Kumeil Mahram Asrar Amir al-Momeneen (as), Hussain Heidar Khani, Pg. 145; The Story of Karbala, Pg. 358, narrated from Al-Mofid Dhikri al-Sebt al-Shahid, Pg. 115.
[3] . Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 42, Pg. 149; Muntaha al-A’mal, Vol. 1, Pg. 255.
[4] . Tabaqat, ibn Sa’d, Beirut, Dar Sader, Bita, Vol. 3, Pg. 163; Muhammadi, Muhammad, Simaye Miqdad, Pg. 123.
[5] . Ibn Asakar, the History of Medina and Damascus, Vol. 21, Pgs. 458-459.
[6] . Khatib Baqdadi, History of Baghdad, Vol. 1, Pg. 176.
[7] . For further information, please refer to: Majlesi, Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 22, Pg. 380.
[8] . Noori, Nafs al-Rahman fee Fadhael Salman (ra), Pg. 139.
[9] . Ibn Sa’d, Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Pg. 238; ibn Qutaiba, Book of al-Maaref, Pg. 88; Tabari, Tarikh (history), Vol. 4, Pg. 112; Khatib Baghdadi, History of Baghdad, Vol. 1, Pg. 184; Tusi, Rijal, Pg. 8; ibn Abd al-Birr, al-Istiaab, Vol. 1, Pg. 179; ibn Asakar, History of Medina and Damascus, Vol. 10, Pgs. 432-476-479; ibn Athir, Asad al-Ghabah, Vol. 1, Pg. 244.
[10] . Tusi, Rijal, Pg. 8, ibn Asakar, History of Mediana and Damascus, Vol. 10, Pg. 476; Tahzib al-Kamal, Vol. 4, Pg. 290; ibn Hajar Asqalani, al-Isaba, Vol. 1, Pg. 327.
[11] . Tusi, Rijal, Pg. 9; ibn Sad, al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Pg. 238.
[12] . Ibn Abd al-Birr, al-Istiab, Vol. 1, Pg. 179; Tahzib al-Asma’, part 1, Pg. 137; Tahzib al-Kamal, Vol. 4, Pg. 290.
Question 244: Why didn’t Imam Ali (as) give Fadak to Imam Hassan (as) and Hussain (as)?
Answer 244: “Fadak” was a thriving and flourishing village located near Khaybar, 140 kilometers from Medinah. In the seventh of hijrah, the fortresses of Khaybar were conquered one after another and the central power of the Jews was overthrown. The residents of Fadak surrendered and promised to give the prophet (pbuh) half of their lands and orchards on condition of no fighting and keep the rest for themselves. In addition, they accepted to do the farming of his lands for a wage. Read More
Question 147: I was reading Ziyaret Nahiyah and I came across a part of the Ziyaret that says, “I will continue to weep morning and evening and weep for you with tears of blood.” Can someone give me the tafsir on this Ziyaret and the meaning of this statement?
I was reading Ziyaret Nahiyah and I came across a part of the Ziyaret that says, “I will continue to weep morning and evening and weep for you with tears of blood.” Can someone give me the tafsir on this Ziyaret and the meaning of this statement?
Answer 147: The ziyarah of Nahiyah Muqaddasah is an ‘absolute’ or ‘unconditional’ ziyarah, meaning that it can be recited anytime; on Ashura or any other day. Read More
Original Post: Delaying Death and Called before its Time
Related Code: 505
Glossary 505: Ahadith[1], Quranic[2], Ajal[3], Ajal muallaq[4], Ajal hatmi[5], Lawḥ[6], Ithbāt[7], lawh mahw wa ithbat[8], Umm al-Kitāb[9], Pbuth[10], Gheib[11], Imam Sadiq[12], Mulla Sadra[13], Harakat Jowhariyah[14], Tawaffi[15], Ruh[16], Nafs[17], Wafat[18], Faut[19], Mawtehââ[20], Anfos[21], Manameha[22], Imam Hussain[23], Maḥw[24], Ajal musamma[25]
[1] . – Ahadith: One of various reports describing the words, actions, or habits of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The term comes from Arabic meaning a “report”, “account” or “narrative”.
[2] . – Quranic: It is used to describe something which belongs or relates to the Holy Quran.
[3] . – Ajal: Term. Life Time. Preordained Time. Specified Date.
[4] . – Ajal muallaq: The conditional ajal. Suspended Lifespan.
[5] . – Ajal hatmi: Cannot be changed. Definite Lifespan.
[6] . – Lawḥ: Tablet. The Book of Allah’s Recorded Knowledge. Tablet of wood or stone used for writing.
[7] . Ithbāt: Affirmation. Writing.
[8] . – lawh mahw wa ithbat: The knowledge which is capable of erasure and substitution; The knowledge which is Liable to change from time to time.
