The Book on Dying People

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا قُبِضَ وَلَدُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ‌[3] بِمَا قَالَ الْعَبْدُ قَالَ‌ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لِمَلَائِكَتِهِ قَبَضْتُمْ وَلَدَ فُلَانٍ فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ رَبَّنَا قَالَ فَيَقُولُ فَمَا قَالَ عَبْدِي قَالُوا حَمِدَكَ وَ اسْتَرْجَعَ‌[1] فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَخَذْتُمْ ثَمَرَةَ قَلْبِهِ وَ قُرَّةَ عَيْنِهِ فَحَمِدَنِي وَ اسْتَرْجَعَ ابْنُوا لَهُ بَيْتاً

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘When a son of a believing person dies - Allah knows what the servant (of Allah) may say - Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, says to His angels, “Have you taken the soul of the son of My servant out of his body?” They reply, “Yes, O Lord, we have

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا أَحَبَّ عَبْداً قَبَضَ أَحَبَّ وُلْدِهِ إِلَيْهِ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, loves a servant, He takes away the soul of his most beloved son to Himself.’”

مَنْ قَدَّمَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَلَدَيْنِ يَحْتَسِبُهُمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حَجَبَاهُ مِنَ النَّارِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if two sons of any Muslim die and he considers it a decision of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, as such and obediently agrees, they (his sons) will protect him against fire by the permission of Allah, most High.”

لَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ طَاهِرُ ابْنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ خَدِيجَةَ عَنِ الْبُكَاءِ فَقَالَتْ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ لَكِنْ دَرَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الدُّرَيْرَةُ فَبَكَيْتُ فَقَالَ أَ مَا تَرْضَيْنَ أَنْ تَجِدِيهِ قَائِماً عَلَى بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ فَإِذَا رَآكِ أَخَذَ بِيَدِكِ فَأَدْخَلَكِ الْجَنَّةَ أَطْهَرَهَا مَكَاناً وَ أَطْيَبَهَا قَالَتْ وَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ كَذَلِكَ قَالَ اللَّهُ أَعَزُّ وَ أَكْرَمُ مِنْ

‘When Tahir son of the Messenger of Allah passed away, the Messenger of Allah forbade Khadijah from weeping. She said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah, I agree, but I noticed that my milk flowed out; thus I wept.’ He then said, ‘Would you not agree if you find him standing near the door of paradise and on seeing you, hold y

ثَوَابُ الْمُؤْمِنِ مِنْ وَلَدِهِ إِذَا مَاتَ‌ الْجَنَّةُ صَبَرَ أَوْ لَمْ يَصْبِرْ[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the reward for a believing person for the death of his sons is paradise, whether he exercise patience or not.”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَيَعْجَبُ مِنَ الرَّجُلِ يَمُوتُ وَلَدُهُ وَ هُوَ يَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ فَيَقُولُ يَا مَلَائِكَتِي عَبْدِي أَخَذْتُ نَفْسَهُ وَ هُوَ يَحْمَدُنِي.

“My angels, look to My servant. I took away his soul but he praises and thanks Me.’””

مَنْ قَدَّمَ أَوْلَاداً يَحْتَسِبُهُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حَجَبُوهُ مِنَ النَّارِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever considers the death of his sons as his savings with Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, they will protect him against fire by the permission of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious.”

مَنْ أُصِيبَ بِمُصِيبَةٍ فَلْيَذْكُرْ مُصَابَهُ بِالنَّبِيِّ ص فَإِنَّهُ مِنْ أَعْظَمِ الْمَصَائِبِ.

"If one experiences sorrow due to [the death of] someone, he should remember his sorrow of [losing] the Prophet (sw) for [his death] is the greatest of all sorrows."

قَالَ: إِنْ أُصِبْتَ بِمُصِيبَةٍ فِي نَفْسِكَ أَوْ فِي مَالِكَ أَوْ فِي وُلْدِكَ فَاذْكُرْ مُصَابَكَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَإِنَّ الْخَلَائِقَ لَمْ يُصَابُوا بِمِثْلِهِ قَطُّ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If you suffer sorrow and grief about yourself, your property or children, then remind yourself of the sorrow and grief you have suffered due to the death of the Messenger of Allah; creatures have never suffered any grief as this (death of the Messenger of Allah).”’

