In talking with Hujjatul Islam Wal Muslimin Kazem Sediqi
We need the light of infallible Imams (A.S.)

To you is the Ziarah (visit) of the Ahlul Bayt (A.S.) only limited to going to the shrine of these great people, touching their Shrine, reciting the Ziarah pray and saying prayer or there is something beyond these deeds?
Ziarah is both what you explained and beyond this. I.e. all these deeds are an introduction to Ziarah. In dictionary meaning Ziarah means to visit. For example, in the convention this word is used in this meaning. So, Ziarah is mostly used in this meaning. According to these definitions, Ziarah means to visit and benefit from the affection.
Regarding the infallible Imams (A.S.), visiting them during their life is considered as Ziarah. As regards Imam Al-Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance) at the present moment, it is certain that Ayatullah Bahjat visitedImam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance). Yes, if a prson goes to Imam (AS.), s/he has visited him (Ziarah). The holy Prophet (S.A.W.A), Hazrat Zahra (S.A.), Imam Ali (A.S.) and the rest of infallible Imams are present no matter they are alive or dead; They have knowledge and are aware of this world.

So Ziarah is beyond the superficial matters which we think of?
At Ziarah of the upper side of Ali bin Musa Al-Reza‘s (A.S.) shrine we read “O’ God toward you I have come”. We have come to Ziarah of Imam Reza (A.S.), but when we visit his shrine in person, we say “O’ God toward you I have come”.
It becomes clear that Hazrat Reza (A.S.) is like a mirror that God is seen in it. This mirror reflects the God’s greatness, His characteristics and His Beautiful names. When we visit Imam Reza (A.S.), it is as if we have visited God. Our Imams (A.S.) have no “selfness” they have come to reflect God.
Their existence, life and shrine show the God. So, by these statements we came to the conclusion which is in the Surah Hajj, verse 32: “and whoever respects the signs of Allah, this surely is (the outcome) of the piety of hearts”. Ziarah is respecting the God’s signs. Imam Reza (A.S.) guides him/ her toward the God; the result of being with Imam Reza (A.S.) is the move toward the most High God.
This is the panoramic mirror of the God and the one who goes to his Ziarah, in fact goes to Ziarah of the Most High God and reaches God. What is the way of reaching God? The answer to this question is given at the last verse of the surah Hajj. According to this verse, the one who visits the shrines of the infallible Imams (A.S.), for sure has respected the God’s signs.

Can it be said that for Ziarah of the Imams (A.S.) it is not required to go to the town in which their tomb is located rather in places other than these cities, we can be considered as pilgrim as well?
Yes for example, in Tehran we can be pilgrim of the holy Prophet of Islam, Imam Hussein (A.S.), Hazrat Zahra (S.A.), and martyrs of Karbala. But why it has been advised to go to Medina, Karbala or Mashhad?
The answer of this question is that since these holy places act as communication codes, the state and spirit of the person in these places is different from other places. So when the person comes out of his own state, sees a shrine and the people who have eagerly come there with the intention of Ziarah, spontaneously s/he exits from the world of superfluity and its belongings which acted as a block for him/her and achieves the spirit of Ziarah.

How the special state of Ziarah and visit is achieved?
Before the Revolution, we held English classes in Mashhad. The late Shahid Beheshti held those classes for us. We had an English teacher who was the resident of America, he was Shia and very strict. He said that I take the tourists to shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.).
I think that seeing the eagerness and state of the pilgrims, influences them more than tens of conferences, pamphlets and papers. Actually they feel a truth there. So our infallible Imams (A.S.) and Prophet (S.A.W.A) have explained the matter of Ziarah as migration towards their burial place, and there are many philosophies and wisdom in this.

So how we can have a true Ziarah in the shrines of Imam’s (A.S.)?
A true Ziarah is realized when we connect to Imam’s (A.S.) by heart, the obstacle and veils are removed and the person really sees himself/ herself beside Imams for examples Imam Reza (A.S.) and Imam Hussein (A.S.). This state would be realized in their shrines or even if it is not realized it is much better and more effective than Ziarah of Imams while you are at home or work.

How should be the state of a person who goes to shrine with the intention of having a real Ziarah?
One of the secrets is crying. Ayatullah Bahjat knew this secret. He said: when you arrive in the shrine, ask for permission to enter; try to cry and when you cry it means that you are allowed to enter.
One of the signs of permission for entering the shrine is crying; Ayatullah Bahjat has said that if you are not able to cry, keep a mournful state as it is done in commemoration of the martyrs of Karbala and Imam Hussein (A.S.); i.e. you put your hand on your forehead in a mournful state even though you cannot cry; doing so will also have the award of those who have cried. So here the pilgrim should keep a state of being mournful even if s/he is not able to cry.

What is the benefit of our Ziarah for the infallible Imam (A.S.)?
The answer for this question has been given in Ziarah of Jamia Kabira. It is a divine Ziarah. According to this Ziarah, it is understood that the infallible Imams have not any defects so that our Ziarah adds soothing to them.
They were a true light; their light was not decreased by stepping into this world. We are in veils but they are bright and have light. This light is called Marifat Allah (knowing God). Our Ziarah or visit to Imam Reza’a shrine doesn’t add anything to him but the person who does so will benefit from their favors and graces. It is because of infallible Imams (A.S.) that the God has created this world.

What advice will you give to the pilgrims of Imam Reza (A.S.)?
I think it is better to first enter the threshold of Imam Reza’s (A.S.) shrine as the great religious scholars did. Ayatullah Bahjat said: a religious scholar’s foot ached and the physicians could not cure him.
Medicines didn’t have any effect. He was specialist in unknown sciences. After some calculations, he knew that when Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance) would come to Ziarah of Hazrat Reza (A.S.). So he decided to go to the shrine at that time. Several hours before that time, he entered the threshold of the shrine. That man says: when I entered the shrine I saw many people in beautiful Arab dresses who were standing at one side of the shrine. I was sure that these people can lead me to Imam (A.S.).
They moved and I followed them. Then they stopped, stood aside and began to pray. I said to myself that I have not seen Imam’s face but I will follow them so that I can see him or ask one of these people who have seen Imam (A.S) and make the request of seeing Imam from them.
Although their glory prevented me from approaching them, I went toward one of them and asked him are you my Imam? Then one of them came to the man whom I had addressed and said to him: “O’ Khidr I saw Mahdi (A.S.)”. Khidr got nervous and hurried away, I followed them, they returned and again I followed them.
They were walking slowly but I was running behind them; they reached the door of the shrine. When I saw that my entire endeavor was useless, I said to myself: I will yell out and call Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance). As I wanted to put my hand on my ear and yell out that I had come here and hoped to see you; I saw that Hazrat Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance) turned toward me and looked at me; I was too shocked to utter a word.
Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance) went away. And when I came to my senses, I noticed that I have traversed the course in a very short while, whilst I may feet ached and I couldn’t pass through this course less than 30 minutes. Suddenly I remembered that I have run all the way. So I realized that the pain in my feet has been healed and my feet don’t ache anymore.
Now I say to you that a lot of these kinds of matters have happened in Imam Reza’s shrine. Many of the great religious scholars have seen the Imams (A.S.) and other great men like Sheikh Bahaei.
Some of our contemporary religious scholars, too, have seen Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance) there. I think it is better to visit Imam Reza’s (A.S.) shrine hoping to see Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance).