From A Grieving Heart!

As soon as the preacher went up to the pulpit, the Ummah started to lament and weep – There was a presence of tremendous grief and sorrow. They all knew what was coming and the tragic events of Kerbala that were going to be revealed in minute detail.. The plight of the beloved Imam, his loneliness, his being away from his home, his parting from his family, his having lost everything he had, his thirst and his hunger, his grief and his broken heart all was going to be revealed at this moment – The hearts sunk at the bewilderment at the state of endurance of  this one person on a mission – A mission to uphold the truth and fight against injustice and tyranny – A fight against power and authority –.

The preacher started to summarize firstly, all that happened on this day – Significantly he talked about Hur’s round turn and the great pardon followed by his martyrdom – All Hur needed was a process of thinking what he was doing and that was it – He died a hero.

Alas, how many a times we know we did a wrong thing and we fail to make that small turnabout and put matters back in order and become heroes ourselves by submitting to that small acceptance of fault.

The preacher then said that it had taken three days for Umr Ibn Saa’d to take up his stand against the beloved Imam and he did that because of an opportunity to get his hands upon a kingdom and governorship of a place called Ra’i. Alas how many times do we submit to the wrong just to gain a small importance and an opportunity to ‘be someone’ in the authority. By the way Umr ibn Saad never got what he thrived for in the end. How could he? Divine justice is supreme.

He talked about so many relevant and substantially relevant episodes to be reflected upon and we went on weeping and lamenting – and then we made a significant statement – Had I been there, Oh our beloved Imam, we would have been with you and we would have laid down our lives for you – All the while, inside us we knew even today we cannot really uphold justice and fairness. Even today we let go of simple, evident principles for small gains, we slander, we backbite and we deceive – and we gain temporary victories exactly the way it happened in Kerbala, on this day of Ashura.

The desert calm vibrated with the voices of the ‘wrong’ proclaiming Allaho Akber while the family of the prophet sat on the warm sands of the desert shelter less and lonely – The bodies of the ‘rights’ lying in appalling condition some without their heads on them – The ‘wrongs’ were buried, the ‘rights’ lay unshrouded and unburied – What kind of Allaho Akber chants were these ? And yet, they thought they were holy and had carried out a holy duty –

So what was it all ? Wasn’t that a fight of justice against injustice ? We lamented not knowing what it was, really. We lamented the episode – We did not lament the flouting of the principles by the army opposing justice. But we wept, nevertheless, and we wept so that we be counted amongst the followers and supporters of this great Imam –

For the first time, I lamented because even after 1400 years I had failed to ‘see’ – I was glad I was not born then, for I am not sure where I would have been – I have not been a HUR even today, and for most of the time I think like gaining something out of situations by deception, lying and manipulation of the weak. Yes, I wept – Perhaps the opportunity had come for me to make a HUR turnabout or be condemned to live with injustice. I knew I could only really lament the Imam’s plight if I were sincere in my daily life and uphold values and principles – failure to do that, I now know, would just dismiss this Ashura as any other that went by in my life so far..

And the preacher summed up – he said ‘ even if you did not belong to any religion, to uphold the principles of justice and fairness is built-in by the creator in you – and, if you follow the religion of Hussain then to flout these principles cannot simply ‘fit in’ – How would you do such a thing , and to make it worse keep on lamenting? What are you grieving about?

Value of drop of tear on Imam Hussain (as)

One day Sheikh Bahjat (ra) talked about the generosity of the Imams (as) saying: ‘In Iraq, there is a small town near the place where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet called al-Musayyab. A Shia man used to pass by this town from time to time whenever he went to perform the Ziyarat of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (as) in Najaf. A Sunni man, too, was residing in this same town.

 

The latter quite often used to make fun of the Shia man whenever he saw him going to visit the shrine of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (as), so much so that he dared once to speak ill of the Holy Imam (as).

The Shia was very angry and he complained about this matter to the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (as) during one of his visits. During that night, he saw the Imam (as) in his vision and once more complained to him about this matter.

 

Imam Ali (as) said, ‘He [the Sunni man] has done us a favour, and we cannot punish him in the life of this world no matter what sins he commits.’

 

The Shia asked, ‘What favour is it? Did he do you a favour when he dared to speak ill of you?’