لَمَّا أُصِيبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع نَعَى الْحَسَنُ إِلَى الْحُسَيْنِ ع وَ هُوَ بِالْمَدَائِنِ‌[3] فَلَمَّا قَرَأَ الْكِتَابَ قَالَ يَا لَهَا مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ مَا أَعْظَمَهَا مَعَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‌ ص قَالَ مَنْ أُصِيبَ مِنْكُمْ بِمُصِيبَةٍ فَلْيَذْكُرْ مُصَابَهُ بِي فَإِنَّهُ لَنْ يُصَابَ بِمُصِيبَةٍ أَعْظَمَ مِنْهَا وَ صَدَقَ ص.

“When Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) was struck, al-Hasan informed Al-Husayn, (a.s.) about it. He was in al-Mada’in (Ctesiphon) at that time. When he read the letter, he said, ‘How intense and great is this sorrow! Even though the Messenger of Allah has said that if you experience grief and sorrow, remind yourself of your sor

لَمَّا مَاتَ النَّبِيُّ ص سَمِعُوا صَوْتاً وَ لَمْ يَرَوْا شَخْصاً يَقُولُ‌ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ‌ ذائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَ إِنَّما تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَ أُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فازَ وَ قَالَ إِنَّ فِي اللَّهِ خَلَفاً مِنْ كُلِّ هَالِكٍ وَ عَزَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ مُصِيبَةٍ وَ دَرَكاً مِمَّا فَاتَ فَبِاللَّهِ فَثِقُوا وَ إِيَّاهُ فَارْجُوا وَ إِنَّمَا الْمَحْرُومُ مَنْ حُرِمَ ال

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when the Messenger of Allah passed away they (people) heard a voice, but did not see anyone in person, saying, ‘Every soul is to experience the taste of death. You

لَمَّا قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص جَاءَهُمْ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع وَ النَّبِيُّ مُسَجًّى وَ فِي الْبَيْتِ عَلِيٌّ وَ فَاطِمَةُ وَ الْحَسَنُ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ ع فَقَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا أَهْلَ بَيْتِ الرَّحْمَةِ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَ إِنَّما تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَ أُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فازَ وَ مَا الْحَياةُ الدُّنْيا إِلَّا مَتاعُ الْغُرُورِ إِنَّ فِي

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Salmah ibn al-Khattab from Sulayman ibn Sama‘ah from Al-Husayn ibn al-Mukhtar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that when the Messenger of Allah passed away, Jibril (the archangel) came to them when the Holy Prophet was covered with a sheet o

لَمَّا قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص جَاءَتِ التَّعْزِيَةُ أَتَاهُمْ آتٍ يَسْمَعُونَ حِسَّهُ‌[3] وَ لَا يَرَوْنَ شَخْصَهُ فَقَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ‌ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَ إِنَّما تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ‌[4] عَنِ النَّارِ وَ أُدْخِلَ‌ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فازَ وَ مَا الْحَياةُ الدُّنْيا إِلَّا مَتاعُ الْغُرُورِ فِي اللَّهِ

6. It is narrated from him (narrator of above Hadith) from Salmah from Ali ibn Sayf from his father from abu ‘Usamah Zayd al-Shahham who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that when the Messenger of Allah passed away condolences were offered. Someone came to them and they felt his prese

مَنْ كَانَ فِي الْبَيْتِ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ وَ فَاطِمَةُ وَ الْحَسَنُ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ ع‌[1].

