Ziyarat Imam Ali(as)
recited on on 21st of Ramadan
According to a hadith, Hazrat Khidr (á) came hurriedly to Imam Ali's (á) house on the day of his martyrdom, while he was weeping and reciting ayah of istirja Qur'an,Inna lillahahe wa Inna ilahay he rajeoon(2:156) he stood at the door of the Imam's home and said “Rahamkallah ho ya Abal Hassan” And enumerated many of his virtues.
His wording was like that of this ziyarat; The text that is considered as the Ziyarat of the Imam's (á) martyrdom day has been mentioned in “Hadiyyat al-Za'ir”. These words, quoted from al-Kafi 1:454,


رَحِمَكَ اللهُ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ
rahimakal-lahu ya abal-hasan
May Allah have mercy upon you, O Abu’l-hasan.

كُنْتَ أَوَّلَ الْقَوْمِ إسْلاَماً وَأَخْلَصَهُمْ إيمَاناً
kunta awwalal-qawmi islaman wa akhlasahum imana
You were the first of all in accepting Islam and the most sincere of all in faith,

وَأشَدَّهُمْ يَقِيناً وَأَخْوَفَهُمْ للهِ
wa ashaddahum yaqinan wa akhwafahum lillah
And you were the firmest in conviction and the most Allah-fearing,

وَأَعْظَمَهُمْ عَناءً وَأَحْوَطَهُمْ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ
wa a’zamahum ‘ana-an wa ahwatahum ‘ala rasulil-lahi sallal-lahum ‘alayhi wa alih
And you were the most steadfast (against ordeals for the sake of Islam) and the most watchful for Allah’s Messenger—peace be upon him and his Household,

وَآمَنَهُمْ عَلَى أصْحَابِهِ وَأَفْضَلَهُمْ مَنَاقِبَ
wa amanahum ‘ala ashabihi wa afdalahum manaqib
And you were the most careful for his companions and you were endowed with the most favorable merits,

وَأَكْرَمَهُمْ سَوَابِقَ وَأَرْفَعَهُمْ دَرَجَةً
wa akramahum sawabiqa wa arfa’ahum darajah
And you were the foremost of everyone else in everything, and the owner of the most elevated rank,

وَأَقْرَبَهُمْ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ
wa aqrabahum min rasulil-lahi sallal-lahu ‘alayhi wa alih
And you were the closest of them to Allah’s Messenger—peace be upon him and his Household,

وَأَشْبَهَهُمْ بِهِ هَدْياً وَخُلُقاً وَسَمْتاً وَفِعْلاً
wa ashbahahum bihi hadyan wa khuluqan wa samtan wa fi’la
And you were the most similar to him in guidance, morals, manners, and deeds,

وَأَشْرَفَهُمْ مَنْزِلَةً وَأَكْرَمَهُمْ عَلَيْهِ
wa ashrafahum manzilatan wa akramahum ‘alayh
And you were the owner of the most honorable position, and the most respected (by Almighty Allah and His Messenger).

فَجَزَاكَ اللهُ عَنِ الإسْلاَمِ وَعَنْ رَسُولِهِ وَعَنِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ خَيْراً.
fajazakal-lahu ‘anil-islami wa ‘an rasulihi wa ‘anil-muslimina khayra
May Allah reward you on behalf of Islam, the His Messenger, and the Muslims with the best rewarding.

قَوِيت َحِينَ ضَعُفَ أصْحَابُهُ
qawita hina da’ufa ashabuh
You became stronger when his companions became weak,

وَبَرَزْتَ حِينَ اسْتَكَانُوا
wa barazta hinas-takanu
And you advanced when they surrendered,

وَنَهَضْتَ حِينَ وَهَنُوا
wa nahadta hina wahanu
And you stood up (to face difficulties) when they became showed weak-heartedness,

وَلَزَمْتَ مِنْهَاجَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ إذْ هُمْ أَصْحَابُهُ
wa lazamta minhaja rasulil-lahi sallal-lahu ‘alayhi wa alihi idh hum ashabuh
And you abode by the course of Allah’s Messenger—peace be upon him and his Household—as they were his companions,

وَكُنْتَ خَلِيفَتَهُ حَقّاً
wa kunta khalifatahu haqqa
And you were truly his vicegerent.

