Ziyarah Common to Imam al-Kazim & Imam al-Jawad (a.s.) — Kazimayn

Text and Translation

First

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمَا يَا وَلِيَّيِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alaykuma ya waliyyay allahi

Peace be upon both of you, O Allah’s most intimate servants.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمَا يَا حُجَّتَيِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alaykuma ya hujjatay allahi

Peace be upon both of you, O Allah’s arguments.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمَا يَا نُورَيِ ٱللَّهِ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ ٱلارْضِ

alssalamu `alaykuma ya nuray allahi fi zulumati al-ardi

Peace be upon both of you, O Allah’s lights in the darkness of the earth.

اشْهَدُ انَّكُمَا قَدْ بَلَّغْتُمَا عَنِ ٱللَّهِ مَا حَمَّلَكُمَا

ashhadu annakuma qad ballaghtuma `an allahi ma hammalakuma

I bear witness that you both conveyed faithfully that which Allah ordered You to convey,

وَحَفِظْتُمَا مَا ٱسْتُودِعْتُمَا

wa hafiztuma ma istudi`tuma

safeguarded that which He entrusted with you,

وَحَلَّلْتُمَا حَلاَلَ ٱللَّهِ

wa hallaltuma halala allahi

decided as lawful all that which Allah has deemed lawful,

وَحَرَّمْتُمَا حَرَامَ ٱللَّهِ

wa harramtuma harama allahi

decided as unlawful all that which Allah has deemed unlawful,

وَاقَمْتُمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ

wa aqamtuma hududa allahi

carried out the decrees of Allah,

وَتَلَوْتُمَا كِتَابَ ٱللَّهِ

wa talawtuma kitaba allahi

recited the Book of Allah,

وَصَبَرْتُمَا عَلَىٰ ٱلاذَىٰ فِي جَنْبِ ٱللَّهِ

wa sabartuma `ala al-adha fi janbi allahi

endured harm for the sake of Allah,

مُحْتَسِبَيْنِ حَتَّىٰ اتَاكُمَا ٱلْيَقِينُ

muhtasibayni hatta atakuma alyaqinu

expecting His reward, until death came upon you.

ابْرَا إِِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ اعْدَائِكُمَا

abra'u ila allahi min a`da'ikuma

I repudiate your enemies in the presence of Allah

وَاتَقَرَّبُ إِِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ بِوِلاَيَتِكُمَا

wa ataqarrabu ila allahi biwilayatikuma

and I seek nearness to Allah through declaring loyalty to you both.

اتَيْتُكُمَا زَائِراً

ataytukuma za'iran

I have come to you both, visiting you,

عَارِفاً بِحَقِّكُمَا

`arifan bihaqqikuma

recognizing your rights,

مُوَالِياً لاِوْلِيَائِكُمَا

miwaliyan li'awliya'ikuma

declaring loyalty to your loyalists,

مُعَادِياً لاِعْدَائِكُمَا

mu`adiyan li'a`da'ikuma

showing enmity toward your enemies,

مُسْتَبْصِراً بِٱلْهُدَىٰ ٱلَّذِي انْتُمَا عَلَيْهِ

mustabsiran bilhuda alladhi antuma `alayhi

acknowledging the true guidance that you both follow,

عَارِفاً بِضَلاَلَةِ مَنْ خَالَفَكُمَا

`arifan bidalalati man khalafakuma

and understanding the deviation (from the right path) of any one who disagrees with you.

فَٱشْفَعَا لِي عِنْدَ رَبِّكُمَا

fashfa`a li `inda rabbikuma

So, (please) intercede for me with your Lord,

فَإِنَّ لَكُمَا عِنْدَ ٱللَّهِ جَاهاً عَظِيماً

fa'inna lakuma `inda allahi jahan `aziman

for you both enjoy with Allah a great standing

وَمَقَاماً مَحْمُوداً

wa maqaman mahmudan

and a praiseworthy position.

You may then kiss the holy dust (of their graves) and put your right cheek on it. You may then turn to the side of the Imam’s head and say the following words:

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمَا يَا حُجَّتَيِ ٱللَّهِ فِي ارْضِهِ وَسَمَائِهِ

alssalamu `alaykuma ya hujjatay allahi fi ardihi wa sama'ihi

Peace be upon both of you, O Allah’s arguments in His land and in His heavens.

عَبْدُكُمَا وَوَلِيُّكُمَا زَائِرُكُمَا

`abdukuma wa waliyyukuma za'irukuma

I—your servant and loyalist—have visited you both,

مُتَقَرِّباً إِِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ بِزِيَارَتِكُمَا

mutaqarriban ila allahi biziyaratikuma

seeking nearness to Allah through my visit to you both.