[9] . – Umm al-Kitāb: The Mother Book, The Basis of the Book, The Original of the Book.
[10] . – Pbuth: Peace be Upon Them (The Infallibles).
[11] . – Gheib: The Unseen.
[12] . – Imam Sadiq: Imam Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad al-Ṣādiq (as), commonly known as Jaʿfar al-Sadiq or simply al-Sadiq, is the sixth Shia Imam.
[13] . – Mulla Sadra: Ṣadr ad-Dīn Muḥammad Shīrāzī. He was an Iranian Shia Islamic philosopher, theologian and ‘Ālim who led the Iranian cultural renaissance in the 17th century.
[14] . – Harakat Jowhariyah: substantial motion.
[15] . – Tawaffi: This word is derived from the root word “وفی” which means to receive something in a complete way. “توفیت المال” means that I received all of the money with no shortage. The Quran refers to death with this term in 14 verses and this means that first: man has a metaphysical aspect and it is because of this aspect that man never ceases and is delivered completely to the angels at the moment of death.
[16] . – Ruh: Spirit.
[17] . – Nafs: Soul.
[18] . – Wafat: complete reception. In Farsi it is وفات.
[19] . – Faut: ceasing. In Farsi it is فوت.
[20] . – Mawtehââ: Death.
[21] . – Anfos: Souls.
[22] . – Manameha: Sleep.
[23] . – Imam Hussain: – Imam Hussain: Al-Ḥussain ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (as), was the grandson of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), and the son of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib and lady Fatimah al-Zahra (pbuth) the daughter of the Prophet.
[24] . – Maḥw: Erasure; Rubbing something out.
[25] . – Ajal musamma: The definite ajal. Specified term. Fixed time. Fixed Term.
Question 598: Salam. How many zio-Muslim pagans from the army of satan (yazeed son of Moawia) were sent to hell by Imam Hussain a.s before embracing martyrdom? How many Enemies killed by Imam Hussain (as) in Karbala on the Day of Ashura?
Answer 598: Some narrators said: when Imam Hussain became alone on the Day of Ashura, we, the narrators swore by Allah that there was no one braver than him, because his children, families and companions have been killed, but when the enemies attacked Him He attacked them all too. He himself attacked the whole enemies in a way that they were all running away from Him like locust, He then came back to his military base saying: La Hawla wa la Quwwata illa billah al-Ali al-Adhim. Read More
Question 047: Is mourning for Imam Hussain (a.s) while you are grieving allowed?
Answer 047: There are no restrictions limiting the time of mourning for Imam Hussain (as) to the Day of Ashura. When you are grieving for any worldly things and want to forget about them you can remember the tragic incidents that took place in Karbala against Imam Hussain (as) and His family and Followers.
Arabic version:
يَا ابْنَ شَبِيبٍ إِنْ كُنْتَ بَاكِياً لِشَيْءٍ فَابْكِ لِلْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع
Also, there is a hadith in which Imam Ali (as) said: If you cannot be patient, then act as if you are patient (i.e. behave like a patient person), because it is very unlikely that a man make himself like a group of people but does not become like one of them.[2] We can find a similar saying suggested by psychologists: Fake it till you make it.
Arabic version:
إِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ حَلِيماً فَتَحَلَّمْ فَإِنَّهُ قَلَّ مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ إِلَّا أَوْشَكَ أَنْ يَكُونَ مِنْهُم
So, according to the previous mentioned ahadith, you can mourn and cry for Imam Hussain (as) anytime you want even when you are grieving.
For further information in this regards, please refer to the following answers:
Index: Cry or Pretend to Cry over our Sins, for Imam Hussain (as) or Fear of Allah (SWT), 048.
Index: Qama Zani / How the Infallible Imams (pbuth) mourned for Imam Hussain (as), answer 507.
[1] . Al-Amali of Sheikh Sadouq, al-Nass, Pg. 130; Uyūn akhbār al-Riḍā (as), Vol. 1, Pg. 299; Wasael al-Shia, Vol. 14, Pg. 502; Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 44, Pg. 286.
[2] . Nahj al-Balaghah, H. 203.
Question 071: Is the statement “Every day is Ashura and every place is Karbala” a hadith? How reliable is its chain of narrators (sanad)?
Answer 071: We weren’t able to find such a hadith[1] saying: “Every day is Ashura and every place is Karbala”.[2]
Yet, this sentence is a correct conclusion obtained from the incident of Karbala and the line of movement of our imams and contains some valuable and instructive points; because although another Ashura will never take place, but oppression and tyranny will always continue, until Imam Mahdi (as) reappears and roots out and eliminates all of it. The culture of Ashura will go on forever and Karbala will remain the symbol of resistance and fighting against injustice and oppression. Our religious leaders have taught us to stand up against tyranny, and would do so themselves. Therefore, it isn’t true that Ashura was an incident that took place in a certain time and place and is to be forgotten afterwards.
