1. Muḥammad ibn ‘Abdillāh ibn Ja’far Al-Ḥimyari narrated to me from his father, from ‘Ali ibn Muḥammad ibn Sulaymān, from Muḥammad ibn Khālid, from ‘Abdillāh ibn Ḥammād Al-Basri, who said: Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq ) said to me: There is a blessing close to you (people) which has not been given to anyone else. However, I do not think that you understand its true value, you do not adhere to it, nor are you committed to it. Verily there are a dedicated group of people for this blessing who have been identified by their names, and Allāh, with His Mercy and Compassion, has willed a happy ending for them and He has bestowed this blessing on them without any will nor power from themselves. I asked, “May I sacrifice myself for you! What is this blessing that you have described for us but have not named?” Imam replied, “The Ziyārah of my grandfather, Ḥusain ibn ‘Ali .” Imam added: Verily he is the lonely one in the remote land. Those who go to his Ziyārah, weep over him. And those who do not go to his Ziyārah, grieve over him. Those who have not seen him (his grave) are devastated with anguish over him, and those who look at the grave of his son (‘Ali Al-Akbar ) next to his feet in that desert, sympathize with him. He had no family in that land nor any intimate friend and the people of disbelief denied his rights, neglected him, and rose against him. They killed him and they left his body (unburied) to be eaten by beasts. They forbade him from drinking from the water of the Euphrates (River) from which even the dogs could drink. They neglected their obligations toward the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ and they ignored the orders of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ about him and his family. He (Imam Ḥusain ) was eventually abandoned in his grave, and he was struck down on layers of dust among his family members and his Shia. He is alone and far away from his grandfather ﷺ (in Madīnah), after having been close to him. He is alone in the house which is not being visited except by those whose hearts Allāh has tested for faith and whom He has allowed to know our rights. I said, “May I sacrifice myself for you! I used to go to his Ziyārah until I was afflicted with (serving) this ruler and protecting his wealth. Now I am well-known among them. Therefore, I have stopped going to his Ziyārah out of precaution, although I am aware of its blessings.” Imam asked, “Do you know the merits of going to his Ziyārah and the reward that we have prepared for those who go to his Ziyārah?” I replied, “No.” Imam said, “As for the merits (of the Ziyārah), Allāh boasts about those who go to his Ziyārah to the angels in the heavens. And as for their reward with us, (verily) we seek Allāh’s Mercy for those who go to his Ziyārah every morning and evening.” Imam added: My father narrated to me that since the day he was killed, his site has never been deserted by those who send blessings on him from among the angels, Jinn, mankind, or beasts. (Verily) everything (in the creation) envies those who go to his Ziyārah, and tries to touch them (his Zuwwār), and seeks blessings by looking at them for having looked at the grave of Ḥusain . Then Imam said, “I have heard that in the middle of the month of Sha’bān, some people from the suburbs of Kūfah – and other cities – go to his Ziyārah and their women lament over Ḥusain , the reciters recite poems about him, the speakers narrate his story, the lamenters lament over him, and the poets recite eulogies about him.” I replied, “Yes, may I sacrifice myself for you! I have seen some of that which you described.” Imam said: Praise be to Allāh who appointed some people to go to our Ziyārah, extol us, and recite eulogies about us. And (praise be to Allāh) who has made some of our enemies slander our Shia for their nearness to us while other enemies insult them and condemn their actions.