Islam Guidance

One day, during the time when Hazrat Fatima (S.A) was ill in bed. Imam Ali (A.S) returned home and he found very busy, cooking and cleaning her children, Imam Hassan (A.S) and Imam Hussain(A.S). Imam Ali (A.S) asked her as to why she was so hard working.
Tears started flowing from her eyes. She told him that on the previous night she had seen her father in a dream. She told him about the troubles that she had to go through after his death and that she found life without him very difficult. Her father, the Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) consoled her and told her not to worry anymore because after one day she would be with him.
By this dream Hazrat Fatima (S.A) knew that it was her last day. So she wanted to do all that she could for her beloved children before she was separated from them by death.
This news made Imam Ali (A.S) very sad.
Hazrat Fatima (S.A) then made her final wishes know to him. Her first wish was that those who had oppressed her and her husband should not be allowed to attend her burial.
To make this possible, she wished that she be buried in the darkness of night. Secondly, she recommended Imam Ali (A.S) to her daughter, Zainab, as she would take good care of the children.
Thirdly, she requested Imam Ali (A.S) to be extra careful with Imam Hassan (A.S) and Imam Hussain (A.S) as they would be very sad after their mother's death.
With tears in his eyes Imam Ali (A.S) said goodbye to her and went to the Mosque together with Imam Hassan (A.S) and Imam Hussain (A.S).
Hazrat Fatima (S.A) was now left home alone with Asma Bint Umays. Asma reports that when alone, Hazrat Fatima (S.A) put on a new garment and perfumed herself. She then retired to the place where she used to pray daily. She asked Asma to leave her alone as she wished to carry out some special prayers in remembrance of Allah, the Almighty. She requested Asma to come back to her after sometime and check if she was still alive or not.
Asma says, "I did as I was told. When left alone, Hazrat Fatima (S.A) started addressing Allah and praying for the wellbeing of her followers. After sometime there was silence. I rushed to see what she was doing and saw that she was lying straight on her back. Her face was covered with a piece of cloth.
When I removed the cloth from her face, I found her not breathing any more. She had left this world to join her father.”
As per her wishes, Imam Ali (A.S) buried her in the darkness of the night. Besides Imam Ali (A.S) and his two sons, very few others such as Ammar, Salman, Mighdad and AbuZar attended her funeral.

Derived from: Al Hassanain.

On 5th of the Islamic month of Rabi al-Awwal in 117 AH, Hazrat Sakina (S.A), the daughter of Imam Hussain (A.S), passed away in her hometown Medina and was laid to rest in the Baqie Cemetery. She was over 70 years of age, and her death occurred in the initial years of the imamate of Imam Sadiq (A.S), the son and successor of her nephew, Imam Mohammad al-Baqir (A.S) and grandson of her brother, Imam Zain al-Abedin (A.S).
She was present in Karbala during the tragedy that befell the Prophet's Household, resulting in the martyrdom of her father, her two brothers, Ali Akbar (A.S) and the 6-month infant Ali Asghar (A.S), her cousins, and her uncles, including the valiant standard-bearer, Hazrat Abbas(A.S), who sacrificed his life while bringing water from the River Euphrates for the thirsty children.
At Karbala when from the seventh Muharram, access to water was blocked by the army of Yazid and water became scarce Hazrat Sakina (A.S) shared whatever little water she had with other children. Whe n soon there was no water at all, the thirsty children would look at Hazrat Sakina (A.S) hopefully, and because she could not help them she would have tears in her eyes. Hazrat Sakina (A.S)'s lips were parched with thirst.
She was betrothed to her cousin, a son of Imam Hassan (A.S) and Hazrat Qasim's (A.S) elder brother, who was martyred in Karbala. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Sakina (S.A), along with other members of the Ahl al-Bayt including aunts, Hazrat Zainab (S.A), Hazrat Umm Kulsoum (S.A) and others; sisters, Hazrat Fatima (S.A) and the 4-year-old Hazrat Ruqayya (S.A) – who attained martyrdom in Damascus – had to suffer imprisonment for a while.
Upon return to Medina, she devoted her life to prayer, fasting and worship of God, refusing to marry anyone. The same year (117 AH) her elder sister, Fatima, the wife of Imam Hassan's(A.S) son, Hassan al-Muthanna (severely injured in the tragedy of Karbala but survived) and the ancestress of the Hassanid branch of Tabatabie Saadaat, also passed away in Medina.


This article borrowed from Imam Reza.Network.

