| Is visiting the Graves of
Imams a Shirk ? Some Sunni Muslim brothers unknowingly
charge Shias of committing Shirk when they visit
the graves (Roza-e-Muqaddas)
of the Holy Imams. The word Ziarat-e-Rauzai-Muqaddus
of Imams, itself significantly shows that this par ticular
act can not be a
Shirk as the Rauza belongs to a person who is buried there. Everyone
knows
that a person who is buried, can never be a God but definitely a human being.
Allah
is free from birth and death and anything concerning birth and death
solely belongs to a
creature and not the creator. Thus,
Ziarat or visits to the graves of Imams is a strong proof in itself that we do
not consider
Imams as gods or a part of God.
Apart from this, if Sunni brothers
sincerely and honestly read the whole procedure of Ziarat,
they will not find
any trace of Shirk but will witness the declaration and affirmation of Tawhid
at
each and every step of the Ziarat. The prescribed instructions
for a person doing Ziarat are as follows; When
the pilgrim reaches the ditch of Kufa, he stands there and recites the following:Allah
is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, the possessor of Greatness, Sublimity, andEminence.
Allah is most great, the possessor of Greatness, Holiness, Glory and Grace. Allah
is Most Great above that which I fear. Allah is Most Great. He is my support,
on Him do I rely and in Him lies my hopes, and toward Him I return.
When the pilgrim reaches the Gate of Najaf, he should recites:Praise be to Allah,
Who guided us to this. We would not have been guided if Allah had not guided us.
When the pilgrim reaches the Gate of the sacred Courtyard, he should recite, after
praising Allah: I bear witness that there is no god except Allah, the One. He
has no par tner. I also bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and His Prophet.
He brought us truth from Allah. I also bear witness that Ali is a servant of Allah
and brother of the Prophet of Allah. Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great,
Allah is Most Great. There is no god except Allah, and Allah is Most Great. All
praise is due to Him for His Guidance and His support to respond to what He has
revealed on the way to Him. When the pilgrim
reaches the gate of the mausoleum, he should recite: I bear witness that there
is no god but Allah, the One. He has no par tner with Him....... When, after having
asked permission of Allah, the Prophet, and the Imams, the pilgrim reaches the
inside of the mausoleum, recites various Ziarats which contain salutations to
the Holy Prophet and the Commander of the Faithful. After Ziarat, he offers six
rak’ats of ritual prayers, two rak’at for the Commander of the Faithful
and two rak’ats each for the Prophets Adam and Nooh, who are buried in the
same precincts. People must know that this salat is like another salat in which
each and every action is solely for Allah Taala. This salat also is a mere confirmation
that we believe in none other than Allah as the creator of the universe and everything
and everyone.
This is the whole description
of the visits of the sacred places which Shias perform solely for the pleasure
of Allah Taala. Is there any element of Shirk in the whole performance of this
great ibadat? Every honest Muslim will acknowledge that it is a pure Ibadat of
Allah as from the time a pilgrim sets his foot on the soil of Najaf until after
he offers his Namaz-e-Ziarat, he is constantly busy in the remembrance of Allah.
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