Ziyarah of Imam Husayn (a.s.) — Karbala (All 6 General Forms)

Text and Translation

First Ziyarah

In his book of al-Kafi, Shaykh al-Kulayni has reported the following through his chain of authority from al-Husayn ibn Thuwayr: Yunus ibn ²abyan, al-Mufaddal ibn `Umar, Abu-Salamah al-Sarraj, and I were sitting with Abu-`Abdullah Ja`far ibn Muhammad (al-Sadiq) and Yunus, the oldest among us, was our spokesman. “May Allah accept me as ransom for you,” Yunus expressed, “I usually attend the sessions of these people (i.e. the `Abbasid ruling authorities). What should I say then?” The Imam ('a) instructed, “When you attend such sessions and mention us, you should say,

اَللَّهُمَّ أَرِنَا ٱلرَّخَاءَ وَٱلسُّرُورَ

ma irina alrrakha'a wa

‘O Allah, (please) show us luxury and pleasure.

If you say so, you will gain the reward that you wish to gain or you will be allowed to return to this worldly life at the Return.” I then spoke, “May Allah accept me as ransom for you! I very frequently mention (Imam) al-Husayn; what should I say then?”

The Imam ('a) instructed, “You should repeat the following statement three times:

صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ ٱللَّهِ

salla allahu `alayka ya aba `abdillahi

‘May Allah bless you, O Abu-`Abdullah.’

Actually, greetings that are addressed to him always reach him whether they are said near him or from a remote place.

When Abu-`Abdullah (Imam al-Husayn) passed away, the seven heavens, the seven layers of the earth, whatever within them, whatever between them, all the inhabitants of Paradise and Hell from the various species of the creatures of our Lord, whatever can be seen, and whatever cannot be seen—all these wept for al-Husayn (`a) except for three.” “May Allah accept me as ransom for you!” I asked, “What are these three things?”

The Imam ('a) answered, “The things that did not weep for him are al-Basrah, Damascus, and the family of `Uthman.” I then asked, “May Allah accept me as ransom for you! When I intend to visit him, what should I say and what should I do?” The Imam ('a) instructed:

When you come to Abu-`Abdullah (al-Husayn), you should bathe yourself on the bank of the River Euphrates. You should then put on (ceremonially) pure clothes and walk barefooted, because you are in the sanctuary of Almighty Allah and His Messenger, uttering repeatedly statements of professing Almighty Allah being the Greatest (i.e. allahu-akbar), there being no god save Him (i.e. la-ilaha-illa-allahu), all glory being to Him (i.e. subhaha-allahi), and all veneration being to Him, and uttering the statement of invoking His blessings on the Holy Prophet and his Household (i.e. allahumma salli `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin) until you stop at the gate of the shrine. Then, you should say the following:

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حُجَّةَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنَ حُجَّتِهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya hujjata allahi wabna hujjatihi

Peace be upon you, O Argument of Allah and son of His Argument.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا مَلاَئِكَةَ ٱللَّهِ

alasslamu `alaykum ya mala'ikata allahi

Peace be upon you all, O Allah’s angels

وَزُوَّارَ قَبْرِ ٱبْنِ نَبِيِّ ٱللَّهِ

wa zuwwara qabri ibni nabiyyi allahi

and visitors of the tomb of the son of Allah’s Prophet.

You should then walk for ten steps and stop again to repeat the following statement thirty times:

اَللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

allahu akbar

Allah is the Most Great.

You should then move towards the tomb from the side of the Imam’s face having your face to be to the face of the Imam and the kiblah direction to be between your shoulders. You should then say the following:

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حُجَّةَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنَ حُجَّتِهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya hujjata allahi wabna hujjatihi

Peace be upon you, O Allah’s Argument (on His creatures) and son of His Argument.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا قَتِيلَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنَ قَتِيلِهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya qatila allahi wabna qatilihi

Peace be upon you, O killed for Allah’s sake and son of the killed for His sake.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ثَارَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنَ ثَارِهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya thara allahi wabna tharihi

Peace be upon you, O vengeance of Allah and son of His vengeance.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وِتْرَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَوْتُورَ فِي ٱلسَّمَاوَاتِ وَٱلأَرْضِ

alssalamu `alayka ya witra allahi almawtura fi alssamawati wal-ardi

Peace be upon you, O he whose blood-claimer is Allah and whose blood is also claimed by the heavens and the earth.

أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ دَمَكَ سَكَنَ فِي ٱلْخُلْدِ

ashhadu anna damaka sakana fi alkhuldi

I bear witness that your blood has resided in the Eternity,

وَٱقْشَعَرَّتْ لَهُ أَظِلَّةُ ٱلْعَرْشِ

wa iqsha`arrat lahu azillatu al`arshi

the shades of the Divine Throne have shivered for it,

وَبَكَىٰ لَهُ جَمِيعُ ٱلْخَلاَئِقِ

wa baka lahu jami`u alkhala'iqi

and all creatures have wept for it,

وَبَكَتْ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَاوَاتُ ٱلسَّبْعُ وَٱلأَرَضُونَ ٱلسَّبْعُ

wa bakat lahu alssamawatu alssab`u wal-araduna alssab`u

including the seven heavens, the seven layers of the earth,

وَمَا فِيهِنَّ وَمَا بَيْنَهُنَّ

wa ma fihinna wa ma baynahunna

whatever is within them, whatever is between them,

وَمَنْ يَتَقَلَّبُ فِي ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَٱلنَّارِ مِنْ خَلْقِ رَبِّنَا

wa man yataqallabu fi aljannati walnnari min khalqi rabbina

all the inhabitants of Paradise and Hellfire from the creatures of our Lord,

وَمَا يُرَىٰ وَمَا لاََ يُرَىٰ

wa ma yura wa ma la yura

whatever can be seen, and whatever cannot be seen.

أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ حُجَّةُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنُ حُجَّتِهِ

ashhadu annaka hujjatu allahi wabnu hujjatihi

I bear witness that you are Allah’s Argument and son of His Argument.

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَتِيلُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبنُ قَتِيلِهِ

wa ashhadu annaka qatilu allahi wabnu qatilihi

I bear witness that you were killed for Allah’s sake and you are the son of him who was killed for the same.

وأَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ ثَارُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنُ ثَارِهِ

wa ashhadu annaka tharu allahi wabnu tharihi

I bear witness that you are Allah’s vengeance and the son of His vengeance.

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّك وِتْرُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَوْتورُ فِي ٱلسَّمَاوَاتِ وَٱلأَرْضِ

wa ashhadu annaka witru allahi almawturu fi alssamawati wal-ardi

I bear witness that Allah is your blood-claimer and your blood is also claimed by the heavens and the earth.

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ بَلَّغْتَ وَنَصَحْتَ

wa ashhadu annaka qad ballaghta wa nasahta

I bear witness that you conveyed (the message), acted sincerely,

وَوَفَيْتَ وَأَوْفَيْتَ

wa wafayta wa awfayta

carried out (your duties), fulfilled (your pledges),

وَجَاهَدْتَ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ

wa jahadta fi sabili allahi

strove for Allah’s sake,

وَمَضَيْتُ لِلَّذِي كُنْتَ عَلَيْهِ شهَيداً وَمُسْتَشْهِداً

wa madayta lilladhi kunta `alayhi shahidan wa mustashhidan

you advanced to that on which you were witness and that which you were asked to witness,

وَشَاهِداً وَمَشْهُوداً

wa shahidan wa mashhudan

and you were observer and you were watched.

أَنَا عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ وَمَوْلاَكَ

ana `abdu allahi wa mawlaka

I am the slave of Allah, the servant of you,

وَفِي طَاعَتِكَ وَٱلْوَافِدُ إِلَيْكَ

wa fi ta`atika walwafidu ilayka

the obedient to you, and the visitor of you.

