Muhammad Jawad b. Shaykh Mashkur is considered amongst the most eminent of scholars from Najaf. He had the distinction of leading the Jamat (congregation) in the precincts of the shrine of Amir al Mumilhin (a.s.). He expired at the age of ninety years in 1337 A.H. He was buried near the blessed grave of Amir al Muminin (a.s.).
On the 26th of Safar, 1336, Shaykh Muhammad Jawad saw Malikul Maut in a dream. He greeted Malikul Maut and inquired, “Where are you coming from?”
Malikul Maut: ‘I am coming from Shiraz where I captured the soul of Mirza Ibrahim Mahlaqi.’
Shaykh: ‘What is his condition in Barzakh?’
Malikul Maut: ‘He is residing in the most exquisite of gardens in Barzakh. Allah has nominated angels at his beckoning.’
Shaykh: ‘Has he merited this distinction from his own actions or from training his students?’
Malikul Maut: ‘Neither’ Shaykh: ‘Has he earned this merit from leading Jamat or from propagating Allah’s commands?’
Malikul Maut: ‘Neither’
Shaykh: ‘Then what action has he performed that has warranted such eminence.’
Malikul Maut: ‘He has attained this elevated status by reciting Ziyarat Ashura.’
The following day Shaykh Mashkur visited Ayatullah Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi and recounted the strange dream. Mirza Shirazi heard Shaykh’s narration, and when he had finished, began weeping uncontrollably. The people sought the reason for Mirza’s wailing.
Mirza Shirazi replied,’ I am lamenting on account of Mirza Mahlaqi’s demise. For he was the pillar of jurisprudence (fiqh).’ The people said, ‘it is possible that the dream was not true.’ Mirza rejoined, ‘Although a dream, it was not witnessed by some ordinary individual, but by Shaykh Mashkur.’
The very next day a telegram was delivered to Najaf from Shiraz announcing Mirza Ibrahim Mahlaqi’s demise. Consequently the dream’s veracity was proved beyond doubt.
Scholars who were well acquainted with Mirza Ibrahim Mahlaqi have affirmed that, for the last thirty years of his life he had regularly recited Ziayrat Ashura. When some malady or ailment hindered him from recitation, he designated someone to recite it on his behalf.
The distinguished scholar, Mulke Hussaini Shirazi, attests to this fact when he relates that Shaykh Abul Hasan Hadaiq (another scholar) had narrated to him that when Mirza Ibrahim Mahlaqi was ill he appointed him to recite this Ziyarat on his behalf. Certain other scholars from Najaf have narrated this episode from Ayatullah Sayyed Abdul Hadi Shirazi.
The latter says, ‘I was present when Shaykh Mashkur was narrating his dream to Mirza Muhammad Taqi.’ Besides this, Mirza Mahlaqi’s son Sadruddin Mahlaqi, had himself heard the narration of Shaykh’s dream.
(Kitab Dastaanhaye Shaguft pg. 373 by Dastaghaib Shirazi)
Miracles of Ziyarat e Ashura – P.E.T Publications