Imam Khomeini, who was the establisher of the Islamic Republic, a true follower of Imam Husein (as) and fought against the oppressors of his time, refers to this statement (Everyday is Ashura and…) as “The Great Statement” and stresses on keeping the message of Ashura alive and putting it into practice saying: “This statement is a great one…our nation must always pay attention to the fact that even today is Ashura and that we must stand up against oppression and that we are currently in Karbala and must act according to it, Karbala isn’t limited to a specific land. The incident of Karbala isn’t limited to a group of seventy-something people in the land of Karbala, all lands must play the same role as Karbala did.”[3]
In reality, with the belief that the rise and martyrdom of Imam Hussain (as) must be the guideline for all Muslim social activities, Imam Khomeini made the rise of Imam Hussain (as) the foundation of his movement. “…what Imam Hussain (as) did, the idea that he had and his way and his victory after his martyrdom and consequently, the victory of Islam. This statement brings forth a responsibility for us, while bringing about good news as well. The responsibility is that the oppressed, no matter how little in number, must stand up like Imam Hussain (as) against their oppressors, regardless of their number, how armed they might be and the evil power they might possess. The good news being that this statement has considered our martyrs (that stand up as a result of following Imam Husein [as]) as part of the martyrs of Karbala.”
During the imposed war on Iran, the great leader of the revolution stated: “Although the battle of Ashura was the shortest one time wise (half a day), it is the longest battle between good and evil as far as length goes , therefore, whenever one wishes that he/she were one of the companions of the imam (as) and one of the martyrs of Karbala (یا لیتنا کنا معکم فنفوز فوزا عظیما)[4], the battle of Karbala is still going on and the clash of Ashura is continuous (so there still is hope to be able to reach such a rank).”[5]
In other words, as Imam Hussain (as) is the inheritor and successor (wareth) of Prophets: Adam, Ibrahim, Nuh, Musa, Isa, and Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon all of them), the followers of Imam Hussain (as) are the inheritors and successors of the red line of Jihad and Shahadah (martyrdom) and will never put down the flag of Karbala, and this is the valuable asset of Shi’ism in its political dimension, as Imam Hussain (as) himself says: “فلکم فی اسوة، در کار من برای شما الگو است (there is a good exemplar in me for you)”[6]. This viewpoint of Imam Khomeini, rejects theories that say Karbala and Imam Hussain’s (as) movement were all a personal responsibility that were only for the imam himself and others can’t follow him in it.
One writer even says: “We are certain that if Imam Hussain (as) were to be alive today, he would create another Karbala out of Quds, southern Lebanon, and most Islamic regions, holding the same grounds he held against Mu’awiyyah and Yazid.[7]”
Index: Cry or Pretend to Cry over our Sins, for Imam Hussain (as) or Fear of Allah (SWT), 048.
Index: Qama Zani / How the Infallible Imams (pbuth) mourned for Imam Hussain (as), answer 507.
[1] Of course, some quote this statement from Imam Sadiq (as) without any hadithic backup, see: Abbas Azizi, Payame Ashura (The Message of Ashura), pg. 28 and Javad Muhaddethi, Farhange Ashura, pg. 371.
[2] Some have even submitted evidence that this statement isn’t a hadith. See: Ulume Hadith Magazine, no. 26.
[3] Sahifeye Noor (A collection of the late Imam Khomeini’s sayings), v.9, pg. 202.
[4] Ziyarat Ashura
[5] Sahifeye Noor, v.20, pg. 195.
[6] Tabari, v.4, pg304.
[7] Hashem Ma’ruf Al-Hasani, Al-Intifadhat al-Shi’iyyah, pg.387; Adopted from answer 822 IQ.
Question 568: Dear Scholars. We have varying numbers relating to the forces in Yazids (la) army in the battle of Karbala. Tabari mentions 1000 troops under the regiment of Hur and 4000 under Umar ibn Sa’ad and therefore 5000 in total. What is a more authentic account?
Salaams and duas
Answer 568: Umar bin Saad was the commander in charge of Yazids army. Although, records differ as to the number of soldiers who came to Karbaa to fight against Imam Hussain (as), but, according to the most reliable sources, they were 30 thousand people. The two following hadith support this idea. Read More
Question 507: Assalamu alaikum. Ya ali a.s madad. My questions is, would you please tell me that how many from our 12 imams shed blood (Qama Zani) for imam Hussain (a.s) as Azadari and did condolence? If yes then, can you please provide me authentic reference?
Thank you.
Answer 507: The Shia Imams (A.S.) and Different Ways of Mourning for Imam Hussein (A.S.) are as follows: Read More