Al-Ziyara al-Jami'a al-Kabira: Difference between revisions

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'''Al-Zīyāra al-Jāmi'a al-Kabīra''' (Arabic:{{inlineArabic| الزیارة الجامعة الکبیرة}}) is among the most important and most perfect [[Ziyara]] texts [message recited upon the visit] for the [[Infallible Imams (a)]]. This Ziyara message was given by [[Imam al-Hadi (a)]] to a [[Shi'a]] upon his request. The content of this Ziyara message includes Shi'a beliefs on [[imamate]], [[Imam]]s' (a) positions and Shi'a's duties about them. Ziyara Jami'a Kabira can be regarded as a course on knowing Imams (a) composed in the form of eloquent and beautiful phrases.

A Ziyara text which does not belongs specifically to one of the [[Imam]]s (a) is called "Ziyara Jami'a"; and since Ziyara Jami'a Kabira is lengthier than other Ziyara texts, it have been given the attribute of "Kabira" [meaning "large"]. The text of this Ziyara is so that it can be recited for any of Imams (a) whether from distance [e.g. another city] or upon visiting their shrines.

== Source of Ziyara Jami'a Kabira ==

It has been narrated by [[al-Shaykh al-Tusi]] in ''[[Tahdhib]]''<ref>Tusi, ''Tahdhib'', vol.6 p.96-102</ref> and by [[Ibn Babawayh]] in ''[[Man la yahduruh al-faqih]]''.<ref>Saduq, ''Man la yahdhur'', vol.2 p.610</ref>

The text of this Ziyara is quoted from [[Imam al-Hadi (a)]]. Ibn Babawayh narrated it from [[Muhammad b. Isma'il Barmaki]] through [[Musa b. 'Abd Allah Nakha'i]] from Imam al-Hadi (a).<ref>Saduq, ''Man la yahdhur'', vol.2 p.610</ref> In ''[[Fara'id al-simtayn (book)|Fara'id al-Simatayn]]'', [[Juwayni Khurasani]] narrated this [[Ziyara]] from [[Hakim Neyshaburi]] through Ibn Babawayh.<ref>Juwayni, ''Fara'id'', vol.2 p.179-186</ref>

However according to categorization of [[hadith]]s based on the source, this Ziyara is not considered [[Sahih]] due to the presence of Musa b. 'Abd Allah Nakha'i among narrators of this Ziyara, who has been an unknown person;<ref>Ahsa'i, ''Sharh al-ziyara'', vol.1 p.30</ref> while, according to hadith scholars of early centuries AH who used to categorize hadiths only to Sahih and non-Sahih,<ref>Mudir Shanichi, '' 'Ilm al-hadith'', p.146</ref> this Ziyara has been considered as Sahih.

Ibn Babawayh's trust on this Ziyara is itself among evidences justifying its source.;<ref>Ahsa'i, ''Sharh al-ziyara'', vol.1 p.31</ref>

Moreover, [[Twelver Shi'a]] have accepted it in such a way that an insightful person can prove by claiming the consensus suggesting the opinion of [[Imam]]s (a).

[[Shubbar]] regarded this Ziyara camparable in rank with ''[[Nahj al-balagha]]'' and ''[[Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya]]'', the eloquence of which is at such a high level that it cannot be originated from anyone other than the Infallible (a).<ref>Shubbar, ''al-Anwar al-lami'a'', p.33</ref> After analyzing the source of this Ziyara, [[Ahmad b. Zayn al-Din b. Ibrahim al-Ahsa'i|Ahsa'i]] says that regarding the level of lexicon and meaning, this Ziyara is at such a high level that anyone finds it a saying of the Infallible (a) and needless of source analysis.<ref>Ahsa'i, ''Sharh al-ziyara'', vol.1 p.31</ref>

About this Ziyara, [[al-'Allama al-Majlisi]] said, "This Ziyara is the most complete Ziyara from distance or near [while visiting the shrine]".<ref>Majlisi, ''Zad al-ma'ad'', p.301</ref>

