A visit to heaven on Earth.

In 2012 by the mid of Shaban we decided to travel to Iraq to become the Zawar of Imam Ali (as), Imam Hussain (as), Imam Musa Kazim (as), Imam Naqi (as) and to pay our condolence to the Lady Zahra (sa) who has suffered much after the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Though we got our air tickets but we couldn't get our visa, we had to visit Najaf/Kufa during the days of Imam Ali (as) shahadat during Ramadan but we failed to do so. We were heartbroken and while we took our stuff out from our bags I cried saying "Maula (as) hum say khush nahi". I didn't knew what was coming up, I didn't knew what Bibi Zahra (sa) and Imam Ali (as) had decided, As they say "Allah Jo karta hai Achai k liye karta hai" is definitely true.
Muharram started, it been more then 100+ years (my grandmother died way before my parents wedding else I could have knew how long since this is going on) that "Aza Khana" is decorated in my home and that is the best thing done my home after Namaz. We received a phone call from a family friend who takes groups to Muqadas Ziarats he simply asked us for our passports and said "Arbaeen (Chelum) par chalainge ap loug humarai sath main kuch nahi janta". The Majlis had just ended and we were told about this, my heart started beating faster, these words bought smiles on my mother and grandmother face, I kneel down in front of Aza Khana and cried "Shukria Bibi (sa) Shukria". I had not accepted such beautiful thing. We gave our passports and got our ticket finalised, this time there was no visa problem as we had a flight on 29th December 2013 (15th Safar) via Dubai to Baghdad. And 15th safar is the date on which traditional big azadari is held in our home for more then 100+ years, we have done this Majlis twice in Syria (Shaam) because we were there twice on 15th Safar and once in Karbala.
We reached airport at 9:30 thou we had to reach at 10:30, it was a hearing mistake that made us reach so early. A small Majlis held, Zill E Raza bhai recited some beautiful Noha and hugged us, he is one of the amazing guys I know, one of the best poets. We departed by 1 am and reached Dubai by local time 1:30 AM. It was a long stay of 14 hours. We had our flight at 3:30 PM. I had a back pain sitting on the crap chair for like 12 hours on terminal 2. We departed by 3:30 PM local time in UAE and reached Baghdad at 4:30 local time in Iraq, it was a 2 hours flight from Dubai. After scanning and getting our passport stamped it took like 1.5 hours at airport and then we had to travel to Bus stop (where are bus was waiting for us) from Airport in Airport's bus because they had this rule that time for safety measure. Iraq was destroyed but believe me it looked cool, it had way more clean roads then we have in Pakistan :P.
Transferred our baggage from Airport's bus to our Bus and started moving towards Kazmain, Kazmain was a part of Baghdad few years ago, since Kazmain started to get populated they had to call her a small town. We have Imam Musa Kazim (as) and Imam Naqi (as) grave shrine there, their graves are next to next other, such beautiful tomb it is, Grandfather and Grandson are sleeping together and people coming to visit their HOLY IMAM (as). As soon as we stepped down from the bus with out baggage we were greeted with Iraqi stopping their car and stepping down with big "Patila" full of dish of rice with Kismish and green peas  in it, you can say it resembled with green peas pulau, they greeted us as if we were there relatives and they had so much love for us, hugged us and prayed for us, May Allah bless those beautiful people. We stayed there for a night, the next morning by 7:00 pm we left the hotel. Our destination was Sayyad Muhammad (as), he is younger brother of Imam Hassan Askari (as) and they say if someone picks a sajdigah or tasbeeh from his shrine intentionally then the car doesn't get started or they won't be able to get far away, He (as) is really jalali. After visiting his shrine we left to the way of Samarrah, unfortunately we had to wait for 4 hours on road and in the end we decided to move towards Karbala because the way was blocked and American convey had to move so our bad luck, Samarrah has always been the controversial place even when Imam Hassan Askari (as) was alive, He (as) wasn't allowed to leave Samarrah. We started moving to Karbala, traffic was jammed, people from all over Iraq were coming to Karbala and we moved on slowly and we saw some societies being blocked by building big wall so that they don't come on roads, basically they are enemies of Shia who have flags of Imam Hussain (as) on their home just to manipulate people, once they come to them they would be killed. The lovers of Yazid are still alive.
