View source for The Hadith on the Equality of the Reward for Visiting Abdul'azim al-Hasani and Visiting the Grave of Imam Husayn (a)

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Is the chain of narration (sanad) for the hadith about the equality of the reward for visiting Abdu'lazim al-Hasani and Imam Hussain (AS) reliable? This narration is attributed to Imam Hadi (AS). However, if Abdu'lazim al-Hasani passed away after the martyrdom of Imam Hadi (AS), how can the content of this narration be accepted?{{question end}}
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'''The hadith about the equality of the reward for visiting [[Abdu'lazim al-Hasani]] and [[Imam Hussain (AS)]]''' is mentioned in the books [[Thawab al-A'mal wa 'Iqab al-A'mal (book)|Thawab al-A'mal]] by [[Sheikh Saduq]] and [[Kamil al-Ziyarat (book)|Kamil al-Ziyarat]] by [[Ibn Qulawayh Qumi|Ibn Qulawayh]]. From the perspective of the chain of narration (sanad), this hadith is considered weak (da'if). The reason for its weakness is the omission of the name of one of the narrators in the chain. However, there are contextual clues that mitigate the weakness of the chain, such as the fact that in another narration, the reward for visiting righteous friends of the [[Ahl al-Bayt (AS)]] is equated to visiting the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) themselves, which supports the content of this hadith.

The date of Abdu'lazim al-Hasani's death is also a matter of dispute. Some scholars believe he passed away after the martyrdom of [[Imam Hadi (AS)]], and based on this, they consider this narration incorrect. Their argument is based on the mention of Abdu'lazim al-Hasani among the companions of [[Imam Hasan Askari (AS)]]. Others reject this argument and do not consider Abdu'lazim to be among the companions of Imam Hasan Askari (AS). Nevertheless, determining the exact date of Abdu'lazim's death is not possible.

== Brief Introduction ==
{{Main|Abdu'lazim al-Hasani}}
Abdu'lazim al-Hasani was one of the great narrators of hadith (muhaddithin) who combined noble lineage with the virtues of knowledge and piety. He was a noble and honorable Sayyid, a prominent scholar of hadith, and an ascetic of his time. His lineage traces back to [[Imam Hasan Mujtaba (AS)]] through four generations.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Tahdhib al-Ansab wa Nihayat al-A'qab|year=1413|last=Sheikh al-Sharaf Ubaydli|first=Mohammad bin Mohammad|publisher=The Public Library of Ayatollah al-Uzma Mar'ashi Najafi (RA)|page=139|location=Qom}}</ref>

Regarding his character, it is said: "It has been reported about the worship of Abdu'lazim that during his noble life, he spent most of his days fasting and his nights in worship and praise of Allah."<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Life of Abdu'lazim|last=Sharif Razi|first=Mohammad|page=28}}</ref> He had complete sincerity and belief in the [[Imams (AS)]] and met three of the infallible Imams (AS), narrating hadiths from them. The narrations clearly indicate that he was beloved and trusted by the Imams (AS). In a message sent by [[Imam Reza (AS)]] to the Shia, and in the [[Hadith of 'Ard al-Din]] where Abdu'lazim presented his beliefs to Imam Hadi (AS) and received his approval, there is clear evidence of his faith, sanctity, and steadfast belief in the Imams (AS) and the [[Ja'fari school of thought]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Montahi al-Amal|year=1379|last=Qumi|first=Abbas|publisher=Dalil|volume=1|page=461|location=Qom}}</ref>

