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Salaam all, I would like to travel to Iran from the US for pilgrimage and possibly tourism independently (not in a group but just a few family members) . I am getting conflicting information about the process. My understanding is I need someone (travel agent) in Iran to get approval for my family and me. Then I send that information to Washington. Is that correct? Can anyone provide assistance? Was salaam

Salam I will go to Ziarat of Karbala & other holy site about a week from this Thursday please forgive me

Salaam, I am planning a trip for this summer after I graduate; I want to go to sites that are holy to Shia. I plan to go to Tehran first, then to the Shrine of Imam Reza, followed by visiting Qom. I do wish to visit Iraq next, as the southern area of the country where Kerbalah and Najaf are, is generally safe. I would like to end my trip in Medina to visit the shrine of Imam Hassan. I would eventually like to go to Damascus, but unfortunately the turmoil in Syria is far too much at this moment, so that will be for another trip. Thoughts and advice? Did I leave anything out? (US Citizen btw)

Salam, Read and share this article http://www.aimislam.com/reflections-arbaeen-pilgrimage-biggest-mourning-procession/

Eight, the ziyarat of Arba`een i.e. Safar 20th: In his books Tahdhib al-Ahkam and Misbah al-Mutahajjid, Shaykh Tusi has quoted from Imam `Askari (`a) that he had said that a believer's qualities were five: a. Saying 51 rak`ats of prayer every day and night; that is, seventeen obligatory rak`ats and thirty four recommended rak`ats . Reciting the ziyarat of Arba`een c. Wearing ring in the right hand d. Putting one's forehead on earth while observing prostration (sujoud e. Saying "In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful (bismillah al-rahman al-raheem) with raised voice. The manner of the ziyarat of Imam Husayn (`a) on this day has been related in two ways: First, the ziyayat cited in Tahdhib al-Ahkam and Misbah al-Mutahajjid from Safwan al-Jammal: Safwan said that regarding the ziyarat of Arba`een his master, Imam Sadiq (`a) had told him, "Perform the ziyarat in the middle hour of the forenoon reciting:" السَّلاَمُ عَلَى وَلِيِّ اللَّهِ وَ حَبِيبِهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَى خَلِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ نَجِيبِهِ Peace be on the favourite of Allah, His dearest darling!Peace be on the beloved friend of Allah, His distinguished hero! السَّلاَمُ عَلَى صَفِيِّ اللَّهِ وَ ابْنِ صَفِيِّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَى الْحُسَيْنِ الْمَظْلُومِ الشَّهِيدِ Peace be on the choicest confidant of Allah, sincerely attached precisely like his father! Peace be on Husayn, who established the true faith by giving his life in the way of Allah, a martyr, underwent untold hardships at the hand of rouges and lawbreakers! السَّلاَمُ عَلَى أَسِيرِ الْكُرُبَاتِ وَ قَتِيلِ الْعَبَرَاتِ Peace be on the hostage surrounded by the tightening circle of sorrow and grief, killed by a horde of savages. اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُ وَلِيُّكَ وَ ابْنُ وَلِيِّكَ وَ صَفِيُّكَ وَ ابْنُ صَفِيِّكَ الْفَائِزُ بِكَرَامَتِكَ O my Allah I give witness that beyond a shadow of doubt he is Thy favourite and choicest confidant, who enjoys Thy confidence and favour, precisely like his father! أَكْرَمْتَهُ بِالشَّهَادَةِ وَ حَبَوْتَهُ بِالسَّعَادَةِ وَ اجْتَبَيْتَهُ بِطِيبِ الْوِلاَدَةِ Thou looked upto him and elected him in Thy cause, picked and chose him for the good fortune, selected for him the best purified parents, وَ جَعَلْتَهُ سَيِّداً مِنَ السَّادَةِ وَ قَائِداً مِنَ الْقَادَةِ وَ ذَائِداً مِنَ الذَّادَةِ وَ أَعْطَيْتَهُ مَوَارِيثَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ appointed him guardian, leader, and defender of rights, a true representative (inheritor and progenitor) of guardians, leaders and defenders of rights, gave him much and more from the inheritance of the Prophets, وَ جَعَلْتَهُ حُجَّةً عَلَى خَلْقِكَ مِنَ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ فَأَعْذَرَ فِي الدُّعَاءِ وَ مَنَحَ النُّصْحَ put him forward as a decisive argument, alongwith the other successors (of the Holy Prophet-the twelve Imaams) to the mankind. He met with deadly dangers, acted justly and fairly, made use of everything belonging to him to pay full attention to give sincere advice; وَ بَذَلَ مُهْجَتَهُ فِيكَ لِيَسْتَنْقِذَ عِبَادَكَ مِنَ الْجَهَالَةِ وَ حَيْرَةِ الضَّلاَلَةِ took pains, made every effort, and put his heart, mind, soul and life at the disposal of Thy mission to liberate the people from the yoke of ignorance and evil of bewilderment, وَ قَدْ تَوَازَرَ عَلَيْهِ مَنْ غَرَّتْهُ الدُّنْيَا وَ بَاعَ حَظَّهُ بِالْأَرْذَلِ الْأَدْنَى وَ شَرَى آخِرَتَهُ بِالثَّمَنِ الْأَوْكَسِ but an evildoer, deceived withempty hopes of mean andworthless worldly gains, had pressed heavily on him, and sold out his share (eternal bliss) for the meanest and lowest bargain, betrayed his "day of judgement" for a vulgar return, وَ تَغَطْرَسَ وَ تَرَدَّى فِي هَوَاهُ وَ أَسْخَطَكَ وَ أَسْخَطَ نَبِيَّكَ took pride in insolence, fell into the fathomwell of silly stupid follies, provoked Thee and Thy Prophet to anger, وَ أَطَاعَ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ أَهْلَ الشِّقَاقِ وَ النِّفَاقِ وَ حَمَلَةَ الْأَوْزَارِ الْمُسْتَوْجِبِينَ النَّارَ (لِلنَّارِ) did as the harsh discordant, the hypocrite, the heavily burdened bearers of sin, condemned to Hellfire, advised to him, فَجَاهَدَهُمْ فِيكَ صَابِراً مُحْتَسِباً حَتَّى سُفِكَ فِي طَاعَتِكَ دَمُهُ وَ اسْتُبِيحَ حَرِيمُهُ however, he (the Holy Imam), steadily, rightly and justly coped with them, till, in Thy obedience, gave his life after which his family was set adrift. اللَّهُمَّ فَالْعَنْهُمْ لَعْناً وَبِيلاً وَ عَذِّبْهُمْ عَذَاباً أَلِيماً O my Allah, therefore, condemn them to hell as a denunciation and conviction; and crack down on them with a painful punishment. السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ سَيِّدِ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ Peace be on you O the son of the Messenger of Allah! Peace be on you O the son of the first of the successors (of the Holy Prophet)! أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ أَمِينُ اللَّهِ وَ ابْنُ أَمِينِهِ عِشْتَ سَعِيداً وَ مَضَيْتَ حَمِيداً وَ مُتَّ فَقِيداً مَظْلُوماً شَهِيداً I bear witness that Allah put faith in you like He had full confidence in your father, and that you always looked for and collected good and virtue, lived a highly praiseworthy life, and departed from this world a martyr, forsaken and abused; وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ مُنْجِزٌ مَا وَعَدَكَ وَ مُهْلِكٌ مَنْ خَذَلَكَ وَ مُعَذِّبٌ مَنْ قَتَلَكَ I bear witness that Allah will promptly fulfil the promise He made to you, and destroy those who left you helpless and punish those who killed you; وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ وَفَيْتَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَ جَاهَدْتَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ حَتَّى أَتَاكَ الْيَقِينُ I bear witness that you kept your promise made with Allah, and strived in His way till what was certain came upon you, فَلَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَكَ وَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ ظَلَمَكَ وَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ أُمَّةً سَمِعَتْ بِذَلِكَ فَرَضِيَتْ بِهِ so curse of Allah be on those who killed you, curse of Allah be on those who oppressed you, curse of Allah be on the people who came to know and approved (of it all). اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُشْهِدُكَ أَنِّي وَلِيٌّ لِمَنْ وَالاَهُ وَ عَدُوٌّ لِمَنْ عَادَاهُ O my Allah be my witness that I make friends with those who love him and oppose those who deny him. بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَ أُمِّي يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ كُنْتَ نُوراً فِي الْأَصْلاَبِ الشَّامِخَةِ وَ الْأَرْحَامِ الْمُطَهَّرَةِ (الطَّاهِرَةِ) I, my father and mother, are at your disposal O the son of the Messenger of Allah. I know and bear witness that you were "light" in the sublime loins and in the pure wombs, لَمْ تُنَجِّسْكَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةُ بِأَنْجَاسِهَا وَ لَمْ تُلْبِسْكَ الْمُدْلَهِمَّاتُ مِنْ ثِيَابِهَا never touched you the dirt of ignorance, nor ever obscurity concealed you in its folds; وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ مِنْ دَعَائِمِ الدِّينِ وَ أَرْكَانِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ مَعْقِلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ I bear witness that you are the pillar of "Deen", support of the Muslims, refuge of the faithfuls; وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ الْإِمَامُ الْبَرُّ التَّقِيُّ الرَّضِيُّ الزَّكِيُّ الْهَادِي الْمَهْدِيُ I bear witness that you are a truthful, well-aware, content, intelligent, rightly guided guide (Imam); وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ الْأَئِمَّةَ مِنْ وُلْدِكَ كَلِمَةُ التَّقْوَى وَ أَعْلاَمُ الْهُدَى وَ الْعُرْوَةُ الْوُثْقَى وَ الْحُجَّةُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا I bear witness that the Imams among your descendants are the symbols of "conscious piety" and signs of "true guidance", the "safe handle"-Islam, and the decisive arguments over mankind; وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنِّي بِكُمْ مُؤْمِنٌ وَ بِإِيَابِكُمْ مُوقِنٌ بِشَرَائِعِ دِينِي وَ خَوَاتِيمِ عَمَلِي I declare positively that I have full faith in you, and I know for certain that you shall return. I am, fully committed to the laws of my religion, certainof my deeds, وَ قَلْبِي لِقَلْبِكُمْ سِلْمٌ وَ أَمْرِي لِأَمْرِكُمْ مُتَّبِعٌ وَ نُصْرَتِي لَكُمْ مُعَدَّةٌ حَتَّى يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ my mind and heart ready for your return, and my affairs carried out in the light of your instructions, till Allah gives you permission, فَمَعَكُمْ مَعَكُمْ لاَ مَعَ عَدُوِّكُمْ together with you, along with you, not at the same time with your enemies. صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ عَلَى أَرْوَاحِكُمْ وَ أَجْسَادِكُمْ (أَجْسَامِكُمْ) Blessings of Allah be on you, on your souls, on your bodies, وَ شَاهِدِكُمْ وَ غَائِبِكُمْ وَ ظَاهِرِكُمْ وَ بَاطِنِكُمْ آمِينَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ when you are visible, when you are invisible, on your percievable aspects, on your innermost genius, be it so, O Lord of the worlds! Then say two rak`ats of prayer, and pray for what you wish, after that go back.

