The glad tidings of Imam al-Baqer for those who weep and remember the affliction of his grandfather al-Hussayn (peace be upon them).

We commemorate during these days the anniversary of the uprising of Imam al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) to ask for the reform in the nation of his grandfather the Messenger of Allah (Allah’s prayers be upon him and upon his holy Household) and the tragedy that has befallen on Islam and Muslims by his martyrdom and the martyrdom of the members of his family and faithful companions.

The grief and sorrow on the tragedy of the Master of the Youth of Heaven (peace be upon him), have extreme importance in the school of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), as the narrations of the saint Imams (peace be upon them) have stressed on crying on al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) and demonstrating grief over his tragedy, as an act of worship that enables the believer to be closer to Allah and His Messenger, and gives him great reward, such as the narration of Imam al-Baqer from his father Imam as-Sajjad (peace be upon both of them) that he used to say: “Every faithful, whose eyes shed tears upon the killing of al-Hussayn Ibn Ali (peace be upon him) and his companions, such that the tears roll down his cheeks, Allah shall accommodate him in the elevated rooms of paradise.”

For those unable to go for the Ziyarat of Imam al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) on the day of Ashura, Imam al-Baqer (peace be upon him) mentions the manner of performing the Ziyarat as follows:

“He should mourn over al-Hussayn (peace be upon him), weep for him and instruct the members of the house to weep for him. He should establish the mourning ceremony in the house by exhibiting lamentations and grief over him; the people should meet one another in their homes and offer condolences and consolation to each other over the calamities which befell him. And if they tolerate that, I guarantee for them that God will give them the reward of two thousand pilgrimage [haj] and Umrah and battles along with the Messenger of God and the rightly-guided Imams.” Kaamil al‑Ziyaraat pg. 175

Imam al-Baqer (peace be upon him) said: “He who remembers us, or in whose presence, we are remembered, and (as a result) tears flow from his eyes, even though they may be in the measure of a wing of a mosquito, Allah shall construct for him a house in paradise and make the tears a barrier between him and the fire (of hell).”