Zainab (S.A) is the shining sun in the history of Islam and of humanity. Her brother's name and Karbala associate the idea of freedom, justice, humanity, virtue, fighting against despotism, with the realization of the sovereignty of Allah. The history of Karbala is based on two pillars: the rising of Imam Hussain (A.S) and the rising of Zainab (S.A). She was an outstanding figure in the history of Karbala endowed with divine steadfastness and fortitude. She sacrificed her two sons and one should not say anything if one devoted his life for the cause of Allah. After the martyrdom of her brother and her two sons, she said: "O my Lord! Accept our humble sacrifice to you."
When Zainab reached Kufa, she addressed people with fury words: "Praise to Allah, and May the blessing of Allah be upon Muhammad and his progeny. O people of Kufa, you are hypocrites and deceitful. You feign to be sorry for the death of my brother and his companions. May you always shed tears. I find nothing in you but flattery, evil acts and thoughts, pride and spite and ill will. By Allah! You deserve lasting sorrow instead of joy. Shames on you, your hands are imbrued with the blood of the son of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P), the one who was your sole refuge in case of adversity. By your evil act and disloyalty, you incurred the wrath of Allah against you. Woe betides you! No one will intercede with Allah for you." Her furious words provoked people of Kufa to avenge Hussain's martyrdom. This frightened Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad and his cruel agents. She also delivered a furious sermon in the court of the caliph that made his authority and despotic rule feel undermined. She said: "I fear no one but Allah. Make whatever evil plot you can. Blazes are waiting for you in the hereafter. You'll he accountable to Allah for your atrocities."

Ref: Ziaraat.com

One of the miracles that Allah Almighty gave to Imam Hussain (A.S) was that his sacred head spoke as it was being carried from Karbala – in Iraq – to Shaam – modern Syria – and back to Karbala where it was buried in the grave where his sacred body had been buried. In the course of the entire passage of the women and children captives, with which the heads of the martyrs of Karbala were also carried from Karbala to Shaam and back, the sacred head of Imam Hussain (A.S) used to recite the holy Qur’an, and this phenomenon proved instrumental in guiding the people to Truth. The sacred head of Imam Hussain (A.S) also spoke in the court of the evil Yazid. When the sacred head of Imam Hussain (A.S) arrived at the court of Yazid, amongst others, the Roman envoy of the emperor of Rome was also present. After realizing that the captives were the women and children of the household of the Prophet of Islam, and the head of the grandson of the Prophet was amongst them, the Roman envoy protested to and rebuked Yazid, and said, “Had we had a descendent of Jesus amongst us we would have honor him and glorify him”. In response to this protest Yazid ordered the Roman envoy to be killed immediately. The sacred head of Imam Hussain (A.S) said in a loud voice, “there is no power but that of Allah”. At that occasion and at every other occasion throughout the journey from Karbala to Shaam and back, people were astonished to see and hear the sacred head of Imam Hussain speaking, and they realized that this was no ordinary event but a divine miracle, and Allah Almighty is showing them the realty of Imam Hussain (A.S). Such events revealed to the people the reality and the significance of the hadith stated by the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H&H.P), “I leave behind two momentous weights, the Book of Allah and my descendants the Ahlul-Bayt ”the people realized that the truth is with Imam Hussain (A.S) when they saw the miracle of his sacred head speaking or reciting the holy Qur’an.

Ref: Aim Islam

روي الطبراني قال: قال أبو جعفر: وحدثنا سفيان بن وكيع، عن أبيه وكيع، عن الأعمش، قال: سمعت أبا صالح التمار يقول: سمعت حذيفة يقول: سمعت الحسين بن على يقول: والله ليجتمعن على قتلى طغاة بني امية ويقدمهم عمر بن سعد وذلك في حياة النبي صلى الله عليه وآله. فقلت له أنبأك بهذا رسول الله ؟ قال (لا، فأتيت النبي فأخبرته، فقال علمي علمه، وعلمه علمي، وأنا لنعلم بالكائن قبل كينونته

Abu Jafar said, Narrated to me Sufyaan bin Waqea, from Al-Aamash. Who said, I heard Abu Saleh Al-Tammar saying, He heard from Huzaifa who said:
"I heard Al-Husain bin Ali He said, "By Allah, the tyrants of Bani Umayyad will gather for killing me and they will be led by Umar bin Saad. And this incident happened in the life of the Prophet (P.B.U.U&H.P).
I (Huzaifa) said to Imam Husain, "Did Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) give the news of this to you?” Imam Husain said, 'No'.
I (Huzaifa) then went to the Prophet (P.B.U.U&H.P) and informed Him of what occurred.
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H&H.P) said, "My knowledge is His Knowledge and His knowledge is My Knowledge. And verily, we have the knowledge of things before they occur."
[Source: Dalaail Al-Imamah, P 183-184]
This incident clearly shows that the Imam's (A.S) have knowledge bestowed by Allah (S.W.T) from the very beginning and it is not that the Imam's (A.S) get knowledge only after they get the responsibilities of Imamate.