لَمْ تُنَازِعْ وَلَمْ تُضْرَعْ
lam tunaza’ wa lam tudra’
No one could ever compete with you or vie with you in this position

بِرُغْمِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَغَيْظِ الكَافِرِينَ
birughmil-munafiqina wa ghayzil-kafirin
In spite of the existence of hypocrites and the despise of the unbelievers,

وَكُرْهِ الحاسِدِينَ وَصِغَرِ الفَاسِقِين.
wa kurhil-hasidina wa sigharil-fasiqin
And the malice of the enviers and the disgrace of the wicked ones.

فَقُمْتَ بِالأمْرِ حِينَ فَشِلُوا
faqumta bil-amri hin fashilu
You thus managed the matters when they failed to do so

وَنَطَقْتَ حِينَ تَتَعْتَعُوا
wa nataqta hina tata’ta’u
And you spoke (the truth) when they stammered,

وَمَضَيْتَ بِنُورِ اللهِ إذْ وَقَفُوا
wamadayta binuril-lahi idh waqafu
And you carried on with the light of Allah when they stopped.

فَاتَّبَعُوكَ فَهُدُوا
fattaba’uka fahudu
As they followed you, they were guided (to the true path),

وَكُنْتَ أخْفَضَهُمْ صَوْتاً وَأعْلاهُمْ قُنُوتاً
wakunta akhfadahum sawtan wa a’lahum qunuta
You voice was the lowest (out of politeness) and was the highest in supplication,

وَأَقَلَّهُمْ كَلاماً وَأَصْوَبَهُمْ نُطْقاً
wa aqallahum kalaman wa aswabahum nutqa
And you were the least in speaking and the you were the most eloquent of them,

وَأكْبَرَهُمْ رَأْياً وَأَشْجَعَهُمْ قَلْباً
wa akbarahum ra-yan wa ashja’ahum qalba
And you were the most apposite in opinions and the most courageous,

وَأَشَدَّهُمْ يَقِيناً وَأَحْسَنَهُمْ عَمَلاً وَأَعْرَفَهُمْ بِالأُمُورِ.
wa ashaddahum yaqinan wa ahsanahum ‘amalan wa a’rafahum bil-umur
And you were the firmest in conviction, the best of them in deeds, and the most learned in questions.

كُنْتَ وَاللهِ يَعْسُوباً لِلدِّينِ أَوَّلاً وَآخِراً:
kunta wallahi ya’suban liddini awwalan wa akhira
By Allah (I swear), you were the true leader of the religion first and last:

اَلأوَّلَ حِينَ تَفَرَّقَ النَّاسُ وَالآخِرُ حِينَ فَشِلُوا
al-awwala hina tafarraqan-nasu wal-akhiru hin fashilu
You were thus the first (of the enduring ones) when the other people departed, and you were the last (in steadfastness) when they failed.

كُنْتَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أباً رَحِيماً إذْ صَارُوا عَلَيْكَ عِيَالاً
kunta lil-mu`minina aban rahiman idh saru ‘alayka ‘iyala
For the believers, you were merciful father, as they were your dependants;

فَحَمَلْتَ أَثْقَالَ مَا عَنْهُ ضَعُفُوا
fahamalta athqala ma ‘anhu da’ufu
So, you carried the burdens that they were too weak to carry,

وَحَفِظْتَ مَا أَضَاعُوا وَرَعَيْتَ مَا أَهْمَلُوا
wa hafizta ma ada’u wa ra’ayta ma ahmalu
And you preserved that which they forfeited, and you conserved that which they neglected,

وَشَمَّرْتَ إذْ اجْتَمَعُوا وَعَلَوْتَ إذْ هَلَعُوا
wa shammarta idhij-tama’u wa ‘alawta idh hala’u
And you prepared yourself for facing those who allied (against Islam) and you advanced when they were dismayed,

وَصَبَرْتَ إذْ أَسْرَعُوا وَأَدْرَكْتَ أَوْتَارَ مَا طَلَبُوا
wa sabarta idh asra’u wa adrakta awtara ma talabu
And you resisted when they hurried (in absconding) and you achieved the goals for which they fought,

وَنَالُوا بِكَ مَا لَمْ يَحْتَسِبُوا
wa nalu bika ma lam tahtasibu
And they tasted at your hands that which they had not expected.

