ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Ziyaarat Aale-Yaasin, A Brief Commentary Preface The word "زيارات" is an Arabic term derived from the root "زوَرَ" which means ‘to visit’. In religious terminology, it implies our conversation with Allah’s sincere creatures and His infallible proofs (a.s.), who are without parallel. They are those whom Allah, the High, has purified from all uncleanness and has created them pure, purified.

Thus, whosoever desires to approach Allah, he should do so through the gates determined by Him. Yes, the infallible Imams (a.s.) from the immaculate Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) are the gates through whom Allah is approached. They are the medium towards Him and hence, their recognition, their love and treading on their path is obligatory. All these are summarized in one thing i.e. ziyaarat.

It is our creed that the souls of the holy Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) ascend towards the highest heavens and are alive, receiving their sustenance (from their Lord). They look at us, hear our speech and reply to our salutations. As Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) narrates from the Holy Prophet (S), “Those who die among us, are not (actually) dead.” The belief of us Shias is contrary to that of the Wahhaabis who think that the Holy Prophet (S) is dead and gone and is no longer effective in our lives.

We are also against the (غلات) who attribute divinity to Ameerul Momineen (a.s.)! Allah is Higher than what the unjust believe! We subscribe to the belief that Holy Prophet but the most superior of them all. He is followed by his successors, the Holy Imams (a.s.). In our time today, Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.), the Promised One, is his successor. So from among the etiquette of ziyaarat is that the one whose ziyaarat we are about to read, his recognition is a must.

It is not possible for us to acquire the recognition of the Holy Prophet (S) or the infallible Imams (a.s.) through the faulty or inadequate faculties available to us humans. Just as an ant, in front of a huge mountain or a drop of water when compared to an ocean, are not worth a mention, we too when compared to these great personalities, are even more insignificant and miniscule than the ant or the drop of water. Then how is it possible that we describe or recognize them?

Since only Allah the Almighty possesses their all-encompassing recognition, the only method to recognize them is through revelation. If we acquire any other mode of recognition, then indeed we will be among the seventy-two doomed sects.