An Analytical Study of the Quranic Foundations of the Ziyarat Warith of Imam Hussein (AS)

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Associate professor of the Qur'an and Orientalist group of Al-Mustafa Al-Alamiya community

10.22034/dqm.2025.20409.1133

Abstract

Problem Statement: One of the most famous and widely recited ziyarat texts for Imam Hussein (AS) is the Ziyarat Warith. The virtues of this ziyarat are beyond description, as it is believed to fulfill needs, alleviate sorrows, and dispel hardships. In essence, Ziyarat Warith is a practical guide taught by Imam Sadiq (PBH) to Safwan Jammal. The text of this ziyarat encompasses various themes and is rich in religious knowledge, drawing from the two primary sources of Islam: the Quran and Hadith. Reciting this ziyarat is akin to engaging in specialized study of Islamic teachings. Content analysis reveals that the text aligns fully with Quranic teachings and the narrations of the Ahl al-Bayt, making it a reliable source for religious studies. This research innovatively examines various library sources, explores the Quranic and narrative foundations of Ziyarat Warith, and identifies key themes from a Quranic and narrative perspective.
Objective: Despite its significance, there has been limited systematic research that analyzes all the attributes and key propositions of Ziyarat Warith with explicit references to Quranic verses and authentic Hadiths, or that employs a deep analytical and jurisprudential approach.
Problem Statement: This study is unique in that it, for the first time, examines the central concepts of Ziyarat Warith using a descriptive-analytical method based on authentic Islamic sources (narrative exegeses, the Four Books of Hadith, and early and late Shia interpretations). Each attribute or title ascribed to Imam Hussein (PBH) is scrutinized in light of revelatory texts (Quran and Hadith) and documented. This research not only strengthens the field of "comparative ziyarat studies" but also opens new horizons for reinterpreting Shia discourse on imamate and the luminous stations of Imam Hussein (AS) within ziyarat texts.
Methodology: This study employs a descriptive-analytical approach to extract key propositions from the ziyarat text, investigate their Quranic and narrative foundations, and clarify the alignment of ziyarat concepts with authentic Islamic teachings.
Findings and Conclusion: The research provides a well-documented and evidence-based portrayal of the sacred aspects of Imam Hussein (PBH) based on revelatory texts. This can be utilized in specialized studies of ziyarat, Shia theology, and the spiritual history of Islam. Ziyarat Warith is not merely a supplicatory text but a comprehensive system of knowledge, anthropology, and theology. It reflects the existential manifestations of Imam Hussein (PBH) in divine language, serving as a clear mirror of his sacred status, divine mission, and luminous ranks in the realms of creation and legislation. The study demonstrates that fundamental concepts such as Tharallah (Revenger of God), al-Watr al-Mawtur (the oppressed avenger), al-Amr bi’l-Ma’ruf (enjoining good), al-Ridha (the pleased one), al-Taqi (the pious), al-Zaki (the pure), al-Hadi (the guide), and other attributes are not merely literary or emotional expressions but deeply rooted in Quranic and narrative texts. These attributes, supported by Quranic verses and the precious sayings of the Ahl al-Bayt, provide a theological foundation for understanding Imam Hussein (AS) as the divine proof, caliph of God, heir of the prophets, and the perfect human. A comparative study of the attributes in Ziyarat Warith with revelatory teachings confirms that this ziyarat is not only a means of loving connection with the Imam but also a foundational text for understanding Shia imamate, the philosophy of imamate, the semantics of infallibility, and the historical theology of the Husseini uprising. Thus, Ziyarat Warith can be considered a key text in Shia intellectual heritage, requiring a monotheistic perspective, Quranic insight, and familiarity with the traditions of the Ahl al-Bayt for its comprehension. It illuminates the hearts of believers with the light of wilaya (guardianship) and elevates religious thought to the heights of truth.

Keywords

References

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Contemporary Quranic Studies
Volume 4, Issue 11
July 2025
Pages 192-221

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