كُنْتَ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ عَذَاباً صَبّاً وَنَهْباً
kunta ‘alal-kuffari ‘adhaban sabban wa nahba
You were thus incessant and relentless torment on the unbelievers

وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَمَداً وَحِصْناً
wa lil-mu`minina ‘amadan wa hisna
And you were support and shelter for the believers.

فُطِرْتَ واللهِ بِنَعْمَائِهَا وَفُزْتَ بِحَبَائِها
futirta wallahi bina’ma`iha wafuzta bihaba`iha
Thus, I swear by Allah that you won its bliss and gained its reward,

وَأَحْرَزْتَ سَوَابِغَهَا وَذَهَبْتَ بِفَضَائِلِهَا
wa ahrazta sawabighaha wa dhahabta bifada`iliha
And you attained its merits and prevailed on its worth.

لَمْ تَفْلُلْ حُجَّتُكَ وَلَمْ يَزِغْ قَلْبُكَ
lan taflul hujjatuka walam yazigh qalbuk
Your argument was never weak and your heart never deviated,

وَلَمْ تَضْعُفْ بَصِيرَتُكَ وَلَمْ تَجْبُنْ نَفْسُكَ وَلَمْ تَخُنْ
walam tad-‘uf basiratuka walam tajbun nafsuka walam takhun
And your sagacity was never feeble, and your determination never cowered, and you never betrayed.

كُنْتَ كَالجَبَلِ لا تُحَرِّكُهُ العَوَاصِفُ
kunta kal-jabali la tuharrikuhul-‘awasif
You were as firm as mountain, as storms could never displace you,

وَكُنْتَ كَمَا قَالَ: أَمِنَ النَّاسُ فِي صُحْبَتِكَ وَذَاتِ يَدِكَ.
wakunta kama qala aminan-nasu fi suhbatika wadhati yadik
And you were as exactly as what was said about you: People felt secure under your government and in what was entrusted with you.

وَكُنْتَ كَمَا قَالَ: ضَعِيفاً فِي بَدَنِكَ قَوِيّاً فِي أَمْرِ اللهِ
wakunta kama qala da’ifan fi badanika qawiyyan fi amrillah
You were also as exactly as what was said about you: modest in your body and strong in carrying out the orders of Allah,

مُتَوَاضِعاً فِي نَفْسِكَ عَظِيماً عِنْدَ اللهِ
mutawadi’an fi nafsika ‘aziman ‘indallah
Humble in yourself and enjoying a great standing with Allah,

كَبِيراً في الأرْضِ جَلِيلاً عِنْدَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
kabiran fil-ardi jalilan ‘indal-mu`minin
Great in the earth and lofty in the view of the believers.

لَمْ يَكُنْ لأِحَدٍ فِيكَ مَهْمِزٌ وَلا لِقَائِلٍ فِيكَ مَغْمَزٌ
lam yakun li-ahadin fika mahmazun wala liqa`ilin fika maghmaz
None could ever find fault with you, and none could ever speak evil of you,

وَلا لأِحَدٍ فِيكَ مَطْمَعٌ وِلا لأحَدٍ عِنْدَكَ هَوَادَةٌ.
wala li-ahadin fika matma’un wala li-ahadin ‘indaka hawadah
And you never desired for anyone, And you were never lenient (unfairly) to anyone.

الضَّعِيفُ الذَّلِيلُ عِنْدَكَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ حَتَّى تَأخُذَ لَهُ بِحَقِّهِ
ad-da’ifudh-dhalilu ‘indaka qawiyyun ‘azizun hatta ta`khudha lahu bihaqqih
The weak, humble one was strong and mighty in your view until you give him back his right,

وَالْقَوِيُّ العَزِيزُ عِنْدَكَ ضَعِيفٌ ذَلِيلٌ حَتَّى تَأخُذَ مِنْهُ الْحَقَّ
wal-qawiyyul-‘azizu ‘indaka da’ifun dhalilun hata ta`khudha minhul-haqq
And the strong, mighty one was weak in your view until you take the others’ rights from him.