 

The Imam (as) said, ‘No, but he was sitting one day at the meeting place of both rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, and he was looking at the Euphrates. He remembered the story of Karbala and the thirst of Imam al-Husain (as), so he said this to himself: ‘Omer ibn Sa’d was wrong when he killed Imam Hussein (as) and his followers as they were thirsty, and it was better for him to give them water before killing them.’

 

A tear trickled down his eyes out of grief for Abu Abdullah Al-Hussein (as); therefore, it became mandatory on us never to punish him in this life.’

 

The Shia says, I woke up from my sleep and returned to al-Musayyab and met the Sunni man on the road. He said to me in ridicule: ‘Did you visit your Imam, and did you convey our message to him?!’

I said, ‘Yes, I conveyed your message to him, and I carry his message to you.’

 

The man laughed and said. ‘What is this message which you carry to me?’

 

He narrated to him the incident from beginning to end. The Sunni man lowered his head to the ground and kept thinking: ‘O Lord! Nobody at that moment was near me, and I did not talk about this incident to anyone; so, how did Imam Ali (as) become familiar with it?’

 

Then he said, ‘I testify that there is no God save Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and that Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, is a friend of Allah and the Wasi of the Messenger of Allah.’

 

From the book: “ Uswat Al-Aarifeen A Look at the Life of Ayatullah Bahjat” under the chapter: Tales Narrated by Grand Ayatullah Sheikh Bahjat, title: Clemency and Generosity of the Imams (as)

Azadari pictures from Syria on the occasion of Arba'een of Imam Hussain (AS) at the shrine of Syeda Zainab (SA). Click the picture to view.

Why Arba'een?

Significance of Arba'een and the Performance of the Ziyarat of Arba'een

Why is so much importance given to the performance of the Ziyarat of Arba’een and the observance of Arba’een (40 days of mourning)?

Ziyarat, as we all know is a visitation, which in essence, is the act of speaking with and visiting our role models.  Of course the physical manifestation of the ziyarat is actually being present in Kerbala to perform the Ziyarat of Arba’een, but, in reality, that is not possible for every believer.  So does making ziyarat while not in Kerbala give one the same benefits?  Ahadith tell us that performing the Ziyarat of Imam Hussain (a.s.) far from Kerbala would hold the same significance as being in the land of Kerbala, as long as the person performing the Ziyarat has truly understood the status of the Imam and seeks to emulate him.

Imam Muhamed al-Baqir (a.s.) states that the heavens wept over Imam Hussain (a.s.) for forty mornings, rising red and setting red.  As we complete 40 days of remembrance of our Imam, we re-assert our pledge of obedience and loyalty to him,

“I bear witness that you are the Imam (who is) the upright, the pious, well-pleased (with Allah), the pure, the guide and the rightly-guided.
I bear witness that you fulfilled the pledge of Allah and you struggled in His way…I am a friend of whoever befriends him ...”

By performing the Ziyarat of Arba’een, we pledge that we will continue to follow the path of justice and righteousness and will reject injustice and speak up against the oppressors of the time,

I am an enemy of whoever is his enemy

In essence, we make a promise to continue to mold our lives according to the teaching of Imam Hussain (a.s.). 

But why is it that we mourn and remember Imam Hussain (a.s.) for a period of forty days and then move on? 

Our Prophet has said, “The earth mourns the death of a believer for forty mornings.”   Therefore it appears that the deceased should be remembered and mourned over for a period of forty days.  Performing an act for a continuous period of forty days is also known to help one to not just form a habit, but also to carry on the practice for the rest of his life. 

If we look at studies dealing with bringing a lifestyle change, we notice the time period emphasized to bring about a change is usually 6 weeks which is about the same time period as 40 days (to be exact it is 42 days).

In the book 40 Days to Personal Revolution: A Breakthrough Program to Radically Change Your Body and Awaken the Sacred Within Your Soul, the author Baron Baptiste explains the significance of forty days:

Why forty days? Because the number 40 holds tremendous spiritual significance in the realm of transformation. Jesus wandered in the desert for forty days in order to experience purification and come to a greater understanding of himself and his mission. Moses and his people traveled through the desert for forty years before arriving at their home in the holy land. Noah preserved the sacredness of life by sailing his ark for forty days and forty nights. According to the Kabbalah, the ancient Jewish mystical text, it takes forty days to ingrain any new way of being into our system….

