View source for Ziyaratnama of Lady Ma'suma (a)

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What is the status of the Ziyaratnama (pilgrimage text) of Hazrat Masuma (SA) among other Ziyaratnamas, and does it have a reliable source?
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The Ziyarat of Hazrat Fatima Masuma (SA) holds a high status in the narrations of the Ahl al-Bayt, and the Imams have emphasized the reward and virtue of this pilgrimage. Imam Sadiq (AS) referred to Qom as the sanctuary of the Ahl al-Bayt, and Imam Ridha (AS) stated that whoever visits her with recognition of her rights, Paradise becomes obligatory for them. This indicates the elevated status of Hazrat Masuma (SA), which has been confirmed by the Ahl al-Bayt.

The Ziyaratnama of Hazrat Masuma (SA) is one of the few pilgrimage texts attributed to an infallible Imam, a rare feature even among the descendants of the Imams. Allama Majlisi mentioned this Ziyaratnama in his works, citing it from Imam Ridha (AS) through Sa'd al-Ash'ari, and all its narrators are Imami. However, some have questioned the authenticity of this chain of narration, but based on the principle of "Tasamuh in Adillat al-Sunan", acting upon this Ziyaratnama remains valuable and acceptable.

The Ziyaratnama of Hazrat Masuma (SA) contains profound concepts. In this text, her status of intercession is emphasized, aligning with her lofty position. The addressing of the infallible Imams as interlocutors in this Ziyarat has drawn the attention of commentators and scholars.

== The Ziyarat of Hazrat Masuma ==
The Ziyarat of Hazrat Masuma holds a special place in the words of the Ahl al-Bayt, and narrations have been reported regarding its importance. These narrations mention her passing in Qom and the reward for visiting her.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Daneshvar|first=Hadi|year=1378|title=Recommendations for the Ziyarat of Hazrat Masuma (SA)|journal=Farhang-e Kowsar|issue=35|pages=28–31}}</ref>

1. Imam Sadiq (AS) in a narration described the city of Qom as the sanctuary of the Ahl al-Bayt and referred to the burial of one of his descendants named Fatima in this city. The Imam said regarding the greatness of visiting her: {{Arabic text|مَنْ زَارَهَا فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ|Whoever visits her, Paradise is guaranteed for them.}}<ref>Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir, *Bihar al-Anwar*, Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 1403 AH, vol. 99, p. 267.</ref>
2. Imam Ridha (AS) in a narration to Sa'd al-Ash'ari al-Qummi pointed to the grave of Fatima Masuma in Qom and said: {{Arabic text|مَنْ زَارَهَا عَارِفًا بِحَقِّهَا فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ|Whoever visits her while recognizing her rights, Paradise is for them.}}<ref>Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir, *Bihar al-Anwar*, Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 1403 AH, vol. 48, p. 316.</ref>
3. Imam Jawad (AS) regarding the virtue of visiting the grave of his aunt said: {{Arabic text|مَنْ زَارَ عَمَّتِي فِي قُمَّ فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ|Whoever visits my aunt in Qom, Paradise is for them.}}<ref>Ibn Qulawayh, Ja'far ibn Muhammad. 1356. *Kamil al-Ziyarat*, Najaf Ashraf, Al-Matba'ah al-Mubarakah al-Murtadawiyyah, vol. 1, p. 324.</ref>

== Text of the Ziyaratnama ==
Allama Majlisi in his book Bihar al-Anwar and some of his other works has mentioned a Ziyaratnama attributed to Imam Ridha (AS) for Fatima Masuma.<ref>Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir, *Zad al-Ma'ad*, Beirut, Mu'assasat al-A'lami lil-Matbu'at, 1423 AH, pp. 547–548.</ref> <ref>Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir, *Bihar al-Anwar*, Beirut, Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 1403 AH, vol. 99, p. 266–267.</ref> <ref>Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir, *Tuhfat al-Za'ir*, Qom, Mu'assasat Imam Hadi, 1386 AH, p. 4.</ref> This Ziyaratnama, composed by the Imam for Sa'd al-Ash'ari, begins with divine invocations (34 times Allahu Akbar, 33 times Subhanallah, and 33 times Alhamdulillah). When you reach her grave, stand at the head, facing the Qibla, and say 34 times {{Arabic text|الله أَکبر}}, 33 times {{Arabic text|سُبْحانَ اللّٰهِ}}, and 33 times {{Arabic text|الْحَمْدُلِلّٰهِ}}, then continue with the Ziyarat.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Daneshvar|first=Hadi|year=1378|title=Recommendations for the Ziyarat of Hazrat Masuma (SA)|journal=Farhang-e Kowsar|issue=35|pages=28–31}}</ref>

