Ziyarah of Sayyid Muhammad, Son of Imam Ali al-Hadi (a.s.) — Balad

Text and Translation

Arabic Transliteration Translation

Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad b. al-Imam ʿAlī al-Hādī (a) (Arabic: أبوجعفر محمد بن الإمام علي الهادي), (b. 228/842-43 - d. 252/866), known as al-Sayyid Muḥammad (ألسَّیِّد مُحَمَّد), and also known among the natives as Sabu' al-Dujayl (سَبُعُ الدُجَیل; the lion of Dujayl), was the senior son of Imam al-Hadi (as). Because of his remarkable moral virtues, many Shiites and others thought that he would inherit Imamate from Imam al-Hadi (a). However, his death during the life of his father refuted such ideas.

Al-Sayyid Muhammad's mausoleum is located in the city of Balad, 50 kilometers south of Samarra. The place is respected by Shiites, especially in Iraq. Many karamat (acts of wonders) have been reported about him. Sayyid Muhammad the son of Imam ‘Ali al-Hadi has a famous shrine near a village called Balad. This sayyid is well-known for virtue and sublimity as well as extraordinary, miraculous signs. All people always have the honor of visiting his shrine, making vows, presenting numerous contributions, and asking their needs to be granted by Almighty Allah. The Arab dwellers of that village venerate and hold him in the highest regard.

Imam al-Hasan al-’Askari (‘a), expressing sadness for the departure of this sayyid, tore his shirt.

Our mentor, the trusty Shaykh al-Nuri, may Allah illumine his grave, had full faith in the pilgrimage to the shrine of Sayyid Muhammad; he therefore had many attempts to build up his shrine, writing down the following inscription on the holy tomb: “This is the tomb of the sublime Sayyid Abu-Ja’far Muhammad the son of Imam Abu’l-Hasan ‘Ali al-Hadi, peace be upon him, a person of a great esteem and sublime regard.”

His contemporary Shi’ah used to claim that Sayyid Muhammad would be the next Imam after his father, but when Sayyid Muhammad passed away, his father named his brother Abu-Muhammad al-Zaki (al-’Askari) as the next Imam.

Commenting on this nomination, the Imam (‘a) said to his son, “Renew thanks for Almighty Allah, because He has decided a new decree about you.” Sayyid Muhammad’s father left him in al-Madinah as child, but the son joined his father in Samarra’ while he was ailed. When he tried to return to Hijaz, his ailment intensified, causing him to die in that village of Balad, about 40 kilometers away from Samarra’.

When he died, Imam al-’Askari (‘a) tore his shirt as expression of deep sadness. When he was blamed for that, the Imam (‘a) said, “Prophet Moses tore his shirt when his brother, Prophet Aaron, died.” Sayyid Muhammad passed away in approximately AH 252. Ziarat

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismi Allāhi al-Raḥmāni al-Raḥīm

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.

اللهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا، وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا.

Allāhu akbaru kabīrā, wal-ḥamdu lillāhi kathīrā, wa subḥāna Allāhi bukratan wa aṣīlā

Allah is the Greatest, infinitely Great; all praise is for Allah, abundantly; and glory be to Allah morning and evening.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَذَا، وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْلَا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللهُ.

Al-ḥamdu lillāhi alladhī hadānā lihādhā, wa mā kunnā lin-ahtadiya lawlā an hadānā Allāh

All praise is due to Allah who has guided us to this; and we would not have been guided if Allah had not guided us.

لَقَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِالْحَقِّ.

Laqad jā’at rusulu rabbina bil-ḥaqq

Indeed, the messengers of our Lord came with the truth.

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ،

As-salāmu ‘alayka yā Rasūl Allāh

Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah.

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ،

As-salāmu ‘alayka yā Nabiyya Allāh

Peace be upon you, O Prophet of Allah.

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا سَيِّدَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ،

As-salāmu ‘alayka yā Sayyida al-Mursalīn

Peace be upon you, O Master of the Messengers.

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ.

As-salāmu ‘alayka yā Amīra al-Mu’minīn

Peace be upon you, O Commander of the Faithful.