وَالْقَرِيبُ وَالْبَعِيدُ عِنْدَكَ فِي ذَلِكَ سَوَاءٌ.
wal-qaribu wal-ba’idu ‘indaka fi dhalika sawa`
The near and the remote were equal in your view.

شَأْنُكَ الْحَقُّ وَالصِّدْقُ وَالرِّفْقُ
sha`nukal-haqqu was-sidqu war-rifq
You habit was to be right, honest, and kind,

وَقَوْلُكَ حُكْمٌ وَحَتْمٌ
waqawluka hukmun wa hatm
And your words were ruling and determination,

وَأَمْرُكَ حِلْمٌ وَحَزْمٌ
wa amruka hilmin wa hazm
And your custom was forbearance and fortitude,

وَرَأْيُكَ عِلْمٌ وَعَزْمٌ فِي مَا فَعَلْتَ
wa ra`yuka ‘ilmun wa ‘azmun fi ma fa’alt
And your view was knowledge and firmness in whatever you did.

وَقَدْ نُهِجَ بِكَ السَّبِيلُ وَسُهِّلَ بِكَ الْعَسِيرُ
waqad nuhija bikas-sabilu wa sahhala bikal-‘asir
Through you, the right path was taken and the difficult was made easy,

وَأُطْفِئَتِ النِّيرَانُ وَاعْتَدَلَ بِكَ الدِّينُ وَقَوِيَ بِكَ الإسْلاَمُ وَالمُؤمِنُونَ
wa utfi`atin-niran wa’tudila bikad-dinu waqawiya bikal-islamu wal-mu`minun
Fires were also extinguished by you and the religion became even at your hands, and Islam and the believers because mighty because of you,

وَسَبَقْتَ سَبْقاً بَعِيداً وَأتْعَبْتَ مَنْ بَعْدَكَ تَعَباً شَدِيداً
wasabaqta sabqan ba’idan wa at-‘abta man ba’daka ta’aban shadida
You thus advanced in great strides and stopped and curbed the wrongdoings of those who came after you.

فَجَلَلْتَ عَنِ الْبُكَاءِ وَعَظُمَتْ رَزِيَّتُكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ
fajalalta ‘anil-buka`i wa ‘azumat raziyyatuka fis-sama`
You are thus too lofty to be mourned and the calamity (of losing you) was so astounding for the inhabitants of the heavens,

وَهَدَّتْ مُصِيبَتُكَ الأَنامُ
wa haddat musibatukal-anam
And this calamity undermined all people.

فَإنّا للهِ وَإنّا إلَيهِ رَاجِعُونَ
fa-inna lillahi wa-inna ilayhi raji’un
Surely, we are Allah's and to Him we shall surely return.

رَضِينَا عَنِ اللهِ قَضَائَهُ وسَلَّمْنا للهِ أمْرَهُ
radina ‘anillahi qada`ahu wasallamna lillahi amrah
We succumb to Allah’s acts and to His matters do we submit.

فَواللهِ لَمْ يُصَبِ المُسْلِمونَ بِمِثْلِك أبَداً.
fawallahi lam yusabil-muslimun bimithlika abada
By Allah I swear, the calamity of losing you is the ever most catastrophic for the Muslims.

كُنْتَ لِلمُؤمِنِينَ كَهْفاً وَحِصْناً وَقُنَّةً رَاسِياً
kunta lil-mu`minina kahfan wa hisnan wa qunnatan rasiya
You were haven, shelter, and unshakable fortress of the believers.

وَعَلى الكَافِرينَ غِلْظَةً وَغَيْظاً
wa ‘alal-kafirina ghilzatan wa ghayza
And you were, at the same time, firm and furious on the opposing unbelievers.

فَألْحَقَكَ اللهُ بِنَبِيِّهِ وَلاَ حَرَمَنا أجْرَكَ ولا أَضَلَّنا بَعْدَكَ.
fa alhaqakal-lahu binabiyyihi wala haramana ajraka wala adallana ba’dak
May Allah join you to His Prophet and may He never deprive us of the reward of our grief for you, and may He never mislead us after you.