From Abu Khalid 'Amr ibn Khalid al-Wasiti, from the martyr Abu al-Husayn Zayd ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS), from his father, from his grandfather, from Ali (AS), who said: I asked the Messenger of God (PBUH) about the person in a state of major ritual impurity and the menstruating woman, when they sweat into a garment so that it clings to them. He said: Menstruation and major ritual impurity are impurity where God Most High has placed them; that is not in the sweat, so they need not wash their garment. (al-Arba'un lil-Shahid, vol. 1, p. 30)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: I asked the Messenger of God (PBUH) concerning a person in a state of major ritual impurity and a menstruating woman who have sweated into their clothes, so that the garment clings to their bodies. He said: menstruation and major ritual impurity are impurities; God has made those two impurities. But their sweat is not impure, and there is no need for them to wash their clothes.
From Abu Muhammad al-Fadl ibn Shadhan al-Naysaburi, from Hammad ibn 'Isa, from Hariz, from Zurara, who reported from Abu Ja'far (AS), when he was asked about this: "I am a man who lives beside a mosque belonging to a people, and if I do not pray with them they speak ill of me." He said: "Since you say that — the Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: 'Whoever hears the call to prayer and does not answer it without an excuse, he has no prayer. Do not abandon prayer behind them, nor behind any imam.'" (al-Arba'un lil-Shahid, vol. 1, p. 77)
Zurara ibn A'yan says: one day I was sitting with Imam al-Baqir (AS) when a man came in to His Holiness and asked: "I live next to a mosque, and because I do not take part in the congregational prayer, the people of the neighbourhood speak ill of me and reproach me." The Imam said: "Know that my forefather, the Commander of the Faithful (AS), said: whoever hears the call to prayer and does not answer it without an excuse, his prayer is not complete." And he used to say: "Do not abandon prayer behind the Muslims, even though they be not of your own school, nor behind any imam."
That which our shaykh, the Imam, the Sayyid al-Murtada, the 'Allama 'Amid al-Din, informed me of, saying: my father informed us, saying: Mufid al-Din Muhammad ibn Juhaym related to us, saying: Shams al-Din Fakhkhar informed us, from 'Abd al-Hamid ibn al-Taqi, from Abu al-Rida Fadl Allah ibn Ali al-Rawandi al-'Alawi al-Hasani, from Dhu al-Fiqar al-'Alawi, from Shaykh Abu al-'Abbas Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Ahmad ibn al-'Abbas al-Najashi, from Shaykh Abu al-Faraj Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Ya'qub ibn Ishaq ibn Abi Qurra al-Qunani the scribe, who said: Muhammad ibn Ja'far ibn al-Husayn al-Makhzumi related to me, saying: Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Harun Abu Ja'far al-Kindi related to me — and he wrote it out for me in his own hand, and copied it from his own copy — saying: my father informed me, saying: Isma'il ibn Bishr informed us, saying: Isma'il ibn Musa related to us, saying: Sharik informed us, from Abu Ishaq, from al-Harith, from Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS), concerning the merit of the month of Ramadan and the merit of prayer therein. He said: Whoever prays on the first night of the month of Ramadan four rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd once and "Say: He is God, One" fifteen times, God Most High grants him the reward of the truthful and the martyrs, forgives him all his sins, and on the Day of Resurrection he shall be among those who attain felicity. And whoever prays on the second night of the month of Ramadan four rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd once and "Truly We sent it down on the Night of Destiny" twenty times, God forgives him all his sins, enlarges his provision for him, and suffices him in the affairs of his year. And whoever prays on the third night of the month of Ramadan ten rak'as, reciting in each rak'a the Opening of the Book once and "Say: He is God, One" fifty times, a herald calls out to him from God Most High: "Behold, so-and-so son of so-and-so is God's freedman from the Fire," and the gates of the heavens are opened for him. And whoever rises that night and keeps it alive in worship, God forgives him. And whoever prays on the fourth night [of the month of Ramadan] eight rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd once and "Truly We sent it down on the Night of Destiny" twenty times, God Most High raises up his deed on that night as the deed of seven prophets of those who delivered the messages of their Lord. And whoever prays on the fifth night two rak'as, with "Say: He is God, One" a hundred times — [fifty times] in each rak'a — and when he has finished invokes blessings upon Muhammad (PBUH) a hundred times, he shall press close beside me on the Day of Resurrection at the gate of Paradise. And whoever prays on the sixth night of the month of Ramadan four rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd and "Blessed is He in whose hand is the dominion", it is as though he had met with the Night of Destiny. And whoever prays on the seventh night of the month of Ramadan four rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd once and "Truly We sent