Reciting particular duas for a period of 40 days is highly recommended in our practices as well. 
The unit 40 (forty) is said to be very effective. If a particular Duaa is recited 40 times, or 40 people gather to recite it, or it is recited for 40 days then its effectiveness is highly increased. (Duas.org)

It is reported from Imam Ja'fer Sadiq (a.s.) that whoever recites Dua-e-Ahad for forty days, after morning prayers will be amongst the helpers of the 12th Imam (a). Visitation of the shrine of Imam Hussain (a.s.) as well as Masjid-e-Sahla for 40 consecutive Thursdays is also very highly recommended and is one of the acts that promises a visit from the 12th Imam (ajtf).

Thus, as we perform the Ziyarat of Arba’een and commemorate the Arba’een, 40 days of mourning of Imam Hussain (a.s.), we hope and pray that this forty days of remembrance of Imam Hussain (a.s.), brings about a transformation in us by which we can continue to follow the path of Imam Hussain (a.s.) and carry on his message of upholding justice with true faith and a strong sense of sacrifice!

Refs:
A’maal of Muharram and Safar (Tayyiba Publishers)
Kerbala and Beyond by Yasin T. Al-Jabouri
The Miracle of Ziyarat-e-Ashoora
Commentary on Ziyarat Ashura, translated by Saleem Bhimji from the work of Ali Asghar Azizi Tehrani
Kitab al-Irshad, translated by IKA Howard, authored by Sheikh Al-Mufeed

Sermon of Lady Zainab (PBUH)

A part of the sermon Lady Zainab (S.A) gave with utmost bravery in the gathering of Yazid in Syria is as follows:

“What you consider today as spoils of war will become ruins for you tomorrow and on that day you will find what you have sent from before. Allah does not oppress his servants. I express my complaint only to Allah and have trust in Him. You may therefore do any treachery that you have, make all your attempts, and try all you can. By Allah, you cannot remove us from the minds (of people), and you cannot fade our message. You will never reach our glory and can never wash the stain of this crime from your hands. Your decisions will not be stable, your period of ruling will be short, and your population will scatter. In that day, a voice will shout: “Indeed may the curse of Allah be upon the oppressors….”.

If They Sever our Legs and Hands, We shall Crawl to the Holy Lands!

Several years ago, I met an Australian man who had converted to Islam (and, specifically, to Shia Islam). He told me that, in 2003, he had been watching the news one evening and was astonished by scenes of two million Iraqis streaming towards the holy city of Karbala, chanting: "Hussein, Hussein." For the first time in three decades, in a globally televised event, the world had caught a glimpse of Shia Iraq from the inside.

With the Sunni Ba'athist regime of Saddam Hussein toppled, Australians, like everyone else, were eager to see how Shia Iraqis would respond to a new era of freedom. "Where is Karbala, and why is everyone heading in its direction?" he recalls asking himself. "Isn't Baghdad the capital of the country? Isn't that where all 'the action' is? Who is this Hussein who motivates these people?”.   They were the first in a long line of questions that eventually led him to relinquish his Roman Catholic faith and instead embrace Shia Islam.

What he witnessed in that single, 60-second television news report was especially moving because the imagery was unlike any he had seen before. There was something intense about the commotion. A fervent sense of connection turned human pilgrims into iron filings, automatically aligning with each other as they drew closer to what could only be described as Karbala's powerful magnetic field. It was more than intriguing; it was astonishing and inspiring.

Long Trek

In 2007, I travelled to Karbala, my own ancestral home, to find out for myself why such scenes are so captivating. What I witnessed proved to me that even the widest-angle camera lens is too narrow to capture the spirit of this tumultuous, annual Shia ritual.  Thousands upon thousands of men, women and children -- but mostly black-veiled women -- filled the eye from one end of the horizon to the other. The crowds were so huge that they caused a blockade for hundreds of miles. I had the privilege of being driven to Karbala in armored vehicles with a police escort throughout the nine-hour journey. But the road was overflowing with pilgrims on foot.

The 425-kilometre distance between the southern port city of Basra and Karbala is a long journey by any measure, and must be unimaginably arduous on foot. It takes pilgrims a full two weeks to complete the walk. Some push their parents in wheelchairs. People of all age groups trudge in the scorching heat of the sun during the day and in the bone-chilling cold at night.  They travel across rough terrain, down uneven roads, through terrorist strongholds and dangerous marshlands. Without even the most basic amenities or any travel gear, the pilgrims carry little besides their burning love for "The Master" -- their Imam, Hussein. Flags and banners remind them, and the world, of the purpose of their journey.  One banner I saw on my journey read:

O self, you are worthless after Hussein.
My life and death are one and the same,
So be it if you call me insane!

