Following the Footprints

Nishapur, a small city located out of Mashad is well known for the 'Qadmgah' – a place where the footprints of Imam Al Ridha [a] have been preserved from the time he went through this village till today. In and around Nishapur there are graves and shrines of many Imamzadehs as well as certain religious figures.

However the importance of Nishapur and its relevance has been exalted due to a prominent event that occurred there during the journey of Imam Al Ridha [a] from Medina to Toos. On his way the Imam [a] narrated a hadith which became preserved in the pages of history as the Hadith of the Golden Chain. The Imam [a] stopped at the town of Nishaphur and in a large gathering he narrated; 'The Kalima of 'La Ilaha Illallah' is My Fort and whoever enters it is safe from My punishment'. The people witnessing this scene started voicing the Kalima. After a short while, the Imam [a] stated further; 'But all depends on some conditions, and I am considered one of those conditions.'

It is interesting to note the statement that the Imam [a] mentions after stating the first part of the hadith. It sheds light on two fronts; the necessity of believing in the Imamah as well as adhering to the commandments of the Immaculate Imams [a] in our actions. To be successful we have to have firm belief in both these aspects. We, the Shias, have always believed in Muwaddat however we have failed to implement this fully. Muwaddat is not just love but love which is reflected in our actions and our deeds. Love which is not found in our actions is of no use to us, this love that we have can diminish without the actions that strengthen this love.

Incidentally, in Nishapur we find an example of Muwaddat too. A lady by the name of Shatita rests in Nishapur, the shrine of this lady stands out as an example of true love and it is where lessons are to be learned for those with open hearts. Every time I had been to her grave I had heard her story but I had never reflected as to why she was so blessed and had such a great honour until this visit. Her story is very simple but at the same time very beautiful. It reflects of her firm belief and love for the Ahlul Bayt [a]. She had at the time sent some khums money to the Imam [a] of her time, Imam Al Kadhim [a]. She gave one dirhams and a knitted piece of cloth worth four dirhams to the person who was going to see the Imam [a] and she stated; 'Innallah la yestahee minal haqqay' – Allah is proud of the truth even if the amount be small, while giving it to the person going to see the Imam [a]. When this person reaches the Imam [a] and meets him the Imam [a] asks for the knitted cloth and the dirham that was sent by Lady Shatita, he accepts that and in return sends his salaams to her as well as a bag containing 40 dirhams and a coffin cloth made by the Imam's sister using the threads from Fatima [s], the daughter of the Prophet [p]. And the Imam [a] also instructed to convey to Lady Shatita that the Imam [a] would come to recite her funeral prayers. As stated by the Imam [a] all this did occur within a short time of this person returning back to Nishapur and stating everything to Lady Shatita.

This incident is of importanance for ourselves which is that we need to improve in a manner that we are not thinking about the measure of truth nor we are aloof of our duties and responsibilities which relate to the Imam of our time. The way this lady was blessed with by the Imam [a] in the same manner we could also be if we uphold truth and be God-fearing. This is the lesson from my visit to Nishapur, following the footprints which mark success in this world and the hereafter.

May Allah give us the ability to be righteous and God-fearing and to fulfill our obligations and stay away from that which is forbidden.

Inna Lillah Wa Inna Illayhee Rajioon

We are from Allah and onto Him we shall return. One of the saddest and in many ways the lowest points for me on the trip was receiving the death news of my Grandmother with just three days into the trip.

Prior to the trip, I had been debating with myself whether I should go or not. Till the tuesday before the trip commenced my intention was not to go Iran rather go Pakistan with my mother. After much deliberation and discussion with my family, it was concluded that I should go to Iran as my Grandmother's health was improving. I left for Iran a day after my mother had set off for Pakistan to see her mother. In my heart I still was not convinced whether I should be in Iran or not and that uncertainty plagued me throughout.

On Wednesday morning, after Fajr I was sitting talking to few brothers on the trip when I was told that there is a message for me from my sister in UK. Instanteously I knew what the message was and so I called my mother in Pakistan. She informed me that my Grandmother had passed away yesterday [Tuesday afternoon]. Incidentally, it was around the same time as my first Ziyarah which added to the uneasiness within me.

