Supplication Before the Recitation of the Holy Quran

1. He [mursal = trasmitter] said: “Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) used to supplicate thus when reading the Book of Allāh, to Whom belong Might and Majesty: ‘O Allāh! Our Lord! All praise is due to You – You are the Only One with power and firm authority. And all praise is due to You – You are the Exalted with might and grandeur above the heavens and the Great Throne. Our Lord! All praise is due to You – You suffice with Your knowledge whereas all those who possess knowledge need You. Our Lord! All praise is due to You, O revealer of signs and the Great Reminder. Our Lord! All praise be to You for what You have taught us of wisdom and the Manifest, Glorious Qur’ān. O Allāh, You taught it to us before we sought to learn it and selected us before we sought to benefit from it. O Allāh, if this was a blessing from You and a bounty, a generosity, a kindness to us, a mercy upon us and a favour to us without our having strived or attempted [to acquire it] or exerted [any effort], then O Allāh make dear to us its beautiful recitation, the memorization of its verses, belief in its allegorical verses, action upon its clear verses, insight into its esoteric meanings, guidance in understanding its application and illumination from its light. “’O Allāh, just as You have revealed it to be a cure for Your friends, a misery for Your enemies, a blindness for the people who disobey You and a light for those who obey You, O Allāh make it [also] a fortress for us from Your chastisement, a sanctuary from Your wrath, a barrier from Your disobedience, a protection from Your anger, a guide towards Your obedience, and a light on the day we meet You by which we may be get illumination among Your creation, cross over Your bridge and get guidance to Your Paradise. O Allāh, we seek refuge with You from wretchedness in bearing it [without reading it], blindness from its knowledge, transgressing its commands, overstepping its limits and falling short of its rights. O Allāh, help us bear its heaviness, make us deserving of its reward, inspire us to be grateful for it, and make us care for it and preserve it. O Allāh, assist us to follow it in what it describes as lawful, eschew what it classifies as forbidden, establish its boundaries and fulfill its obligations. “’O Allāh grant us joy in its recitation, energy in establishing it, fear [of You] in its recital and strength in employing it during the darkness of night and light of day. O Allāh, enable us to suffice with little sleep and wake us during the night from the slumber of the sleepers, and awaken us during the moments wherein supplication is accepted from the drowsiness of the somnolent. O Allāh, make our hearts astute in encountering its wonders that never cease, delighted when we repeat it, take lessons when we review it, and gain clear benefit when we seek its understanding. O Allāh, we seek refuge with You from its relegation in our hearts, from leaving it aside as we sleep and from casting it behind our backs. We seek refuge with You from the hardness of our hearts towards Your advice for us in it. O Allāh, benefit us with what You have stated in Your verses and remind us with what You have mentioned of parables, and through its interpretation, cover up our sins and multiply our reward; and raise our station through it, and receive us with glad tidings after we die. O Allāh, make it a provision that strengthens us as we stand beforeYou, and a clear path that we can follow to reach You, and a beneficial knowledge by which we may express gratitude for Your blessings, and a true humility by which we may glorify Your names, for indeed You have taken it as a proof against us and have severed our excuse by it. You have made it such a blessing for us that our gratitude for it always falls short. O Allāh, make it a guardian for us that keeps us steadfast from lapses, a guide towards the best of actions, a guiding helper that protects us from straying and a supporter that strengthens us against ennui until it makes us attain the loftiest of [our] hopes. “’O Allāh, make it a intercessor for us on the Day of Meeting, and a weapon on the Day of Elevation, and a witness for us on the Day of Judgement, and a light on the Day of Darkness – the day when there is no earth and no sky, the day when every striver will be rewarded for what he strove. O Allāh, make it a quenching for us on the Day of Thirst, and a [means of] success for us on the Day of Recompense from the blazing Fire which has little compassion for those who burn in its inferno. O Allāh, make it an evidence for us before all the people on the day when the inhabitants of the earth and the heavens are gathered. O Allāh, grant us the station of the martyrs, the life of the felicitous, and the company of the Prophets ‒ indeed You hear all supplications.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Karram who has said the following: “Once, I said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), that I have placed upon myself to fast until the rise of al-Qa”im, (the one who rises with Divine Authority). He (the Imam) said, ’Fast but do not fast on a journey, or the two ‘Id, the days of tashriq (11, 12 and 13) and the day which is doubtful about its being of the month of Ramadan.”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn Hariz who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you buy merchandise or something say Takbir (Allah is great beyond description). Then say, ‘O Allah, I have purchased this and I seek in it your extra favor, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. O Allah, place in it of your extra favors. O Allah, I have purchased it and seek in it sustenance from You. O Allah, place sustenance in it.’ Thereafter repeat each of the above three times.”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu al-Sabbah al-Kinaniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘ ’Ila’ (swearing) does not take place unless one has gone to bed with his wife.”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad from Salim Mawla Tirbal from Hariz who has narrated the following: “This is about the case of a man who goes to bed with his slave-girl and sends her to do certain works for him. She becomes pregnant; he [accuses] her and receives news of her misbehaving. He (the Imam) said, ‘When she gives birth he must keep the child and must not sell him but assign for him a share from his house [and assets].’ It was then asked about a man who goes to bed with his slave-girl, does not send her to work for him but he accuses her of misbehaving and she becomes pregnant. He (the Imam) said, ‘When she gives birth he must keep the child and must not sell but assign a share for the child from his house and assets. This is not like that.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Ushaym who has said the following: “Al-Husayn once wrote to al-Rida’ (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, a man had vowed to fast for certain days and fasted a few days, then he became ill and stopped fasting. Is he required to start fasting all over again or are the days that he had fasted are counted?’ He (the Imam) wrote the answer that said, ‘The days that he had fasted are also counted.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Tha’labah ibn Maymun from Hudhayl who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you want to buy a slave-girl say this, ‘O Allah, I consult You and pray to You to grant me what is good.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from ‘Abd al-Karim from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man’s ’ Ila ’ (swearing) against his wife before going to bed with her. He (the Imam) said, ‘ 7/a’ (swearing) does not take place until one goes to bed with his wife.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from ibn Mahbub from ‘ Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man from al-Ansar (people of al-Madinah) came to my father and said, ‘I am facing a huge problem. I have a slave-girl and I would go to bed with her. One day I went to bed with her, then went out for a certain work after taking Ghusl (bath); but I had forgotten something so I returned back home and found my slave on her belly. I counted nine months from that day and she gave birth to a girl. My father said to him, ‘It is not proper for you to go close to her. Do not sell her. Spend for her from your assets as long as you live, and make a will to spend for her after your death from your assets until Allah makes a way out thereof.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from and Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you decide to buy something say this, “O Living, O Guardian, O Eternal, O Compassionate, O Merciful I pray to You through Your majesty, Your power and all that Your knowledge encompasses, grant me of business the greatest share of sustenance, vastest extra favors and the best of consequences; there is no goodness in that which is void of good consequences.’” He (the narrator) has said that abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘When you buy an animal or a head (living thing) say this, “O Allah, make it to live the longest, benefit the most and of the best consequences.’””

