Ziyara: Difference between revisions

[[File:حرم نبوی.jpg|thumbnail|right|The recommendation of the Ziyarah of the shrine of the Prophet (s) is accepted by all of Muslims]]

'''Zīyārah''' (Arabic:{{ia| الزيارة}}, literally: visit) is a religious act which means to attend before religious leaders or their graves in order to express and show love and reverence and acquire spiritual blessings. Visiting religious personalities and their graves have always been among recommended acts in [[Islam]] and during the history, [[Muslims]] have paid attention to it and followed it. However, Ziyarah of [[the Prophet (s)]] and [[Imams (a)]] has had a great importance among Shi'a and many spiritual benefits and rewards have been mentioned for them. Since Ziyarah is greatly important in Shi'a culture, it has been regarded among the features of Shi'a.

Despite the general opinion of Muslims about recommendation and permissibility of Ziyarah, [[Wahhabism]] sect, who have certain interpretations of some verses, claim that Ziyarah is not compatible with the conduct of the Prophet (s) and have issued questions about this issue. These questions have caused Shi'a and Sunni scholars to answer and defend the permissibility of Ziyarah.

Literally, the word "Ziyarah" means turning and withdrawing from something. The person who goes on Ziyarah is called Za'ir because when he goes to Ziyarah of a person, turns away from others. The common meaning of Ziyarah is that one turns to a person to show respect and become close to him; i.e. a visit which is accompanied with reverence at the heart and spiritual approach. Also, some have said that visiting friends of God and great Muslim personalities is called Ziyarah because it is turning away from material world towards the spiritual world.

In Islamic culture and all Muslims' tradition, Ziyarah has an important position which can be understood from [[hadith]]s received from [[Imams (a)]] about the promised rewards for Ziyarah. Hadiths about recommendation of Ziyarah of [[the Prophet (s)]] are many and at the level of [[Tawatur]] [high frequency of narration] and agreed upon by both [[Shi'a]]s and [[Sunni]]s. Therefore, Muslims go to Ziyarah of the grave of the Prophet (s) since long ago.

Although Ziyarah of the graves of the righteous, especially the Prophet (s) is accepted by all Muslims, however the concept of Ziyarah is more important in Shi'a culture. In addition to Ziyarah of the Prophet (s), Ziyarah of infallible Imams (a) is also a part of Shi'a rituals and is very important to them.

In Shi'a culture, Ziyarah means the connection with the infallible Imam (a) and admitting his [[Wilaya]], Ziyarah has a tight relation with the issue of the love of the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]], [[Tawalli]] [Loving] and [[Tabarri]] [rejecting].

One of the fruits of Imam's Wilaya is his control over the hearts, meaning that Imam has control over souls and hearts of people. In most Ziyarah texts, such a Wilaya and Imama is admitted; for example, it is mentioned in texts for Ziyarah of Imams (a), "I attest that you see me here and hear my word and answer my salutation." In Shi'a view, the soul of Imam becomes aware about his visitor with God's permission and this has made Ziyarah for Shi'a a lovely and spiritual meeting, the influence of which can obviously be seen in Shi'a prose and poetry. Ziyarah and the holy shrines of the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] have had great roles in Shi'a history and paying great attention to these is considered among significant cultural symbols of Shi'a.

Different types of Ziyarah have been mentioned in hadiths from the Ahl al-Bayt (a); some of which are:

* Visiting [[Ka'ba]]: which is performing [[Hajj]], [['Umra]] or circumambulation ([[Tawaf]]) of Ka'ba. Recommendation of Ziyarah of Ka'ba and obligation of Hajj is among definite rulings agreed by all Muslims. Also, according to hadiths, Ka'ba has been also respected by all prophets of the past.

* Ziyarah of [[the Prophet (s)]], which would be rewarded both during his lifetime and after he (s) passed away. Permissibility and recommendation of his Ziyarah is accepted by both Shi'a and Sunni and many hadiths have been narrated about that. [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] narrated from the Prophet (s) that anyone who comes to visit me, I will [[Intercession|intercede]] for him on the [[Day of Judgment]]. Also, in another hadith, it is narrated that Ziyarah of the grave of the Prophet (s), graves of martyrs and the grave of Imam al-Husayn (a) equals to performing Hajj in the company of the Prophet (s).

Also about Ziyarah of [[Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a)]], whose grave is unknown, her Ziyarah can be done from distance.

* Ziyarah [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] in [[Karbala]]; about which different and great rewards have been mentioned in correspondence with the visitor's knowledge and the manner of his Ziyarah.

* Ziyarah of other [[Imams (a)]]. It is narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (a) that Ziyarah of each of Imams (a) will be rewarded the same as the Ziyarah of the Prophet (s).

* Ziyarah of Imams (a) from distance; if anyone is unable to go to Ziyarah of the Prophet (s), Imams (a) or Lady Fatima (s), he can make Ziyarah from distance.

* Ziyarah of [[Lady Fatima al-Ma'suma (a)]], the honorable daughter of [[Imam al-Kazim (a)]] in [[Qom]]; there are many hadiths about her virtues and it is narrated from [[Imam al-Rida (a)]] that the rewards for Ziyarah of Lady Ma'suma (s) is the [[paradise]].

* Ziyarah of [['Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani]] in [[Rey]]; he (a) was among the great children of [[Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba (a)]] and great companions of Imams (a). In a hadith, the rewards promised for Ziyarah of him has been mentioned the same as Ziyarah of Imam al-Husayn (a).

* Ziyarah of faithful and righteous people: In many hadiths, Ziyarah of the graves of the faithful and making [[Du'a]] for them have been recommended; such as in a hadith narrated from Imam 'Ali (a) which advises that visit your passed ones since they become happy from your visit and make your requests from God near the graves of your father and mother.