That evening I sat thinking about what course of action should I take from here; do I go back to UK, go to Pakistan to see my mother or stay here in Iran? I had asked the Aalim who was with us and his advice was be patient and stay here. I was not convinced though and hence was still thinking that I had made a big mistake. That night before going to sleep, I was reading the Holy Quran and I came across this particular ayat; [Shakir 2:153] O you who believe! seek assistance through patience and prayer; surely Allah is with the patient. This particular verse of the Quran struck me like arrow, I was just lost in amazement. The whole day I had been in this dilemma but now I found my answer as to what I needed to do.

This incident also gave me more insight as to how Allah has a plan and He only wills the best for his servants and sometimes we cannot fanthom His wisdom due to our limited ability. So now with my heart at rest I decided to be patient for what has befallen and to continue my journey here in Iran. It was going to be hard as I had not seen my Grandmother for nearly 10 years and now I wont be seeing her at all till the day of Judgement and I missed her alot but I understood that the station of patience is something which requires letting go of many things dearer to you for the sake of Allah. She remains in my prayers everyday and I pray that she is blessed with the company of the Purified Ones [a] in the hereafter.

May Allah bless her soul and elevate her to the a high position in the hereafter

In the loving memory of my Grandmother

The First Ziyarah. . .

As the daybreak occurred early in the morning, the sound of Adhan from the Haram of the Imam [a] rang out on the loud speaker. The beautiful voice of the Muzzein started the day, a sense of eagerness played in the soul. it was the day for the first visit to the Shrine of the Imam [a], a day for which I had waited a long time. This wait seemed like an eternity even though the Shrine was a few miles or so away from the guest house yet the travel to the Shrine seemed very long. 

The view of the Shrine came into vision while an eulogy about Aba Abdillah Al Husayn [a] echoed in the ears, the eyes became watered at the sight of the Shrine and at the expression of the grief for Al Husayn [a]. We all sat out to the Shrine of the Imam [a] remembering the great tragedy of his grandfather Al Husayn [a], it all seemed perfect that one moment where everything that I could have always dreamed off came together.

Moments later, I was there at the gates of the Shrine. The sun was shining brightly, there was no shade but a cool breeze seemed to engulf you as you stepped into the holy vicinty as a sign of welcome. I stood and stared at the Golden Minarets with tears rolling down my eyes. Everyone of us stood and just reflected on the occasion with silence but this silence spoke volumes. I walked towards the Shrine going through the courtyards with memories of the past years going through my mind as I looked around.

I reached the doors to the Shrine, I could not go any further, I did not want to go further. I felt the need to ask his permission, to call out to him before I entered. Our teachers had told us to call the Imam [a] by his name 'Al Ridha' or by his title 'Ar-Raoouf' but a dear friend had advised us if you wish to seek permission from the Imam [a] or if you feel that you are not receiving the answer to your call then address him by the title of 'Yabna Zahra [s]' - 'O Son of Zahra [s]'. For me that was the title I addressed to him to seek the permission to enter. I felt a reply from the Imam [a], the connection was there but even then I did not wish to enter his Shrine straightaway. I stood there holding the door to the Shrine reciting the ziyarah of the Imam [a]. I finished the ziyarah and started walking towards the Zaree, a sense of anxiety developed within me. I reached to the Zaree of the Imam [a] and all I remember at the sight of the Zaree was feeling really emotional. I could not contain myself anymore, I was there after days of remembering and nights of longing, I was there amongst many millions paying my respect to my master, I felt down in prostration thanking the Almighty for this honour. 

I move towards the Zaree to embrace it as a mother embraces her child; the tears stream down uncontrollably, the heart releases a sigh of relief and the soul reaches the stage of contentment. The feeling of union was emphatic, for a moment there it seemed like a dream where the soul felt all alone within these walls remembering the Imam [a]. 