== The Reward for Visiting Abdu'lazim al-Hasani ==
The Imams (AS) have recommended visiting Abdu'lazim al-Hasani (AS). In a narration, Ibn Qulawayh Qumi in his book Kamil al-Ziyarat narrates from a man from Rayy who said: "On my return from Karbala, I visited Imam Hadi (AS) in Samarra. The Imam asked me where I had been. I replied that I had visited [[Sayyid al-Shuhada (AS)]]. The Imam then said: {{Arabic|أَمَا إِنَّكَ لَوْ زُرْتَ قَبْرَ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ عِنْدَكُمْ لَكُنْتَ كَمَنْ زَارَ الْحُسَيْنَ(ع)؛ If you had visited the grave of Abdu'lazim near you, it would have been as if you had visited Imam Hussain (AS).}}<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Life of Abdu'lazim (AS)|year=1380|last=Sadeghi Ardastani|first=Ahmad|publisher=Hafez Noein|page=208|location=Tehran}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Kamil al-Ziyarat|year=1377|last=Abu al-Qasim|first=Ja'far bin Mohammad Qumi (Ibn Qulawayh)|publisher=Al-Matba'ah al-Mubarakah al-Murtadawiyah|page=321|location=Najaf Ashraf}}</ref>

In another narration, it is mentioned that a Shia from [[Rayy]] visited Imam Hadi (AS). When the Imam asked where he had been, the man replied that he had visited Imam Hussain (AS). The Imam said to him: {{Arabic|أَمَا إِنَّكَ لَوْ زُرْتَ قَبْرَ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ عِنْدَكُمْ لَكُنْتَ كَمَنْ زَارَ الْحُسَيْنَ|Translation: If you visit the grave of Abdu'lazim near you, it is as if you have visited the grave of Hussain (AS).}}<ref>{{Cite book|title=Kamil al-Ziyarat|year=1356|last=Ibn Qulawayh|first=Ja'far bin Mohammad|publisher=Al-Matba'ah al-Mubarakah al-Murtadawiyah|page=324|location=Najaf Ashraf}}</ref>

== Examination of the Chain of Narration ==
The narration about the equality of the reward for visiting [[Abdu'lazim al-Hasani]] and [[Imam Hussain (AS)]] is mentioned in two books: Kamil al-Ziyarat by [[Ibn Qulawayh Qumi|Ibn Qulawayh]] (d. 368 AH)<ref>{{Cite book|title=Kamil al-Ziyarat|year=1356|last=Ibn Qulawayh|first=Ja'far bin Mohammad|publisher=Dar al-Murtadawiyah, Najaf|page=334}}</ref> and Thawab al-A'mal by [[Sheikh Saduq]] (d. 381 AH).<ref>Sheikh Saduq, Mohammad bin Ali, Thawab al-A'mal wa 'Iqab al-A'mal, Qom, Dar al-Sharif al-Radi, 1406 AH, p. 99.</ref>

=== Weakness of the Chain ===
Sheikh Saduq<ref>Sheikh Saduq, Mohammad bin Ali, Thawab al-A'mal wa 'Iqab al-A'mal, Qom, Dar al-Sharif al-Radi, 1406 AH, p. 99.</ref> and Ibn Qulawayh narrated this hadith through two different chains, both from Mohammad bin Yahya al-Attar, who narrated it from a man from Rayy, from [[Imam Hadi (AS)]]. In both chains, the name of the person who narrated the hadith from the Imam (AS) is not mentioned, making the narration mursal (disconnected) and weak (da'if).<ref>Ibn Qulawayh, Ja'far bin Mohammad, Kamil al-Ziyarat, edited by Abdulhussein Amini, Najaf, Dar al-Murtadawiyah, 1356 SH, p. 334.</ref>

