Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Hajj - The Islamic Pilgrimage Visitation Visitation To the Holy Shrine of God’s Messenger Thanks to God we have had the honor to visit the House of God and completed the Hajj rites. We now will go to Medina to visit the tombs of the Holy Prophet (saw) and the Imams (as).
We approach their holy shrines, which are full of mercy and a fount of blessings: يا سادَتي وَمَوالِيَّ، إنّي تَوَجَّهتُ بِكُم، أَئِمَّتي وعُدَّتي لِيَومِ فَقْري وَحاجَتي إلى اللهِ، وَاسْتَشْفَعْتُ بِكُم إلى اللهِ فَاشْفَعوا لي عِندَ اللهِ واسْتَنْقِذونِي مِن ذُنوبي عِندَ اللهِ، فَإنَّكُم وَسيلَتي إلى اللهِ وَبحُبِّكُم وبِقُربِكُم أَرْجو نجَاةً مِن اللهِ فَكونوا عِندَ اللهِ رَجائي، يا سَادَتي يا أوْلِياءَ اللهِ.
“O my chiefs, O my masters, I turn to Allah through you, O my Imams, my supporters on the days of my destitution. I seek your advocacy before Allah, I request you to speak in my favor before Allah, obtain pardon for me from Allah, and deliver me from my sins, through my love of you and nearness to you, obtain deliverance from me from Allah.
O my chiefs, O close friends of Allah.”[^1] Love For the Ahl ul-Bayt is Reward of Prophethood According to the Holy Qur’an, the love for the household of the Holy Prophet (saw) as the reward of prophethood is obligatory on the ummah: قُلْ لاَ أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْراً إِلاّ الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى “Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives.
(The Holy Qur’an; 42:23)” According to traditions reported by both the Shia and Sunnah, the word ‘near relatives’ has been interpreted as the household of the Messenger of Allah (saw). Hence, love of them is aimed at being guided under their heavenly light, attaining eternal happiness, and getting rid of the bonds of Satan.
In this relation, the Holy Qur’an says: قُلْ مَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ إِلاّ مَنْ شَاءَ اتَّخَذَ إِلى رَبِّهِ سّبيلاً “Say: I do not ask you aught in return except that he who will, may take the way to his Lord.
(25:57)” Taking the way to God, according to traditions, can be realized only under the shelter of the Ahl ul-Bayt; therefore , courtesy to them is in the interest of the ummah and not in the interest of the household as the Holy Qur’an expressly says: قُلْ مَا سَأَلْتُكُمْ مِنْ أَجْرٍ فَهُوَ لَكُمْ. “Say: Whatever reward I have asked of you, that is only for yourselves.