it down on the Night of Destiny" thirteen times, God builds for him in the Garden of Eden two palaces of gold, and he shall be in the safekeeping of God Most High until the like month of Ramadan. And whoever prays on the eighth night of the month of Ramadan two rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd [once] and "Say: He is God, One" ten times, and utters a thousand glorifications, the gates of the eight gardens are opened for him, and he enters by whichever of them he wishes. And whoever prays on the ninth night of the month of Ramadan, between the two evening prayers, six rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd and the Verse of the Throne seven times, and invokes blessings upon the Prophet (PBUH) fifty times, the angels ascend with his deed as with the deed of the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. And whoever prays on the tenth night of the month of Ramadan twenty rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd once and "Say: He is God, One" thirty times, God Most High enlarges his provision for him, and he shall be among those who attain felicity. And whoever prays on the eleventh night of the month of Ramadan two rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd once and "Truly We have given you abundance" twenty times, no sin shall follow him that day, though Iblis exert his utmost. And whoever prays on the twelfth night of the month of Ramadan eight rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd once and "Truly We sent it down on the Night of Destiny" thirty times, God Most High grants him the reward of the thankful, and on the Day of Resurrection he shall be among those who attain felicity. And whoever prays on the thirteenth night of the month of Ramadan four rak'as, reciting in each rak'a the Opening of the Book once and "Say: He is God, One" twenty-five times, he shall come on the Day of Resurrection over the Bridge like flashing lightning. And whoever prays on the fourteenth night of the month of Ramadan six rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd once and "When the earth is shaken" thirty times, God makes easy for him the agonies of death, and Munkar and Nakir. And whoever prays on the night of the middle of the month a hundred rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd once and "Say: He is God, One" ten times; and also prays four rak'as, reciting in the first two "Say: He is God, One" a hundred times and in the last two "Say: He is God, One" fifty times — God forgives him his sins, though they were like the foam of the sea, the sands of 'Alij, the number of the stars of heaven and the leaves of the trees, in less than the blink of an eye, together with the increase that is his with God. And whoever prays on the sixteenth night of the month of Ramadan twelve rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd once and "Rivalry in worldly increase distracts you" twelve times, he shall come forth from his grave with his thirst quenched, proclaiming the testimony that there is no god but God, until he arrives at the Resurrection, and he shall be commanded to Paradise without reckoning. And whoever prays on the seventeenth night of the month of Ramadan two rak'as, reciting in the first whatever is easy for him after the Opening of the Book, and in the second "Say: He is God, One" a hundred times, and says "There is no god but God" a hundred times, God grants him the reward of a thousand thousand pilgrimages, a thousand lesser pilgrimages, and a thousand campaigns. And whoever prays on the eighteenth night of the month of Ramadan four rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd and "Truly We have given you abundance" twenty-five times, he shall not depart from this world until the Angel of Death gives him the glad tidings that God Most High is well pleased with him and not angry. And whoever prays on the nineteenth night of the month of Ramadan fifty rak'as, reciting in each rak'a al-Hamd once and "When the earth is shaken" fifty times, he shall meet God Most High on the Day of Resurrection as one who has performed a hundred pilgrimages and a hundred lesser pilgrimages, and God shall accept from him all the rest of his deeds. And whoever prays on the twentieth night of the month of Ramadan eight rak'as, reciting in them whatever he wishes, God forgives him his former and his latter sins. And whoever prays on the twenty-first night of the month of Ramadan eight rak'as, the seven heavens are opened for him and his supplication is answered, together with the increase that is his with God. And whoever prays on the twenty-second night of the month of Ramadan eight rak'as, the eight gates of Paradise are opened for him, and he enters by whichever of them he wishes. And whoever prays on the twenty-third night of it eight rak'as [reciting in them whatever he wishes], the gates of the seven heavens are opened for him and his supplication is answered. And whoever prays on the twenty-fourth night of it eight rak'as, reciting in them whatever he wishes, he shall have such reward as one who has performed the pilgrimage and the lesser pilgrimage. And whoever prays on the twenty-fifth night of it [eight rak'as], reciting in them al-Hamd and "Say: He is God, One" ten times, God writes for him the reward of the worshippers. And whoever prays