Ref: Marefate AhleBait (A.S).com

It all began after the untimely martyrdom of the Messenger of Allah, many of those around the Messenger who had claimed to be his friends, were plotting a major revolution after his demise. As foretold by the Messenger and his master in the Holy
“And Muhammad is no more than a messenger; the messengers have already passed away before him; if then he dies or is killed will you turn back upon your heels? And whoever turns back upon his heels, he will by no means do harm to Allah in the least and Allah will reward the grateful.” (Holy Quran 3:144)
He died, and none of his so called 'dear friends' were next to him, in fact according to the most reliable of his living wives Umm Salama, he died in the arms of his brother and rightful successor the Commander of the Faithful Ali ibn Abi Taleb (A.S). So where were the claimants (ones who claimed to be his closest of friends)? What could possibly be more important than washing and burying the body of Allah’s most loved creation? Unless of course, the Caliphate was more important than this, but if it was then why the Messenger of Allah didn’t choose a successor? But he had, and the people couldn't accept his selection, after all people want someone that follows his whims and allows them to be capricious in nature.
It was Saqifah, that dreaded day, the beginning of all calamities, the mother of all massacres. The day the rightful successor was robbed of his right. This is what allowed Fatima (S.A) to be slapped by Kunfudh and crushed behind the door by the Messenger's own father-in-law!!! It begin there.... It was that incident that allowed all injustices to take place, the murder of the Commander of the Faithful (A.S) in mosque Al Kufa, while he was prostrating, the poisoning of the Grandson of the Messenger of Allah, and the daughter of the first usurper waging war against the Imam of her time and preventing the burial of Imam Hassan to take place next to his Grandfather, in fact she even ordered his purified dead body to be showered with arrows!!! And people like Shimr bin Ziljoshan only emulated the actions of his masters on the day of Ashura, and while Imam Hussain (A.S) was his mother, except that on the day of the incursion of the House of Hazrat Zahra (S.A) only one of her ribs was broken. But on the day of Ashura all of the ribs of Imam Hussain (A.S) were broken!!!!
It all began on that day, when someone asks you when Imam Hussain (A.S) was murdered, you reply it was on the day of Saqifaa!!!

Ref: shiachat.com

Keepers of the ultimate reward!  Servants of Zawwars of Imam Hussein (A.S)

Lady Ummul Baneen (S.A) was among the first individuals to hold mourning sessions (Majalis) for Imam Hussain. Imam Sadiq (A.S) has narrated, “Ummul Baneen (S.A), the mother of the four martyred brothers would go to (the cemetery of) al-Baqi and would lament with heart-rending and grief-stricken words upon her sons. People would gather and listen to her (sorrowful words). One day Marwan bin Hakam came and heard her lamenting and started weeping (in spite of being ruthless himself).” Along with the other ladies of Bani Hashim, she virtually transformed Jannat al-Baqi into a Hussainiya, a center of mourning for Imam Hussain and the tragedy that befell his family. She is considered the first person to recite poetry lamenting the plight and suffering of Imam Hussain and the orphans in Karbala, as well as the tragic martyrdom of her own sons. The lamentations and poems she wrote are highly regarded as important masterpieces of Arabic literature. One famous elegy she wrote is as follows:

Whoever has seen the courageous advances of Abbas?
And along with him were the brave sons of Haidar
I heard that he lost his arms, and his head was wounded
O Lord, how did my son fall on the ground with no arms to break his fall?
Were it that he had a sword, no one would have dared approach him

Don’t call me the Mother of Her Sons anymore
This title reminds me of those Haidari lions
As long as my sons were alive, I was Ummul Baneen
Now that I have lost them, this title doesn’t suit me

Those four sons of mine were like four lions
The ones who sleep in the desert after giving their heads
Whoever faced them in the midst of the battlefield?
Surely would have fallen to the ground like rain
How I wish someone had come and informed me
That the arms of my Abbas were brutally severed

A few years after the tragedy of Karbala, Lady Ummul Baneen (S.A) passed away on 13th Jamadi al-Thani, 64 AH. But the mourning sessions and traditions she established have kept the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (A.S) and the Prophet’s Family alive, and it is incumbent upon us to maintain this legacy and keep the incident of Karbala alive in our hearts.