أَلْتَمِسُ كَمَالَ ٱلْمَنْزِلَةِ عِنْدَ ٱللَّهِ

altamisu kamala almanzilati `inda allahi

I seek for a perfect position with Allah,

وَثَبَاتَ ٱلْقَدَمِ فِي ٱلْهِجْرَةِ إِلَيْكَ

wa thabata alqadami fi alhijrati ilayka

I seek steadfastness through my pilgrimage to you,

وَٱلسَّبِيلَ ٱلَّذِي لاََ يَخْتَلِجُ دوُنَكَ

walssabila alladhi la yakhtaliju dunaka

and I seek the path that cannot be passed without you

مِنَ ٱلدُّخُولِ فِي كِفَالَتِكَ ٱلَّتِي أُمِرْتَ بِهَا

min alddukhuli fi kifalatika allati umirta biha

so that I will be allowed to enter in your guarantee that you have been ordered to give.

مَنْ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهَ بَدَأَ بِكُمْ

man arada allaha bada'a bikum

He who seeks Allah must begin with you,

بِكُمْ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكَذِبَ

bikum yubayyinu allahu alkadhiba

because only through you has Allah disclosed forgery.

وَبِكُمْ يُبَاعِدُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلزَّمَانَ ٱلْكَلِبَ

wa bikum yuba`idu allahu alzzamana alkaliba

Through you only does Allah throw away difficult days.

وَبِكُمْ فَتَحَ ٱللَّهُ

wa bikum fataha allahu

For your sake only has Allah started (creation).

وَبِكُمْ يَخْتِمُ ٱللَّهُ

wa bikum yakhtimu allahu

With you only will Allah seal.

وَبِكُمْ يَمْحُو مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ

wa bikum yamhu ma yasha'u wa yuthbitu

Through you only does He erase whatever He wills and establishes (whatever He wills).

وبِكُمْ يَفُكُّ ٱلذُّلَّ مِنْ رِقَابِنَا

wa bikum yafukku aldhdhulla min riqabina

Through you only does He release us from humility.

وَبِكُمْ يُدْرِكُ ٱللَّهُ تِرَةَ كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ يُطْلَبُ بِهَا

wa bikum yudriku allahu tirata kulli mu'minin yutlabu biha

Through you only will Allah avenge every faithful believer.

وَبِكُمْ تُنْبِتُ ٱلأَرْضُ أَشْجَارَهَا

wa bikum tunbitu al-ardu ashjaraha

Through you only does the soil grow its trees.

وَبِكُمْ تُخْرِجُ ٱلأَرْضُ ثِمَارَهَا

wa bikum tukhriju al-ardu thimaraha

Through you only does the earth produce its fruits.

وَبِكُمْ تُنْزِلُ ٱلسَّمَاءُ قَطْرَهَا وَرِزْقَهَا

wa bikum tunzilu alssama'u qatraha wa rizqaha

Through you only does the sky pour down its drops and sustenance.

وَبِكُمْ يَكْشِفُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكَرْبَ

wa bikum yakshifu allahu alkarba

Through you only does Allah relieve from agonies.

وَبِكُمْ يُنَزِّلُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْغَيْثَ

wa bikum yunazzilu allahu alghaytha

Through you only does Allah cause the rain to come down.

وَبِكُمْ تُسَبِّحُ ٱلأَرْضُ ٱلَّتِي تَحْمِلُ أَبْدَانَكُمْ

wa bikum tusabbihu al-ardu allati tahmilu abdanakum

Through you only does the earth that carries your bodies glorify (the Lord)

وَتَسْتَقِرُّ جِبَالُهَا عَنْ مَرَاسِيهَا

wa tastaqirru jibaluha `ala marasiha

and are the mountains made firm.

إِرَادَةُ ٱلرَّبِّ فِي مَقَادِيرِ أُمُورِهِ تَهْبِطُ إِلَيْكُمْ

iradatu alrrabbi fi maqadiri umurihi tahbitu ilaykum

The will of the Lord regarding the estimations of His affairs come down to you

وَتَصْدُرُ مِنْ بُيُوتِكُمْ

wa tasduru min buyutikum

and are issued from your houses.

وَٱلصَّادِرُ عَمَّا فُصِّلَ مِنْ أَحْكَامِ ٱلْعِبَادِ

walssadiru `amma fussila min ahkami al`ibadi

So do the details of the decrees to the servants.

لُعِنَتْ أُمَّةٌ قَتَلَتْكُمْ

lu`inat ummatun qatalatkum

Cursed be the people who killed you.