on the twenty-sixth night of it eight rak'as, reciting (in each rak'a, after al-Hamd, "Say: He is God, One" a hundred times), the seven heavens are opened for him and his supplication is answered, together with the increase that is his [with God]. And whoever prays on the twenty-seventh night of it four rak'as, with the Opening of the Book once and "Blessed is He in whose hand is the dominion" once — and if he does not know "Blessed is He" by heart, then "Say: He is God, One" twenty-five times — God forgives him and his parents. And whoever prays on the twenty-eighth night of the month of Ramadan six rak'as, with the Opening of the Book and ten times the Verse of the Throne, and ten times "Truly We have given you abundance", and ten times "Say: He is God, One", and invokes blessings upon the Prophet (PBUH), God Most High forgives him. And whoever prays on the twenty-ninth night of the month of Ramadan two rak'as, with the Opening of the Book and twenty times "Say: He is God, One", he shall die among those upon whom mercy is shown, and his book shall be raised to the highest 'Illiyyin. And whoever prays on the thirtieth night of the month of Ramadan twelve rak'as, reciting in each rak'a the Opening of the Book [once] and twenty times "Say: He is God, One", and invokes blessings upon the Prophet a hundred times, God seals his life with mercy. (al-Arba'un lil-Shahid, vol. 1, p. 87)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) spoke as follows concerning the prayers of the nights of the month of Ramadan and the effects of each:
Whoever prays four rak'ahs on the first night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah al-Hamd (Surat al-Fatiha) once and 'Qul huwa Allah' fifteen times — God will grant him the reward of the truthful and the martyrs, will forgive all his sins, and on the Day of Resurrection will place him among the successful. And whoever prays four rak'ahs on the second night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah al-Hamd once and 'Inna anzalnahu' fifteen times — God will forgive all his sins, will expand his sustenance and provision, and will suffice him in his affairs for that year. And whoever prays ten rak'ahs on the third night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah Fatihat al-Kitab once and 'Qul huwa Allahu ahad' fifteen times — a herald from God will call out to him: Be it known that so-and-so son of so-and-so is one whom God has set free from the Fire; and the gates of heaven will be opened for him. And whoever rises on this night and keeps vigil, God will forgive him. And whoever prays eight rak'ahs on the fourth night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah al-Hamd once and 'Inna anzalnahu' fifteen times — God Most High will raise up his deed on that night like the deed of seven prophets who have delivered the divine messages. And whoever on the fifth night prays two rak'ahs containing a hundred repetitions of 'Qul huwa Allahu ahad' — that is, fifty times in each rak'ah — and after the prayer sends blessings upon the Prophet a hundred times, on the Day of Resurrection he will vie and contend with me at the gate of Paradise. And whoever prays four rak'ahs on the sixth night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah al-Hamd and 'Tabaraka alladhi bi-yadihi al-mulk' — it is as though he had attained the Night of Decree. And whoever prays four rak'ahs on the seventh night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah al-Hamd once and 'Inna anzalnahu fi laylat al-qadr' thirteen times — God will build for him two palaces of gold in the everlasting Paradise, and until the next Ramadan he will be under the protection of God Most High. And whoever prays two rak'ahs on the eighth night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah al-Hamd once and 'Qul huwa Allahu ahad' ten times — and utters the glorification of God a thousand times, the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him and he may enter by whichever gate he wishes. And whoever on the ninth night of Ramadan prays six rak'ahs between the sunset and evening prayers — in each rak'ah al-Hamd and after it Ayat al-Kursi seven times — and sends blessings upon the Prophet fifty times, the angels will raise up his deed like the deed of the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. And whoever prays twenty rak'ahs on the tenth night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah al-Hamd once and 'Qul huwa Allahu ahad' thirty times — God will expand his provision and he will be among the saved. And whoever prays two rak'ahs on the eleventh night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah al-Hamd once and 'Inna a'taynaka al-kawthar' twenty times — no sin will reach him, however greatly Satan may strive. And whoever prays eight rak'ahs on the twelfth night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah al-Hamd once and 'Inna anzalnahu fi laylat al-qadr' thirty times — God Most High will bestow on him the reward of the thankful, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be among the successful. And whoever prays four rak'ahs on the thirteenth night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah Fatihat al-Kitab once and 'Qul huwa Allahu ahad' twenty-five times — on the Day of Resurrection he will pass over the bridge of Sirat like