Also in his commentary on ''[[Man la yahduruh al-faqih]]'', [[al-Majlisi al-Awwal]] says, "This Ziyara is the best and most complete Ziyara and I have always visited Imams (a) in their holy shrines." [[Al-Muhaddith al-Nuri]] believes that Ibn Babawayh has summarized the text of this Ziyara in his narration and has omitted some parts which have not matched his beliefs.<ref>Nuri, ''Mustadrak al-wasa'il'', vol.11 p.170-171</ref>

== The Content of Ziyara Jami'a Kabira ==

Ziyara Jami'a Kabira is in fact a long and eloquent description of different perspectives of the concept of [[imamate]] which [[Shi'a]] believes that survival of religion depends on believing and adhering to this principle. Due to its content referring to Imams' (a) positions, [[Imam al-Hadi (a)]] said that the pilgrim says "Allahu Akbar" 100 times before reciting this Ziyara so that he does not fall into [[exaggeration]] about Imams (a).<ref>Majlisi, ''Bihar al-anwar'', vol.8 p.666</ref>

In this Ziyara, [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] have been described as his rightful successors and all Shi'a teachings are explained in a clear language, including the connection between Imams (a) and the [[The Prophet (s)|Holy Prophet (s)]], mentioning scholarly, moral and political merits of Imams (a), their example, the relation between imamate and [[Tawhid|Oneness of God]], the relation between knowing Imams (a) and knowing God, infallibility of the Ahl al-Bayt (a), oneness of their creation, [[Tawalli]] [friendship], [[Tabarri]] [rejection], [[Raj'a]] [second coming] and Taslim [surrender]. In this Ziyara, merits of Imams (a) are mentioned in connection with the [[Qur'an]] and the conduct of the Prophet (s) in the best way possible.

=== Some Parts of Ziyara Jami'a Kabira ===

In the beginning phrases of this Ziyara, we read {{inlineArabic|"السَّلامُ عَلَیکُمْ یا أَهْلَ بَیتِ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ مَوْضِعَ الرِّسَالَةِ"}} [Peace be upon you, O the Household of Prophethood, location of the Divine mission, frequently visited by the angels] and [[Imam al-Hadi (a)]] suggests that:

* This originates from [[Perfect attribute]]s of God, which Ahl al-Bayt (a) also have and by which reached the peak upon which collected knowledge, [[forbearance]], [[dignity]] and [[mercy]].

In the phrase {{inlineArabic|"السلام علی ائمة الهدی و مصابیح الدجی"}} [Peace be upon the leaders of the right guidance, the lanterns in the darkness], Imam al-Hadi (a) suggests that:

# They are inviters towards God and guides of people towards God's satisfaction.

# Imams (a) are steadfast in obeying God's orders.

# They totally love God.

# They are sincere in their belief of God's Oneness.

# Godly duties such as His orders are introduced by them.

# They never exceed God's orders either in speech or in action.

The [[Ziyara]] continues with mentioning the most important intellectual attributes of [[Shi'a]]:

* Having the belief that there is no god but [[God]] and He has no partner.

# Guarding divine covenant and strengthening their promise to worship God.

# Inviting people towards the truth by means of argument, wisdom and good advice

# Continuous sacrifice on the way of God by sacrificing their life and being patient upon hardships.

# Establishing [[prayer]] and paying [[Zakat]] and constantly observing other acts of worship and limits in Islam.

# Guarding Islamic law against deviation

# Surrendering to divine will

# Emphasizing on the unity of prophets' (s) paths and approving of them

Another phrase of the Ziyara reads {{inlineArabic|"‌فالراغب عنکم مارق واللازم لکم لاحق والمقصر فی حقکم زاهق‌"}} [Therefore, whoever forsakes you to apostate, whoever adheres to you will attain the destination, and whoever fails to carry out the duties towards you will perish.] which refers to lovers and enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) and says that their lovers will achieve happiness and their enemies will achieve misery.