7. It is narrated from him (narrator of above Hadith) from Ali ibn Sayf from his father from abu al-Jarud who has said the following: “He (the narrator) has narrated a similar Hadith from abu Ja’far (a.s.), with this addition. ‘I asked, who were in the house?’ He replied, ‘They were Ali, Fatimah, al-Hassan and Al-Husay

لَمَّا قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَتَاهُمْ آتٍ فَوَقَفَ بِبَابِ الْبَيْتِ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَ إِنَّما تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَ أُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فازَ وَ مَا الْحَياةُ الدُّنْيا إِلَّا مَتاعُ الْغُرُورِ فِي اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَفٌ مِنْ كُلِّ هَالِكٍ وَ عَزَاءٌ مِنْ كُ

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, when the Holy Prophet passed away, someone came to them and stood at door of the house. He offered them greeting of peace and then said, ‘O family of Muhammad, every soul must experience the taste of death. You will receive your reward (from Allah) on the Day of Judgment only. Those who ar

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا الْجَزَعُ قَالَ أَشَدُّ الْجَزَعِ الصُّرَاخُ بِالْوَيْلِ وَ الْعَوِيلِ وَ لَطْمُ الْوَجْهِ وَ الصَّدْرِ وَ جَزُّ الشَّعْرِ مِنَ‌ النَّوَاصِي‌[1] وَ مَنْ أَقَامَ النُّوَاحَةَ فَقَدْ تَرَكَ الصَّبْرَ وَ أَخَذَ فِي غَيْرِ طَرِيقِهِ‌[2] وَ مَنْ صَبَرَ وَ اسْتَرْجَعَ وَ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقَدْ رَضِيَ بِمَا صَنَعَ اللَّهُ وَ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ جَرَى عَلَي

“Once I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘What is impatience and outcry?’ He replied, ‘An intense form of impatience is to cry aloud expressing certain words as al-Wayl or howling or beating of the face or chest or pulling out of hairs from the forehead. Whoever organizes a lamentation ceremony has abandoned patience. If one e

مِثْلَهُ.

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman from abu Jamilah, from Jabir from abu Ja‘far (a.s.), a similar Hadith

إِنَّ الصَّبْرَ وَ الْبَلَاءَ يَسْتَبِقَانِ‌ إِلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ فَيَأْتِيهِ الْبَلَاءُ وَ هُوَ صَبُورٌ[1] وَ إِنَّ الْجَزَعَ وَ الْبَلَاءَ يَسْتَبِقَانِ إِلَى الْكَافِرِ فَيَأْتِيهِ الْبَلَاءُ وَ هُوَ جَزُوعٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that patience and misfortune race toward a believing person but misfortune finds him exercising patience. Outcry and impatience race toward an unbeliever person and misfortune finds him in outcry and impatience.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ ضَرْبُ الْمُسْلِمِ يَدَهُ عَلَى فَخِذِهِ عِنْدَ الْمُصِيبَةِ إِحْبَاطٌ لِأَجْرِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If a Muslim strikes his hand against his thigh due to suffering and sorrow, it causes his deeds to become void and fruitless.’”

مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يُصَابُ بِمُصِيبَةٍ فَيَسْتَرْجِعُ عِنْدَ ذِكْرِهِ الْمُصِيبَةَ وَ يَصْبِرُ حِينَ تَفْجَأُهُ إِلَّا غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَ كُلَّمَا ذَكَرَ مُصِيبَتَهُ فَاسْتَرْجَعَ عِنْدَ ذِكْرِ الْمُصِيبَةِ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ كُلَّ ذَنْبٍ اكْتَسَبَ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمَا[3].

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan from Ma’ruf ibn Kharrabuz who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever of the servants (of Allah) after suffering a misfortune, upon recalling any of his suffering and sorrow, acknowledges it and exercise

مَنْ ذَكَرَ مُصِيبَتَهُ وَ لَوْ بَعْدَ حِينٍ فَقَالَ‌ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَيْهِ راجِعُونَ‌ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* اللَّهُمَّ آجِرْنِي عَلَى مُصِيبَتِي وَ أَخْلِفْ عَلَيَّ أَفْضَلَ مِنْهَا كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ مَا كَانَ عِنْدَ أَوَّلِ صَدْمَةٍ[5].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one recalls his suffering a misfortune even after a long time and says, ‘To Allah we belong and to Him we return, all praise belongs to Allah Lord of the worlds; O Lord, grant me favors for my suffering a misfortune and replace my losses with something better,’ his reward for th

يَا إِسْحَاقُ لَا تَعُدَّنَّ مُصِيبَةً أُعْطِيتَ عَلَيْهَا الصَّبْرَ وَ اسْتَوْجَبْتَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الثَّوَابَ إِنَّمَا الْمُصِيبَةُ الَّتِي يُحْرَمُ صَاحِبُهَا أَجْرَهَا وَ ثَوَابَهَا إِذَا لَمْ يَصْبِرْ عِنْدَ نُزُولِهَا.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that, O Ishaq, do not count a misfortune in which you were granted patience, thus you deserved reward from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious. A misfortune is that in which due to acting impatiently, one is deprived of rewards for that suffering.”