Ref: Islamic insight

Al-Shaykh al-Saduq (the truthful scholar) mentions:
Muhammad ibn Ali Majiluyeh said: Ali ibn Ibrahim narrated to us from his father from al Rayyan ibn Shabib, He said: I came into the presence of al Reza (A.S) on the first day of Muharram. He said to me: O son of Shabib! Are you fasting? I said: No. So he said: Verily this day is the day on which Zechariah (A.S) called upon his Lord (S.W.T). He said: My Lord! Grant me good offspring from Thee; surely Thou art the Hearer of the prayer. [Sura Ale-Imran, 3:38]. So Allah answered him and ordered the angels to call out to Zechariah (A.S) while he was standing in the mihrab (the prayer-niche), that: Verily Allah gives you the glad-tidings of Yahya. [Sura Ale-Imran, 3:39]. Whoever fasts this day and then calls out to Allah (S.W.T), Allah will respond to him like He responded to Zechariah (A.S).
Then he said:
- O son of Shabib! Muharram is the month in which the people of the ignorant (Jahiliyyah) from the past would prohibit oppression and fighting due to its sanctity but this nation did not recognize the sanctity of its month nor the sanctity of its Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P). They killed his offspring in this month and captured his women and plundered his burdens (provisions). So Allah will not forgive them that, ever.
- O son of Shabib! If you were to cry over anything, then cry over Hussain ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (A.S), for he was slaughtered like the ram is slaughtered. And eighteen men from the people of his house, the like of whom are not to be found on the earth, were murdered with him. The seven heavens and the earths wailed over his killing. Four thousand of the angels descended toward the earth but they found that he had been murdered. So they shall remain disheveled, dusty till the Mahdi rises; then they will be from his helpers. And their slogan is: Vengeance for the blood of Husain!
- O son of Shabib! My father narrated to me from his father from his grandfather (A.S): Verily when my grandfather, Hussain (A.S) was killed, the sky rained down blood and red dust.
- O son of Shabib! If you wept over Hussain (A.S) to the extent that your tears came onto your cheeks, Allah will forgive all of your sins which you have committed, minor or major, little or excessive.
- O son of Shabib! If you take pleasure in meeting Allah (S.W.T) while there is no sin over you, then visit Hussain (A.S).
- O son of Shabib! If you take pleasure in residing in the erected chamber in Jannah along with the Prophet and his progeny (A.S), then curse the murderer of Hussain.
- O son of Shabib! If you take pleasure in having a like of the reward of the one who was martyred with Hussain (A.S), then whenever you mention him, say: How I wish I was with them! I would have attained a great victory!
- O son of Shabib! If you take pleasure in being with us in the highest stages of the Gardens, then grieve over our sorrow and be happy in our happiness. And you must keep to our Wilayah, for verily, were a man to befriend a stone, Allah will raise him with it on the Day of Resurrection.

Derived from: Wilayat.net

In Irshad and Kamil of Ibne Aseer it is narrated, that Umro bin Hurays sent his retainer to fetch water. The retainer returned with a jar of water along with a napkin and a cup, and gave the water to Muslim to drink. (Kamil) When Muslim took the cup to drink water, it became full with his blood thus he could not partake it. Thrice the cup was filled with water, and when water was filled for the third time, his front teeth fell in it. Muslim said, "Praise be to Allah! If this water would had been destined for me, I could have drank it."
Muslim was then taken to the presence of Ubayd-Allah bin Ziyad and he did not greet him. A guard told him, "Why do you not greet the commander"? Muslim replied, "Why should I greet him when he desires to kill me, and if he does not desire my death, then I have abundant greetings for him." Ubayd-Allah said, "By my life! You shall surely die." Muslim said, "So be it"? To which Ubayd-Allah answered in the affirmative. Then Muslim said, "If this is the case then give me respite so that I may will to someone among my kinsmen", to which Ubayd-Allah agreed. Muslim turned towards Umar bin Sa'ad and said, "There exists kinship between us, I desire that I may relate to you something in confidence." Umar refused to yield, to which Ubayd-Allah said, "Do not refuse to fulfil the desire of your cousin". Hearing this Umar stood up (Irshad) and sat with Muslim at a place where Ubayd-Allah could see them. (Kamil)
Muslim said, "I have become indebted in Kufa for a sum of seven hundred dirhams, so please pay it off by selling the property of mine which is in Medina." (Kamil) "And take my corpse after my death from Ubayd-Allah and bury it. Besides send someone to Imam Hussain (A.S) who would return him back." Umar went to Ubayd-Allah and revealed whatever Muslim had told him. Ubayd-Allah said, "A trustworthy man does not commit treachery, but sometimes a traitor fulfils a trust. As regards his (Muslim's) wealth, do whatever you desire to do with it. And as for Husain, if he does intend towards us, we will not intend towards him. But if he challenges us, we shall not refrain ourselves from (harming) him. Regarding his corpse, we shall certainly not accept your intervention in that matter." While others quote him saying that, "As regards his corpse, after we have killed him it is not our concern, you may do what you desire with it." Then he turned towards Muslim and said, "O son of Aqeel! The people were unified and in accordance with one another, but you came and divided them and created discord." Muslim replied, "It is not so, but the people of this town are of the opinion that your father (Ziyad) killed many of their virtuous men. He shed their blood and followed the footsteps of the Chosroes (the rulers of ancient Persia) and Caesars (the rulers of ancient Rome). We have come to enjoin justice and invite towards the Holy Book and Traditions (of the Prophet)." Ubayd-Allah said, "O transgressor! What relation you hold with these? And why did you not do that among the people, while you were busy drinking wine (Allah's refuge) in Medina"? Muslim replied, "Did I drink wine? By Allah! He knows that you are not speaking the truth, nor am I similar to what you have ascribed to me. While drinking wine is a practice of those (referring to Ubayd-Allah and his father Ziyad) who in rage and enmity spill the blood of the Muslims, and who rejoices and delights as if he has never ever committed any indecency (referred to Yazid)." Ubayd-Allah was infuriated and said, "May Allah kill me if I do not kill you in a manner as no one else has ever been killed in Islam." Muslim replied, "It is befitting you that you introduce such innovations in Islam which have never taken place. You are an evil murderer, wicked chastiser, ill natured, and a degraded person than all those who preceded you." Then Ubayd-Allah started abusing him, Imam Husain (A.S), Imam Ali (A.S) and Hazrat Aqeel (A.S) while Muslim did not speak to him.

