A lot of questions are asked about the purpose and benefit of weeping and lamenting upon Imam Husain AS. The answer is given in this article.
There is no set time nor place to weep and mourn for Abi Abdillahil Husain AS for Imam Abu Abdillah Ja'far Al-Sadiq AS' decalred: EVERY DAY IS ASHOORAA, EVERY LAND IS KARBALA. Tears shed for the Imam AS serve first, to protest against the injustice perpetrated against The Prophet SAWW and his Ahlul Bayt AS. Second, to mourn the oppression wreaked upon the Ahlul Bayt AS. Third, to arouse curiosity of onlookers to ask and learn what happened. Fourth, to unmask the oppressors and the perpetrators of heinous crimes and expose them. Attempts to silence these tears and wailing and fatawi issued outlawing them for fear of exposing the tyrants and oppressors have been in vain. They stand exposed with their followers still perpetrating these heinous crimes against the devotees of Ahlul Bayt AS.
Weeping over Imam Husain AS was taught by The Prophet SAWW in his life-time.He assured his daughter Fatima AS that Allah SWT would create a community that would weep and mourn Imam Husain AS to the end of Time. The tragedy of Karbala was so intense and timeless that "in a distant age and climate, the tragedy of Karbala will not fail to move even the coldest reader." These words of an English historian echo The Prophet SAWW's that "Indeed, the heat of the grief for Hussein in the hearts of believers will never cool till the Day of Judgment".
The most difficult time for a human being is death. A suffering person hopes for relief, but cannot let go of persons and things he lived for. He knows death is inevitable, yet the uncertainty of what lies ahead creates an ennui. A very famous person was asked by Imam Al-Sadiq AS whether he ever went for the Ziyarah of Imam Husain AS in Karbala. The man replied he was afraid of being killed. So the Imam AS asked him if he ever wept for Imam Husain AS? The man said sometimes he became so sad remembering the Imam AS' sufferings that he abandoned eating and drinking. The Imam AS blessed him telling him that the angel of death instead of bearing frightening countenance will bring pleasant news for the one who shares the happiness and sorows of the Ahlul Bayt AS. Weeping over the Imam AS is that powerful.
The grave is another difficult stage. A real believer who makes another believer happy will see his good deeds lightning up his grave. A person who weeps over Imam Hussein AS makes The Prophet SAWW, Imam Ali AS, Seyyidah Fatima AS supplicate for his relief. Such a person never suffers any of the difficulties of the grave nor of Barzakh. Imam Al-Sadiq AS narrated that whoever wept over the Ahlul Bayt AS would pass the stage of Barzakh easily.
Then there is the Day of Judgment itself. That is the Day when everyone will be for himself. Imam Al-Sadiq AS advised the believers that abandoning worldly affairs on the Day of Ashooraa and spending it in mourning and worshiping will result in Allah SWT fulfilling his worldly and heavenly wishes. The Day of Ashooraa was considered a day of joy by the Umayyads because of their intense hatred for the Ahlul Bayt AS; so, Allah SWT will reward the devotee of Ahlul Bayt AS for the sorrow and sacrifices he makes on the Day of Ashooraa. The Day when everyone will view their book of deeds with trepidation awaiting judgment i.e. Paradise or Hell, the Shafi'i of Yaumul Jazaa, The Prophet SAWW and Aimmah AS will intercede for the devotees of Imam Hussein AS and seek their entry into Paradise.
All these rewards for just shedding tears? Yes, because these tears are for the innocent blood of Imam Hussein AS spilled in Karbala. The Imam AS gave up everything dearest and the nearest to him for the sake of Allah SWTand in lieu of that Allah SWT gave him Mastery over Paradise. The Imam AS will certainly look favorably upon his devotees and adherents. The Imam AS' thirst was so intense and unbearable. Thus, he was awarded four major recompenses: First, the Fountain of Kauthar and his devotees shall drink from it from the moment of death to the Day of Judgment. Second, the Spring of Life "Nahrul Hayawaan" that came into existence in lieu of the tears of the mourners of the Imam AS. Third, on Ashooraa Day the earth and its inhabitants, the heavens and its inhabitants, and the angels weep over the Imam AS and that in itself is recompense non-paraeil. Fourth, anyone who drinks water and remembers the Imam AS' thirst in Karbala heeds his call. We salute you, O Sayyidu Sshuhadaa, with ASSALAMU ALAYKA YA QATILAL ABARAAT.