According to some religious researchers, there are some inconsistencies in the text of this Ziyarat. These researchers have criticized the change in the addressee in the final sections of the Ziyaratnama of Hazrat Masuma (SA); particularly, in some parts of the text, the address shifts from Hazrat Masuma (SA) to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and then to God, and finally returns to Hazrat Masuma (SA). Allama Majlisi, avoiding such a statement, believes that perhaps the initial part of the Ziyarat is attributed to the infallible Imams, while the later sections may have been added by scholars and other thinkers.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Moqiseh|first=Hussein|year=1378|title=A Study on the Ziyaratnama of Fatima Masuma (AS)|journal=Farhang-e Kowsar|issue=25|pages=54–58}}</ref>

{{Text and translation
|title=Ziyaratnama of Hazrat Masuma
|left column title=Translation
|السَّلامُ عَلَیٰ آدَمَ صِفْوَهِ اللّٰهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیٰ نُوحٍ نَبِیِّ اللّٰهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَی إِبْراهِیمَ خَلِیلِ اللّٰهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیٰ مُوسَیٰ کَلِیمِ اللّٰهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیٰ عِیسیٰ رُوحِ اللّٰهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا خَیْرَ خَلْقِ اللّٰهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا صَفِیَّ اللّٰهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللّٰهِ خاتِمَ النَّبِیِّینَ،
|Peace be upon Adam, the chosen one of Allah, peace be upon Noah, the Prophet of Allah, peace be upon Abraham, the friend of Allah, peace be upon Moses, the interlocutor of Allah, peace be upon Jesus, the spirit of Allah, peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah, peace be upon you, O the best of Allah's creation, peace be upon you, O the chosen one of Allah, peace be upon you, O Muhammad ibn Abdullah, the seal of the Prophets,
|السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا أَمِیرَ الْمُؤْمِنِینَ عَلِیَّ بْنَ أَبِی طالِبٍ وَصِیَّ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکِ یَا فاطِمَهُ سَیِّدَهَ نِساءِ الْعالَمِینَ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکُما یَا سِبْطَیْ نَبِیِّ الرَّحْمَهِ وَسَیِّدَیْ شَبابِ أَهْلِ الْجَّنَهِ،
|Peace be upon you, O Ali ibn Abi Talib, the Commander of the Faithful and the successor of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon you, O Fatima, the leader of the women of the worlds, peace be upon you both, O the two grandsons of the Prophet of Mercy and the two leaders of the youth of Paradise,
|السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا عَلِیَّ بْنَ الْحُسَیْنِ سِیِّدَ الْعابِدِینَ وَقُرَّهَ عَیْنِ النَّاظِرِینَ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِیٍّ باقِرَ الْعِلْمِ بَعْدَ النَّبِیِّ؛
|Peace be upon you, O Ali ibn al-Husayn, the leader of the worshippers and the delight of the eyes of the beholders, peace be upon you, O Muhammad ibn Ali, the splitter of knowledge after the Prophet;
|السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّادِقَ الْبارَّ الْأَمِینَ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا مُوسَی بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ الطَّاهِرَ الطُّهْرِ،
|Peace be upon you, O Ja'far ibn Muhammad, the truthful, the righteous, the trustworthy, peace be upon you, O Musa ibn Ja'far, the pure and purified,
|السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا عَلِیَّ بْنَ مُوسَی الرِّضَا الْمُرْتَضیٰ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِیٍّ التَّقِیَّ،
|Peace be upon you, O Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha, the accepted one, peace be upon you, O Muhammad ibn Ali, the pious,
|السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا عَلِیَّ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ النَّقِیَّ النَّاصِحَ الْأَمِینَ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا حَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِیٍّ، السَّلامُ عَلَی الْوَصِیِّ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ.
|Peace be upon you, O Ali ibn Muhammad, the pure, the sincere advisor, the trustworthy, peace be upon you, O Hasan ibn Ali, peace be upon the successor after him.
|اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَیٰ نُورِکَ وَسِراجِکَ، وَوَلِیِّ وَلِیِّکَ، وَوَصِیِّ وَصِیِّکَ، وَحُجَّتِکَ عَلَیٰ خَلْقِکَ،
