Advice from H.E. Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sistani – may God protect him – on the 40th day Visit to Imam Husain (pbuh)
In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful
All praise is due to God, Lord of the Worlds. May peace and blessings shower upon our Master Muhammad and his pure progeny…
Indeed, the faithful blessed by God to make this honorable visit should reflect on the fact that God Almighty has made Prophets and Guardians out of some of His servants that they may be the examples and role models for people… That they may be the testimony (God has) for people. As such, people would then find guidance in their teachings and follow in their footsteps.
God Almighty encouraged people to visit their holy mausoleums, making their remembrance everlasting and elevating their status. He did so such that it may be a reminder for people, reminding them of God Almighty, of His teachings and of His laws. For, indeed, the Prophets and Guardians were the prime examples of devotion to God Almighty, of struggling in His Way, and of sacrifice for His upright religion.
It follows, therefore, that as well as remembering the sacrifices of Imam Husain (pbuh) in God’s Way, this visit entails the following:
Attentiveness to abiding by the teachings of the true religion, including prayer, the hijab, reconciliation, forgiveness, forbearance, good manners, the sanctity of the road, and all other virtuous meanings such that this visit may be – by God’s grace – a step toward building one’s character when it comes to these meanings, having effects which last until the upcoming visits and beyond. That way, presence in these visits becomes like presence in the gatherings of learning and character building at the hands of the Imam (pbuh).
Even though we have not witnessed the (physical) presence of the Imams of the Holy Household (pbut) such that we may learn from them and have our characters built at their hands, God did however preserve their teachings and (historic) positions for us… God did encourage us to visit their holy mausoleums… All such that they may be marked examples for us. In doing so, He tested the extent of our honesty when it comes to our hope of being in their presence and abiding by their teachings and admonitions, just as He tested those who lived with them and were in their presence. Hence, let us be careful for fear that our hope may be a dishonest wish in reality. Let us be conscious that if we are as they – peace and blessings be upon them – wanted us to be then hopefully we will be resurrected alongside those who witnessed (events) in their presence. For the following has been narrated: In the Battle of the Camel, the Commander of the Faithful (pbuh) said that, “Today, there were people present here with us who are still in the backs of men and the wombs of women.”
Those amongst us who are honest in their hopes do not find it difficult to act according to their teachings and to follow their lead, thus maintaining purity by their purification and discipline in their etiquettes.
So (be conscious of) God, (be conscious of) God, when it comes to prayer! For indeed, it is – as has been mentioned in the noble tradition – the pillar of the religion and (through it is) the ascension of the faithful. If it is accepted, all else is accepted. If it is rejected, all else is rejected. One should be committed to prayer at the very beginning of its time, for indeed the most beloved servants of God to Him are those quickest to answer the call to prayer. A faithful person should not turn away from prayer at the beginning of prayer time because of being busy with another act of devotion, for indeed prayer is the best act of devotion. It has been narrated that the Immaculate Ones (pbut) have said, “Our intercession does not extend to one who takes prayer lightly.”
It has also been narrated that Imam Husain (pbuh) cared so profoundly for prayer on the day of Ashura that he told the person who reminded him of prayer at the beginning of its time, “You reminded me of prayer, may God make you among those who pray.” He then prayed in the battlefield despite the intensity of the arrows (pouring down).
(Be conscious of) God, (be conscious of) God, when it comes to sincerity! For indeed, the value and blessing of a person’s action is to the extent of the sincerity to God Almighty in that person’s action. Indeed, God does not accept anything (with His special care and attention) other than that which is done purely for Him, free from seeking anyone other than Him.
Concerning the migration of the Muslims from Mecca to Medina, it has been narrated that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hf) has said the following. Whoever migrates toward God and His Messenger then that person's migration is toward Him, and whoever migrates toward a worldly aim then that person's migration is toward it. Indeed, God multiplies the reward of the good deed according to the degree of sincerity a person has in doing it, reaching up to 700 times the reward, and God multiplies the reward for whomever He wishes.
Therefore, the visitors must abundantly remember God during their walk and be mindful of their sincerity in every step and good deed. Let them know that God Almighty has not bestowed any blessing upon His servants much like sincerity to Him in belief, word and action. Indeed, action without sincerity expires with the expiration of this world. As for action with sincerity to God Almighty, it lasts forever blessed in this world and beyond.
(Be conscious of) God, (be conscious of) God, when it comes to the veil, and the Hijab! For indeed, it is among the most important of that which the Holy Household – peace be upon them – cared for even in the harshest circumstances on the day of Karbala. They were the prime example in that regard. Out of all the acts carried out by their enemies, there was nothing that pained them much like they were pained by having the sanctity of their honorable (ladies) violated before the people. Therefore, all visitors, especially the faithful women, must abide by what chastity entails when it comes to their behavior, clothing and appearance. They should avoid anything that may taint (this representation of chastity) such as tight clothing, inappropriate mixing, and forbidden adornments. Rather, one should be attentive to abide by all of that to the utmost degree possible in order to safeguard this sacred ritual from unbefitting blemishes.
We ask God Almighty to elevate the status of the Chosen Prophet (pbuh&hf) and his pure, Holy Household – peace be upon them – in this world and the Hereafter for what they have sacrificed in the Way of God and struggled through to guide God's creatures. We ask Him to multiply His showers of peace and blessings upon them, just as He showered peace and blessings upon the Chosen Ones before them, especially Prophet Ibrahim and the progeny of Prophet Ibrahim. We also ask God Almighty to bless the visit of the visitors of Imam Husain (pbuh) and to accept it (with His special care and attention) in the best way that He accepts the good deeds of His righteous servants. That way, in their walk and their behavior throughout this visit and for the remainder of their lives, they will become an example for others. We ask Him to reward them well on behalf of the Holy Household of their Prophet – peace be upon them – for their allegiance to them, for following in their footsteps and for delivering their message. (With such reward, we hope) that they may be called up alongside them – peace be upon them – on the Day of Judgment when every people will be called up with their Imam. As for those amongst them who are martyrs on this path, we ask God to resurrect them alongside Imam Husain (pbuh) and his companions for sacrificing their lives and bearing oppression and persecution because of their allegiance. Indeed, God is Hearing, Responsive.
(Disclaimer: This is an unofficial translation. For the original Arabic, see http://www.sistani.org/arabic/qa/0529/page/2/)
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