# The necessity of believing in [[Raj'a]] [the second coming] of [[Imam]]s (a) and establishment of their governments

# The importance of visiting the graves of Imams (a)

# The importance of believing in Raj'a [the second coming]

# The necessity of constant readiness for assisting their governments until they rule the earth

# The necessity of rejecting their enemies.

# Happiness of believers in what God has given them through the Ahl al-Bayt (a)

# Believing in the Ahl al-Bayt (a) is not an emotional issue but though awareness, understanding and studying.

== Commentaries on Ziyara Jami'a Kabira ==

There are several commentaries written on Ziyara Jami'a Kabira. [[Muhammad Taqi Majlisi]] (d. 1070 AH/1659) wrote two commentaries on Ziyara Jami'a Kabira:

* The other time in Persian in ''[[Lawami' Sahibqarani (book)|Lawami' sahibqarani]]'' which is the commentary on the same book of [[Ibn Babawayh]]. [[Muhammad Baqir Majlisi]] wrote short commentaries on some of the Ziyara's phrases in ''[[Bihar al-anwar]]''.<ref>Majlisi, ''Bihar al-anwar'', vol.99 p.134-144</ref>

The most important commentary of Ziyara Jami'a Kabira is [[Ahmad b. Zayn al-Din b. Ibrahim al-Ahsa'i]] (d. 1241/1825 or 1243 AH/1827) with the title of ''[[Sharh al-Ziyarat al-jami'at al-kabira]]'' in 4 volumes. This commentary is the most comprehensive and most scholarly commentary on Ziyara Jami'a Kabira. It is written based on [[Shaykhiyya]] ideas and is full of [[theology|theological]], [[literary]], [[hadith]] and [[philosophical]] discussions. ''[[Al-anwar al-lami'a]]'' is among the recent commentaries of Ziyara Jami'a Kabira written by [[Sayyid 'Abd Allah Shubbar]]'' which is short and useful.

* ''Adab-i fanay-i muqarraban'' written by [[Ayatullah Jawadi Amuli]]<ref>Published: Qom: Asra'</ref>

* ''Asrar al-ziyara wa burhan al-inaba fi sharh ziyarat al-jami'a'' written by Muhammad Taqi Aqa Najafi Isfahani<ref>Published: 1296</ref>

* [[Ziyarat]]

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* Tusi, Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-, ''[[Tahdhib al-ahkam (book)|Tahdhib al-ahkam]]''. Tehran: Dar al-kutub al-islamiyya, 1407

* Saduq, Muhammad b. 'Ali b. Babawayh al-, ''[[Kitab man la yahduruh al-faqih (book)|Man la yahduruh al-faqih]]''. Qom: Jami'a Mudarrisin, 1413

* Juwayni, Ibrahim b. Muhammad al-, ''[[Fara'id al-simtayn (book)|Fara'id al-Simatayn]]''. Beirut: Mu'assisa al-mahmudi.

* Ahsa'i, Ahmad b. Zayn al-Din al-. ''Sharh al-ziyara al-Jami'a al-Kabira''. Beirut: 1420/1999

* Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir al-. ''[[Zad al-ma'ad (book)|Zad al-ma'ad]]''. Beirut: 'Ala' al-Din A'lami, 1423/2003

* Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir al-.''[[Bihar al-anwar]]''. Beirut: Dar Ihya' al-Turath al-'Arabi, 1403

* Mudir Shanichi, Kazim. '' 'Ilm al-hadith''. Qom: 1362

* Nuri, Husayn b. Muhammad Taqi al-.''Mustadrak al-wasa'il''. Beirut: Mu'assisa Al al-Bayt, 1411/1991

* Shubbar, 'Abd Allah. ''Al-Anwar al-lami'a fi sharh ziyara al-jami'a''. Beirut: 1403/1983

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