|O Allah, send blessings upon Your light and Your lamp, and the guardian of Your guardian, and the successor of Your successor, and Your proof over Your creation,
|السَّلامُ عَلَیْکِ یَا بِنْتَ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکِ یَا بِنْتَ فاطِمَهَ وَخَدِیجَهَ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکِ یَا بِنْتَ أَمِیرِ الْمُؤْمِنِینَ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکِ یَا بِنْتَ الْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَیْنِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکِ یَا بِنْتَ وَلِیِّ اللّٰهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکِ یَا أُخْتَ وَلِیِّ اللّٰهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکِ یَا عَمَّهَ وَلِیِّ اللّٰهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکِ یَا بِنْتَ مُوسَی بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ وَرَحْمَهُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَکاتُهُ؛
|Peace be upon you, O daughter of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon you, O daughter of Fatima and Khadija, peace be upon you, O daughter of the Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon you, O daughter of Hasan and Husayn, peace be upon you, O daughter of the guardian of Allah, peace be upon you, O sister of the guardian of Allah, peace be upon you, O aunt of the guardian of Allah, peace and mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you, O daughter of Musa ibn Ja'far;
|السَّلامُ عَلَیْکِ عَرَّفَ اللّٰهُ بَیْنَنا وَبَیْنَکُمْ فِی الْجَنَّهِ، وَحَشَرَنا فِی زُمْرَتِکُمْ، وَأَوْرَدَنا حَوْضَ نَبِیِّکُمْ، وَسَقَانا بِکَأْسِ جَدِّکُمْ مِنْ یَدِ عَلِیِّ بْنِ أَبِی طالِبٍ صَلَواتُ اللّٰهِ عَلَیْکُمْ،
|Peace be upon you, may Allah make us recognize you in Paradise and gather us in your group, and lead us to the pond of your Prophet, and give us to drink from the cup of your grandfather by the hand of Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah's blessings be upon you,
|أَسْأَلُ اللّٰهَ أَنْ یُرِیَنا فِیکُمُ السُّرُورَ وَالْفَرَجَ، وَأَنْ یَجْمَعَنا وِإِیَّاکُمْ فِی زُمْرَهِ جَدِّکُمْ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَیْهِ وَآلِهِ، وَأَنْ لَایَسْلُبَنا مَعْرِفَتَکُمْ إِنَّهُ وَلِیٌّ قَدِیرٌ،
|I ask Allah to show us joy and relief through you, and to gather us and you in the group of your grandfather Muhammad, may Allah's blessings be upon him and his family, and not to deprive us of knowing you, for He is the Guardian, the All-Powerful.
|أَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَی اللّٰهِ بِحُبِّکُمْ، وَالْبَراءَهِ مِنْ أَعْدائِکُمْ، وَالتَّسْلِیمِ إِلَی اللّٰهِ راضِیاً بِهِ غَیْرَ مُنْکِرٍ وَلَا مُسْتَکْبِرٍ، وَعَلَیٰ یَقِینِ مَا أَتیٰ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ وَبِهِ راضٍ، نَطْلُبُ بِذٰلِکَ وَجْهَکَ یَا سَیِّدِی اللّٰهُمَّ وَرِضاکَ وَالدَّارَ الْآخِرَهَ، یَا فاطِمَهُ اشْفَعِی لِی فِی الْجَنَّهِ فَإِنَّ لَکِ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ شَأْناً مِنَ الشَّأْنِ.
|I seek nearness to Allah through love for you and disassociation from your enemies, and submission to Allah, content with Him, without denial or arrogance, and with certainty in what Muhammad brought and in which I am content. Through this, I seek Your pleasure, O my Lord, and Your satisfaction and the abode of the Hereafter. O Fatima, intercede for me in Paradise, for indeed you have a high status with Allah.
|اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّی أَسْأَلُکَ أَنْ تَخْتِمَ لِی بِالسَّعادَهِ فَلَا تَسْلُبْ مِنِّی مَا أَنَا فِیهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّهَ إِلّا بِاللّٰهِ الْعَلِیِّ الْعَظِیمِ. اللّٰهُمَّ اسْتَجِبْ لَنا وَتَقَبَّلْهُ بِکَرَمِکَ وَعِزَّتِکَ وَبِرَحْمَتِکَ وَعافِیَتِکَ، وَصَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَیٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ أَجْمَعِینَ وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِیماً یَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِینَ. <ref>Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir, *Bihar al-Anwar*, Beirut, Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 1403 AH, vol. 99, p. 266–267.</ref>
|O Allah, I ask You to seal my fate with happiness, and do not deprive me of what I am in, and there is no power nor strength except by Allah, the Most High, the Most Great. O Allah, respond to us and accept it by Your generosity, Your might, Your mercy, and Your well-being. And may Allah send blessings upon Muhammad and his entire family and grant them peace, O Most Merciful of the merciful.}}