After paying my respects to the Imam [a] and reciting the necessary amaals I headed back out to meet the rest of the group. The same silence was amongst us again but we all felt different in many ways now, we all realised the honour we had been blessed with on this journey. Only through reflection we could ever understand the blessing of what it means to be the guest of the Imam [a].

We left the Shrine to head back to the guest house. There was a mood of solace on the bus as we headed back. All of us were within our own worlds thinking about what we had done today. For many of us it was the first ziyarah while for others it was a reunion, one thing was for sure we will all remember this experience for the rest of our lives. 

May Allah accept our Ziyarah and our hajjats and elevate the status of Mohammad [p] and his Progeny the Ahlul Bayt [a].

The Awaiting. . .

One of the greatest aspects in our life given the present circumstances is the awaiting the Imam [aj]. Our preparations should be in line with the principles set out which define this awaiting in the time of occultation. The aspect of awaiting the return of the Imam [aj] is paramount to the faith of a practicing Shia as that helps us strength and even in certain cases make the foundations of our belief in Shia Islam.

One of the aspects of this trip is the role that it plays in building this concept of awaiting in the participants. The trip is structured in such a manner that it revolves around this concept. The need for this is due to two reasons; one being the important part in terms of the Islamic history and the other being the need to constantly remember the importance of the Imam [aj]. One of the greatest treasures that I took away from my years of experience from this trip is slowly building yourself spiritually as well as physically in preparation for the Imam [aj]. Living in the West, it is essential for us to realize who are our leaders are and what are the responsibilities and the duties upon us in regards to our Imam [aj]. Everything in our life should be for the sake of Allah alone and should work to hasten the reappearance of the Imam of our time [aj]. Anything which does not work to hasten his reappearance or works against it should be avoided as we look towards his reappearance as a symbol of salvation for us and also the symbol of justice and peace, something which is a great need of today's world.

The first step for all of us in terms of understanding the concept of awaiting is that we need to evaluate ourselves; understand our mistakes and vices and work to reform ourselves spiritually as well as in relation to akhlaq. We need to evaluate our objectives in terms of this life and also evaluate our path. If we are not progressing then what are the obstacles in our path that have inhibited us from elevating spiritually and seeking perfection? The answers to these points will come through reflection and through the process of reflection we will find answers which we can apply in our lives. The importance of reflection is something highlighted in both the Quran and the Hadith. On several occasions in the Quran we find that it stresses the need for man to contemplate in order to understand the secrets of the universe, the wisdom behind the laws of Allah and the philosophy of this life.

The second step in this journey of understanding awaiting would be to realize the importance of this concept in the Ghayba of our Imam [aj]. Awaiting the Imam [aj] is obligatory as well as a pillar of our faith, this is demonstrated by the following hadiths:

Imam Muhammad Taqi [a] says: 'Certainly, our Qaim is that (very) Mahdi whose awaiting is obligatory during his occultation.'

(Kamaluddin, vol. 2, pg. 377, chap. 36 tradition 1)

Imam Baqir [a] says: ‘(Religion implies) To bear witness that there is no god except Allah, Who is One and Unique and He has no partner and that Muhammad [p] is His servant and His messenger and to accept all that he [p] has brought from the side of Allah and to accept our Wilayat (mastership) and to love us while at the same time to bear enmity with our enemies, to submit to our commands and to act with piety and modesty and to await the reappreance of our Qaim [aj]. For certainly our government shall be established when He wishes.

(Usul-e-Kafi - Kitabul Imaan wal Kufr, Chapter of "Pillars of Islam", tradition 13)

So in essence acceptance of any religious deed depends on the relevance it has to awaiting the Imam [aj]. Here "acceptance of an action" implies "to receive the reward promised for that action and to gain proximity to Allah." Only that action is worthy of a reward, which is performed along with all the relevant conditions. Else all the efforts expended in its performance will be futile. Of course, if Allah wishes, then out of His Boundless Mercy and Grace, He will accept the acts of worship even if some of the conditions are not fulfilled.

