The author of al-Mazar al-Kabir says that this form of ziyarah is dedicated to the seventeenth day (of Rabi` al-Awwal) at sunrise. Commenting on this form of ziyarah, `Allamah al-Majlisi says that it is one of the most favorable formulas that has been reported through authoritative chains of authority and has been written down in authentic reference books. According to some narrations that reported this form, it is not dedicated to this day; therefore, it is recommended to visit the holy tomb of Imam `Ali (peace be upon him) with this form of ziyarah at any time.
In this connection, one may wonder that on the occasions that are related to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), such as his birthday or the day of the Divine Mission (al-mab`ath), it is supposed that private forms of ziyarah must be dedicated to the holy tomb of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), not the holy tomb of Imam `Ali (peace be upon him). However, we notice that there is big recommendation on visiting the holy tomb of Imam `Ali (peace be upon him) on occasions related to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family).
To answer, this is because of the firm connection between these two great individual and because of the perfect union between these two personalities. In view of that, to visit Imam `Ali (peace be upon him) is as same as visiting the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). This fact has been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an where Almighty Allah says:
“But whoever disputes with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then say: Come let us call our sons and your sons and our women and your women and our selves and your selves, then let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars. (3/61).”
In this holy verse, Almighty Allah has combined Imam `Ali (peace be upon him) to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) by referring to both of them by saying, ‘our selves’.
Besides, this fact has been confirmed by many narrations and reports, such as the narration of Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Mashhadi who has reported the following event on the authority of Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him):
A Bedouin man came to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and said, “My house is far away from yours; and it happened that when I intended to visit and see you, I could not; therefore, I visit `Ali ibn Abi-Talib whose discourse and advices would entertain me. Whenever I left him, grief and sadness joined me over again because I could not see you.”
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) answered, “He who visits `Ali has in fact visited me; he who loves `Ali has in fact loved me; he who antagonizes `Ali has in fact antagonized me. You may convey this to your people. Similarly, he who intends to visit `Ali has in fact visited me and I will reward him for so on the Resurrection Day. So will Archangel Gabriel and the righteous believers.”
According to another authoritative narration, Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “Whenever you visit the district of al-Najaf, you may visit there the bones of Adam (peace be upon him), the corpse of Noah, and the body of `Ali ibn Abi-Talib. So, you will visit the past forefathers, Muhammad the seal of the Prophets, and `Ali the best of the Prophets’ successors.”
There is high recommendation on visiting the holy tomb of Imam `Ali (peace be upon him) on occasions related to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) such as his birthday & Besat.This is because of the firm connection between these two great individuals and because of the perfect union between these two personalities.
Al-Shahid, Shaykh a-Mufid, and Sayyid Ibn Tawus—all those have reported that Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) visited the holy tomb of Imam `Ali Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) on the seventeenth of Rabi` al-Awwal, which is the birthday of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings upon him and his family), with the following form of ziyarah:
Teaching the lofty, trustworthy scholar Muhammad ibn Muslim al-Thaqafi, Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said :
When you approach the holy shrine of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him), you may first wash yourself before visiting, put on the cleanest of your clothes, use a perfume, and walk towards the shrine with tranquility.
There is high recommendation on visiting the holy tomb of Imam `Ali (peace be upon him) on occasions related to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) such as his birthday & Besat.This is because of the firm connection between these two great individuals and because of the perfect union between these two personalities.
Al-Shahid, Shaykh a-Mufid, and Sayyid Ibn Tawus—all those have reported that Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) visited the holy tomb of Imam `Ali Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) on the seventeenth of Rabi` al-Awwal, which is the birthday of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings upon him and his family), with the following form of ziyarah:
Teaching the lofty, trustworthy scholar Muhammad ibn Muslim al-Thaqafi, Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said :
When you approach the holy shrine of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him), you may first wash yourself before visiting, put on the cleanest of your clothes, use a perfume, and walk towards the shrine with tranquility.
When you stop at the door of peace (bab al-salam), which is the gate of the holy shrine, you may face the kiblah direction and repeat three times:
اَللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
allahu akbar
Allah is the Most Great.
You may then say the following:
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ
alssalamu `ala rasuli allahi
Peace be upon the Messenger of Allah.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَىٰ خِيَرَةِ ٱللَّهِ
alssalamu `ala khiyarati allahi
Peace be upon the elite select of Allah.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَىٰ ٱلْبَشِيرِ ٱلنَّذِيرِ
alssalamu `ala albashiri alnnadhiri
Peace be upon the bearer of glad tidings, the warner (against Allah’s chastisement),
ٱلسِّرَاجِ ٱلْمُنِيرِ
alssiraji almuniri
and the shining lantern.
وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
wa rahmatu allahi wa barakatuhu
Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon him.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَىٰ ٱلطُّهْرِ ٱلطَّاهِرِ
alssalamu `ala alttuhri alttahiri
Peace be upon the pure, the immaculate.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَىٰ ٱلْعَلَمِ ٱلزَّاهِرِ
alssalamu `ala al`alami alzzahiri
Peace be upon the luminous epitome.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَىٰ ٱلْمَنْصُورِ ٱلْمُؤَيَّدِ
alssalamu `ala almansuri almu'ayyadi
Peace be upon the one given victory and aid (by Almighty Allah).
alssalamu `alayka ya man taba allahu bihi wa bi-akhihi `ala adama idh ghawa
Peace be upon you, O one in whose name and in the name of whose brother, Allah accepted the repentance of Adam after he had allowed himself to be seduced.
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا فُلْكَ ٱلنَّجَاةِ
alssalamu `alayka ya fulka alnnajati
Peace be upon you, O ark of redemption;
ٱلَّذِي مَنْ رَكِبَهُ نَجَا
alladhi man rakibahu naja
he who embarks on it will have saved himself (from perdition),
You may then offer a six-unit prayer of ziyarah; two for visiting Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him), two for visiting Prophet Adam (peace be upon him), and two for visiting Prophet Noah (peace be upon him). You may also supplicate Almighty Allah as earnestly as possible, for your prayers are responded at this place, Allah willing.
May God‟s Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon you. I entrust you with God, and I say peace be on you. We believe in God and the Messenger, what he has brought, what he has invited to and what he has reasoned. O‟ my God! Please do not make this the last time I visit here. O‟ my God! Please do not deprive us from the reward of visiting his shrine. O‟ God! Please bless us with the return. However, if You take away my life before this, I bear witness to what I testify in my life. I bear witness that they are the signs of guidance, stars high above, and means of connection between You and Your Creatures. I bear witness that whoever rejects this shall reside in the depth of Hell. O‟ my God! I ask You to bestow Your Blessings on Muhammad and his Progeny.”
Then name the Divine Leaders one by one and continue as follows, “Please do not make this the last time that I go to him and the termination of my visiting him. I ask You to intercede on my behalf near God for fulfilling my needs and demands for this world and the Hereafter. Please let me be with these Divine Leaders of guidance.
O‟ my God! Please smooth my heart with obedience, advice, friendship, love and submission until I complete Your Obedience with
this and attain Your Good Pleasure and deserve Your Reward and Mercy. O‟ my God! I bear witness to the Mastery of him whom Your Prophet, Your Messengers and Your angels declared as Master. I bear witness near You that I disown whoever You disown, and whoever Your Messengers, Prophets, nearby-stationed angels and Your Good Ambassadors disown. O‟ my God! Please grant me success in all praised ranks and let me return from here with the best benefits earned. O‟ Lord of Majesty, Bounty and Honor!
Peace be on you, O‟ crown of the Trustees! Peace be on you, O‟ chief of the truthful ones! Peace be on you, O‟ inheritor of the decrees! Peace be on you, O‟ Company of Rukn and Maqam1. O‟ my God! Please let me be amongst his blessed pilgrims, sincere visitors, true followers, good companions, noble friends and certified companions.
Please let me be of the noblest ones to come to this Sacred Noble House with the exalted position and the Majestic Spring2 which You have ensured Your Forgiveness and Mercy in it. I take God and the angels that circulate around this shrine as witness that the one who is buried here in this shrine is pure, holy, honest, chosen and a Trustee that You are pleased with. Woe be upon the dirt which has housed such a good light, such a brilliant meteorite, source of wisdom, spring of mercy, and an advocate of proof in it. I disown your murderer near God. I disown those who oppressed you, those who opposed you, those who assisted them and those who fought with you. O‟ my Guardian! O‟ Commander of the Faithful! I say farewell to you like one who is sad about departing from you, sorry about having to leave your shrine with his heart in pain for this. May God not make this be my last occasion for visiting you and pilgrimage to your shrine. For indeed He is All-hearing, the Fulfiller!”