Question:At the end of the holy Ashura pilgrimage text, is it necessary to face the Qibla during prostration?

Answer:In the name of Allah, facing the Qibla is not a condition in the situation mentioned in the question. Allah knows best.

Question:If a person has performed the obligatory Hajj, which is better: going for the recommended Hajj again or going to visit the Master of Martyrs (PBUH) on the Day of Arafah?

Answer:In the name of Allah, in the case of this question, visiting the Master of Martyrs (PBUH) is better than the recommended Hajj. Visiting Imam Hussain (PBUH) is superior to all recommended acts. Allah knows best.

Question:If a person is well-off, is it better for him to visit the shrines of the Ahlulbait (PBUT) or to help the poor and those in need?

Answer:In the name of Allah, both actions are recommended, and one can draw closer to Allah by assisting the believing needy and also by attending the shrines of the infallible Imams (PBUT), where he can pray for himself and for the well-being of the believers. Allah is the All-Knowing.

Question:I recite the visitation text of Ashura every day for four years and haven't left reciting for a single. Now, people tell me that it is not correct to recite it every day as this action harms. Is that correct? Are there specific days on which our pure Imams (PBUT) prevent us from reciting Ashura, such as the third of Sha’ban and the ninth of Rabi’ al-Awwal?

Answer:In the name of Allah, recite, then recite then recite. This blessed visitation strengthen your faith in Allah and the Messenger (PBUH&HF) and Ahlulbait (PBUT) and by its grace Allah blesses you with more love to Ahlulbait (PBUT). Insha’Allah, with your piety, you will be worthy of the intercession of Imam Hussein (PBUH) in the grave, the isthmus and on the Day of Judgment. Allah is the Guide.

Question:In saluting Imam Hussein (PBUH) in Ashura visitation text, "Assalamu Ala Al Hussein wa ala Ali ibnul Hussein wa ala Awlad Al Hussein wa ala Ashab Al Hussein" ((Peace be upon Hussein, Ali son of Hussein, sons of Hussein, and companions of Huusein)). The question is: Why did Imam Baqir mention Ali Al-Akbar (PBUH) in name rather than all the others? Why wasn't Abal Fazl Al-Abbas (PBUH) mentioned like Ali Al-Akbar (PBUH)? Can we say that there is preference in the ranks related to what we mentioned above?

Answer:In the name of Allah, there is no doubt that there is preference of Al-Taf martyrs over other martyrs. That is why Hamza Ibn Abdulmutalib (PBUH) is called the master of the martyrs out of those who died in Battle of Uhud. As for not mentioning Abal Fazl (PBUH), the reason is - Allah knows best- that this visitation text was created when the master of believers (PBUH) did the visitation and it was remotely done. That is why other than the master of martyrs was mentioned in general. Mentioning his name, Ali Al-Akbar (PBUH), specifically is a reference to his privilege over the rest of the martyrs from among the relatives of the Master of Martyrs (PBUT), and Abal Fazl Al-Abbas (PBUH) also entered into this general address. Allah knows best.

Question:It is narrated in the Nahyia visitation text about Imam Mahdi (PBUH): (…You fell to the ground wounded. The horses trample you with their hooves, and tyrants mount you with their bows. Your forehead has perspired for death….) Al-Mazar, page: 504. Do we understand from this excerpt that the enemies trampled the body of Imam Hussein (PBUH) before and after his martyrdom?

Answer:In the name of Allah, it seems so. The Imam (may Allah hasten his reappearance) knows more about what happened to his oppressed grandfather. We have said repeatedly that the narrations are various and different regarding the details of Karbala tragedy. So long as there is no offense in narrating this narration, there is no objection to it. Allah knows best.

Question:In your opinion, what is the reward of visiting Imam Hussein (PBUH) on the night and day of the tenth of Muharram?

Answer:In the name of Allah, as for the night of the tenth of Muharram, it is appropriate for the Karbala incident that a person visits with the general pilgrimage text of Imam Hussein (PBUH) or to visit using Ashura text. Yet, to stay in Karbala and commemorate this night with worship and mention of the misfortunes of Hussein and his family and companions (PBUT) and remember the words of the Imam and his advice is required on the tenth day of Muharram. Two pilgrimage texts have been narrated for this day in the books of supplications like Mafateehul Jinan and others. It seems from the narrations that one of the signs of loving the Ahlulbait (PBUT) is the concern for what we mentioned on the night and day of the tenth. One of the characteristics of the Twelver Shiite is that he mourns with tear during the aforementioned day and night. Allah is the Guide.

Question:What is your opinion regarding that visiting Imam Hussein (PBUH) on the day of Arafa is better than the delegated Ummrah and Haj?

Answer:In the name of Allah, visiting Imam Hussein (PBUH) is far better than the recommended Ummrah and Haj. Allah knows best.

Question:In the explanation of Ashura pilgrimage text in the part "I am in peace to whoever in peace with you, in war to whoever in war with you, an ally to whoever allies with you and an enemy to whoever an enemy to you." We can notice that there are different types of allegiance; political, economic, moral and theological allegiances. If there is an overlap among them, how would we deal with that?

Answer:In the name of Allah, presenting the best as per the scientific and jurisprudential scales. Allah knows best.

Question:What is the reward of visiting Imam Hussein (PBUH) and all other Imams (PBUT) on the day of Arafa? What are your instructions to the pilgrims on this occasion?

Answer:In the name of Allah, there is no narration mentioned to visit a specific Imam on this day. So, any one of them (PBUT) can be visited by the general pilgrimage text (Ziara Mutlaqa) which is mentioned in our authentic books in their favour. As for the master of the martyrs (PBUH), there is a specific pilgrimage text which is authentic and found in the books of pilgrimage texts and supplications. It is narrated that it has great rewards and that the heavenly kindness and mercy fall upon the pilgrims of Abu Abdullah Al-Hussein (PBUH) in preference to those who are in the holy Mecca. The pilgrim should seek to pledge to Allah, Hussein, and all the martyrs of the Taf, especially children and infants, not to commit a sin in the future, and request them to intercede in forgiving past sins so that he returns pious who deserves the acceptance of his deeds, especially the visitation. He should seek to pledge to Allah, Hussein, and all the martyrs of the Taf that he commits to the rights of all the people and Ahlulbait (PBUT) whether financial rights or others so that he returns with willingness to gain forgiveness from those Shia whom he oppressed and from all creatures whether humans or not. He should even be kind with animals which he has hurt and ask Allah to be a mediator between him and those whom he oppressed (as mentioned in the Monday supplication). What a better way for a Muslim to commit to this supplication. Allah knows best.