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn ‘Udhaynah who has said that I do not know this Hadith except from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One can only be in ’ Ila ’ (swearing) against his wife when he goes to bed with her.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about a man who has made obligatory upon himself to fast one month in al-Kufah, one month in al-Madinah and one month in Makkah because of an affliction whereby he suffered. He fasted one month in al-Kufah, then he entered al-Madinah and fasted for eighteen days, but then the camel man did not stay any longer. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can fast the remaining days at home when he comes back.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar, who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you decide to buy an animal, say this, “O Allah, if this is of great blessings, extra benefits and of a fortunate nature, I pray to You to make its purchasing easy for me. If it is otherwise, then turn me to what is better than this; You know and I do not know. You have power over all things but I do not have such power and You know the unseen.” You should say this three times’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu al-Sabbah al-Kinaniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man who was involved in 7/a’ (swearing) against his wife before going to bed with her, asked ’Amir al-Mu’minin. He (the Imam) said, ‘ 7/a’ (swearing) does not place until one goes to bed with his wife,’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘If a man swears not to go to bed with his wife for two years or more, can this be 7/a’ (swearing)?”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has narrated from his ancestors who have narrated this Hadith: ‘Ali (a.s.), has said about a man, who had vowed to fast for a Zamanan (a certain amount of time), that Zaman is five months, al-Hin is six months; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘It gives its fruits kulla Hin (every time) by the permission of its Lord.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Khalid ibn Jarir from abu al-Rabi’ who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who has said, ‘It is from Allah upon me to fast a Hin (a certain amount of time) for thanksgiving.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘A similar case came to Ali (a.s.), and he said, ‘Fast for six months; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘It gives its fruits kulla Hin by the permission of its Lord’, that is six months.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has narrated from his ancestors, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, who have stated this Hadith. ’If a man places upon himself fasting of certain known days of every month, then he goes on a journey and many months pass, such person is not required to fast on a journey as well as at home when he comes back.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

8. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who fasts because of what he has timed upon himself or to fast of the sacred months and then one or two months pass during which he does not fast at all. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is not required to fast on a journey and there is not anything of Qada’ (compensatory fast) for optional fast except the three days that he would fast every month. He must not take it as obligatory except that I like you to continue with a good deed.’ He (the Imam) said, ’For the one committing himself to fast in the sacred months, fasting of three days, instead of fasting the whole of sacred month, is sufficient.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

9. Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a man who places upon himself for Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, fasting of a definite day. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to fast definitely, regardless of being on a journey or at home.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal ibn Bukayr from Zurarah who has said the following: “My mother had placed upon herself from Allah to fast a certain day if Allah returned one of her children safely from the danger of which she was afraid, and she would then fast the day her child came back. She did not stay; instead came out with us for Makkah and it became difficult for us because we did not know whether she was required to fast or not. I then asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about it and explained to him (the Imam) what she had done. He (the Imam) said, ’She is not required to fast on a journey. Allah has exempted her of His rights: why then must she fast because of what she has placed from Allah upon herself?’ I then asked him (the Imam), ‘What will happen if she did not do it at all?’ He (the Imam) said, ’If so, I fear for her to experience in the matter for which she had vowed to see what she may dislike.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn ‘Abdillah who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, 'May I be sacrificed for you, it is upon me to fast for one month if my uncle is released from jail. He came out from jail and I decided to start the fast, but then someone from our companions came and I invited him for lunch, and I had lunch with him.' He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.