Reflections from the Ahkaam: Visitation (Ziyaara)

It has reached us from al-Hussein b. ‘Ali, upon them be peace, that he asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny: “O Messenger of Allah, what is for the one who visits us?” Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, replied: ((Whoever visits me alive or dead, your father alive or dead, your brother alive or dead, or you alive or dead, has a right upon Allah to save him on the Day of Judgement)).

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful...

May the prayers and peace of Allah be upon our Messenger, Muhammad, as well as his noble and purified progeny. Lately, I've been reflecting upon this noble hadith narrated from Imam al-Haadi, upon him be peace, in his Ahkaam. And I just wanted to share with you some of these reflections, and we pray that it benefits you spiritually from similar reflections. 

Upon reading this narration, I have thought about the importance of visitation. I've also thought about the significance that this visitation plays in one's spiritual life. One thing I would say about the Imami Shia is that they have historically emphasised this visitation as well as its importance with the construction of ornate shrines as well as the importance that they place on the visitation of their imams. I would say that historically, the Zaydis have not emphasised this as much for whatever reason. However, one thing I would say is that this emphasis is something that I would say has fuelled the love and recognition of the imams by the Imami Shia. Indeed, much of this emphasis has led to the Imami Shia regarding their imams' spiritual legacy. I would say this has translated into a more personal relationship with the imam Or at least the emphasis of such by the Imami Shia. I have experimented and found that the average Twelver Shia could name each of their twelve imams and give various details about their lives. However, I have been in gatherings in which Zaydi children were asked the names of at least five imams outside of 'Ali, al-Hasan and al-Hussein and they weren't able to name any imam other than maybe Imam Zayd or Imam al-Hadi, upon them be peace. This lack of knowledge, I would say, doesn't necessarily imply the lack of importance given to each individual imam. Rather. I would say that the importance more so lies in what the imam left behind as opposed to who the imam is. 

As I mentioned, the Zaydis have not placed as much emphasis on the visitation of the shrines of their imams. I would say that for the most part, the Zaydi understanding of the significance of the imams stems so from the recognition and acknowledgement of their literary and scholarly legacy, as opposed to an enduring spiritual or mystical legacy. By that, I mean that the Zaydi will more than likely recognise the imams' scholarly legacy without necessarily emphasizing a somehow unseen mystical connection to the Imam. Indeed, you will find in the literature of our imams no explicit reference in terms of the importance of visiting them or their graves as well as the construction of shrines and mosques over or near their graves. Indeed, one of our imams, Imam Mansuur al-Qaasim b. Muhammad, may Allah bless him, says in his work, Al-'Itisaam: "Even now, the people innovate in the religion by adopting various sacred sites (al-maqaamaat)  in their splintering in the religion."

The imam seemingly decries the exaggeration that tends to take place with the building of domes and sepulchres over the graves of the people of Allah. I think that this deserves reflection as well, because, as I mentioned, the Zaydi understanding of the significance of the imams after their death has more so to do with the connection that the imam makes between the adherent and the living spiritual legacy of the Prophet. That is not to say that one cannot find the construction of mosques or shrines near the graves of Zaydi imams. However, as I mentioned, there seems to be no explicit mention of the spiritual importance of visiting the shrines or praying at these shrines or anything of that sort. In Zaydism, the importance of the Imam is related more so to how the Imam connects one to the Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet, and the legacy of the Ahl al-Bayt. I believe that the wisdom in that is manifest in that there is no sub-sects or groups amongst the Zaydis that can be said to venerate or exaggerate in terms of the spiritual status of their imams. There is no instance in history, at least that I know of, where the opponents of Zaydism have claimed that the Zaydis worship their imams. Unfortunately, such cannot be said of the Imami Shia, who even to this day--despite the preponderance of information about them and their doctrines--are still accused of worshipping, venerating and exaggerating the status of their imams. Whether this claim is right or wrong, I would say that because of this aspect of Zaydism, one cannot attribute such claim to them that one may attribute to the Imami Shia. 

However, the aforementioned narration that we began this the reflection with emphasises the importance of visiting the graves of at least the Prophet and three imams mentioned. This would cause one to reflect upon the importance and significance of such visitations. Of course, the visitations of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him in his progeny, cannot be overemphasised enough, as the narration mentions that the Prophet placed a lot of importance and significance upon visiting them--whether dead or alive. The idea being that the Prophet's ability to benefit the believer does not cease with his death. As another narration in the same book mentions, the blessed consequence of such actions is nothing but his intercession. May Allah grant us the Prophet's intercession!

Therefore, let this serve as a reminder and call to action for us to make efforts to visit the graves of the Prophet, Imam Ali, as well as Imams al-Hasan and al-Hussein whenever we are able to afford it. The benefit of such, of course, will be as the narration mentions. We should, when visiting them, keep in mind their blessed status as well as the importance afforded to them in the words of Allah in the Qur'an as well as the words of our beloved Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny. We should keep these things in mind and in heart with the understanding that we are acting solely upon our love and {mutual affection} (Q. 42:23) for the Companions of the Cloak, peace and blessings be upon them.