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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Mikyalul Makarim Fee Fawaaid ad-Duaa Lil Qai’m vol. 2 6: Expressing An Eagerness To See Him This is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the Imam’s (as) followers. There is no doubt regarding its praiseworthiness and preference. Numerous traditions and supplications mention this quality. How beautifully it is expressed in a couplet: The heart burns and tears flow in the eagerness to see you.

The desire to see is burning us and the tears of separation are going to drown us. Have you ever seen a drowning man in flames? That which supports this point is the statement of Amirul Momineen (as) in which he has expressed his eagerness to see the Imam as mentioned in a tradition in which he has described His Eminence Mahdi (aj) in the Chapter of Letter ‘A’in’.

In that traditional report Imam Ali (as) described some of his qualities and ordered his allegiance and acceptance of his leadership, then he sighed and putting his hand to his chest expressed his eagerness to see the Imam of the Time (aj). The complete text of this traditional report has passed in the Chapter of the Knowledge of His Eminence (first volume of this book).

Also in support of this point is that which is mentioned in Biharul Anwar quoting from Mazar Kabir through the author’s own chain of narrators from Ahmad bin Ibrahim that he said: I mentioned to Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Uthman my eagerness to see our master and he said: In spite of eagerness are you really inclined to see him? I said: Yes.

He said: May the Almighty Allah reward you for your eagerness and give you the honor of seeing him easily, O Abu Abdullah do not pray for seeing him and being in his company as these are important divine matters and it is better to accept them. But pay attention to his Ziarat…[^1] I say: It is clear that having an eagerness to see the Imam is a good thing, as it is a part of having love for him, and as implied in the statement: ‘May the Almighty Allah reward you for your eagerness’.

It also clarifies that there is great reward for this as mentioned in a tradition of Imam Ja’far Sadiq (as). But as for his saying: ‘O Abu Abdullah do not pray for seeing him’ it is actually seeing him like the previous Imams, that is one could meet them whenever one wanted. Although the fact is that request to see the Imam is not absolutely prohibited, rather it is among the duties of the religious and many have been known to have got this honor.