لَا يَنْبَغِي الصِّيَاحُ عَلَى الْمَيِّتِ وَ لَا شَقُّ الثِّيَابِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it is not advisable to cry loudly for a deceased or teardown one’s clothes.”

قَالَ: ضَرْبُ الرَّجُلِ يَدَهُ عَلَى فَخِذِهِ عِنْدَ الْمُصِيبَةِ إِحْبَاطٌ لِأَجْرِهِ.

“Abu al-Hassan the first (a.s.) said, ‘A man’s striking his hand on his thigh, when suffering a misfortune, causes suspension of his rewards for his suffering.’”

كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ فَشَكَا إِلَيْهِ مُصِيبَةً أُصِيبَ بِهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَمَا إِنَّكَ إِنْ تَصْبِرْ تُؤْجَرْ وَ إِلَّا تَصْبِرْ يَمْضِ عَلَيْكَ قَدَرُ اللَّهِ الَّذِي قَدَّرَ عَلَيْكَ وَ أَنْتَ مَأْزُورٌ[2].

“We were in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when a man came and complained before him about a misfortune that he had suffered. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘If you exercise patience, you will be rewarded and if you do not exercise patience, Allah’s system of working of things will apply to you without change and

أَتَيْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَعُودُ ابْناً لَهُ فَوَجَدْتُهُ عَلَى الْبَابِ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُهْتَمٌّ حَزِينٌ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ الصَّبِيُّ فَقَالَ وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لِمَا بِهِ‌[3] ثُمَّ دَخَلَ فَمَكَثَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا وَ قَدْ أَسْفَرَ وَجْهُهُ‌[4] وَ ذَهَبَ التَّغَيُّرُ وَ الْحُزْنُ قَالَ فَطَمِعْتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ صَلَحَ الصَّبِيُّ فَقُلْتُ كَيْفَ الصَّبِيُّ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ

“Once I visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), to also visit his son who was ill. I met him at the door and he was sorrowful and depressed. I asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service of your cause, how is your child?’ He replied, ‘By Allah, he is about to die.’ He then went inside the house and after a while came back to us,

لَا يَصْلُحُ الصِّيَاحُ عَلَى الْمَيِّتِ وَ لَا يَنْبَغِي وَ لَكِنَّ النَّاسَ لَا يَعْرِفُونَهُ وَ الصَّبْرُ خَيْرٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that howling for a deceased is not proper, and it should not happen but people do not know. Exercising patience is better.”

كُنْتُ جَالِساً عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَصَرَخَتْ صَارِخَةٌ مِنَ الدَّارِ فَقَامَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ثُمَّ جَلَسَ فَاسْتَرْجَعَ وَ عَادَ فِي حَدِيثِهِ حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّا لَنُحِبُّ أَنْ نُعَافَى فِي أَنْفُسِنَا وَ أَوْلَادِنَا وَ أَمْوَالِنَا فَإِذَا وَقَعَ الْقَضَاءُ فَلَيْسَ لَنَا أَنْ نُحِبَّ مَا لَمْ يُحِبَّ اللَّهُ لَنَا.

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Al-Husayn ibn al-Mukhtar from ‘Ala’ ibn Kamil who has said the following: “Once, I was sitting with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when someone inside the house began to cry loudly. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), stood up and then sat down saying, ‘To Allah we

كَانَ قَوْمٌ أَتَوْا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع فَوَافَقُوا صَبِيّاً لَهُ مَرِيضاً فَرَأَوْا مِنْهُ اهْتِمَاماً وَ غَمّاً وَ جَعَلَ لَا يَقِرُّ[1] قَالَ فَقَالُوا وَ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ أَصَابَهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ إِنَّا لَنَتَخَوَّفُ أَنْ نَرَى مِنْهُ مَا نَكْرَهُ قَالَ فَمَا لَبِثُوا أَنْ سَمِعُوا الصِّيَاحَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ قَدْ خَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمْ مُنْبَسِطَ الْوَجْهِ فِي غَيْرِ الْحَالِ الَّتِي كَانَ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالُوا لَهُ جَعَلَنَ