The sun started to come down, it was a long journey, we stopped by a place where some Mohkab (Anjuman) has arranged place for Namaz, food and toilets for the people travelling to Karbala, these people are the best people I've came to know, never saw such beautiful people in my entire life, I've travelled eight different countries and could find none like these, they greeted us well, gave us plates, gave us food, gave us Kawa (Something that resemble to green tea)  and if someone didn't take it, they used to force them to take it, they are truly the lover of Imam Hussain (as). And then we moved on to Karbala again, we were tried to stop by more people who wanted to treat us but when we didn't stop they used to hit there hand on their heads and used to cry "O Hussain (as) we are sorry, O Hussain (as) we are sorry we couldn't treat your travellers O Hussain (as) we are sorry with crying voice". There are four ways to enter Karbala, 3 were closed because karbala was getting full, huge amount of people had came to give pursa to Shaheed us Shuda, Gareeb Ul Guraba, SON OF FATIMA (SA) who was killed without being giving a sip of water, who was hit 13 times on his neck, who had army of 72 and all of them were killed with thirst! Our driver was mashaAllah well trained and he was getting directions from his friend on cell phone to ask him which route he should use (he died on 5th Jan 2013 while he was coming from Basra to Karbala to pick us to move towards Najaf) May Allah blessed the lost soul with the highest place in Paradise. He was a such a beautiful looking youngster aged, 24 hardly. Sitting in bus from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM it was a real big journey. At last at 11:37 PM we were dropped 3 KM away from our hotel because transport wasn't allowed to travel in Karbala for security measures. We had kava and moved forward, it was 2 Degrees at that time, we had kava again and moved, Kava was working as our energy drink at that time. After a walk of 20 mints we finally saw the Shrine of Imam HUSSAIN (AS) and the entrance gate of Baab E Qibla, I had tears in my eyes, Went into sajdah directly and cried, I wish I had my Late Father by my side, he had a big wish of visiting Karbala but couldn't in his life, but he has definitely after his death, I believe Imam (as) would have taken the complete Hussaini with him to heaven, he never missed a majlis, never skipped Namaz, he used to leave ceremonies when he heard "Hai yaAllah Khair El Ammal" Come towards the good deed.
We went to our hotel, that was behind Tila E Zainabia (Place from where Bibi Zainab (sa) saw Imam Hussain (as) fighting). Traditions say that "when you visit Imam Hussain (as), visit him in the same clothes you have wore all the way to Karbala" so I didn't change my clothes and went to Imam Hussain (as) shrine, I walked, stopped, I was afraid, I wasn't mentally ready to face Him (as), I had goosebumps, but I moved forward, saw his Zari E Mubarrak, recited Ziarah, paid Salam, and looked at that beautiful Zareeh, I had tears in my eyes, the shrine was full, It seemed like I won't be able to reach Zareeh, but I went on with people pushing each other, trying to reach zareeh, I just said it in my heart, "Maula (as) yahan tak bula lia hai, ab bas zareeh tak bula lain Shehzadai Ali Akhber (as) ka wasta" I kept moving, I had a finger on Zareeh and was pushed away, tried again, I had my hand on Zareeh, a person from the crowd grabbed my hand and pulled me ahead, I couldn't see him, but he helped me reach the zareeh, I can't define what the feeling was, I stood there for 10-15 mints, my breath was going down, due to rush of people, I've some breathing issues, I had to pull myself out else my heart wasn't ready to do that, I came out, went to Tila E Zainabia and then moved to the shrine of Hazrat Abbas (as), I went in, sat in the shrine, didn't had courage to face Ghazi (as), don't know why, But I'm afraid of Hazrat Abbas (as), I'm afraid of his Jalaal, though his Jalaal gives me goosebumps and I love to hear his fazail and masaib but I am afraid of something, I read Ziarah and saw the Zareeh, said "Assalam O Alaikam Ya Qamar E Bani Hashim (as)" and moved forward, I couldn't resist now, I said in my heart "Ghazi (as) bas aagaya hun, Janai nahi dena". I just stood between the people and the pushing made me reach the zareeh, I saw a person coming out, I helped him and took his place, I hugged Ghazi's (as) Zareeh, that was the best feeling, I felt like He (as) was waiting for me, He (as) was waiting for a person