وَأُمَّةٌ خَالَفَتْكُمْ

wa ummatun khalafatkum

Cursed be the people who dissent from you,

وَأُمَّةٌ جَحَدَتْ وِلاَيَتَكُمْ

wa ummatun jahadat wilayatakum

the people who deny your (Divinely commissioned) leadership,

وَأُمَّةٌ ظَاهَرَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ

wa ummatun zaharat `alaykum

the people who supported each other against you,

وَأُمَّةٌ شَهِدَتْ وَلَمْ تُسْتَشْهَدْ

wa ummatun shahidat wa lam tustashhad

and the people who witnessed you but they shunned being martyred for you.

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَ ٱلنَّارَ مَأْوَاهُمْ

alhamdu lillahi alladhi ja`ala alnnara ma'wahum

All praise be to Allah Who has decided Hellfire to be the dwelling of these peoples.

وَبِئْسَ وِرْدُ ٱلْوَارِدِينَ

wa bi'sa wirdu alwaridina

Woeful indeed will be the place to which they shall be led

وَبِئْسَ ٱلْوِرْدُ ٱلْمَوْرُودُ

wa bi'sa alwirdu almawrudu

and woeful indeed will be the place to which they shall be brought.

وَٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِينَ

walhamdu lillahi rabbi al`alamina

All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

You should then repeat the following words three times:

وَصَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ ٱللَّهِ

wa salla allahu `alayka ya aba `aabdillah

And may Allah bless you, O Abu-`Abdullah

then you should then repeat the following words three times

أَنَا إِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ مِمَّنْ خَالَفَكَ بَريءٌ

ana ila allahi mimman khalafaka bari'un

I disavow, in the presence of Allah, all those who dissented you.

You should then stand up and direct towards his son, `Ali, who is buried to the side of the Imam’s feet, and say the following words:

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka yabna rasuli allahi

Peace be upon you, O son of Allah’s Messenger.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ أَمِيرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

alssalamu `alayka yabna amiri almu'minina

Peace be upon you, O son of the Commander of the Faithful.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ ٱلْحَسَنِ وَٱلْحُسَيْنِ

alssalamu `alayka yabna alhasani walhusayni

Peace be upon you, O son of al-Hasan and al-Husayn.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ خَدِيجَةَ وَفَاطِمَةَ

alssalamu `alayka yabna khadijata wa fatimata

Peace be upon you, O son of Khadijah and Fatimah.

صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ

salla allahu `alayka

May Allah bless you.

صَلّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ

salla allahu `alayka

May Allah bless you.

صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ

salla allahu `alayka

May Allah bless you.

لَعَنَ ٱللَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَكَ

la`ana allahu man qatalaka

May Allah curse those who killed you.

لَعَنَ ٱللَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَكَ

la`ana allahu man qatalaka

May Allah curse those who killed you.

لَعَنَ ٱللَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَكَ

la`ana allahu man qatalaka

May Allah curse those who killed you.

أَنَا إِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ مِنْهُمْ بَريءٌ

ana ila allahi minhum bari'un

I disavow all of them in the presence of Allah.

You should then stand up and point to the martyrs with your hand, may Allah be pleased with them, and say the following words:

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ

alssalamu `alaykum

Peace be upon you.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ

alssalamu `alaykum

Peace be upon you.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ

alssalamu `alaykum

Peace be upon you.

فُزْتُمْ وَٱللَّهِ

fuztum wallahi

You, by Allah, have achieved success.

فُزْتُمْ وَٱللَّهِ

fuztum wallahi

You, by Allah, have achieved success.

فُزْتُمْ وَٱللَّهِ

fuztum wallahi

You, by Allah, have achieved success.

فَلَيْتَ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَأَفُوزَ فَوْزاً عَظيماً

falayta anni ma`akum fa'afuza fawzan `aziman

Would that I were with you, then should I achieve a great success.