اَللَّهُمَّ ٱجْعَلْ لِي لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ فِي اوْلِيَائِكَ ٱلْمُصْطَفَيْنَ

allahumma ij`al li lisana sidqin fi awliya'ika almustafayna

O Allah, (please) ordain for me a goodly mention among your well-chosen, intimate servants,

وَحَبِّبْ إِِلَيَّ مَشَاهِدَهُمْ

wa habbib ilayya mashahidahum

endear to me their shrines,

وَٱجْعَلْنِي مَعَهُمْ فِي ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلآخِرَةِ

waj`alni ma`ahum fi alddunya wal-akhirati

and include me with them in this world and in the Hereafter,

يَا ارْحَمَ ٱلرَّاحِمِينَ

ya arhama alrrahimina

O most merciful of all those who show mercy.

You may then offer a two-unit prayer for each Imam and then pray Almighty Allah for anything you wish.

Another Common Ziyarat but addressed seperately to each Imam

The sublime Shaykh Ja`far ibn Muhammad ibn Qawlawayh al-Qummi has reported in his book of Kamil al-Ziyarah that Imam `Ali al-Naqi (al-Hadi) instructed to say the following form of ziyarah for each of the two Imams (i.e. al-Kazim and al-Jawad) separately:

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَلِيَّ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya waliyya allahi

Peace be upon you, O Allah’s most intimate servant.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حُجَّةَ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya hujjata allahi

Peace be upon you, O Allah’s argument.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا نُورَ ٱللَّهِ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ ٱلارْضِ

alssalamu `alayka ya nura allahi fi zulumati al-ardi

Peace be upon you, O Allah’s light in the darkness of the earth.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا مَنْ بَدَا لِلَّهِ فِي شَانِهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya man bada lillahi fi sha'nihi

Peace be upon you, O he whom Allah has re-decided about his affair.

اتَيْتُكَ زَائِراً

ataytuka za'iran

I have come to you, visiting you,

عَارِفاً بِحَقِّكَ

`arifan bihaqqika

recognizing your right,

مُعَادِياً لاِعْدَائِكَ

mu`adiyan lia`da'ika

showing enmity toward your enemies,

مُوَالِياً لاِوْلِيَائِكَ

muwaliyan li'awliya'ika

and declaring loyalty to your loyalists.

فَٱشْفَعْ لِي عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ يَا مَوْلاَيَ

fashfa` li `inda rabbika ya mawlaya

So, (please) intercede for me with your Lord, O my master.

Actually, this form of ziyarah is highly considered; it has been also reported by al-Saduq, al-Kulayni, and al-Tusi with very little difference.

Common Farewell Wida

مِنكَ صَلاحُ مَا آمُلُ فِي نَفْسِي وَأَهْلِي

Minka ṣalāḥu mā āmulu fī nafsī wa ahli

From You is the good I hope for in myself and my family.

وَوَلَدِي وَإِخْوَانِي وَمَالِي وَجَمِيعِ مَا أَنْعَمْتَ بِهِ عَلَيَّ

Wa waladī wa ikhwanī wa mālī wa jamī‘i mā an‘amta bihī ‘alayya

And my children, brothers, wealth, and all that You have bestowed upon me.

يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

Yā arḥama r-rāḥimīn

O Most Merciful of the Merciful.

Farewell Know that the summary of visitation etiquette is that the visitor leaves when he intends to bid farewell to the place. He says at the farewell as the truthful one (Imam Sadiq) said. In the etiquette of visiting his grandfather Al-Husayn, peace be upon him. So when you intend to depart, stand by the grave and ask Allah's permission to bid farewell then say:

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمَا يَا وَلِيَّيِ اللَّهِ

as-salāmu ‘alaykuma yā walīyyay Allāh

Peace be upon you, O friends of Allah.

أَسْتَوْدِعُكُمَا اللَّهَ وَأَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكُمَا السَّلَامَ

astawdi‘ukumā Allāh wa aqra’u ‘alaykuma as-salām

I entrust you to Allah and pass peace upon you.

آمِنًا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالرَّسُولِ وَمَا جَاءَ بِهِ وَدَلَّ عَلَيْهِ

āminan bi-llāh wa bi-r-rasūl wa mā jā’a bih wa dalla ‘alayh

Secure in faith in Allah, the Prophet, and what he brought and pointed to.