Salam to All, With the grace of Allah, he has listened to my calls and I would be leaving for Karbala on 14 November. Its been 10+ years since I went to Karbala in my childhood. Can you answer my following queries? 1. I got to know that as a Pakistani, Iraqi food is little smelly and is not suitable for Pakistanis. Can you recommend any nearest shop to bainul harmain where I could buy food? 2. Are there any rare sites you would want me to witness near to bainul harmain? 3. What would you suggest me in the pre-chelum and post-chehlum days? Any suggestions, recommendations? 4. I want to visit the nearest checkpost to meet Iraqi army and possibly Hezbollah warriors there? Can I visit any checkpost near to bainul harmain and take some photographs? 5. I would be walking from Najaf to Karbala? What Would you recommend me for safety, tricks, tips etc? 6. Are there any maps, guides, apps for my visit? Thank you so much.

Salam All, I have often heard that one only visits the holy Shrines(Specifically of the Masoom/infallibles from which Imam Hussain) only if you get invited by them and it is not possible to visit otherwise no matter how hard you try, I have come across wealthy & resourceful individuals who wish to visit yet face an obstacle every time they want to do so and have also come across poor individuals who have no resources and yet somehow get to visit on atleast a yearly basis, bearing this in mind while being blessed with the opportunity of being able to visit these holy shrines, I have there come across people from around the world who I know from personal experience are not of a very good character to say the least(although I feel it could be that only one act from any human could be sufficient to please and we do not have the capacity to truly judge someone as we are not fully aware of their circumstances and should never judge a person), Just wanted to know if any of this is backed by any references from scholars or the hadith.

Salaam brothers and sisters, As you are all aware, this past Hajj season presented us with tragedies resulting in the loss of loved ones, including Mohsen Haji Hassani Kargar (a 27-year old world-renown Quran reciter--see pic below). The following clips are presented by Aliakbar Raefipoor*,and breaks down the Tragedy: Why & How it happened?Players involved?How Ale Saud (Saudi dynasty) got away? 1) Makkah Crane Crash: 2) Mina Tragedy: We need to be educated on why these events happened--they didn't happen by chance. *Aliakbar Raefipoor is one of the most acclaimed and strongest speakers on religious and social issues in Iran--he gets to the core of matters in a way that's unprecedented. I request everyone to subscribe to the "Aliakbar Raefipoor English" channel Please encourage others to also subscribe. ((((Salawat and Fatiha))))for all victims. In Memory Haji Hasani:

Thought of the day … How Architects Are Killing Arabs … & They Keep Buying >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8O6Lj1eOZY Agree?

Salaamu 'Alaikum, I made a video in regards to this previous Arba'een mashi (walk) from Najaf al-Ashraf to Karbala al-Muqadissah. It is unedited just a collection of videos during my walk, also I didn't have an expensive camera, so the quality may not be that great. Nonetheless, this is a video of my experiences which I would like to share with you all. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xwvcrv_arbaeen-2013-mashi_travel#.USwiW9SdY-h -Agha Shabbir Abbas