Shaykh Samaami Haeri writes about an incident that Shaykh Moosa Sabt Shaykh narrated to him in Najaf. A person was wandering in his quest for alchemy and had this desire to somehow acquire this knowledge. (Alchemy is the art of turning base metal into gold). So he went to the shrine of Imam Husayn (a.s.), sat in a specific place and recited Ziyarat Ashura, both Marefah and Ghair Marefah, everyday, for a period of three years.
Then after the termination of the three years, when he had completed his entreating, he saw Imam Husayn (a.s.) in a dream. Imam (a.s.) asked him, ‘For what you have been beseeching me for so long?’ That person replied, ‘For the knowledge of alchemy.’ Imam (a.s.) said: ‘But that knowledge is of no use to you.’ However that man persisted in his demands. So finally Imam (a.s.) said, ‘Okay. Go to the grave of Habib ibn Mazahir Asadi. You will find a blind man there, who has this knowledge.’
That man immediately rushed towards the shrine of Habib ibn Mazahir Asadi and reached there even before the gates of the shrine were opened. He waited outside for the blind man. Then suddenly he saw him, but was shocked to see that, that man was very poor and people were advancing to give him alms. This person approached that blind man and revealed the entire incident relating to Imam Husayn (a.s.). However, the blind man refused to disclose the secret of alchemy.
This person was dejected and again beseeched Imam Husayn (a.s.). Imam (a.s.) again referred him to the blind man. The blind man again refused. This went on till the third time. Finally when that person insisted too much, the blind man agreed.
He took that person to the grave of ibn Abi Fahad and gave him formula and said that if you mix it like this it will turn into gold and this gold will be of benefit to you and your family. But that person said that he did not want the gold but he wanted the knowledge of alchemy. The blind man said if that is what you want then you will have to wait for three days.
When that person returned after three days he saw that. That blind man had passed away and had thrown away all the apparatus for alchemy out of his room.
Miracles of Ziyarat e Ashura – P.E.T Publications