Martyrdom of Muslim bin Aqeel bin Abi Talib (A.S)
Mas'oodi says that when their speech concluded and Muslim spoke harshly to Ubayd-Allah, he ordered that Muslim should be taken to the roof of the palace and it was said to Bukayr bin Humran Ahmari to behead him and take his revenge.
Jazari says that Muslim (A.S) told Mohammad bin Ash'as, "By Allah! I would never have surrendered if you had not given me the promise of protection. Then defend me with your sword for your promise has been broken." Then they took him on top of the palace when he was asking forgiveness from Allah and praising and glorifying Him. Then they took him to the place overlooking the shoe-makers and severed his blessed head which fell down. (May Allah's Mercy and Blessings be upon him). His murderer was Bukayr bin Humran, whom Muslim had previously wounded.
Then his body too was thrown down. When Bukayr came down, Ubayd-Allah asked him, "What was Muslim uttering when you took him to the roof"? He relied that, "Muslim was glorifying Allah and seeking His forgiveness. When I intended to kill him, I told him to come near and then I said: Praise be to Allah who has given me an upper hand over you and thus I have taken the revenge from you. Then I struck a blow, which went waste. Then Muslim said: O slave! Haven't you taken your revenge by inflicting this wound upon me"? Ubayd-Allah said, "Such dignity even at the verge of death"? Bukayr said, "Then I struck him a second blow and killed him."
Tabari says that Muslim was taken on the roof of the palace and his neck was severed and body thrown down to the people. An order was issued that his corpse be taken to that place where garbage is thrown and to be hanged there.

Derived from: Nafsul Mahmoom
By: Sheikh Abbas Qummi

Like other Imams (A.S), Imam Hussein (A.S) also used to guide people through the book of Allah (S.W.T). The following beautiful incident has been recorded in Safinatul-Bihar:
Assaam bin Mustaliq was a man from Damascus who used to be a staunch enemy of the Ahlulbayt (A.S), particularly of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (A.S). It is related that one day he came to Medina. As he entered the city gate, his eyes fell on Imam Hussein (A.S). Assaam bin Mustaliq was very disappointed and the hatred of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (A.S) became evident in him. He approached Imam Hussein (A.S) and asked, "Are you the son of Ali bin Abi Talib?" Imam Hussein (A.S) replied in affirmative. When Assaam bin Mustaliq heard this, he began to abuse the Imam Hussein (A.S) and spoke bad words to him. Imam Hussein (A.S) calmly looked at him. When he was over, Imam Hussein (A.S) recited the following verses from the Noble Qur'an:
"Adopt tolerance, enjoin good and turn away from the ignorant. And if a prompting from Satan instigates you (to evil), then seek refuge with Allah. Verily He is all-Hearing, all-Knowing. Verily those who safeguard themselves (against evil) with full awareness of divine laws, when an evil thought from Satan assails them, they remember Allah, and lo! They see light. And their brethren plunge them deeper into error, so they do not slacken their efforts". (7:199-202)
Then Imam Hussein (A.S) said to Assaam bin Mustaliq, "You have been misled. We pray for our and your forgiveness from Allah (S.W.T). If you need our help, then we are willing to help. If you need our protection, then we are willing to defend you. And if you need our guidance, then we are willing to guide you".
When Assaam bin Mustaliq heard this, he was very ashamed of his rude remarks. Imam Hussain (A.S) continued, "From today onwards, there shall be no blame on you. May Allah (S.W.T) forgive you and He is the most Merciful". Then Imam Hussein (A.S) asked, "Are you from Damascus?" Assaam bin Mustaliq said, "Yes". Imam Hussein (A.S) said, "Whatever remarks you passed is of no importance to me, may Allah (S.W.T) protect us both. Without hesitation, present your needs to me. Whatever I offer you, I hope, will remove all misconceptions you have of me".
Assaam bin Mustaliq says, "When I heard this, I felt so ashamed but could not find any place to hide myself. Moreover, I wished the earth would tear apart and I would fall into it. After this encounter, there is no one on the face of this earth who is more beloved to me than Imam Hussain (A.S) and his fathers, Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (A.S)".