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ لَهُمَا بِحَقِّكَ تَعَالَى

Allāhumma ij‘alnī mina sh-shāhidīn lahumā bi-ḥaqqika ta‘ālā

O Allah, make me among witnesses for them by Your right.

وَارْزُقْنِي الْعَوْدَ إِلَيْهِمَا آخِرَ الْعَهْدِ مِنِّي زِيَارَتُهُمَا

wa rzqnī l-‘awda ilayhimā ākhira l-‘ahdi minnī ziyāratuhumā

Grant me to return to visit them as my last covenant.

وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمَرْحُومِينَ بِلِقَائِهِمَا

wa ij‘alnī mina l-marḥūmīn biliqā’ihimā

And make me of those who are granted mercy in meeting them.

وَاحْشُرْنِي مَعَهُمَا فِي الزُّمْرَةِ الطَّاهِرَةِ

wa’ḥshurnī ma‘ahumā fī z-zumrati ṭ-ṭāhirah

And gather me with them in the pure group.

وَلِقَاءِ النَّبِيِّ وَآلِهِ وَظِلَّيهِمَا ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا إِلَى يَوْمِ الرَّحْمَةِ

wa liqā’i n-nabīyi wa ālihi wa ẓillayhimā dhurriyyatihimā ilā yawm ir-raḥmah

And the meeting of the Prophet and his family and their offspring till the Day of Mercy.

يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

yā arḥama r-rāḥimīn

O Most Merciful of the Merciful.

اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَجْعَلْهُ آخِرَ الْعَهْدِ مِنِّي لِزِيَارَتِهِمَا

Allāhumma lā taj‘alhu ākhira l-‘ahdi minnī lizyāratihimā

O Allah, do not make this my last covenant to visit them.

وَلَا تَجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمَحْرُومِينَ مِنْ شَفَاعَتِهِمَا

wa lā taj‘alnī mina l-maḥrūmīn min shafā‘atihimā

Nor make me among those deprived of their intercession.

وَلَا تُخْلِنِي مِنْ صِيَانَتِهِمَا وَلَا تُشْمِتْ بِي عَدُوًّا

wa lā tukhlinī min ṣiyānatihimā wa lā tushmit bī ‘adūwan

Nor abandon me concerning their protection, nor let enemies mock me.

وَلَا تَجْعَلْ لِي فِي مَوْقِفِ الْقِيَامَةِ نَصِيبًا مِنَ النَّارِ

wa lā taj‘al lī fī mawqifi l-qiyāmah naṣīban min an-nār

And do not assign me a share of the fire on the Day of Judgment.

وَلَا تُحْدِثْ نَفْسِي بِخِلَافِ الَّذِي أَحْبَبْتَ

wa lā tuḥdith nafsī bikhilāfi l-ladhī aḥbabta

And do not make my soul contrary to what You love.

وَلَا تُخْرِجْنِي مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا عَلَى وِلَايَتِهِمَا وَالاعْتِقَادِ

wa lā tukhrijnī mina d-dunyā illā ‘alā wilāyatihimā wal-i‘tiqād

And do not let me leave this world except on their guardianship and faith.

بِحَقِّهِمَا وَزِدْنِي مَعْرِفَةً بِفَضْلِهِمَا

bi-ḥaqqihimā wa zidnī ma‘rifatan bifadlihīmā

In their right and increase me in knowledge of their virtue.

وَوَفِّقْنِي لِطَاعَتِهِمَا وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَّبِعِينَ

wa waffiqnī liṭā‘atihimā wa ij‘alnī mina l-muttabi‘īn

And grant me success in obeying them and make me among their followers.

وَجَنِّبْنِي مَعْصِيَتَهُمَا وَاجْعَلْنِي فِي الْقِيَامَةِ أَمِينًا

wa jannibnī ma‘ṣīatahumā wa ij‘alnī fī l-qiyāmah amīnan

And keep me away from disobeying them, and make me safe on the Day of Judgment.

عَلَى حَوْضِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ الْطَّاهِرِينَ

‘alā ḥawḍi Muḥammad ṣallā llāhu ‘alayhi wa ālihi ṭ-ṭāhirīn

At the basin of Muhammad, peace be upon him and his pure family.

مِنَ الْمُتَوَلِّينَ لَهُمَا وَمِنَ الْمُسَلِّمِينَ لَهُمَا

mina l-mutawallīn lahumā wa mina l-musallimīn lahumā

Among those who are devoted to and submit to them.

وَسَلِّمْ لِي إِيمَانِي وَدِينِي وَتَوْفِيقِي

wa sallim lī īmānī wa dīnī wa tawfīqī

And grant me steadfastness in my faith, religion, and success.

