EIGHTH CHAPTER: MERTIS AND METHOD OF VISITING KAZIMAYN
MERTIS AND METHOD OF VISITING KAZIMAYN
In addition to the merits and method of visiting the holy shrine of Imam Musa al-Kazim and his grandson Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (al-Taqi), this chapter includes some references to Masjid Buratha, the method of visiting the Four Emissaries (of Imam al-Mahdi), may Allah be pleased with them, and the method of visiting Salman.( )
This chapter consists of several sections, as follows:
MERITS AND METHOD OF VISITING IMAM AL-KAZIM AND IMAM AL-JAWAD
MERITS
Traditions have borne great rewards for those who visit these two Infallible Imams (‘a). According to many reports, to visit Imam Musa ibn Ja’far al-Kazim (‘a) is as same as visiting the Holy Prophet (s).
According to another tradition, he who visits Imam al-Kazim (‘a) is as if he has visited the Holy Prophet (s) and Imam ‘Ali Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a).
According to a third tradition, to visit Imam al-Kazim (‘a) is as same as visiting Imam al-Husayn (‘a).
According to a fourth tradition, he who visits Imam al-Kazim (‘a) will have Paradise as reward.
The lofty master scholar, Muhammad ibn Shahr’ashub, has quoted in his book of al-Manaqib al-Khatib al-Baghdadi as saying, in his book of Tarikh Baghdad, that ‘Ali ibn Khallal used to say, “Whenever I faced a grieving problem, I would direct to [the tomb of] Musa ibn Ja’far and beg Allah in the name of him to solve it. Hence, Almighty Allah would always relieve that problem.”
‘Ali ibn Khallal also told this story: In Baghdad, people saw a woman running fast. “Where are you going?” they asked. “I am going to Musa ibn Ja’far, because my son has been led to prison.” Mocking at her, a man of the Hanbali School said to her, “Your son will thus die in the prison!” The woman answered, “I then beseech Allah in the name of the one who was killed in the prison (i.e. Imam al-Kazim) to show me His omnipotence.” So, her son was immediately released and the son of the mocking man was arrested and punished for his felony.
Shaykh al-Saduq has reported Ibrahim ibn ‘Aqabah as saying: I wrote a letter to Imam ‘Ali al-Naqi (al-Hadi) asking him about the merits of visiting Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and visiting Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (‘a) and Imam Muhammad al-Taqi (‘a). (i.e. which is more preferred; to visit Imam al-Husayn or to visit Imam al-Kazim and Imam al-Jawad).
The Imam (‘a) wrote back, “Visiting Abu-’Abdullah (i.e. Imam al-Husayn) is preferred. Visiting Imam al-Kazim and Imam al-Jawad is more comprehensive and more rewardable.”
METHOD
As for the method and the forms of ziyarah in the holy shrine of Imam al-Kazim and Imam al-Jawad, some forms are shared by the two Imams while others are dedicated to each one separately.