Question:
786
As Salaam ‘Alaykum!
I would like to know ‘Ahl as-Sunna and Mawlana’s view on Sayyidina ‘Ali (a.s.) Maqam. Where is he really buried? Najaf? Afghanistan? (I’m no Shia, I’m Sunni Muslim, Sh. Nazim´s murid, but I feel deep love and respect for Sayyidina ‘Ali a.s.) And I also would like to ask what would be the right adab of visiting him and what are the virtues in doing so.
Shukran wa Salaam
Answer:
`Alaykum as-Salam,
It was decided to make Sayyidina `Ali’s (Allah enoble his face) grave a secret lest the Khawarij dig it up. After his son al-Hasan (Allah be well-pleased with him) prayed the funeral prayer over him, he was buried at the Caliphal palace in Kufa, then all traces of his grave were effaced. It is also narrated that al-Hasan conveyed the body in a coffin to Madina and that on the way the camel which carried the bier got lost by night and was found by members of the Tayyi’ tribe who buried the body and slaughtered the camel. Narrated from al-Hasan ibn Shu`ayb al-Farawi by Ibn `Asakir in Tarikh Dimashq (42:567).
As for visitation of his maqams, we can benefit from these three sayings of Shaykh Alauddin Attar (may his soul be sanctified) on visiting graves:
- “The benefit of visiting the graves of your shaykhs depends on the knowledge you have of them.”
- “To be near the graves of pious people has a good influence, although to direct yourself to their souls is better and carries with it a higher spiritual influence. The Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) said, ‘Send prayers for me wherever you are.’ This shows that you can reach the Prophet wherever you are, and it applies to His saints as well, because they take their power from the Prophet (upon him blessings and peace).”
- “The adab, or proper way, of visting graves is to direct yourself to Allah and to make these souls your means (wasila) to Allah Almighty and Exalted, humbling yourself to His Creation. You humble yourself externally to them, and internally to Allah.”
Hajj Gibril Haddad