The message recalled words said to have been uttered by Abbas, Hussein's half-brother, who was also killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 A.D. while trying to fetch water for his thirst-stricken nieces and nephews. 

Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is adored by all Shias. Millions of Sunnis also revere him, as Sayyid ash Shuhada, the "prince of martyrs". He was killed in Karbala on Ashura, the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram, having refused to pledge allegiance to the corrupt and tyrannical Ummayad caliph, Yazid.

He and his family and friends were isolated in the desert, starved of food and water and then beheaded. Their bodies were mutilated. In the words of the English historian Edward Gibbon: "In a distant age and climate, the tragic scene of the death of Hussein will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader."  Shias have since mourned the death of Hussein each year, in particular on the days of Ashura and Arba'een. The latter is the Shia holy day of religious observation that occurs 40 days after the day of Ashura. Forty days is the usual length of mourning in many Muslim (and Middle Eastern) cultures. This year, Arba'een falls on Friday 5 February.

Care and Devotion

The horrific bomb blasts of late January and early February in Baghdad and Karbala, which killed dozens and wounded hundreds, illustrate the dangers facing Shias living in Iraq, and the insecurity that continues to plague parts of the country after the war. So it is striking to see so many people -- young and old, Iraqis and foreigners -- making the dangerous journey to Karbala.  And it is far from easy to understand what inspires these people. On my own trip, I saw a woman carrying two children in her arms, old men in wheelchairs, a man on crutches, a blind boy holding a walking stick.  I met a 46-year-old man who had travelled all the way from Basra with his disabled son. The 12-year-old had cerebral palsy and could not walk unassisted. For most of the trip, the father put the boy's feet on top of his own and held him by the armpits as they walked. It is the kind of story out of which Oscar-winning films are made, but no Hollywood director or screenwriter dares venture into Iraq these days.

One image that never failed to grab my attention was the sight of thousands of tents, with makeshift kitchens and medical clinics set up by the local villagers who live around the pilgrims' path. The tents (called mawkeb, or "caravan") are the only places where pilgrims can find a space to rest from the exhausting journey.  More surprising were the people asking pilgrims to join them for food and drink. They intercept the pilgrims' paths to invite them, plead with them and eventually prevail on them to take a short break by the side of the road, without asking for payment. They would say: "Please honour us with your presence. Our masters, bless us by accepting our offerings."

Entire towns in Iraq seemed to shut down as millions converged on the holy city. One local tribal leader -- who, in keeping with Iraqi tribal traditions, bows to no one and is treated by his followers as a king -- was standing on the road, calling out through a loudspeaker: "Welcome, o pilgrims of Hussein. I'll kiss the soles of your shoes. May I be sacrificed for you!"

Sacrifice for Truth

Just looking at the crowds leaves you breathless. What adds to the peculiarity of the phenomenon is that, as the security conditions get worse, even more people are motivated, it seems, to challenge the terrorist threats and march in defiance to Karbala.  When, days before Arba'een, a female suicide bomber blew herself up after inviting pilgrims to eat in her tent in Alexandria, 45 kilometres south of Baghdad, the crowds turned out in even greater numbers. They chanted in unison:

If they sever our legs and hands,
We shall crawl to the Holy Lands.

And it is not just peasants who take part in this multimillion-man march. There are doctors, engineers, teachers, academics, as well as wealthy entrepreneurs and leading politicians, all of whom participate in what is today one of the biggest annual mass demonstrations in the world. They journey from all over the globe -- Iran, India, Pakistan, Britain, Canada, the United States.  This year, the total number of pilgrims visiting Karbala for Arba'een is officially estimated to have reached ten million. Some say that as security improves in Iraq the figure may one day top 20 million.

Seeing the crowds and joining the procession of pilgrims, I was reminded of the questions that my Australian friend had asked himself when he witnessed the Arba'een procession of 2003: "Who is Hussein? And how does he continue to inspire so many people, over 13 centuries after his martyrdom?"  For Shias, Hussein is the ultimate moral exemplar: a man who refused to bow in the face of tyranny and despotism. Shias see his martyrdom as the greatest victory of good over evil, right over wrong, truth over falsehood. In the words of the Urdu poet Muhammad Iqbal: "Imam Hussein uprooted despotism for ever till the Day of Resurrection. He watered the dry garden of freedom with the surging wave of his blood, and indeed he awakened the sleeping Muslim nation . . . Hussein weltered in blood and dust for the sake of truth."