“Once a group of people came to visit abu Ja’far (a.s.), to find out how one of his children suffering from illness was doing. They found him deeply concerned, grieved and restless. The narrator has said that they said, ‘By Allah, if something happens to him (the child), we are afraid we will see something from him (th

كَانَ فِيمَا نَاجَى بِهِ مُوسَى ع رَبَّهُ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَا لِمَنْ عَزَّى الثَّكْلَى قَالَ أُظِلُّهُ فِي ظِلِّي يَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلِّي‌[2].

‘One of the matters that Moses privately said to his Lord was this, “O Lord, what is the reward for one who offers condolences to one who has suffered from the death of one’s son?” The Lord replied, “I will extend My shadow (protection) on him on the (extremely hot) day when there will be no shadows except My shadow.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ عَزَّى حَزِيناً كُسِيَ فِي الْمَوْقِفِ حُلَّةً يُحْبَى بِهَا[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever offers condolences to a sorrowful person will, on the Station for clearance of accounts, receive a dress that will be presented to him.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَنْ عَزَّى الثَّكْلَى أَظَلَّهُ اللَّهُ فِي ظِلِّ عَرْشِهِ يَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلُّهُ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever offers condolences to a sorrowful person due to the death of his son, Allah will provide him shadow (protection) from His throne on the Day when there will be no shadow except His shadow.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ عَزَّى مُصَاباً كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْتَقِصَ مِنْ أَجْرِ الْمُصَابِ شَيْ‌ءٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever offers condolences to a person who is suffering sorrow and grief due to the death of his son, will receive a reward equal to that for the affected party without any reduction in the reward for the later mentioned.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الْمَيِّتَ إِذَا مَاتَ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مَلَكاً إِلَى أَوْجَعِ أَهْلِهِ فَمَسَحَ عَلَى قَلْبِهِ فَأَنْسَاهُ لَوْعَةَ الْحُزْنِ‌[4] وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَمْ تُعْمَرِ الدُّنْيَا.

‘When a person dies, Allah sends an angel to the most distressed person of his family. The angel wipes the heart of that person to forget the pain of his sorrow and grief. Were this not to happen, the world would cease to develop or gain anything.”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى تَطَوَّلَ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ بِثَلَاثٍ أَلْقَى عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّيحَ‌[5] بَعْدَ الرُّوحِ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ مَا دَفَنَ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيماً وَ أَلْقَى عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلْوَةَ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَانْقَطَعَ النَّسْلُ وَ أَلْقَى عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَبَّةِ الدَّابَّةَ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَكَنَزَهَا مُلُوكُهُمْ كَمَا يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَ الْفِضَّةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, has granted people three favors: He has made dead bodies to give out foul smell; otherwise, no friend would ever bury a friend. He has made solace to take effect; otherwise, reproduction would halt. He has assigned a creature over this grain

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا مَاتَ الْمَيِّتُ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مَلَكاً إِلَى أَوْجَعِ أَهْلِهِ فَمَسَحَ عَلَى قَلْبِهِ فَأَنْسَاهُ لَوْعَةَ الْحُزْنِ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَمْ تُعْمَرِ الدُّنْيَا.

‘When a person dies, Allah sends an angel to the most distressed person of his family. The angel wipes the heart of that person to forget the pain of his sorrow and grief. Were this not to happen, the world would cease to develop or gain anything.”

إِنَّهُمْ يَأْنَسُونَ بِكُمْ فَإِذَا غِبْتُمْ عَنْهُمُ اسْتَوْحَشُوا.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that they (people of the cemetery) take comfort in you. When you disappear from them they become afraid.”

سَأَلْتُهُ‌[1] عَنْ زِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ وَ بِنَاءِ الْمَسَاجِدِ فِيهَا فَقَالَ أَمَّا زِيَارَةُ الْقُبُورِ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهَا وَ لَا تُبْنَى عِنْدَهَا الْمَسَاجِدُ.