You should then turn around and make the tomb of Abu-`Abdullah in front of you (i.e. stop behind the tomb) and offer a six-unit prayer. Thus, you have accomplished the visitation of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb. You may then leave, if you wish. (Here end the instructive words of Imam al-Sadiq)

This form of Ziyarah has been also reported by Shaykh al-Tusi, in Tahdhib al-Ahkam, and Shaykh al-Saduq, in man-la-yahduruhul-faqih. Commenting on it, Shaykh al-Saduq says, “Although I have mentioned other forms of Ziyarah in my two books of al-Mazar and al-Maqtal, I have chosen this very form for this book, because it is the most authentically reported form; therefore, it covers what we need and meets the required terms.”

Second Ziyarah (by Imam Ali al-Naqi)

Shaykh al-Kulayni reports Imam `Ali al-Naqi (al-Hadi) to have said:

When you are at al-Husayn’s tomb, you should say the following words:

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya aba `abdillahi

Peace be upon you, O Abu-`Abdullah.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حُجَّةَ ٱللَّهِ فِي أَرْضِهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya hujjata allahi fi ardihi

Peace be upon you, O Allah’s Argument in His lands

وَشَاهِدَهُ عَلَىٰ خَلْقِهِ

wa shahidahu `ala khalqihi

and His witness on His creatures.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka yabna rasuli allahi

Peace be upon you, O so of Allah’s Messenger.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ عَليٍّ ٱلْمُرْتَضَىٰ

alssalamu `alayka yabna `aliyyin almurtada

Peace be upon you, O son of `Ali the well-pleased.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ فَاطِمَةَ ٱلزَّهْرَاءِ

alssalamu `alayka yabna fatimata alzzahra'i

Peace be upon you, O son of Fatimah the Luminous.

أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ أَقَمْتَ ٱلصَّلاَةَ وَآتَيْتَ ٱلزَّكَاةَ

ashhadu annaka qad aqamta alssalata wa atayta alzzakata

I bear witness that you performed the prayers, defrayed the poor-rate,

وَأَمَرْتَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَيْتَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنْكَرِ

wa amarta bilma`rufi wa nahayta `an almunkari

enjoined the right, forbade the wrong,

وَجَاهَدْتَ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ حَتَّىٰ أَتَاكَ ٱلْيَقِينُ

wa jahadta fi sabili allahi hatta ataka alyaqinu

and strove for Allah’s sake until death came upon you.

فَصَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ حَيّاً وَمَيِّتاً

fasalla allahu `alayka hayyan wa mayyitan

So, Allah may bless you in your lifetime and after your death.

You may then stick your right cheek to the tomb and say these words:

أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكَ

ashhadu annaka `ala bayyinatin min rabbika

I bear witness that you are verily relying on clear proof from your Lord.

جِئْتُ مُقِرّاً بِٱلذُّنُوبِ

ji'tu muqirran bildhdhunubi

I have come confessing of my sins

لِتَشْفَعَ لِي عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ

litashfa`a li `inda rabbika

so that you may intercede for me before your Lord.

يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ

yabna rasuli allahi

O son of Allah’s Messenger.

You should then mention the Holy Imams by names respectively and then say the following words:

أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكُمْ حُجَجُ ٱللَّهِ

ashhadu annakum hujaju allahi

I bear witness that you are verily Allah’s Arguments (against His creatures).

أُكْتُبْ لِي عِنْدَكَ مِيثَاقاً وَعَهْداً

uktub li `indaka mithaqan wa `ahdan

Please, write down for me a covenant and a pledge with you.

إِنِّي أَتَيْتُكَ مُجَدِّداً ٱلْمِيثَاقَ

inni ataytuka mujaddidan almithaqa

I have come to you to refresh my covenant;

فَٱشْهَدْ لِي عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ

fashhad li `inda rabbika

so, testify this to me before your Lord.

إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ ٱلشَاهِدُ

innaka anta alshshahidu

You are verily the Witness.

Third Ziyarah (by Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq)

This form of Ziyarah has been reported by Ibn Tawus in his book of al-Mazar. Reporting a great reward for those who visit Imam al-Husayn with this form of Ziyarah, Ibn Tawus, having overlooked the chain of authority, reported that Jabir al-Ju`fi said that Imam al-Sadiq ('a) asked him, “What is the distance between your house and the tomb of al-Husayn?”