Holy of Holies

But why would all these people walk for hundreds of miles to remember a painful event that took place over 13 centuries ago? Visitors to the shrine of Hussein and his brother Abbas in Karbala are not driven by emotion alone. They cry because they make a conscious decision to be reminded of the atrocious nature of the loss and, in doing so, they reaffirm their pledge to everything that is virtuous and holy.  The first thing that pilgrims do on facing his shrine is recite the Ziyara, a sacred text addressing Hussein with due respect for his status, position and lineage. In it, the Shia imams who followed him after the massacre in Karbala instruct their followers to begin the address by calling Hussein the "inheritor" and "heir" of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus.

There is something profound in making this proclamation. It shows that Hussein's message of truth and freedom is viewed as an inseparable extension of that list of divinely appointed prophets.  Pilgrims go to Karbala not to admire its physical beauty, or to shop, or to be entertained, or to visit ancient historical sites. They go there to cry. They go to mourn. They go to join the angels in their grief. They enter the sacred shrine weeping and lamenting.

It is as though every person has established a personal relationship with the Imam. They talk to him and call out his name; they grip the cage surrounding his tomb; they kiss the floor leading into the shrine; they touch its walls and doors in the way one touches the face of a long-lost friend. It is a picturesque vista, on epic proportions. What motivates these people is something that requires an understanding of the character and status of Imam Hussein and the spiritual relationship that Shias, and in particular Shia Iraqis, have developed with his living legend.

"Who is this Hussein"? For millions of Shia pilgrims, questions this profound, which can cause a man to relinquish his religion for another, can be answered only when you have marched to the shrine of Hussein for 14 days on foot. The verses of a Shia friend of mine sum it up:

The closer I get and when you I'll be seeing,
My emotions take control, with love I begin to shake.
I look at you now and my life has new meaning.
From you some painful beauty with me I must take.

O Karbala, I feel what you're feeling,
O land of loving sorrow, O land of heartbreak,
O land where my leader does rest,
Welcome me as a pilgrim, please make me your guest.

By Sayed Mahdi Al-Modaressi (A  Shia cleric and chief executive of Ahlulbayt Television Network)

Over 15 Million Shia Pilgrims Throng to Holy Karbala in Arabaeen / Photos

More than 15 million Shia pilgrims thronged the holy Iraqi city of Karbala on Tuesday for annual mourning rituals, with security forces keeping a tight watch following a spate of deadly attacks.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - More than 15 million Shia pilgrims thronged the holy Iraqi city of Karbala on Tuesday for annual mourning rituals, with security forces keeping a tight watch following a spate of deadly attacks.

Worshippers continued to pour into the city south of Baghdad for the climax of Arbaeen, mindful that dozens had been martyred in recent days as they made their way there on foot from across Iraq for the ceremonies.

Arbaeen marks 40 days after the Ashura anniversary commemorating the slaying of Imam Hussein (A.S) and his 72 faithful companions, by the armies of the Yazid (L.A) in 680 AD.

Throngs of mourners overflowed Hussein's shrine in Karbala and remorse at not defending him by beating their heads and chests.

Sad songs blared from loudspeakers throughout the city and black flags fluttered alongside pictures of Hussein and his half-brother Hadrat Abbas, both of whom are buried in the city.

Security forces were on alert throughout, following a triple car bombing on Monday killed at least 12 people.

Karbala governor Amal al-Deen al-Har said that over 15 million Shiite pilgrims had been through the city, 110 kilometres (70 miles) south of Baghdad, over the past two weeks.

Mohammad Sadiq al-Har, the head of the city's hospitalities guild, said Karbala's packed hotels and restaurants had catered to 11 million Iraqis and 50,000 pilgrims from 30 other countries.

Security for the pilgrims was paramount, said Muhammed al-Mussawi, head of the provincial council.

"The security plan is flexible and changeable according to the development in the security situation," he said.

"The number of security forces was increased after the latest attacks, and cars were prevented from entering Karbala city," he said.

Monday's car bombs targeted crowds of pilgrims gathering on the outskirts of the city to make the rest of the journey on foot. Another triple car bombing on Thursday killed 45 pilgrims.