وَثَبِّتْنِي عَلَى طَاعَتِهِمَا وَمَحَبَّةِ أَوْلِيَائِهِمَا

wa thabbitnī ‘alā ṭā‘atihimā wa maḥabbat awliyā’ihimā

And make me firm in obeying them and loving their friends.

وَلَا تُبَاعِدْنِي مِنَ الزِّيَارَةِ

wa lā tubā‘idnī mina z-ziyārah

And do not make me distant from visitation.

وَدُمْ بِذِكْرِكَ وَمَحَبَّتِهِمَا وَالصَّلَوَاتِ عَلَيْهِمَا

wa dum bi dhikrika wa maḥabbatihimā waṣ-ṣalawāt ‘alayhimā

And keep me constant in remembering You, loving them, and sending blessings upon them.

وَأَجِرْنِي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ بِالفَوْزِ وَالتَّقْوَى

wa ajirnī fī d-dunyā wal-ākhirah bil-fawz wat-taqwā

And reward me in this world and the hereafter with success and piety.

وَالرِّزْقِ وَالْبَرَكَةِ وَالْكَرَامَةِ

wa r-rizq wal-barakah wal-karāmah

And provision, blessing, and honor.

النُّورِ وَالإيمَانِ وَحُسْنِ الإِجَابَةِ

an-nūr wa al-īmān wa ḥusn al-ijābah

The light, faith, and the good answering.

كَأَوْسِبْتِ لِلأَلْبَابِ لِمَعَارِفِهِمْ

ka-awsibti lil-albāb lima‘ārifihim

As the means for understanding their knowledge.

بَعْضُهُمُ الْمُوجِبِينَ طَاعَتَهُمْ

ba‘ḍuhumu l-mūjibīn ṭā‘atahum

Some of them who cause obedience.

وَالرَّاغِبِينَ فِي رَاحَتِهِمْ

wa r-rāghibīn fī rāḥatihim

And those desiring their comfort.

الْمُتَقَرِّبِينَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَيْهِمْ

al-mutaqarribīn ilayka wa ilayhim

Those close to You and to them.

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ فِي نَفْسِي وَمَالِي وَأَهْلِي

yā ayyuhā n-nabī fī nafsī wa mālī wa ahli

O Prophet, in myself, my wealth, and my family.

الْقُرْبَاءِ وَإِلَهُهُمْ

al-qurbā’ wa ilahuhum

The relatives and their God.

بنيَّتِهِمْ وَذَوِيهِمْ وَشَفِّعْهُمْ

biniyyatihim wa dhawīhim wa shaffi‘hum

By their intention and those close to them, intercede for them.

بِنُورِكُمْ وَقِسْمِكُمْ

bi-nūrukum wa qismikum

By Your light and Your portion.

وَصَبْرِي وَرُجُوعِي وَحُبِّي وَأَمَلِي

wa ṣabrī wa rujū‘ī wa ḥubbī wa amalī

And my patience, return, love, and hope.

وَارْحَمْنِي فِي شَفَاعَتِهِمْ

wa arḥamnī fī shafā’atihim

And have mercy on me in their intercession.

وَأَدْخِلْنِي فِي جَمَاعَتِهِمْ

wa adkhilnī fī jamā‘atihim

And admit me among their group.

وَأَبْلِغْنِي آمَالَهُمْ

wa ablaghnī āmalahum

And fulfill their hopes through me.

وَاسْعِدْهُمْ حَتَّى أَحْيَيْتَ مَحَبَّتَهُمْ

wa as‘idhum ḥattā aḥyayta maḥabbatahum

And bless them until You revive their love.

وَسَلَامًا وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

wa salāman was-salāmu ‘alaykum wa raḥmatullāh wa barakātuh

And peace. Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.

Note on Short Forms of Ziyarah

The age in which these short forms of ziyarah were issued was an age of terrible persecution (against the holy Imams); therefore, they used to practice taqiyyah (self-protection by showing pious dissimulation). The Holy Imams (`a) therefore taught their followers such short forms of ziyarah so as to protect them against the tyrannical rulers of these ages.

If a visitor wishes to say a long form of ziyarah, he may say the comprehensive (jami`ah) forms of ziyarah, which will be cited in this book. These comprehensive forms are in fact the best forms of ziyarah addressed to the Holy Imams (`a). The first of these forms (namely; al-Ziyarah al-Jami`ah al-Kabirah –the Major Comprehensive Form of Ziyarah) is best advisable for the visitors of Imam al-Kazim (`a), because its report shows some peculiarity to this holy Imam.