Ref: islamicoccasions.com

‬

Dawood ibn Farqad, who says that I was seated in the house of Imam Sadiq (A.S) when we saw a ‪‎pigeon‬ (called Zaghabi) humming.‬‬‬‬
Imam (A.S) turned towards me and asked,
“O Dawood! Do you know what this bird is saying?”
I replied in the negative. Imam (A.S) said,
“It curses the murderers of Imam Hussain (A.S), thus preserve such pigeons in your houses.”
[Ref: Nafasul Mahmoom, Section 2, Tradition no. 20]

Source: alhassanain.com

The pilgrimage to the holy shrines of the Prophets, Imams, and saints is called Ziyara. It is different from the ritual pilgrimage to Mecca, which is called Hajj. Hajj however is obligatory upon every Muslim man and woman under specific conditions, whereas Ziyara is not obligatory. Yet, it is much recommended in the innumerable narrations of the Prophet and the Imams who have stated about the rewards of those who perform such pilgrimages voluntarily. [See Sheikh Abbas al-Qummi, Mafaateeh ul-Jinan]
Simply, Ziyara is to visit the tomb and say a word of greeting, such as ‘Salaam (Peace)’. Other narrations have confirmed that it is acceptable to address such words of greetings from any place in the world while directing the face towards the direction of the tomb.
At any rate, it is advisable, according to reason as well as instructions of well-versed scholars, to commit to the statements of the Ziyaras that are related to the Ahlul Bayt (A.S), because such statements express the deep reality of status of the owner of the visited tomb and hint at the most accurate conducts to be practiced there.
On that account, it is recommended for the visitors of the tomb of al-’Abbas to follow the instructions mentioned in the saying of Imam Sadiq (A.S) regarding the Ziyara.
In this saying, the Imam instructs the visitor to stop opposite to the body of al-’Abbas turning the back to the kiblah, just like visiting the tombs of the prophets and Imams. This expresses the utmost courtesy befitting the elevated rank of al-’Abbas. In fact, to visit al-’Abbas after his death is same as visiting him during his life. This is because the martyrs are
“… alive with their Lord and receive sustenance from Him.” [The Holy Qur’an; Sura of Aal-Imran, Verse 169]

The author of Mezar ul-Bihar on page 165, records that Sheikh al-Mufid, Ibn al-Mashhadi, and Al-Shahid al-Awwal emphasized that the visitor of the tomb of al-’Abbas should first stop at the door of the shrine and seek permission to enter by saying: “Greetings of Allah… etc.” He then should enter and throw himself on the tomb and recite: “Peace be upon you, the righteous servant of God… etc.” He then should move to the direction of the head to offer the prayer and supplicate to God. He then should return to the tomb, stop at the two legs, and recite: “Peace be upon you, Abul-Fadhl al-Abbas… etc.”
Although these statements do not show whether it is advisable to stop at a specific side, it is understood that the direction of the kiblah is the intended.
Some scholars however advised to visit the tomb of al-’Abbas before that of Imam Hussain (A.S), because the earlier is the door to the latter.
It is also advisable to offer the two-units prayer of Ziyara at the tomb of Abbas. During his visit to the tombs of the martyrs of Karbala on the fortieth day after their martyrdom, Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari visited the tomb of Abbas ibn Ali and offered a two-units prayer. [See Ziyarat ul-Arbaeen]
It is also advisable to kiss the tomb. This is proved through the narration of Safwan al-Jammal who relates it to Imam Sadiq (A.S):
“…You should then come near the tomb of Abbas ibn Ali and say… Then throw yourself on to the tomb, kiss it, and say… etc.”

