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Imam al-Ridha’s Holy Shrine
By: Ayatullah Shaheed Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim
About the merits, rewards, and significance of visiting the tomb of Imam ‘Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (‘a) in the land of Khurasan, many traditions have been reported in a supportive manner. Some of these have been previously cited in the discussion of pilgrimages to the Holy Imams (‘a).
In addition to the merits and rewards of making pilgrimages to this place, many other traditions and texts have confirmed the sanctity of the blessed tomb. As has been previously cited, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said: On the days of Noah’s flood, four regions cried to Almighty Allah: the Much-Frequented House, which Almighty Allah thus raised, Ghari, Karbala', and Tus.1
Shaykh al-Saduq, in his books of man-la-yahdhuruhu’l-faqih, al-Majalis, and ‘Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha, has reported through a valid chain of authority that al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali ibn Fadhdhal quoted Imam al-Ridha (‘a) as saying: There is an area in Khurasan where angels will come and go. All the time a group of angels will be landing there from the sky and another group will be departing from there to go to the heavens. This will continue forever until the Trumpet is sounded.
“Which area is this?” the Imam (‘a) was asked.
He answered: It is in the land of Tus and it is, by Allah, a garden of Paradise. Whoever visits me in this area will be as if he has visited the Messenger of Allah (S) and Almighty Allah will record for him the rewards of one thousand Hajj Pilgrimages, one thousand ‘Umrahs, and my fathers and I will be his intercessors on the Resurrection Day.2
Al-Saqr ibn Dalaf has reported that he heard ‘Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Ridha (i.e. Imam al-Hadi (‘a)) saying: Whoever has a request to be granted by Almighty Allah should visit the tomb of al-Ridha (‘a), my grandfather, in Tus after performing the ritual bath. He should then offer a two-unit prayer at the side of the Imam’s head and ask Almighty Allah to grant him his request in the ritual supplication of that prayer (i.e. qunut). If he does all that, his request will certainly be granted unless he has asked for a sin or a matter that leads to cutting off of family ties. Verily, the place of his tomb is an area of Paradise. Any believer that visits it will be released by Almighty Allah from Hellfire and allowed into the Abode of Settlement.3
1. - ‘Allamah al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar 97:231, H. 22.
2. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 10:445, H. 4.
3. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 10:446, H. 2.
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