By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz

 

“Peace unto you O’ whose “Ziyarah” (visitation to the shrine) has the reward of the “Ziyarah” of the Chief of Martyrs (Imam Husain [AS]).”

We are celebrating the birthday today of the prime saint of Tehran, visitation to whose shrine in the ancient town of Rayy (now a southern suburb of the Iranian capital), or salutation to his noble soul, has the reward of pilgrimage to Karbala and salutation at the shrine of Prophet Muhammad’s (SAWA) younger grandson, Imam Husain (AS).

This is proved by a famous saying of the Prophet’s 10th Infallible Heir, Imam Ali an-Naqi al-Hadi (AS), who is quoted as saying to a person who dodged the spies of the usurper Abbasid regime to visit him in Samarra from Iran.

famous Iranian scholar Shaikh Sadouq who a thousand years ago compiled a book titled “Jame’ Akhbar Abd al-Azeem” has mentioned this fact. 

Born in the Prophet’s city, Medina, in 173 AH (789 AD) and named Abdul-Azeem, he was fifth in descent from Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (AS) the Prophet’s elder grandson and second Infallible Successor. His kunya or agnomen is “Abu’l-Qasim”.

He mastered the sciences of the day and grew up into a leading scholar, transmitter of his ancestor the Prophet’s hadith, and compiler of the sermons of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS).

As a matter of fact, his book in this regard titled “Khutab Amir al-Momineen” precedes by a hundred and fifty years the similar but famous book “Nahj al-Balagha” (Highway of Eloquence) compiled by Seyyed Radhi of Baghdad who has included in his work many of the sermons narrated by Seyyed Abdul-Azeem.

Seyyed Abdul-Azeem who as a child had apparently seen the Prophet’s 7th Infallible Heir, Imam Musa al-Kazem (AS), and during youth learned from the latter’s son and successor, Imam Ali Reza (AS), was a devout disciple of the 9th and 10th Heirs of the Prophet – the Imam Muhammad at=Taqi al-Jawad (AS) and Imam Ali an-Naqi al-Hadi (AS).

The Infallible Imams appreciated the scholarly characteristics of Abdul- Azeem. For example, Imam Hadi (AS) at times referred those who came to him with queries to find answers and solutions to their problems from Seyyed Abdul-Azeem.

Many of the prominent ulema of his times have hailed him as a devout worshipper, an erudite scholar, and a reliable personality endowed with clear beliefs and an illuminated heart.

The reason Seyyed Abdul-Azeem had to leave his hometown Medina, visit Iraq to be near the Infallible Imams during their exile, and finally come to distant Rayy in Iran, was because of the political and social conditions of that era. 

The Abbasid caliphs were bitter enemies of the followers of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt, especially the tyrant Mutawakkel who forced Imam Hadi (AS) to come to Samarra, banned pilgrimages to the holy shrines, and sacrilegiously demolished the blessed mausoleum of Imam Husain (AS).

Seyyed Abdul-Azeem was on the wanted list of the cruel regime, whose attempts to assassinate him failed.

With his firm faith and correct beliefs certified by the 9th and 10th Infallible Imams, he found his mission to spread the teachings of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt in Iran, and after evading the spies of the regime, arrived in Rayy.

Rayy was an important Muslim city, known for its vibrant culture, and endowed with a fertile land – coveted by the enemies of the Prophet’s progeny.

Nonetheless, Seyyed Abdul-Azeem successfully carried out his mission and passed away peacefully at the age of 77 years. 

He was laid to rest in a garden endowed by one of the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt near the grave of Hadhrat Hamza, a son of the 7th Imam.

Known popularly as “Shah” Abdul-Azeem, his shrine is an important cultural-religious centre, thronged by millions of pilgrims throughout the year as the Prime Saint of Tehran.

“Peace unto you O’ Abu’l-Qasim, the offspring of the (Prophet’s) Noble Grandson al-Mujtaba (Imam Hasan (AS).