Jabir answered, “May Allah accept my father and mother as ransoms for you! It is only a day and half a day (walking).” “Do you usually visit him?” the Imam (`a) asked.

“Yes, I do,” answered Jabir.

The Imam ('a) then said to him, “May I convey to you good tidings? May I delight you by informing you some of the rewards of visiting his tomb?”

“Yes, you may,” answered Jabir.

The Imam ('a) thus said, “Once you provide yourselves with supplies of travel and prepare yourselves for visiting Imam al-Husayn (`a), the inhabitants of the heavens convey this glad tiding to each other. As soon as you leave the door of your houses and ride or walk, Almighty Allah appoints four thousand angels to bless you until you arrive at Imam al-Husayn’s tomb. When you arrive at the tomb of al-Husayn ibn `Ali (`a), you may stop at the gate and say these words, because you shall be granted a portion of Allah’s mercy for each word you utter... These are the words:

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ آدَمَ صَفْوَةِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya waritha adama safwati allahi

Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Adam the chosen by Allah.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ نُوحٍ نَبِيِّ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya waritha nuhin nabiyyi allahi

Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Noah the prophet of Allah.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya waritha ibrahima khalili allahi

Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Abraham the friend of Allah.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ مُوسَىٰ كَلِيمِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya waritha musa kalimi allahi

Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Moses the spoken by Allah.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ عِيسَىٰ رُوحِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya waritha `isa ruhi allahi

Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Jesus the spirit of Allah.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ مُحَمَّدٍ سَيِّدِ رُسُلِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya waritha muhammadin sayyidi rusuli allahi

Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Muhammad the chief of Allah’s Messengers.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ عَليٍّ

alssalamu `alayka ya waritha `aliyyin

Peace be upon you, O inheritor of `Ali

أَمِيرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَخَيْرِ ٱلْوَصِيِّينَ

amirilmu'minina wa khayri alwasiyyina

the commander of the faithful and the best of the Prophets’ successors.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ ٱلْحَسَنِ ٱلرَّضِيِّ

alssalamu `alayka ya waritha alhasani alrradiyyi

Peace be upon you, O inheritor of al-Hasan the amicable,

ٱلطَّاهِرِ ٱلرَّاضِي ٱلْمَرْضِيِّ

alttahiri alrradi almardiyyi

the immaculate, the content, and the pleased.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلْوَصِيُّ ٱلْبَرُّ ٱلتَّقِيُّ

alssalamu `alayka ayyuha alssiddiqu al-akbaru

Peace be upon you, O dutiful and pious successor.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ ٱلأَرْوَاحِ ٱلَّتِي حَلَّتْ بِفِنَائِكَ وَأَنَاخَتْ بِرَحْلِكَ

alssalamu `alayka ayyuha alwasiyyu albarru alttqiyyu

Peace be upon you and upon these souls who gathered before your yard and resided next to your residence.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ ٱلْمَلاَئِكَةِ ٱلْحَافِّينَ بِكَ

alssalamu `alayka wa `ala al-arwahi allati hallat bifina'ika wa anakhat birahlika

Peace be upon you and upon the angels who are encompassing you.

أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ أَقَمْتَ ٱلصَّلاَةَ وَآتَيْتَ ٱلزَّكَاةَ

alssalamu `alayka wa `ala almala'ikati alhaffina bika

I bear witness that you performed the prayers, defrayed the poor-rate,

وَأَمَرْتَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَيْتَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنْكَرِ

ashhadu annaka qad aqamta alssalata wa atayta alzzakata

enjoined the right, forbade the wrong,

وَجَاهَدْتَ ٱلْمُلْحِدينَ وَعَبَدْتَ ٱللَّهَ حَتَّىٰ أَتَاكَ ٱلْيَقِينُ

wa amarta bilma`rufi wa nahayta `an almunkari

strove against the atheists, and served Allah until death came upon you.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

wa jahadta almulhidina wa `abadta allaha hatta ataka alyaqinu

Peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

You may then walk towards the tomb. With each step you make, you will be awarded the reward of one who sacrifices his blood for the sake of Allah. When you approach the tomb, you may wipe your hand over it and say these words:

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حُجَّةَ ٱللَّهِ فِي سمائه وأرضه

alssalamu `alayka ya hujjata allahi fi ardihi

Peace be upon you, O Allah’s Argument in His lands.

