The Merits of Karbalā and the Ziyārah of Ĥusain — Hadith 14

14. My father narrated to me from ‘Ali ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Hāshim, from his father, from Muḥammad ibn ‘Ali, from Abī Sa’īd ‘Abbād Al-‘Usfuri, from Safwān Al-Jammāl, who said: I heard Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a. s. )) say: Verily Allāh, the Blessed and the Exalted, has elevated some lands and (bodies of) water above others. Some of these lands and waters boasted to others and some of them transgressed and they have all been punished for not being humble before Allāh. Therefore, Allāh empowered the polytheists over (the land of the) Ka’bah and made the water of Zamzam salty which has ruined its taste. Verily the land of Karbalā and the water of the Euphrates (River) were the first land and (body of) water which glorified Allāh, the Blessed and the Exalted. Therefore, Allāh blessed them and said to the land of Karbalā, “Speak of that with which Allāh, the Exalted, has honoured you, for verily the lands and the waters have boasted to one another. ” The land of Karbalā said: I am the sacred and blessed land of Allāh. The (power to) cure has been placed in my dust and in my water, and I am not arrogant. Rather, I am humble and humiliated before He who has blessed me. I do not boast to those who are lower (in rank) than me. Rather, I am thankful to Allāh. Therefore, Allāh honoured it, increased His blessing on it for its humility, and rewarded it with Ḥusain (a. s. ) and his companions. Then Abū ‘Abdillāh (a. s. ) added, “Allāh elevates those who humble themselves before Him. And Allāh, the Exalted, degrades those who are arrogant. ”