Crying of the Angels on Ĥusain ibn ‘Ali عليه السلام

16. Muḥammad ibn ‘Abdillāh ibn Ja’far Al-Ḥimyari narrated to me from his father, from ‘Ali ibn Muḥammad ibn Sālim, from Muḥammad ibn Khālid, from ‘Abdillāh ibn Ḥammād Al-Basri, from ‘Abdillāh ibn ‘Abdil Raḥmān Al-Asam, from Haytham ibn Wāqid, from (‘Abdil Malik ibn) Muqarrin, who said: Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq عليه السلام) said: When you go to the Ziyārah of Abī ‘Abdillāh (Imam Ḥusain عليه السلام), maintain silence except when (you are) saying that which is good. Verily the angels of the night and of the day from among the Keepers go to the angels who are in ḤĀ`IR and shake hands with them. However, the angels of Ḥā`ir do not speak to them because they are crying so intensely. Therefore, the angels (among the Keepers) wait for them until midday or until sunrise and then they speak to them and ask them about some of the affairs of the heavens. The angels of Ḥā`ir abstain from speaking between these times (sunrise and midday) and their crying and supplicating does not diminish. Verily the Keepers do not distract the angels of Ḥā`ir between these two times. However the angels of Ḥā`ir become distracted when you (those who go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain عليه السلام) speak. I asked, “May I sacrifice myself for you! What do the angels ask each other and which group asks the other? Is it the Keepers who ask (the angels of Ḥā`ir) or is it the angels of Ḥā`ir who ask (the Keepers)?” Imam عليه السلام replied, “The angels of Ḥā`ir ask the Keepers because the angels of Ḥā`ir do not move from their place. However, the Keepers descend from the heavens and ascend back to them.” I asked, “What do the angels of Ḥā`ir ask the Keepers?” Imam عليه السلام replied: The Keepers pass by Ismā’īl, the Angel of Air, in their ascent (to the heavens) and sometimes they reach him at the same time when the Prophet, Fāťimah, Ḥasan and Ḥusain, and the (other) Imams عليه السلام, who have passed away, are there (with Ismā’īl). They (the Ahlul Bayt عليه السلام) ask the Keepers about some matters and about those of you (Zuwwār) who are present in Ḥā`ir. They (the Ahlul Bayt عليه السلام) say to the Keepers, “Give them (those who have gone to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain عليه السلام) glad tidings with your prayers.” The Keepers ask, “How should we give them glad tidings when they cannot hear us?” The Ahlul Bayt عليه السلام will reply, “Congratulate them and pray for them on our behalf. Verily these are our glad tidings to them. When they want to leave, surround them and rub your wings on them so that they can feel your presence. Verily we entrust them to He whose trust will never be lost.” Imam عليه السلام continued: If the Zuwwār of Ḥusain عليه السلام and the people knew the blessings of the Ziyārah of Ḥusain عليه السلام, they would have fought one another with swords and they would have sold their belongings to go to his Ziyārah. Verily when Fāťimah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم – who is accompanied by one thousand prophets, one thousand SIDDǏQ (truthful), one thousand martyrs, and one million from among the KARŪBIYYǏN who all support her by joining her in crying (over Ḥusain عليه السلام) – looks at those who go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain عليه السلام, she lets out a whoop in such a way that no angel remains in the heavens who does not cry, sympathizing with her cry. However, Fāťimah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم is not pacified until the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم goes to her and says, “O my daughter! You have made the inhabitants of the heavens cry and you have distracted them from glorifying and sanctifying (Allāh). Therefore, stop crying so that they can glorify (Allāh). ‘Verily Allāh accomplishes His purpose’ (65:3).” Verily, Fāťimah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم looks at those of you who are present at the grave of Ḥusain عليه السلام and she asks Allāh to shower you with all of the blessings. Imam عليه السلام continued, “Do not abstain from the Ziyārah of Ḥusain عليه السلام. Verily the blessings of going to his Ziyārah are much greater than that which can be counted.”