You may then go for offering the prayer. For each unit of prayer that you offer near the tomb, you will have the reward of one who went one thousand times on hajj and one thousand times on `umrah, manumitted one thousand slaves for the sake of Allah, and stood in the line of a missioned Prophet one thousand times.”

This tradition has been previously mentioned within the etiquettes of visiting Imam al-Husayn’s tomb, yet with little difference in paragraphs and in reporter, who has been al-Mufaddal ibn `Umar.

Fourth Ziyarah

Mu`awiyah ibn `Ammar has reported that he asked Imam al-Sadiq ('a) what to do when visiting Imam al-Husayn’s tomb. The Imam ('a) taught him to say the following words:

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya aba `abdillahi

Peace be upon you, O Abu-`Abdullah.

صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ ٱللَّهِ

salla allahu `alayka ya aba `abdillahi

May Allah bless you, O Abu-`Abdullah.

رَحِمَكَ ٱللَّهُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ ٱللَّهِ

rahimaka allahu ya aba `abdillahi

May Allah have mercy upon you, O Abu-`Abdullah.

لَعَنَ ٱللَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَكَ

la`ana allahu man qatalaka

May Allah curse those who slew you.

وَلَعَنَ ٱللَّهُ مَنْ شَرِكَ فِي دَمِكَ

wa la`ana allahu man sharika fi damika

May Allah curse those who took part in shedding your blood.

وَلَعَنَ ٱللَّهُ مَنْ بَلَغَهُ ذٰلِكَ فَرَضِيَ بِهِ

wa la`ana allahu man balaghahu dhalika faradiya bihi

May Allah curse those who are pleased when they knew about it.

أَنَا إِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ذٰلِكَ بَريءٌ

ana ila allahi min dhalika bari'un

I disavow all those in the presence of Allah.

Fifth Ziyarah

From a valid chain of authority, Imam al-Kazim ('a) is reported to have asked Ibrahim ibn Abi’l-Ballad, “What do you say when you visit al-Husayn The man answered: I say the following

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya aba `abdillahi

Peace be upon you, O Abu-`Abdullah.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka yabna rasuli allahi

Peace be upon you, O son of Allah’s Messenger.

أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ أَقَمْتَ ٱلصَّلاَةَ

ashhadu annaka qad aqamta alssalata

I bear witness that you performed the prayers,

وَآتَيْتَ ٱلزَّكَاةَ

wa atayta alzzakata

defrayed the poor-rate,

وَأَمَرْتَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ

wa amarta bilma`rufi

enjoining the right,

وَنَهَيْتَ عَنِ ٱلمُنْكَرِ

wa nahayta `ani almunkari

forbade the evil,

وَدَعَوْتَ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ

wa da`awta ila sabili rabbika

and called to the way of your Lord

بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ

bilhikmati walmaw`izati alhasanati

with wisdom and excellent exhortation.

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ سَفَكُوٱ دَمَكَ وَٱسْتَحَلُّوٱ حُرْمَتَكَ

wa ashhadu anna alladhina safaku damaka wastahallu hurmataka

I also bear witness that those who shed your blood and violated your sanctity

مَلْعُونُونَ مُعَذَّبُونَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُدَ وَعيسَىٰ بْنِ مَرْيَمَ

mal`ununa mu`adhdhabuna `ala lisani dawuda wa `isa bni maryama

have been accursed, and will be tortured, by the tongue of David and Jesus the son of Mary.

ذٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوْٱ وَكَانُوٱ يَعْتَدُونَ

dhalika bima `asaw wa kanu ya`taduna

This was because they disobeyed and used to exceed the limit.

The Imam ('a) commented, “Yes, this is accurate.” بحار الأنوار: ج101، ص165

Bihar al-Anwar: vol. 101, p. 165.

