Some Observations on Ziyarat Ashura

 Introduction

The Ziyaraat (visitations) of Ahl al Bayt are precious resources. In addition to developing a relationship between the believers and the Ahl al Bayt, they can help us understand various aspects of reality. They teach us the status of the Ahl al Bayt and we can derive several principles from them. In this article we will discuss some of the lesser discussed aspects of Ziyarat Ashura. 

1. The effects of reciting Ziyarat Ashura are perpetual 

This aspect is repeated throughout the Ziyarah in various forms. For example:

عَلَيْكُمْ مِنِّي جَمِيعاً سَلامُ اللهِ أَبَداً مَا بَقِيتُ وَبَقِيَ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهارُ

Peace of Allah be on all of you, eternally as long as I remain and and there exist day and night.

إِنّي سِلْمٌ لِمَنْ سَالَمَكُمْ وَحَرْبٌ لِمَنْ حَارَبَكُمْ اِلى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ

I am at peace with those who made peace with you and at war with those who fought you, till the day of resurrection.

In addition to the above, there are other instances where this world and the next are mentioned together.

It is no wonder then, that regular recitation of this Ziyarah has benefits that extend to one's afterlife.

2. The event of Karbala is a tragedy for all existence, and specifically for Muslims

وَجَلَّتْ وَعَظُمَتِ الْمُصِيبَةُ بِكَ عَلَيْنا وَعَلى جَمِيعِ أَهْلِ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَجَلَّتْ وَعَظُمَتْ مُصِيبَتُكَ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ عَلَى جَمِيعِ أَهْلِ السَّمَاوَاتِ

How severely and terribly does your affliction weigh upon us and on all the people of Islam. And how terribly and severely does your affliction weigh upon the skies and all the inhabitants of the skies. 

وَأَعْظَمَ رَزِيَّتَها فِي الْإِسْلامِ وَفِي جَمِيعِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأرْضِ

 What intense agony this (affliction) brings to (the people of) Islam and all the (inhabitants of) the skies and the earth 

3. The compensation for this tragedy is the best compensation that there can be for any tragedy

وَأَسْألُ اللهَ بِحَقِّكُمْ وَبِالشَّأْنِ الَّذي لَكُمْ عِنْدَهُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَنِي بِمُصَابِي بِكُمْ أَفْضَلَ مَا يُعْطِي مُصَاباً بِمُصِيبَتِهِ

And I ask Allah by your right, and by the station that you possess before him, that in exchange of  my affliction through (what has befallen) you, he grants me the best of what he grants the one who is afflicted in exchange for his affliction!

4. Associating with the Ahlul Bayt is a source of honor (because the Ahl al Bayt are honored by Allah)

فَأَسْأَلُ اللهَ الَّذِي أَكْرَمَ مَقامَكَ وَأَكْرَمَنِي بِكَ

So I ask Allah who honored your station, and honored me through you.

The honor granted to the Ahl Al Bayt is so magnificent that one becomes honorable even by recognizing  those who are loyal to the Ahl Al Bayt:

فَأَسْأَلُ اللهَ الَّذِي أَكْرَمَنِي بِمَعْرِفَتِكُمْ وَمَعْرِفَةِ أَوْلِيائِكُمْ

So I ask Allah who honored me through your recognition and the recognition of your loyal ones.

5. Reciting this Ziyarah includes a prayer for long life

وَلا جَعَلَهُ اللهُ آخِرَ الْعَهْدِ مِنّي لِزِيارَتِكُمْ

And may Allah not let this be the last time I visit you

If this prayer is answered then it would mean that either the person will not die until the next time they recite the Ziyarah or if they do die, they will get to meet Imam Al Hussain (as). This is also reinforced by seeking the intercession of Imam Al Hussain in prostration (as part of this Ziyarah):

 اَللّـهُمَّ ارْزُقْني شَفاعَةَ الْحُسَيْنِ يَوْمَ الْوُرُودِ

O Allah! Grant me the intercession of Al-Hussain on the day of receiving (by You)

6. There is praise and gratitude to Allah (even) in the worst of calamities

The following is to be recited in prostration, after having read the Ziyarah:

اَللّـهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ حَمْدَ الشّاكِرينَ لَكَ عَلَى مُصَابِهِمْ اَلْحَمْدُ للهِ عَلَى عَظيمِ رَزِيَّتي

O Allah! All praise is for you, the praise of those who are grateful to you for their afflictions. All praise is for Allah on the greatness of my agony.

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