== Chain of Transmission of the Ziyaratnama ==
The Ziyaratnama of Hazrat Masuma (SA) is, after the Ziyaratnama of Hazrat [[Fatima Zahra (SA)]], the only Ziyaratnama attributed to an infallible Imam for a woman. In this regard, this Ziyaratnama is ascribed to an infallible Imam.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hadi|first=Danishvar|year=1378|title=Recommendations for the Ziyarat of Hazrat Masuma (SA)|journal=Farhang-e Kowsar|issue=35|pages=28–31}}</ref> Among the descendants of the Imams, only [[Hazrat Abbas (AS)]] and Hazrat [[Ali Akbar (AS)]] possess Ziyaratnamas attributed to an infallible Imam.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hussein|first=Moqiseh|year=1378|title=A Study on the Ziyaratnama of Fatima Masuma (AS)|journal=Farhang-e Kowsar|issue=25|pages=54–58}}</ref> One of the distinguishing features of the Ziyarat of Fatima Masuma compared to other descendants of the Imams is that this Ziyaratnama is *muthur* (attributed to an infallible source).<ref>Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir, *Zad al-Ma'ad*, Beirut, Mu'assasat al-A'lami lil-Matbu'at, 1423 AH, pp. 547–548.</ref>

Allama Majlisi reports the chain of transmission of this narration in his book *Bihar al-Anwar* as follows: "In some books of Ziyarat, I saw that 'Ali ibn Ibrahim' narrated from his father (Ibrahim ibn Hashim) from Sa'd (ibn Sa'd Ahwas) from Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (AS) that…". Allama Majlisi also narrates this tradition with the same chain of transmission in his book *[[Tuhfat al-Za'ir]]*.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hadi|first=Danishvar|year=1378|title=Recommendations for the Ziyarat of Hazrat Masuma (SA)|journal=Farhang-e Kowsar|issue=35|pages=28–31}}</ref>

Based on an examination of the chain of transmission, all the narrators of this Ziyaratnama are Imami and praiseworthy, and this narration has been reported with a connected chain of transmission to Allama Majlisi and [[Sayyid Haider Kazemi]]. Allama Majlisi himself states in the introduction to his book *Tuhfat al-Za'ir* that he has only narrated reliable traditions in this book.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hadi|first=Danishvar|year=1378|title=Recommendations for the Ziyarat of Hazrat Masuma (SA)|journal=Farhang-e Kowsar|issue=35|pages=28–31}}</ref> However, there are doubts regarding one of the narrators of this hadith. According to some research, Sa'd ibn Sa'd Ahwas did not have the opportunity to meet Imam Ridha (AS), and thus it is unclear who this Sa'd is. For this reason, some have considered the chain of transmission of this Ziyarat to be subject to scrutiny.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hussein|first=Moqiseh|year=1378|title=A Study on the Ziyaratnama of Fatima Masuma (AS)|journal=Farhang-e Kowsar|issue=25|pages=54–58}}</ref>

Despite the criticisms of the chain of transmission and the text, some scholars have accepted this Ziyaratnama based on the principle of "Tasamuh in Adillat al-Sunan" (leniency in the evidence of recommended acts). According to this principle, a detailed examination of the chain of transmission of supplications is not necessary, and acting upon them with the hope of attaining their lofty meanings is considered a valuable and acceptable practice.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hussein|first=Moqiseh|year=1378|title=A Study on the Ziyaratnama of Fatima Masuma (AS)|journal=Farhang-e Kowsar|issue=25|pages=54–58}}</ref>

== Explanation of the Ziyaratnama ==
Many sections of the Ziyaratnama of Hazrat Masuma (SA) have been explained and interpreted. Many parts of this Ziyarat contain profound concepts and have attracted the attention of researchers and scholars.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hussein|first=Moqiseh|year=1378|title=A Study on the Ziyaratnama of Fatima Masuma (AS)|journal=Farhang-e Kowsar|issue=25|pages=54–58}}</ref> In the initial part of this Ziyaratnama, where the fourteen infallibles are addressed and greeted directly, commentators have noted that it is as if the infallible Imams (AS) are present in the shrine of Hazrat Masuma (SA).<ref>{{Cite book|title=Adab va Ahkam-e Ziyarat|year=1389|author=Group of Authors|publisher=Defter-e Nashr-e Ma'arif|page=69|language=Persian|location=Qom}}</ref>

In the Ziyaratnama of Hazrat Masuma (SA), which Allama Majlisi has narrated in *Bihar al-Anwar*, the phrase "يَا فَاطِمَةُ اشْفَعِي لِي فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَإِنَّ لَكِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ شَأْنًا مِنَ الشَّأْنِ؛ O Fatima, intercede for me in Paradise, for indeed you have a high status with Allah" is mentioned. The great scholars of Shiism, in explaining the status of Hazrat Masuma's intercession, believe that the scope of a person's intercession corresponds to their rank and status; the higher the rank of the individual, the broader their intercession. From the narration of Imam Sadiq (AS), who said, "My Shi'a will enter Paradise through her intercession," it can be understood that the status of Hazrat Fatima Masuma (SA) is very lofty and akin to infallibility, a status that is the result of her profound knowledge and piety.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Abbas|first=Azad|year=1397|title=Ziyarat-e Arefaneh; Recommendations of Scholars on the Ziyarat of Hazrat Masuma (SA)|journal=Moballeghan|issue=234}}</ref>
==References==
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