Ref: Al-Abbas
Publisher: Ansariyan Publications – Qum

There is no doubt that the universe is the creation of Allah and operates according to his commands and the traditions he has determined. Allah is the cause of all causes (the ultimate cause) therefore He's the one, who, through His never-ending wisdom, has assigned every cause its particular effect, hence, furthermore he's capable to take away that effect. Like when God removed the natural effect of fire – which was to burn and provide heat – right before the idol worshipers through Prophet Ibrahim into it, in order to save him. Or when Allah prevented the sharp knife in Prophet Ibrahim's hand from penetrating that saved Ismail from being sacrificed by his father. Of course, we believe that God was able to dull the swords and daggers of Yazidi’s Army and miraculously save Imam Hussein and his companions, but this did not happen because not everything is supposed to happen by miracles. Actually in contrast to that, Allah's divine custom is to allow things to happen through their own natural and ordinary causes.
In addition to such, there were many other purposes intended in the incident of Ashura which were only possible if it were carried out by natural means. Some are as follows:
1. When regarding the complicated political condition that Muawiyah and Yazid had created, justifying the wrong they would do by doing whatsoever they desired and merely labeling it with Islam and also the fact that distinguishing wrong from right had become very difficult, we can come to the conclusion that the only way to stop this situation and revive Islam was for the Imam to become martyred along with his children and companions.
2. The hadiths regarding this matter indicate that the Imam was destined to be martyred so he could achieve his ultimate purpose which was awakening the ummah (Muslim nation) and saving them from ignorance. [Bihar ul-Anwar, vol. 44, pg. 329]
3. Imam Hussein believed that martyrdom was the most beautiful and honorable death possible. This can be seen in the sermon that he gave on his departure from Mecca to Iraq: "The beauty of death for mankind is like the beauty of a necklace on the neck of maidens.” [Bihar ul-Anwar, vol. 44, pg. 366; Muhaddith Ardebili, Kashful-Ghummah fi Ma’rifatil-A’immah, vol. 2, pg. 29; Luhuf, pp. 110-111] Meaning that death isn’t a restriction imposed onto one, but rather like the beauty of a necklace, a blessing granted to him. So, why would anyone refuse to wear this necklace, especially when it is for Allah's sake?! And for Imam Hussein (A.S), dying for the sake of his religion was very pleasant and like honey. Martyrdom isn’t a flaw or deficiency, rather, it is of high and great value and Imam Hussein would have missed out on it if his martyrdom was to be prevented.
4. Meeting Allah and his Prophets meant much more to Imam Hussein than remaining in this world - especially with the governing circumstances at that time - as he mentioned in his sermon in Mecca: "My eagerness to meet my ancestors is like the eagerness of Jacob to meet Joseph." [Bihar ul-Anwar, vol. 44, pg. 366; Kashful-Ghummah fi Ma’rifatil-A’immah, vol. 2, pg. 29; Luhuf, pp. 110-111]
5. The Imam wasn’t willing to use miracles, because he was obliged to conform to ordinary circumstances all humans must consent and adapt to. In addition to that, one of the main reasons why Imam Hussein has had such a great impact upon the lives of Muslims and all seekers of justice and freedom is the fact that he carried out his acts without using supernatural means but rather conducted based on common and standard circumstances. Leading his household to an unfair battle, those being taken as prisoners and all the disrespect they saw were reasons to why Imam Hussein's uprising became monumental and lasted. True, the imam could have overthrown Yazid using miracles, but the effect of such would be very much less than what he did on Ashura and wouldn’t reveal the sinister intentions of the Umayyad.
6. The event of Ashura and the way Imam Hussein (A.S) fought oppression is an act of standing before deviation from Allah's commands, something that might happen at any period of time for any Muslim and a true Muslim must follow the path of the Imam and fight for it. If Imam Hussein (A.S) wanted to perform this vital duty by miracles and his authority in cosmic guardianship he would not have been able to be a role model for all humans of all times. Thus Prophets and Imams were bound to act according to the ordinary standards of knowledge and power in their day to day lives and merely do things like miracles only when God desired and when it was for the sake of the community and nation’s (ummah) guidance. God Almighty has appointed the prophets and imams to be the role models and teachers of mankind so we can pick up the right lifestyle by observing their lives and codes of conduct, thus if Imam Hussein (A.S) had saved himself from martyrdom by using miracles, he and his household would no longer play the role of being an example of resistance, fighting oppression, and patience when facing difficulties and making sacrifices for greater values.