The heart of Ziyarah is the spiritual attention towards Imam and showing respect, greetings and making spiritual bond with him. However, since Ziyara is considered as going before Imam (a), certain instructions are given for it, following which increases the benefits one can receive from Ziyarah. Certain instructions are given for the Ziyarah of some Imams (a) such as the Prophet (s) or Imam al-Husayn (a). For example, there are certain [[Du'a]]s and manners recommended to be observed during the Ziyarah of the Prophet (s), and Ziyarah of Imam al-Husayn (a) on the day of [['Arafa]] will have more rewards; or Ziyarah of Imam al-Rida (a) in the months of [[Dhu l-Qa'da]] and [[Rajab]] has been recommended.

Some common manners of Ziyarah are:

* To make Ziyarah with knowledge; according to many hadiths, the full reward of Ziyarah would be given to those who do it being aware and having knowledge about the position of Imam (a) ('Arif bi-haqqih [knowing his rights]). Although, having knowledge has different levels, but the minimum degree of that is that the visitor knows that he is visiting an [[infallible]] Imam (a) who has [[Wilaya]], whose obedience is [[obligatory]], that he (a) is the successor of the Prophet (s) and that the visitor needs to admit to Imam's (a) rights and obey his orders. To explain what it means to be aware and to have knowledge about the rights of Imam, Imam al-Kazim (a) said, "It is to know that his obedience is obligatory and that he is [[Gharib]] [left in distance without help] and martyred."

* Wearing perfume (except for Ziyarah of Imam al-Husayn (a), for which wearing perfume is not recommended)

* Going near the grave, so that the visitor reaches [[Darih]] and hang on it, provided that he does not have any bothering for other visitors and do not lead to mixing with [[Non-Mahrams]]. (However, Ziyarah of Imams (a) is not only touching and kissing Darih; but the visitor can receive the full rewards of Ziyarah without touching Darih, only by reciting Ziyarah text and saluting those honorable ones; and the idea that if a person does not reach Darih or kiss it, his Ziyarah would be incomplete, is wrong.)

* Exiting the shrine (especially from around Darih) after Ziyarah to empty room for others to make Ziyarah and also not become tired of Ziyarah and to keep the love of Ziyarah in his heart.

If someone cannot go to Ziyarah of an Imam, he can make [[Ziyarah from distance]]. In references of du'a and Ziyarah (such as ''[[Mafatih al-jinan]]''), there are special Ziyarah texts for making Ziyarah from distance.

There are different types of Ziyarah, each of which has unique benefits. For example, Ziyarah of [[Ka'ba]] has certain philosophy and certain manners of performance which are mentioned in the references of du'a and Ziyarah in details.

Ziyarah of the faithful and their graves is a mutual relationship which has benefits and fruits both for the visitor and the visited. In addition to abundant rewards for visiting the faithful, it is mentioned in many hadiths that the dweller of the grave senses the presence of his visitor and becomes happy with their presence. Among other benefits of the Ziyarah of the graves of the faithful are being reminded about death, take lesson and to be prepared for correction.

=== Merits of the Ziyarah of Infallible Imams (a) ===

Accordingly, the merits of Ziyarah can be understood, since Ziyarah is among the best ways to connect to the [[infalliblity|infallible]] leaders which brings about great opportunities and spirituality. Also, respecting Imams (a) strengthens the spiritual connection between the visitor and Imam (a) and in fact makes their spiritual path continue.

Forgiveness of the sins, benefitting from [[intercession]] of Imams (a) and fulfillment of requests are among other spiritual fruits, Ziyarah of Imams (a) bring about.

To give examples, some hadiths about the merits of Ziyarah are mentioned below:

In addition to rewards mentioned for visitors of Imams (a) in hadiths, the culture of Ziyarah has several social and educational functions such as the benefits mentioned below:

* Increase of the visitor's knowledge and learning religious teachings through Ziyarah texts

According to political and social problems, some major roles can be mentioned for Ziyarah in brief:

The importance of Ziyarah and great range of its manners has made the discussion of Ziyarat text (Farsi:{{ia| زیارت نامه}}, Ziyrat nameh) or Mazar (Arabic:{{ia| مزار}}, lit.: visiting) as an important religious issue, to be the subject for many works. [[Ibn Qulawayh al-Qummi]]'s ''[[Kamil al-Ziyarat]]'' is among the most authentic such references. Other such works are [[al-Shaykh al-Mufid]]'s ''[[al-Mazar]]'', [[al-Shaykh al-Tusi]]'s ''[[Misbah al-mutahajjid]]'', [[Sayyid b. Tawus]]'s ''[[Muhaj al-da'awat]]'', [[Shaykh Baha'i]]'s ''[[al-Mazar al-kabir]]'', [[al-Allama al-Majlisi]]'s ''[[Tuhfat al-za'ir]]'' and [[Shaykh 'Abbas Qummi]]'s ''[[Mafatih al-jinan]]''.

Ziyarah texts received from [[Imams (a)]] are two types; some are special to one Imam (a) and some are common and they can be recited upon visiting every Imam (a). Some issues can be found common in all or most of Ziyarah texts:

* Teaching divine and religious teachings: In Ziyarah texts, [[God]] and [[Divine Attributes|His attributes]] are correctly introduced; also the [[Wilaya]] of [[the Prophet (s)]] and Imams (a) are explained and this is a kind of teaching correct beliefs and teachings to Shi'a.

* Explaining virtues and vices: In Ziyarah texts, the principles of correct decision-making are mentioned as virtue (in describing Imams (a)) and vices (in describing the enemies of Imams (a)) so that the right path is known from the wrong path. Some of such values are mentioned below:

:Some vices mentioned in the Ziyarah 'Ashura are: