By Zishaan Karim,
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
“I SEEK FROM YOU, O ALLAH …”
The status of those who have performed Ziyarat Ashoora on daily basis is indeed unmatchable. It has been narrated that once Mirza Ali Naqvi appeared in the dream of his companion and the companion asked him if there were any regrets from his side after seeing the domain of barzakh. To this Mirza Ali Naqvi expressed regret as those who had taken Ziyarat Ashoora seriously were enjoying the bliss of barzakh.
Shaykh Muhammad Jawaad Mashkoor narrates that he dreamt seeing Malakul Mawt returning from Shiraz, having taken the soul of Mirza Ibrahim Mahlaqi. Sheikh Mashkoor instantly asked him what the state of Mirza Mahlaqi was in Barzakh and Malakul Mawt replied that he is in gardens of green, enjoying the blessings of Allah.
Shaykh says he confirmed saying, “Of course. He was a faqeeh, and trained so many students and was Imamul Jama’ah, so he deserves the bliss”
To this Malakul Mawt said, “ Ziyarat Ashoora”.
As I read these, I was puzzled.
On one end, the Aimmah have said that their intercession can be met only on The Day Of Judgment. (The criteria and liability for intercession is not my issue at this point)
Imam Ridha (as) has promised three things to his zaair, but none of them is assistance during barzakh.
As per quotations, a believer has to prepare for his barzakh and that is the only way to attain bliss in barzakh. Therefore, Ziyarat Ashoora is a preparation process that assures bliss in barzakh. The peace in barzakh is a programmed preparation and not a mere side effect of utterance of the profound words.
Ziyarah is a visitation, not a recitation…
When we visit someone, we visit him with presence of mind and understanding. We are careful of what we speak and how we speak. We mean what we say and say what we mean. Is this the case with my Ziyarat Ashoora? I wonder…..