dazzling lightning. And whoever prays six rak'ahs on the fourteenth night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah al-Hamd once and 'Idha zulzilat al-ard' thirty times — God will make easy for him the agony of dying and the questioning of Nakir and Munkar. And whoever on the night of the middle of Ramadan prays a hundred rak'ahs — in each rak'ah al-Hamd once and 'Qul huwa Allahu ahad' ten times — and also four rak'ahs, reciting in the first two rak'ahs 'Qul huwa Allahu ahad' a hundred times and in the second two rak'ahs fifty times, God Most High will forgive his sins, even were they as many as the foam of the sea, the heaped sand of the desert, the stars of heaven and the leaves of the trees, in less time than the blink of an eye; and these rewards are over and above an increase that is kept in store for him with God. And whoever prays twelve rak'ahs on the sixteenth night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah al-Hamd once and 'Alhakum al-takathur' twelve times — will come forth from his grave rejoicing, proclaiming the testimony 'There is no god but God' until he enters the Resurrection; then the command will be given to bring him into Paradise without any reckoning. And whoever prays two rak'ahs on the seventeenth night of Ramadan — in the first rak'ah, after al-Hamd, whatever sura he is able to recite, and in the second rak'ah, after al-Hamd, 'Qul huwa Allahu ahad' a hundred times — and says 'There is no god but God' a hundred times, God will give him the reward of a million pilgrimages, a thousand lesser pilgrimages and a thousand campaigns of fighting. And whoever prays four rak'ahs on the eighteenth night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah, after al-Hamd, 'Inna a'taynaka al-kawthar' twenty-five times — will not depart from this world until the Angel of Death gives him the good news that God Most High is pleased with him and bears him no anger. And whoever prays fifty rak'ahs on the nineteenth night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah al-Hamd once and 'Idha zulzilat al-ard' fifty times — will meet God on the Day of Resurrection like one who has performed a hundred pilgrimages and a hundred lesser pilgrimages, and his other deeds will also be accepted. And whoever prays eight rak'ahs on the twentieth night of Ramadan, with whatever suras he wishes, God will forgive all his sins, the earlier and the later. Whoever prays eight rak'ahs on the twenty-first night of Ramadan, the seven heavens will be opened for him and his supplication will be answered — and with God there is yet more for him than this. Whoever prays eight rak'ahs on the twenty-second night of Ramadan, the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him and he may enter by whichever he wishes. Whoever prays eight rak'ahs on the twenty-third night of Ramadan, with whatever suras he wishes, the gates of the seven heavens will be opened for him and his supplication will be answered. Whoever prays eight rak'ahs on the twenty-fourth night of Ramadan, with whatever suras he wishes, will have the reward of one who has performed the pilgrimage and the lesser pilgrimage. And whoever prays eight rak'ahs on the twenty-fifth night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah, after al-Hamd, 'Qul huwa Allahu ahad' ten times — God will record for him the reward of the devout worshippers. Whoever prays eight rak'ahs on the twenty-sixth night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah, after al-Hamd, 'Qul huwa Allahu ahad' a hundred times — the seven heavens will be opened for him and his supplication will be answered, and with God there is yet more for him than this. Whoever prays four rak'ahs on the twenty-seventh night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah al-Hamd once and 'Tabaraka alladhi bi-yadihi al-mulk' once, or, if he does not know Surat Tabarak by heart, 'Qul huwa Allahu ahad' twenty-five times — God will forgive him and his father and mother. And whoever prays six rak'ahs on the twenty-eighth night of Ramadan — after al-Hamd, Ayat al-Kursi ten times, 'Inna a'taynaka al-kawthar' ten times, 'Qul huwa Allahu ahad' ten times, and one blessing upon the Prophet — God will forgive him. Whoever prays two rak'ahs on the twenty-ninth night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah, after al-Hamd, 'Qul huwa Allahu ahad' twenty times — will die among those upon whom mercy is shown, and his record of deeds will be raised to the highest rank. And whoever prays twelve rak'ahs on the thirtieth night of Ramadan — in each rak'ah al-Hamd once, 'Qul huwa Allahu ahad' twenty times, and a hundred blessings upon the Prophet — God will, at the last, encompass him within His mercy.
The book al-Mazar was written by al-Shahid al-Awwal on the subject of the texts of visitation (ziyara) and the etiquette of visiting the Ahl al-Bayt (AS), and the recognized standing of its author has given the book its authority. In this book, besides transmitting the visitation texts, al-Shahid al-Awwal also attends to the spiritual and formative dimensions of visitation. The work influenced many later writings on the subject of visitation texts and was used as a model by subsequent authors. The book is written in Arabic and, from the literary and linguistic point of view, its prose is eloquent and fluent.