This article borrowed from Shia Studies.

Nasiriya-Iraq

The beautiful wall and gates that surround Imam Hussein (A.S) Holy Shrine in Karbala.

certain elite figures in early Islamic history and analyses how their actions contributed to the chaos that ensued and, eventually, the brutal massacre that took place in Karbala | Zubair ibn Awam

His horse came circling around him, rubbing his head on his blood. It was then that Ibn Saad shouted, “The horse! Get the horse, for it is one of the horses of the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H&H.P)! ”Horsemen surrounded that horse which kept kicking with its front legs, killing forty riders and ten horses. Ibn Saad then said, “Leave him and let us see what he does. “Once he felt secure, the horse went back to Hussain (A.S) to rub his head on the Imam's blood as he sniffed him. He was neighing very loudly. Imam Baqir (A.S) used to say that that horse was repeating these words: “Retribution! Retribution against a nation that killed the son of its Prophet's daughter!” The horse then went to the camp neighing likewise. When the women saw the horse without its rider and its saddle twisted, they went out, their hair spread out, beating their cheeks, their faces uncovered, screaming and wailing, feeling the humiliation after enjoying prestige, going in the direction of the place where Hussain (A.S) had been killed.
Umme Kulthum, namely Zainab the wise, cried out, “O Muhammad! O father! O Ali! O Jafar! O Hamzah! Here is Hussain in the open slain in Karbala!” Then Zainab said, “I wish the heavens had fallen upon the earth! I wish the mountains had crushed the valley!” She was near Hussain (A.S) when Umer ibn Saad came close to her, flanked by some of his men. Hussain (A.S) was drawing his last breath. She cried out, “O Umar! Should Abu Abdullah be killed as you look on?!” He turned his face away. His tears were flooding his beard. She said, “Woe unto you! Is there any Muslim man among you?” None answered her. Then [Umar] Ibn Saad shouted at people, “Alight and put him to rest!” Al-Shimr was the first to do so. He kicked the Imam (A.S) with his foot then sat on his chest and took hold of his holy beard. He dealt him twelve sword strokes. He then severed his sacred head...

Source: Maqtal al-Hussain - Martyrdom Epic of Imam Hussain (A.S)
By: Abd al Razzaq al-Muqarram

Hussain (A.S) spent his childhood with Lady Fatimah (S.A), Imam Ali(A.S), and especially with Prophet Muhammad(A.S). The love and affection Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H&H.P) had towards Hussain(A.S) was so unique that all the companions were aware of it, had frequently seen its manifestation, and had heard of it repeatedly. Moreover, historians have recorded incidents and narrations in this respect. In one account it has been said that the Prophet's prostration took longer than usual in his prayer. People came to the Prophet and asked, "Were you receiving a revelation or order from Allah during prostration?" Prophet Muhammad(A.S) replied, "No, my son Hussain had climbed onto my back; I waited until he wished to come down." This is an example showing how the best creature of Allah (S.W.T) treated Hussain(A.S) while he was in the best state of worship. 
The companions had seen Prophet Muhammad(A.S) repeatedly put Hassan and Hussain(A.S) on his shoulders and play with them. At other times he would kiss Hussain(A.S) and say, "Hussain is from me, and I am from Hussain. May Allah love him who loves Hussain." In other traditions the Prophet would say, "Hassan and Hussain(A.S) are my two aromatic flowers from this world."
Nonetheless, most people knew that the Prophet's love for his two grandchildren, especially for Hussain(A.S) was not a usual love of a grandfather for his grandchild. According to the Holy Quran, the Prophet's(A.S) actions and words are apart from his desires: "Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow..." (The Holy Quran, 33:21) On the other hand, although Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H&H.P) had other adopted daughters and a son, the specific affection and recommendations were only shown towards Hassan and Hussain(A.S).
Prophet Muhammad's (P.B.U.H&H.P) recommendations and affections for Hussain(A.S) were in fact portraying an important fact. He would repeatedly inform people that salvation and prosperity can only be found through the friendship and love of Imam Hussain(A.S). Umar Ibn Khattab narrates from Prophet Muhammad(A.S): "Hassan and Hussain are masters of the youth in heaven. Whosoever loves them has loved me, and whosoever has animosity with them, is my enemy." In another account the Holy Prophet has also said, "You came to awareness by me; you found the right path and were guided by Ali; you were given blessings through Hassan; but your eternal salvation is with Hussain. Be aware that Hussain is a door from the doors of heaven. Whosoever has animosity towards him can never enter heaven."

Taken from: Islamic Shia information site

The relationship between Imam Hussain (A.S) & Imam Mahdi (A.S)