Sixth Ziyarah

`Ammar has reported Imam al-Sadiq ('a) as saying that when you stop at the grave of Imam al-Husayn ('a), you may say the following words

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka yabna rasuli allahi

Peace be upon you, O son of Allah’s Messenger.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ أَمِيرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

alssalamu `alayka yabna amiri almu'minina

Peace be upon you, O son of the commander of the faithful.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya aba `abdillahi

Peace be upon you, O Abu-`Abdullah.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا سَيِّدَ شَبَابِ أَهْلِ ٱلْجَنَّةِ

alssalamu `alayka ya sayyida shababi ahli aljannati

Peace be upon you, O chief of the youth of Paradise.

وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

wa rahmatu allahi wa barakatuhu

Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا مَنْ رِضَاهُ مِنْ رِضَا ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ

alssalamu `alayka ya man ridahu min rida alrrahmani

Peace be upon you, O he whose pleasure is part of the pleasure of the All-beneficent Lord

وَسَخَطُهُ مِنْ سَخَطِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ

wa sakhatuhu min sakhati alrrahmani

and whose displeasure is part of the displeasure of the All-beneficent Lord.

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَمِينَ ٱللَّهِ

alssalamu `alayka ya amina allahi

Peace be upon you, O trustee of Allah,

وَحُجَّةَ ٱللَّهِ وَبَابَ ٱللَّهِ

wa hujjata allahi wa baba allahi

Argument of Allah, door to Allah,

وَٱلدَّلِيلَ عَلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلدَاعِيَ إِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ

walddalila `ala allahi waldda`iya ila allahi

guide to Allah, and caller to Allah.

أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ حَلَّلْتَ حَلاَلَ ٱللَّهِ

ashhadu annaka qad hallata halala allahi

I bear witness that you deemed lawful all that which Allah has deemed lawful,

وَحَرَّمْتَ حَرَامَ ٱللَّهِ

wa harramta harama allahi

deemed unlawful all that which Allah has deemed unlawful,

وَأَقَمْتَ ٱلصَّلاَةَ

wa aqamta alssalata

performed the prayers,

وَآتَيْتَ ٱلزَّكَاةَ

wa atayta alzzakata

defrayed the poor-rate,

وَأَمَرْتَ بِٱلْمَعْروُفِ

wa amarta bilma`rufi

enjoined the right,

وَنَهَيْتَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنْكَرِ

wa nahayta `an almunkari

forbade the evil,

وَدَعَوْتَ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ

wa da`awta ila sabili rabbika

and called to the way of your Lord

بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ

bilhikmati walmaw`izati alhasanati

with wisdom and excellent exhortation.

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ وَمَنْ قُتِلَ مَعَكَ

wa ashhadu annaka wa man qutila ma`aka

I also bear witness that you, as well as those whom were slain with you,

شُهَدَاءٌ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْزَقُونَ

shuhada'u ahya'un `inda rabbikum turzaquna

are martyrs, alive, and provided sustenance from your Lord.

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ قَاتِلَكَ فِي ٱلنَّارِ

wa ashhadu anna qatilaka fi alnnari

I also bear witness that your slayer shall be in Hellfire.

أَدِينُ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلْبَرَاءَةِ مِمَّنْ قَتَلَكَ

adinu allaha bilbara'ati mimman qatalaka

Before Allah, I profess disavowal of those who slew you,

وَمِمَّنْ قَاتَلَكَ وَشَايَعَ عَلَيْكَ

wa mimman qatalaka wa shaya`a `alayka

who fought against you, who supported each other against you,

وَمِمَّنْ جَمَعَ عَلَيْكَ

wa mimman jama`a `alayka

who rallied against you,

وَمِمَّنْ سَمِعَ صَوْتَكَ وَلَمْ يُعِنْكَ

wa mimman sami`a sawtaka wa lam yu`inka

and who heard your call but refrained from helping you.

يَا لَيْتَنِي كُنْتُ مَعَكُمْ فَأَفُوزَ فَوْزاً عَظيماً

ya laytani kuntu ma`akum fa'afuza fawzan `aziman

Would that I were with you, then should I achieve a great success.

Ziarat Numbers vis a vis Nibras book ziarat numbers:

1st is 2nd of Nibras, 2nd is 8th, 3rd is 3rd, 4th is 12th, 5th is 17th, 6th is 7th, 7th is 1st (Ziarat e Waritha)