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا سَيِّدَ الْوَصِيِّينَ.

As-salāmu ‘alayka yā Sayyida al-Waṣiyyīn

Peace be upon you, O Master of the Successors.

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَابْنَ فَاطِمَةَ الزَّهْرَاءِ، سَيِّدَةِ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ.

As-salāmu ‘alayka yabna Fāṭimati az-Zahrā’, Sayyidati Nisā’i al-‘Ālamīn

Peace be upon you, O son of Fāṭima al-Zahrā’, the Leader of the women of the worlds.

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ،

Allāhumma ṣalli ‘alā Muḥammadin wa Āli Muḥammad

O Allah, send blessings upon Muḥammad and the family of Muḥammad.

وَلَا تُخَيِّبْ سَعْيِي، وَلا تَقْطَعْ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ رَجَائِي،

Wa lā tukhayyib sa‘yī, wa lā taqṭa‘ min faḍlika rajā’ī

Do not let my efforts go in vain, and do not cut off my hope from Your grace.

وَاجْعَلْنِي بِهِمْ عِنْدَكَ وَجِيهاً فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ،

Wa-j‘alnī bihim ‘indaka wajīhan fī al-dunyā wal-ākhirah

And make me, through them, honorable in Your presence in this world and the Hereafter.

وَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ، وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ.

Wa mina al-muqarrabīn, wa raḥmatu Allāhi wa barakātuhu

And among those brought near [to You]. And may Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon them.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismi Allāhi ar-Raḥmāni ar-Raḥīm

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.

سَلَامُ اللهِ، وَسَلَامُ مَلَائِكَتِهِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ، وَأَنْبِيَائِهِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ،

Salāmu Allāh, wa salāmu malā’ikatihi al-muqarrabīn, wa anbiyā’ihi al-mursalīn

Peace from Allah, and peace from His near angels, and His sent prophets.

وَعِبَادِهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، وَجَمِيعِ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ، عَلَيْكَ يَا سَيِّدِي وَابْنَ سَيِّدِي،

Wa ‘ibādihi aṣ-ṣāliḥīn, wa jamī‘i ash-shuhadā’i waṣ-ṣiddīqīn, ‘alayka yā sayyidī wa-bna sayyidī

And upon His righteous servants, and all martyrs and the truthful, be peace upon you, my master and son of my master.

يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ.

Yā bna Rasūlillāh ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa ālihi, wa raḥmatu Allāhi wa barakātuhu

O son of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), and the mercy and blessings of Allah.

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ.

Allāhumma ṣalli ‘alā Muḥammadin wa āli Muḥammad

O Allah, bless Muḥammad and the family of Muḥammad.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَنَا مِنَ الْمُوَالِينَ لِأَنْبِيَائِهِ،

Al-ḥamdu lillāhi alladhī ja‘alanā mina al-muwālīna li-anbiyā’ihi

All praise is for Allah who made us among the followers of His prophets.

وَأَصْفِيَاءِ أَوْلِيَائِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ.

Wa aṣfiyā’i awliyā’ihi wa rusulih

And the chosen friends and His messengers.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَفَّقَنَا لِزِيَارَةِ أَوْلِيَائِنَا وَشُفَعَائِنَا.

Al-ḥamdu lillāhi alladhī waffaqanā liziyārati awliyā’inā wa shufa‘ā’inā

All praise is for Allah who granted us success to visit our leaders and intercessors.

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا سَيِّدِي وَابْنَ سَيِّدِي، وَيَا مَوْلَايَ وَابْنَ مَوْلَايَ،

As-salāmu ‘alayka yā sayyidī wa-bna sayyidī, wa yā mawlāya wa-bna mawlāya

Peace be upon you, my master and son of my master, my guardian and son of my guardian.

يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْهَادِي، وَأَخِيهِ الْحَسَنِ الْعَسْكَرِيّ.

Yā Abā Ja‘fari Muḥammadi bni ‘Alī al-Hādī, wa akhīhi al-Ḥasan al-‘Askarī

O Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad son of ‘Alī al-Hādī, and his brother al-Ḥasan al-‘Askarī.