INTERCESSION OF IMAM REDA (AS), THE IMAM-E-ZAAMIN (Guarantor)

[Syed KamiL Abbas Jafri]

It is written in 'Dhillul Mateen' that Meer Mu'inuddin Ashraf who was one of the virtuous attendants of the shrine of Imam Reda (as) says that, "Once I dreamd that I was in the shrine of Imam Reda (as) and was coming out to perform ablution (Wudu). When I came near the mound of Ameer Ali Sher, I saw a group of people entering the shrine of Imam Reda (as). An eminent personality was leading them, and they all carried spades in their hands. As soon as they entered the shrine, the eminent personality pointed towards a particular grave and said, "Dig out the wretched fellow from his grave". Hearing his command they started digging the grave. I asked one of those men as to who that man was. He replied that, he is the Commander of the faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib. Suddenly I saw that Imam Reda (as) came out of his shrine and greeted the Commander of the faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib. The Commander of the faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib answered His greeting. Imam Reda (as) said, "O my Respected Grandfather! I request you, and have faith, that you will forgive this person on my behalf who lies buried here under the shelter of my shrine". The Commander of the faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib answered, "O my dear son! Do you know that he was a mischief-creator, an adulterer, and a drunkard"? Imam Reda (as) replied, "I do know, but when his last moment neared he willed to be buried under the shelter of my shrine, so I request you to forgive him on my behalf." The Commander of the faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib forgave him and left. I awoke from my sleep in awe and woke up the other attendants and related to them my dream. We all went to the place which I had seen in my dream, and found a newly constructed grave, whose mud was scattered. After inquiry we learnt that a Turkish man who had died was buried there the day before".

Intercession of Imam Reda (as), The Imam-e-Zaamin (Guarantor)Haji Ali Baghdadi had the honour of meeting Imam Mahdi (as) and ask him some questions. One of the questions put forward by him was that, "Is it true that a person who goes for the pilgrimage (Ziyarah) to the shrine of Imam Hussain (as) on Friday night receives salvation"? Imam Mahdi (as) replied, "Yes, by Allah". Haji Ali Baghdadi says that I saw tears in the eyes of Imam Mahdi (as). Then I asked him another question, "In the year 1269 A.H. when we went for the pilgrimage (Ziyarah) to the shrine of Imam Reda (as), we met a nomadic Arab who was a native of Najaf. We invited him for a meal and asked him his views regarding the reward of the love of Imam Reda (as). He replied, "Paradise", and said, "Since the past fifteen days I have been the ZAIR (pilgrim) of Imam Reda (as), do Munkar and Nakir have the nerve to come near me. The food which I consumed from the table of Imam Reda (as) has turned into flesh and blood". I asked Imam Mahdi (as) whether his claim was true. Imam Reda (as) replied, "Yes it is true. Imam Reda (as) himself will come and save him for the questioning in the grave. For verily by Allah! My Grandfather is a Zaamin (Guarantor) Imam".

(Manazile Akherah by Shaykh Abbas bin Muhammad Reza Al-Qummi, pp. 62-64.)