who has been lifting his Alaam since age of 1, I seriously felt like He (as) waiting to see me that I've waiting to see Him, I stood there crying and giving pursa to him, holding his zareeh, I felt like my ribs were about to be broken, Momineen were pushing each other, everyone wanted to kiss the zareeh, I tried to move out for some fresh air, but felt like someone has hold my hand from inside the zareeh, I tried hard enough but couldn't move out, I turned back to zareeh and I wanted some oxygen, I felt down, gave my mouth inside the zareeh, took a deep breath, a mint ago I wasn't able to breath properly and now I was perfectly fine. Standing holding the zareeh of Hazrat Abbas (as) for more then 20-25 mints, I was out of this world, I had a feeling that I can die in peace now, I felt like Ghazi (as) wasn't angry with me that I don't pray, that I used to be a nuseri. Prayed for everyone, came back to hotel, It was 18+ hours since I last saw bed, I didn't change just took the jacket off and slept, the next morning was the best one for me, 1 Jan 2013 it was, I was like a new baby, with zero Gunnah on my head, It was my first day of a new life. I woke up in Karbala, I woke up where I wanted to be, I woke up in Paradise, Yes I woke up in Paradise.
 "Allah nay Arafat ko maqsoos Hesab Kitab k liye kardia,
Hussain (as) nay Karbala ko Janant Bana dia"
We had a five days stay in Karbala, Arbaeen (chelum) was approaching, In 2009 and 2011 I was in Syria (Shaam) giving condolence to Bibi Zainab (as) and Bibi Sakeena (sa) during Arbaeen and this time I was in Karbala. Lucky enough to complete my Hujjat in such early age, credit goes to my Mother and Father, they have to be the best parents in the entire universe, They have gifted me with gifts of Umrah, Ziarats, Wilayat E Ali (as), Respect, Laqab Sayyad and much much more, there a big list of those things. I had camera in my hand when I was free from Ziarats, I recorded my moments of Karbala, If I could share those on this blog, then on 19th Safar, we went to visit the Khaim E Hussain (as), Karbala was fully, packed, we didn't have place even to stand in a corner and we visited the place where Imam Hussain (as) collected all the dead bodies of Ansar E Hussain (as),  so after visiting Khaim E Hussain (as)  we had to come back to hotel and decided to visit other place after Arbaeen once the people started to leave Karbala.
The day of Arbaeen came, 3rd January 2013, I slept late last night, actually I slept I after fajr, so I was hard to get up at 11 AM! But stood up somehow, because I was told by Shakir Bhai (Student/Maulana in Najaf)  "Garam pani chala jaiga uth jao merai naye dost, Pakistan juloos chala jaiga, sab miss kardoge, Arbaeen ka din aagaya hai." I replied "Merai bed par sogaye aik tou rat ko ab adhi neand say jaga rahai ho, karo zulm" Khair had breakfast, helped Alay bhai in making Biryani and brining stuff, then we left for the Juloos, Juloos started from Khaimag Imam Hussain (as) and was to be ended at Hazrat Abbas (as) shrine. Farhan Ali (Ali Waris) was all ready in the middle to start the juloos with his beautiful Noha Khuwani, Alaam of Alaamdar stood ahead, (I had goosebumps writing this line, that day was flashing back in my memory), sun was shining, Alaam of Alaamdar stood ahead we were underneath the shadow of it and Pakistan Flag was also rising high! Slowly Slowly we marched towards Shrine, Matami were beating their chest and head hearing the sad tradegy and Nohay/Marsia of Imam Hussain as. Just think, how would you feel when you have the Dome of Hussain (as) right in front of you and you are going to enter the Holy Shrine of Hussain (as) to give him pursa? I can't describe it, just think, close your eyes and think about it. I had my eyes on Zari E Mubarrak and saw only heads of people while entering from "Baab E Qibla" The door from which the processions enter. Tears were rolling down the checks, the sound of "Haye Hussain Haye Gareeb Haye Hussain" was killing me from inside, I shouted, "Maula as kash hum bhi hotai, kash hum bhi hotai, Kash aqa Hum bhi hotai, ap par jab Dhusman humla kar rahai thai kash hum bhi hotai." I have visited Shaam twice on Arbaeen (Chelum) I know how does it feels like in Bazar E Shaam, I know how it feels like when you are visiting Bibi Zainab (as) on Arbaeen. My heart bleeds and I can't define how it feels like. Anyways, back to Karbala, we started to move out shouting "Labbaik Ya Hussain, Labbaik Ya Hussain and Hazir hain ya Abbas Hazir hain ya Abbas as" as we moved to Bain Ul Harmain (path from Imam Hussain (as) shrine to Hazrat Abbas (as). I would like to add a shair over here,