"These attacks only strengthen our resolve to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein," said Mohammed Mohsen, a 40-year-old who came with a convoy of other volunteers with food and drinks to feed pilgrims as an act of devotion.

"These acts will not stop us from practising our religion," he said.

Brigadier General Nohman Dakhel Jawad, commander of Iraq's emergency response forces, said his officers had carried out multiple raids, arresting 32 suspects and uncovering a cache of weapons.

This year marks the first time Iraqi troops have been in sole charge of security for Ashura since 2003. While the Americans have not provided ground forces for it in several years, they have previously helped with surveillance and reconnaissance.

There are around 50,000 US troops still stationed in Iraq, but all of them must pull out of the country by the end of 2011, under the terms of a security pact.

Now-executed dictator Saddam Hussein's regime barred the vast majority of Ashura and Arbaeen commemorations throughout his rule until his overthrow in 2003.

Sakina (s.a) Day 2011 (Photos)

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Azakhan-e-Zehra (s.a), Hyderabad 2011

Azakhan-e-Zehra (s.a), Hyderabad 2011

Place of Majalis - as mentioned in Ahle Sunnah books

Holy Prophet Muhammad al Mustafā (S.A.W.W) said:

"Those in the skies shall look at the houses in which Allah (swt) is remembered and mentioned. To the angles, they shall appear bright and shining in the same way that the stars appear to those on the earth."

[Reference: Tafseer Durre Manthur Volume 1, page 151;  by Ahle Sunnah scholar Allamah Jalaludin Suyuti]

Importance of Majalis - as mentioned in Ahle Sunnah books

Holy Prophet Muhammad al Mustafā (S.A.W.W) said:

"Those who gather at a place in order to please Allah and do His (swt) Dhikr in their speeches, will be addressed by an orator from the skies, who shall proclaim that as soon as they leave that place, their sins shall be forgiven and their bad deeds shall be transformed into virtues."

[Reference: Tafseer Durre Manthur Volume 1, page 151;  by Ahle Sunnah scholar Allamah Jalaludin Suyuti]

6th Annual Sakina (s.a) Day

Reward of reciting a coupled regarding Imam Hussain (a.s), crying, making others cry or making a crying face

1. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (a.s) said, "O abu Haroon! Recite a couplet regarding Imam Hussain (a.s)." He recited a few lines. Imam said, "Recite them as they should be recited, i.e. recite them with grief." Then he recited: "When you pass by the grave of Hussain (a.s), say to his pure bones...". Imam cried a lot and said, "Continue reciting." He recited one more poem. Imam cried even more and wails were heard from behind the curtain also. When he finished reciting, Imam said, "O Abu Haroon! one who cried after reciting the poems of Imam Hussain (a.s) and makes ten people cry, Allah would make everyone enter paradise. One who cries after reciting the poem of of Imam Hussain (a.s) and makes five people cry, everyone would get paradise. One who recites the Poem of Imam Hussain (a.s) and makes a person cry, paradise would be made obligatory for both of them. If discussion of Imam Hussain (a.s) is held in front of a person and a tear equal to the wing of a fly comes out of his eyes, his reward is with the Almighty Allah and Allah wont be satisfied without giving him paradise."

2. Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s) told Abu Umara, "Recite a poem regarding Imam Hussain (a.s)." He recited the poem and Imam (a.s) cried. He went on reciting and Imam (a.s) cried continuously till the wails started coming out of his house. Then Imam (a.s) said, "O Abu Umara! One who recites a poem regarding Imam Hussain (a.s) and makes fifty persons cry, Paradise belongs to him. One who recites a poem and forty persons cry, Paradise is for them. If thirty persons cry Paradise is for them also. One who recites a poem and twenty persons cry they too will get Paradise. One who makes ten people cry after reciting a poem of Imam Hussain (a.s) they too will get Paradise. One who makes a person cry after reciting a poem of Imam Hussain (a.s) and cries alone he too will get Paradise. One who makes just a crying face after reciting the poem regarding Imam Hussain (a.s) he too will get Paradise. 

3. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (a.s), "One who recites a couplet regarding Imam Hussain (a.s) cries and makes ten persons cry they will get paradise. One who recites a couplet regarding Imam Hussain (a.s) cries and makes nine persons cry they will get paradise." He went on until he said, "One who recites a couplet regarding Imam Hussain (a.s) cries or makes a crying face, he would get paradise."

Ref: Sawaabul A'amaal