"No-one ever leaves His (as) home empty-handed.."

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (s):

"One of my own flesh and blood will be buried in the land of Khorasan. God the Highest will surely remove the sorrows of any sorrowful person who goes on pilgrimage to his (Al-Reza's (as)) shrine. God will surely forgive the sins of any sinful person who goes on pilgrimage to his shrine". ⁽¹⁾

From the moment every visitor’s eyes are set on the golden dome of Imam Reza’s (as) shrine, their soul blossoms with peace and tranquillity, knowing that every trial and tribulation they face will vanish immediately. When you enter the courtyard of the Holy shrine, you feel each part of your soul getting purified by hearing the Qur'an and du'as being recited from the minarets. The second you look at the dome, your heart becomes content and at peace. You feel revitalised by being in close vicinity to the one who is the true representative of Allah (swt) on this Earth. You feel emotional, yet spiritually elevated the moment you say "Salaam" to your master Imam Reza (as). You are in that land where only the true believers are called. This is the place where no-one ever leaves His (as) home empty handed.

The Ahl al-Bayt (as) were sent as guidance for the whole of humanity. Without a doubt, they were at the forefront of helping every sick and oppressed person regardless of their background and until this day, they fulfil any request that is brought to them. Imam Reza (as), the 8^th holy Imam, is a beacon of light that illuminates many lives across the globe. Numerous amounts of miracles are reported to have occurred just by going to His holy shrine which I endeavour to discuss in the following paragraphs.

Recently in 2005, a 60 year old pious lady from the Ahle Sunnah school of thought had travelled with a group to the holy city of Mashhad. Unfortunately earlier in 2001, she had broken the bones in both of her legs and because of this, she was wheelchair bound and could not walk. When she entered the Holy shrine, a lady from the group had lightly tied her with a cloth to the Zareeh of Imam Reza (as) and they were both crying whilst clinging onto the shrine. This elderly lady had entered into a deep sleep when she heard someone telling her to get up. She awoke and turned around to ask a group member whether she had spoken to her, but the group member was herself embroiled in her own sorrows and had not uttered a word. So the elderly lady, whilst clinging onto the shrine, went back to sleep and again she heard somebody saying:  “Get up!” When she awoke, she found that her hand was inside the shrine and could hear voices coming from within the shrine itself. She slowly lifted herself up from the ground and tried to stand. It was found that she made her first few steps in four years, and started to walk towards the group! Everyone was in tears of joy and started to recite the Salawat out loud. 

Another story comes from a young boy in 1937. In the very early years of his birth, he had lost his father. His mother decided to migrate with the child from his hometown, Bukhara, to the holy city of Mashhad. Over there, they resided in a charity house. As the years passed by, his mother’s health began to slowly deteriorate, which eventually lead to her death. The young youth was left all alone in Mashhad with no one to take care of him. It just so happened that he became seriously ill too, leading to a severe pain in his eye. Feeling sorry for him, a neighbour took him to a special and famous ophthalmologist in Mashhad. Whilst examining him, he informed the young orphan that the lens in his eyes were damaged, but did not tell him the whole truth. In actual fact, he had an incurable disease which would eventually lead to blindness.

Without a guardian or protector, many residents around the area had become aware of the situation and offered to lend a helping hand, but he replied that he did not want any help, but rather seek help from Imam Reza (as).

With a broken heart, and tears streaming down his cheeks, he reached the shrine of Imam Reza, and held onto the Zareeh very tightly. He made a sincere supplication to the Imam (as). Whilst doing so, he became extremely drowsy and fell asleep. In his dream, he saw a man wearing a white dress with a green shawl around his waist and without a turban approaching him. He asked the youth what he wanted. The youth, in his dream, had recognised that this is the Imam (as) and replied: “Oh my beloved Imam (as), I want my eyesight back”. The Imam (as), with one hand held the back of the boys head, just how his father used to, and with the other gently rubbed his blessed hand on the young boy’s eyes. When he awoke, his vision was clearer than ever before. With tears in his eyes, he praised Allah (swt) and thanked the Holy Imam (as) for the miraculous recovery. From this day onwards, he knew that he did not need anyone, and that the Imam (as) is his guardian and protector.  

These stories prove that regardless of a person’s background, that personality that was oppressed throughout his whole life aims to fulfil every wish of the oppressed person to this day. From personal experience, whenever I have been in difficulty or in a problem, I first share it with Imam Reza (as) immediately, and within a few days it is solved. Imam Reza (as) is a massive inspiration for me and I am sure for many across the world.  

To be able to spend time researching and writing about how Imam Reza (as) to this day , never fails to leave any wish unfulfilled, be it through miracles or not, is an opportunity within itself and to be invited to participate in the International Razavi Weblog Contest is an absolute honour that I thank Allah (swt) for. I will cherish this for many years to come, whether I win the competition or not.

(1)   Uyun Akhbar Al Reza. Sheikh Sadooq (990). Volume 2, Chapter 37 page 314.