Given this list of illustrious personalities who have narrated this tradition...

Given this list of illustrious personalities who have narrated this tradition, there remains no doubt about the authenticity of the chain of narrators. A Peculiar Feature of the Ziyaarat A very exceptional trait of this Ziyaarat is that the instructor of this Ziyaarat is also its addressee, i.e. the one conveying salutation (salaam) and the one to whom the salutation is addressed is one and the same. Such ziyaaraat are indeed very few.

Generally, Ziyaaraat are recorded from one infallible (a.s.) addressing another infallible (a.s.). For instance, Imam Sajjad (a.s.) has taught his Shias the Ziyaarat of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) introduced the Ziyaarat of the martyrs of Karbala (r.a.).

About the introduction of Ziyaarat al-Aali -Yaasin, it is narrated that Janabe Himyari (r.a.), the narrator of this Ziyaarat, received a letter from Imam al-Asr (a.t.f.s.) in which, he (a.t.f.s.) first answered the queries asked. Then he wrote, ‘You (people) neither understand Allah’s affair (ولايت) nor acknowledge His friends (Imams (a.s.)). The Imamis Allah’s Perfect Wisdom but it has become futile to frighten the people with it. Salutations be upon us and upon Allah’s pious servants.

So, whenever you intend to turn your attention towards Allah through our mediation or wish to turn towards us then say as Allah has ordered, "سَلامٌ عَلى آلِ يس...." We beseech Allah to give us the grace to convey the exegesis of this invaluable Ziyaarat to our readers (keeping brevity in mind). Verse 1 ١. سَلامٌ عَلى آلِ يس Salutation upon Aali Yaasin means salutations upon the progeny of the Holy Prophet (S). This opening salutation has great significance.

For, this is a Ziyaarat related to Imam al- Zamana (a.t.f.s.) and all salutations after the opening one are addressed to him. Yet, Imam (a.t.f.s.) has commenced it by sending salutations upon all his family members. It is apparent that the opening salutation on the infallible progeny of the Holy Prophet (S) is derived from two Quranic verses.

The first verse is derived from Surah Yasin, verse 1 يس The second verse is derived from Surah Saaffaat, verse 130 سَلامٌ عَلى آلِ يس Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) was asked, ‘O son of Allah’s Prophet, what is the meaning of the divine word يس? He (a.s.) replied, اِسْمُ مِنْ اَسْمَاءِ النًبِيٍ وَ مَعْناهُ يَا سَامِعَ الوَحْيِ “It is a name from the Prophet’s (S) names and implies, ‘O hearer of revelation’.