Hum to Lakhon thai Arbaeen k roz Abbas as k pass jatai waqt,

Hussain as tou Tanha bhagai thai Abbas (as) k lashai tak. 

Late Shaheed Syed Ustad Sibt E Jaffar Zaidi shb recited his beautiful qalam on that day on bain ul harmain, no one knew he will be shot dead in three months time, we entered Roza E Abbas as running screaming, "Haye Sakeena sa Haye Peyas Haye Sakeena Haye peyas." No one could stop crying, no cone was in his senses, everyone had lost his temper, we were beating ourself as like Abbas (as) was right there laid on the scorching land of karbala and Imam Hussain (as) sat in front of Him asking him "Brother Abbas (as) call me brother once, Just call me brother once O My Abbas". Felt like He had arrow his eyes and he was laid in front of us, I believe Abbas as would have been sat there watching us and saying "Jeo Azadaron, tumhara main katai haton say nam likh raha hun, Qabar main jab utro gaye tou milnay aunga tumhai jannat le kar jaunga apnai katai haton say pakar kar." We were asked to leave the shrine because there were millions more waiting to come in and give pursa to Hazrat Abbas as, I felt like my life has ended that day, I had nothing more to achieve, I had done what I was created was, my heart felt good, I felt like Bibi (sa) was happy that day with us. I hope SHE (sa) was happy. If I had replay button in my life and I could go back to that day again and again and pause my life there. Moved to Pakistani hotel, had neyaz there, took Farhan with us to have some chat and then after having some rest in hotel went to Imam Hussain (as) shrine and hazrat Abbas (as) and made my way to Zari anyhow. That was the best day of my life, once Bibi Zainab (sa) was left with no one to cry on her brother on Chelum and than after 1400 year the momineens were there to scream "O Hussain (as) we love you, O Hussain (as) we are here for you, O Hussain (as) we will carry on the mission of Bibi Zainab (as)." 3 days in karbala were already down, slept and then in two days we did ziarat of different places, those were, Maqam E Abbas (as), where Hazrat Abbas (as) hands were cut of, Maqam E Imam Mehdi (AJF) where Imam Mehdi (AJF) comes and pray in Karbala, nearby furat, then to Maqam Imam Jafar E Sadiq where Imam Sadiq (as) stayed while he visited Karbala, then to Maqam Prince Hazrat Ali Asghar (as) where he was hit with the arrow on his soft and small neck, haye Hussain as apki azmat ko salam, then to the place where Prince Hazrat Ali Akber (as) was hit by a barchi, I can't define these places, I just can't.
I wasn't well since 19th Safar, as they say "Karbala ja kar aise pakeeza hojatai ho jaise naya bacha paida hota hai" and is true was working on me, sins were being washed away and yeah I didn't wore a jacket while I was in Juloos because I thought I was some kind of magician and I won't feel cold. Bought some tabrukats, kafans and then on 23rd Safar we left Karbala to Hazrat Hur (as) shrine which was under construction at that time, I couldn't leave my van because I was seriously ill and I wasn't even able to walk 3 KM from hotel to the place where our bus had to come, as I told you above our driver died while coming from Basra to Karbala, we had to waste 3-4 hours for another vans to come and take us to Najaf. At-last we were in Karbala after 6 hour (since leaving our hotel).
We were about to visit the "THE ONE AND ONLY AMEER UL MOMINEEN, HUJJAT E KHUDA, LION OF GOD, THE ONE WHO WAS BORN IN KA'ABAH, THE WALI ULLAH, WASI E RASOOL ALLAH (PBUH)" so we had to take ghusl and bath, because no one goes to THE KING with dirt on his body and cloths.