=== Contextual Clues Mitigating the Weakness ===
There are contextual clues that mitigate the weakness of the chain, including:
1. The main narrator, Mohammad bin Yahya, was a teacher of [[Sheikh Kulayni]] and is praised by Shia scholars of rijal (biographical evaluation) for his reliability, truthfulness, knowledge, and piety.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Rijal al-Najashi|year=1365|last=Najashi|first=Ahmad bin Ali|publisher=Qom, Jami'at al-Mudarrisin|page=250}}</ref><ref>Mir Damad, Mohammad Baqir, Al-Ta'liqah 'ala Kitab al-Kafi, Qom, Khayyam, 1st edition, 1403 AH, vol. 1, pp. 76 and 365.</ref> Therefore, dismissing this narration, even though it is narrated by an unknown person, is not easy.
2. Based on a narration mentioned by Sheikh Saduq in his book Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, it is recommended for those who cannot visit the [[Ahl al-Bayt (AS)]] to visit righteous friends of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS)), as they will receive a reward similar to visiting the Ahl al-Bayt (AS)).<ref>Ibn Babawayh, Mohammad, Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, Qom, Islamic Publications Office, 2nd edition, 1413 AH, vol. 2, p. 73.</ref>{{Note|A similar narration is mentioned in Wasail al-Shia, vol. 14, p. 581, in the chapter on the recommendation of visiting believers, especially the righteous.}} This hadith is also mentioned in Kamil al-Ziyarat.<ref>Ibn Qulawayh, Ja'far, Kamil al-Ziyarat, Najaf Ashraf, Dar al-Murtadawiyah, 1st edition, 1356 SH, p. 319.</ref> Mohammad Taqi Majlisi considered this narration to be sahih (authentic).<ref>Majlisi, Mohammad Taqi, Lawami' Sahib al-Qurani, Qom, Ismailiyan, 2nd edition, 1414 AH, vol. 6, p. 144.</ref>
3. Some have argued that the apparent context suggests that the man in the narration was not inclined to visit Abdu'lazim or was unaware of his status. Therefore, Imam Hadi (AS) used this opportunity to make him and others aware of Abdu'lazim's high status and spiritual personality, encouraging them to visit his grave.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Narrators of Imam Reza in Musnad al-Reza|year=1367|last=Atardi Quchani|first=Azizullah|publisher=Mashhad, World Congress of Imam Reza Publications|pages=240–254}}</ref>

== Dispute Over the Date of Abdu'lazim al-Hasani's Death ==
The date of Abdu'lazim al-Hasani's death is disputed. [[Agha Bozorg Tehrani]] recorded his death as 15 Shawwal 252 AH. If this is accurate, his death occurred before the martyrdom of [[Imam Hadi (AS)]] (254 AH).<ref>Agha Bozorg Tehrani, Mohammad Mohsen, Al-Dhari'ah ila Tasnif al-Shia, Najaf, Matba'at al-Ghari, vol. 7, p. 190.</ref>

[[Reza Estadi]], a Shia scholar and researcher, believes that if we rely on the narrations in Kamil al-Ziyarat and Thawab al-A'mal, Abdu'lazim's death occurred before the martyrdom of Imam Hadi (AS). He states that there is no definitive evidence to determine the exact date of his death. He rejects dates such as 250 AH, two years before Imam Hadi's martyrdom, or the year of Imam Hadi's martyrdom.<ref>Reza Estadi, "Introduction to Abdu'lazim and Sources of His Biography," in Shenakhtnameh Hazrat Abdu'lazim al-Hasani va Shahr-e Ray, Qom, Dar al-Hadith Publications, 1st edition, 1382 SH, pp. 67–69.</ref>

Some believe that Abdu'lazim al-Hasani died after the martyrdom of Imam Hadi (AS), as some biographical works list him among the companions of [[Imam Hasan Askari (AS)]].<ref>Tusi, Mohammad bin Hasan, Rijal al-Tusi, Qom, Mu'assasat al-Nashr al-Islami, 3rd edition, 1373 SH, p. 401.</ref> Reza Estadi rejects this argument, as he believes Abdu'lazim was not among the companions of Imam Hasan Askari (AS) and did not narrate any hadiths from him. He suggests that the error of some biographers may be due to the use of the title "Askari" for Imam Hadi (AS) in some narrations.<ref>Estadi, Reza, "Introduction to Abdu'lazim and Sources of His Biography," pp. 67–69.</ref>

==References==
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