In other interesting dictum of the Holy Prophet (s) we are told...

In other interesting dictum of the Holy Prophet (s) we are told: لَوْلا أَنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ يَحُومُونَ عَلَى قُلُوبِ بَنِي آدَمَ لَنَظَرُوا إِلَى مَلَكُوتِ السَّمَاوَاتِ.

Was is not for the Satans circling around the hearts of the off-springs of Adam, they would have beheld the kernel of the heavens and the earth.[^27] Therefore, the more purity we enjoy, the better can we communicate with those exalted spirits who have left this material world, are alive in the real sense of the word, and due to their exalted station of existential mediation (about which we shall soon discuss in detail) can influence the world of contingent existence and even benefit us in different ways.

There have been ample narratives indicating how people visited the shrines of the ('a) and solved very great problems in life. Our aim of ziyarah, however, must transcend seeking personal benefits. It is therefore important to first define the purpose of ziyarah, and the reason why our holy Imams ('a) would teach us particular recitals for visiting the tomb of their grandfather Imam al-Hussein ('a).

Of course this does mean that one should not seek personal benefits from the great personalities, but he/she must at least have realized the ultimate purpose of ziyarah. It is through such realization, my brothers and sisters, that rain falls from the hearts and embraces every human being, rather every creature beyond time and place. Such realizations tear the veils of the past and future, and release the human being in the world of perpetual bliss and ecstasy.

Soon the reader shall understand the words of this nondescript, for the world of ('a) is a world yet unknown. Their followers have no share save appreciating the tip of the iceberg: Imam 'Ali ('a) is reported to have said to Abu Dharr: اعْلَمْ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَخَلِيفَتُهُ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ لا تَجْعَلُونَا أَرْبَاباً وَقُولُوا فِي فَضْلِنَا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَإِنَّكُمْ لا تَبْلُغُونَ كُنْهَ مَا فِينَا وَلا نِهَايَتَهُ.

Know O Aba Dharr that I am [only] a slave of Allah and His vicegerent over His servants; do not consider us as Lords and you may say whatever you want about our merits, for you cannot appreciate the essence of our perfection, nor its zenith…[^28] And in another tradition he ('a) is reported to have said: لا يُقَاسُ بِآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ (ص) مِنْ هَذِهِ الأمَّةِ أَحَدٌ. ...None from this Ummah can be compared with the progeny of Muhammad (upon whom be peace)…[^29] Previous…

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