Kis tarah say beyan Mulaqat E Ali (as) ho?

Woh mujay dekh rahai thai, main unhai dekh na sakha. 

Ghum Yeh bhi dour aik roz hojaiga, 

Jab Maula (as) ka deedar momin qabar mai kar paiga.

We had to stay three days in Najaf, the next day, we left for Masjid E Kufa, where there is Maqam Hazrat Ibrahim as, Hazrat Jibrael as, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), Place where Imam Ali (as) used to make decisions, place from where the deadly flood of Hazrat Nooh (as) started to flow, PLACE WHERE IMAM ALI (AS) WAS HIT MY MORON Ibn E Mujlim, Graves of Hazrat Muslim (as), Hazrat Mukhtar Shaqafi (ra) and Hazrat Umm E Hani (as) who kept Hazrat Muslim as in his house, then the house of Imam Ali (as) few steps away,  on right side there is room where Imam Ali (as) used to rest, the room next to his was of Imam Hasnain (as), on left room where Imam Ali (as) was given ghusal and then moving inside, there were rooms of Bibi Zainab (sa) which connects with the room of Hazrat Abbas (as) and then the room of Bibi Umm UL Baneen and the well of Imam Ali (as). We drank water from it. Lastly, we visited Shrine of Hazrat Meesam E Tammar (as), one of the best friend and companion of Imam Ali (as). The next day we visited Masjid E Namrah, traditions say, When the funeral of Imam Ali (as) passed by, the wall bend down to pay Salam to Martyred Imam Ali (as) and Head of Imam Hussain (as) was also kept here, there is a place where it was kept, after 2 mints drive there is Shrine of Hazrat Kumayl and then we headed to Masjid E Sehla, where there are Maqams of some Prophets, Including Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and there is a Maqam E Imam E Zamana (AJF) where He comes every Tuesday OR Wednesday to pray, Masjid hold big reputation according to traditions. The next day at 7 AM we had to leave for Baghdad, we had flight back to Pakistan, this was the most heart breaking thing in my life, leaving the step of Imam Ali (as) for my home! NO! I wanted Maula (as) to extend my stay, but I didn't knew Imam Ali (as) wanted to see me again soon, after 18 months he called me back again, from 11 Jan 2013 to July 1st 2014, it was only 18 months since I visited His grave again, but I felt like 18 million years. Before I wrap up everything let me share what the security guards said to me on airport while they were checking us.
He saw my passport, "You Al Bakistani?"
Me: Yes, Ana Al Bakistani.
He: Osama Murdabad.
Me: Habibi, Murdabad, he is enemy.
He: India Murdabad.
Me: Murdabad infinite times.
Hugs me and asks me to leave, even asked the other guy not to check my bag and help me to the way to airport! The people in group were like "Yeh sahi ja raha hai, humai bhool gaya in say say dosti kar k" and I was like "hasad na karo mehnat karo" :D
We arrived back to Karachi but I had left back in Karbala. I went there again and I hope I'll visit that beautiful place again and again until I die.

In the end I will wrap up praying that may Imam Hussain (as) call everyone of us to His shrine and make us a blessed one Ameen. Elahi Ameen. And I'll share about my Ziarat Of Iraq 2014 in my next blog.