"I asked him (Imam al-Sadiq) about visiting graves and building Masjids therein. He said, 'As for the visitation of graves, there is no issue with it, but a masjid should not be built there.'"

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ عَاشَتْ فَاطِمَةُ ع بَعْدَ أَبِيهَا خَمْسَةً وَ سَبْعِينَ يَوْماً لَمْ تُرَ كَاشِرَةً[2] وَ لَا ضَاحِكَةً تَأْتِي قُبُورَ الشُّهَدَاءِ فِي كُلِّ جُمْعَةٍ مَرَّتَيْنِ- الْإِثْنَيْنَ وَ الْخَمِيسَ فَتَقُولُ هَاهُنَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص هَاهُنَا كَانَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ.

'Fatima (a.s) lived for seventy-five days after her father but she was never seen smiling or laughing. Every Friday she would visit the graves of the martyrs twice, (and once) on Mondays and Thursdays and (she) would say, 'There was the Messenger of Allah (s.w.) and there were the pagans.'"

قُلْتُ لَهُ الْمُؤْمِنُ يَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ يَزُورُ قَبْرَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ لَا يَزَالُ مُسْتَأْنِساً بِهِ مَا دَامَ عِنْدَ قَبْرِهِ فَإِذَا قَامَ وَ انْصَرَفَ مِنْ قَبْرِهِ دَخَلَهُ مِنِ انْصِرَافِهِ عَنْ قَبْرِهِ وَحْشَةٌ.

“I asked the Imam (a.s.), ‘Does a believing deceased notice who has visited his grave?’ He replied, ‘Yes, and he continues to take comfort in his visitor as long as he is near his grave. When the visitor stands up and leaves the gravesite he (the deceased) becomes afraid and lonely.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَيْفَ التَّسْلِيمُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْقُبُورِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ تَقُولُ- السَّلَامُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْتُمْ لَنَا فَرَطٌ وَ نَحْنُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لَاحِقُونَ.

You have departed us and we, by the will of Allah, will join you.’””

مَرَرْتُ مَعَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع بِالْبَقِيعِ فَمَرَرْنَا بِقَبْرِ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ مِنَ الشِّيعَةِ قَالَ فَوَقَفَ عَلَيْهِ ع فَقَالَ- اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْ غُرْبَتَهُ وَ صِلْ وَحْدَتَهُ وَ آنِسْ وَحْشَتَهُ وَ أَسْكِنْ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ مَا يَسْتَغْنِي بِهَا عَنْ رَحْمَةِ مَنْ سِوَاكَ وَ أَلْحِقْهُ بِمَنْ كَانَ يَتَوَلَّاهُ.

“Once abu Ja’far (a.s.), and I passed by al-Baqi’ cemetery. We then passed by the grave of a person from al-Kufah who was a Shi ‘ah Muslim. The narrator has said that the Imam stood on his grave and said, ‘O Lord, grant him mercy and kindness in his loneliness, provide him company in his solitude, comfort him in his di

تَقُولُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِينَ‌[2] وَ إِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لَاحِقُونَ.

“He (the Imam) has said, ‘As a greeting of peace to the people of the graves say, “May Allah grant you peace which was wished for you by the town of a believing people, and we by the will of Allah are about to join you.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَيْفَ التَّسْلِيمُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْقُبُورِ قَالَ تَقُولُ السَّلَامُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنَّا وَ الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ وَ إِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لَاحِقُونَ.

‘May Allah grant peace to the Muslims and believing ones of this dwelling place. May Allah grant mercy upon those of us who have preceded us (to the next life) and those who will follow and we, by the will of Allah, are about to join you.’”

كُنْتُ بِفَيْدَ[3] فَمَشَيْتَ مَعَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ بِلَالٍ إِلَى قَبْرِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ بِلَالٍ قَالَ لِي صَاحِبُ هَذَا الْقَبْرِ عَنِ الرِّضَا ع قَالَ مَنْ أَتَى قَبْرَ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى الْقَبْرِ وَ قَرَأَ إِنَّا أَنْزَلْناهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ أَمِنَ يَوْمَ الْفَزَعِ الْأَكْبَرِ أَوْ يَوْمَ الْفَزَعِ‌[4].

