Do Shias exaggerate the reward for Ziyarah of Imam Husain (a.s.)?

Some Muslims accuse the Shias of fabricating traditions regarding the ziyaarah of Imam Husain (a.s.), the Chief of Martyrs. They claim traditions that consider ziyaarah of Imam Husain (a.s.) equal to visiting Allah on His Throne (Arsh) and equal to hundreds of Hajj and Umrah are an exaggeration and are not supported by the Holy Quran or the intellect.

Reply

Such objections only show the dissenting party’s poor knowledge of Allah’s Book and the correct Sunnah. Let alone Imam Husain’s (a.s.) ziyarah, even simple acts of goodness can earn the reward of meeting Allah.

In Surah Kahf (18): Verse 110, Allah the Almighty declares:

فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاء رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا

“…therefore whoever hopes to meet his Lord, he should do good deeds, and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.”

Performing good deeds is rewarded with meeting the Lord (لِقَاء رَبِّهِ). The good deed can be any one of the hundreds of good deeds defined by the Holy Quran and the correct Sunnah. It can be as basic as spending a dirham in the way of Allah the High.

Then why is it surprising if the ziyarah of Imam Husain (a.s.) is rewarded with meeting Allah on the Arsh? It must be noted over here that mention of Arsh in the tradition does not restrict Allah to a position; it underlines His magnificence and splendor and the importance of Imam Husain’s (a.s.) visitor.

Moreover, there are traditions which give so much importance to a believer (momin) that it boggles the mind. For instance:

‘The heart of a believer is Allah’s (Rahmaan) Arsh. When a believer’s heart is disturbed, it shakes the foundation of the Arsh.’

• Behaar al-Anwaar vol.. 55 p. 39
• Mer’aat al-Uqool fi Sharh-e-Akhbaar-e-Aal al-Rasool (a.s.), vol.. 12 p. 230

In a Hadis Qudsi, Allah the Almighty says, ‘The believer is from Me and I am from the believer.’

• Al-Jawaaher al-Saneeyyah of Shaikh Hurr al-Aamili (r.a.)

These traditions conclude that respecting a believer is a cause for divine proximity and is like revering Allah on His Arsh.

Then why is it surprising if Allah on His Arsh is pleased with the one visiting Imam Husain b. Ali (a.s.) who along with his brother Imam Hasan (a.s.) is the Chief of the Youths of Paradise?

The second argument that the reward for ziyarah is inconceivable and unacceptable to the intellect is just as ridiculous. How can the intellect perceive why and how Allah rewards a Muslim for a particular action?

Prophet Zakariyyah (a.s.) was puzzled to see the food near Janab Maryam (s.a.) especially since her chamber was not frequented by any mortal.

كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا الْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقاً قَالَ يَا مَرْيَمُ أَنَّى لَكِ هَـذَا قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللّهِ إنَّ اللّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَاء بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ

 “…whenever Zakariya entered the sanctuary to (see) her, he found with her food. He said: O Marium! whence comes this to you? She said: It is from Allah. Surely Allah gives to whom He pleases without measure.”

(Surah Aale Imran (3): Verse 37)

Janab Maryam’s (s.a.) response clearly states that Allah rewards those He pleases to the extent He pleases even to the amazement of His Prophet (s.a.w.a.).

There are many verses of the Noble Quran which state this fact:

أَن يُنَزِّلُ اللّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ عَلَى مَن يَشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِهِ

 “…Allah should send down of His grace on whomsoever of His servants He pleases…”

(Surah Baqarah (2): Verse 90)

وَاللّهُ يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَن يَشَاء وَاللّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ

 “…and Allah chooses especially whom He pleases for His mercy, and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace.”

(Surah Baqarah (2): Verse 105)

Ultimately, the reward of one hajj/umrah or a million hajj/umrah is Paradise. And anyone who wishes to enter Paradise must gain the pleasure of its chiefs. According to established traditions of the Sunnah, Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husain (a.s.) are the Chiefs of the Youths of Paradise.

 Refer

• Sahih-o-Tirmizi vol. 5 p. 660
• Sunan-o-Ibn Maajah Introduction of vol. 8
• Sunan-o-Nesaai
• Musnad-o-Ahmed,  vol. 1, vol. 3, vol. 5
• Mustradrak-e-Hakim, vol. 3
• Al-Sawaaeq al-Muhriqah, Chapter 11

If Allah rewards the visitor of Imam Husain’s (a.s.) shrine with multiple hajj/umrah which will eventually be rewarded with Paradise then why is that surprising? The highest reward of Imam Husain’s (a.s.) visitor is Allah’s Pleasure, which is higher than a billion salaat, hajj/umrah or any other worship. This reality is pointed out by the Quran:

اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ

 “Recite that which has been revealed to you of the Book and keep up prayer; surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil, and certainly the remembrance of Allah is the greatest, and Allah knows what you do.”

(Surah Ankaboot (29): Verse 45)

A million hajj/umrah is merely a statistic to define the visitor’s reward in units of worship. Traditions abound with respect to the number of hajj and umrah. The number varies across traditions and is merely indicative of the reward. A simple blessing (salawaat) on the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and his progeny attracts limitless rewards that even the angels cannot count. Therefore, only Allah knows the true reward of Imam Husain’s (a.s.) visitor. It is just like the Holy Quran refers to Allah’s hands or eyes. The reference to hands and eyes is to make people understand with terms they are familiar with and does not mean that Allah the High possesses hands and eyes like His creatures (Allah forbid).