ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Al-Abbas The Holy Shrine From early ages of humankind, people have showed various forms of adulation to their honorable and unique personalities. One of these forms is the sanctification of their tombs by constructing handsome buildings that are, in most cases, taken as places of worship.

The Holy Qur’an, narrating the story of the seven sleepers of Ephesus, has referred to this phenomenon: “We caused their story to become public so that people would know that God’s promise was true and that there is no doubt about the coming of the Day of Judgment. They started to argue with each other about the matter (resurrection) and some of them said, ‘Let us establish a building at the youths’ sleeping place.’ Their Lord knew best their intentions about them.

The majority prevailed in their suggestion of the establishment of a mosque in that place.” [^1] Such buildings have been ceaselessly visited by people for seeking blessings, showing respect, and practicing definite ceremonies and rituals of worship there. The question of visiting the tombs of the prophets, their successors, and saints has been an uninterrupted tradition quoted from ’s words, deeds, and confirmations.

Nevertheless, some heresy doctrines claiming to belong to Islam have given rise to problematic matters regarding this point. As if they are the only Muslims believing in the legality of visiting the tombs, the Shia have been accused of believing that it is permissible to visit the shrines of the Prophets, Imams and saints, to build them, to seek blessings through them, to pray and make supplications around them.

All the other Islamic schools of jurisprudence have shared the Shia in such beliefs.[^2] Not only is the holy shrine of al-’Abbas visited by the Shia, but also Muslims from other Islamic sects have made pilgrimage to that shrine ceaselessly. The Immaculate Imams of the Ahlul Bayt (a) confirmed the pilgrimage to the holy shrines of the Prophets, Imams, and saints and referred to definite rules of conduct to be followed there.

They also dedicated definite statements of supplication and greetings to such shrines. As a matter of fact, the question of constructing shrines on the tombs of certain individual is not an ordinary issue originated from personal views or tendencies. Indeed, it is a divine will having many dimensions.