In regards to the obligation that is placed on the concept of awaiting indicates the fact that during occultation it is the duty of every Shia to familiarize himself with the characteristics of awaiting the Imam. Another point to add here would be that every level of awaiting has its own set of demands and pre-requisites. The lowest level of awaiting is to believe in the occurrence of the event, i.e. reappearance of Imam [aj]. The intensity of the awaiting depends upon this fact. The more certain one is of the event, the stronger will be the awaiting.

With these thoughts in mind, Iran came into vision, a city lit up admist the darkness of the night. I was there in the lands of Khorasan as a guest of Imam Al Ridha [a], but this land was not what the heart desired, it wanted to be there in the shrine of Imam Al Ridha [a] free as the pigeons there flying within the courtyards smelling the fragrance from the heavenly garden. With patience I had to wait for that moment, it was not far but it seemed an eternity given that it had been two long years.

As I walked on the earth of Iran, I knew I was home, I felt a sense of freedom and relief. It was an emotional return to this country, the revolution, the history, the Islamic environment all bought back memories of the past events and visits. Regardless of how sad and sorrowful as they were yet it added to the love for this place.

May Allah bless the souls of the Martyrs, the Leaders of the Revolution and may Allah protect the leaders of today. May He hasten the reappearance of Imam Mahdi [aj] and may the flame of the Revolution stay alive for years and years to come.

The Beginning. . .

It has been nearly 2 years since I had visited the Holy City of Mashad in Iran. This year after much deliberation I decided to do Ziyarah again, however this time was different from the previous years. A sense of nervousness was found within me. I had never felt so nervous prior to a trip to Iran given that I had always craved for that sight of the Holy Tomb of Imam Al Ridha [a] so greatly. It was very odd to find myself in such a state but there is reason for everything, Allah knows best.

Since 2006 my life has changed a lot in many ways. I was not the same person as I was at that time; my circumstance were not the same as before nor was my spiritual state. I had lived for 2 years in a state of wilderness seeking any means available to evolve myself however due to many of my own vices I had failed a number of times. At times when the soul feels in a lowly state the remembrance of the Imam [a] and his Sister [s] served as a means of hope. Hope that maybe someday I would be there again, I held on to that hope for 2 years along with the tradition of the Ahlul Bayt [a] - 'Our graves are in the hearts of our believers', such a statement provided the strength to be patient and try to hold on to those memories to remain steadfast. At times though the determination weakened due to the state of this society and the self gave into the lower desires of the self, leaving a feeling of regret and longing of return to the right path.

So after nearly 2 years of living in the state of ignorance and wilderness I made the intention to visit my master Al Ridha [a] again in hope that by doing so I may find peace in my heart and soul. His door is one from which no one has ever been turned away empty handed and that is where you will see millions of pilgrim flocking to get a glimpse of that beautiful golden tomb with the sublime grandeur around it which humbles the heart and causes the eyes to shed tears of reunion and happiness. Such is this reunion that when done with full sincerity brings rewards which are unthinkable. What he gives us is so much greater in magnitude when compared to what we ask, the only thing that is needed for everything is Ikhlaas, sincerity and Tawakkul, reliance in Allah.

0n 17th July 2008, the day arrived where I would be leaving the Western World behind away from the materialistic aspects and attachments and going through a rigorous thinking and reflecting period in the land of Toos being a guest of the Imam [a]. An honor which was very undeserving for me as I am nothing but a lowly servant who has sins the size of mountains and nothing to offer but simple salutations. He is Ar-Raoouf, the merciful and his attribute of mercy is what gives millions of people hope, hope for fulfillment of their wishes, hope for finding solutions to their problems, hope that he will intercede and aid us in this world and in the hereafter, hope that he will bless us regardless of our sins, hope that he will enlighten us to correct ourselves.

With these thoughts in my mind, with the vision of his Beautiful Shrine in my eyes and hope in my heart I left on this journey of self realization on the 20th July 2008 accompanied with friends and some new faces that would be part long lasting memories.

May Allah elevate the status of Imam Al-Ridha [a] and his Sister Masooma [s].