“If one visits the grave of his brother (in belief), places his hand over the grave and reads Surah 97 of the Holy Quran seven times he, on the distressful Day (of Judgment) will be granted full protection and peace.’””

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ زُورُوا مَوْتَاكُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ يَفْرَحُونَ بِزِيَارَتِكُمْ وَ لْيَطْلُبْ أَحَدُكُمْ حَاجَتَهُ عِنْدَ قَبْرِ أَبِيهِ وَ عِنْدَ قَبْرِ أُمِّهِ بِمَا يَدْعُو لَهُمَا

"Visit your dead people for they become happy due to your visit. One of you should ask for his wishes near the grave of his father and near the grave of his mother, with supplications for them [that they'll be pleased with]."

إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لَيَزُورُ أَهْلَهُ فَيَرَى مَا يُحِبُّ وَ يُسْتَرُ عَنْهُ مَا يَكْرَهُ وَ إِنَّ الْكَافِرَ لَيَزُورُ أَهْلَهُ فَيَرَى مَا يَكْرَهُ وَ يُسْتَرُ عَنْهُ مَا يُحِبُّ قَالَ وَ مِنْهُمْ‌[1] مَنْ يَزُورُ كُلَّ جُمْعَةٍ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَزُورُ عَلَى قَدْرِ عَمَلِهِ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a believing deceased person visits his family. He observes such matters that he loves and what he dislikes is kept hidden from him. A deceased unbeliever person also visits his family but observes what he dislikes and things that he loves are kept hidden from him. Certain ones of t

مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ وَ لَا كَافِرٍ إِلَّا وَ هُوَ يَأْتِي أَهْلَهُ عِنْدَ زَوَالِ الشَّمْسِ فَإِذَا رَأَى أَهْلَهُ يَعْمَلُونَ بِالصَّالِحَاتِ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَ إِذَا رَأَى الْكَافِرُ أَهْلَهُ يَعْمَلُونَ بِالصَّالِحَاتِ كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ حَسْرَةً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that every believing and unbeliever person visits his family everyday just after midday. If he finds his family performing good deeds, he praises and thanks Allah for this. When an unbeliever finds his family in good deeds, he laments and regrets (for his lost opportunities).”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمَيِّتِ يَزُورُ أَهْلَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ فِي كَمْ يَزُورُ قَالَ فِي الْجُمْعَةِ وَ فِي الشَّهْرِ وَ فِي السَّنَةِ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَنْزِلَتِهِ فَقُلْتُ فِي أَيِّ صُورَةٍ يَأْتِيهِمْ قَالَ فِي صُورَةِ طَائِرٍ لَطِيفٍ يَسْقُطُ عَلَى جُدُرِهِمْ وَ يُشْرِفُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَإِنْ رَآهُمْ بِخَيْرٍ فَرِحَ وَ إِنْ رَآهُمْ بِشَرٍّ وَ حَاجَةٍ حَزِنَ وَ اغْتَمَ‌[2].

“I (the narrator) asked abu al-Hassan al-Awwal (a.s.), about a deceased person’s visiting his family. He replied, ‘Yes, (this is a fact).’ I then asked, ‘How often do such visits take place?’ He replied, ‘In a Friday (week), in a month and in a year, depending upon his status.’ I then asked, ‘In what form does he visit

قُلْتُ لَهُ الْمُؤْمِنُ يَزُورُ أَهْلَهُ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ يَسْتَأْذِنُ رَبَّهُ‌ فَيَأْذَنُ لَهُ فَيَبْعَثُ مَعَهُ مَلَكَيْنِ فَيَأْتِيهِمْ فِي بَعْضِ صُوَرِ الطَّيْرِ يَقَعُ فِي دَارِهِ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَ يَسْمَعُ كَلَامَهُمْ.

"Does a deceased believing person visit his family?’". He replied, "Yes, he asks his Lord for permission; then by His permission with two angels he comes to his family in the form of some kind of a bird. He turns around his house and observes his family and hears whatever they say.’”