Concise Supplications for Worldly Needs and the Hereafter

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Isma’Il ibn Sahl from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jundab from his father from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Say, ‘O Lord, make me fear You as if I see You and help me to be pious before You, do not make me miserable because of my energy to disobey You, chose me for Your determination, bless me with Your measure so I will not love the delay of that which You have hastened and the quickening of what You have delayed. Make me self reliant, benefit me from my hearing, and eyes and make them inherent in me, support me against those who have done injustice to me, and show me Your power in it, O Lord, and make it a delight to my eyes.”’

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 al-Hassan ibn Rashid who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who purposely postpones fasting for the times when days of the year are shorter. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

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

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from Hammad ibn Bashir who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Proper weighing is only when a balance tilts to one side.”’

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 Jamil ibn Darraj from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who says to his wife, ’You from my side are free, cleared and severed’ or ‘you are unlawful.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect.’”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Jamil ibn Darraj from Zakariya ibn Yahya from al-Shu‘ayriy from al-Hakam ibn ‘Utaybah who has narrated the following: “Once we were with abu Ja‘far (a.s.). We were in a group waiting for him (the Imam) to come out. A woman came and asked, ’Which one of you is abu Ja‘far?’ The people asked, ‘What for are you asking for him?’ She replied, T want to ask him about an issue.’ They said, ‘This is the jurist of the people of Iraq. You can ask him your question.’ She said, ‘My husband has died and has left one thousand dirham as legacy. He owed me five hundred dirham as my mahr (dower) and my share of inheritance which I took from the legacy but then a man came and said my husband owed him one thousand dirham and I testified in his favor.’ Al-Hakam has said, ‘I was calculating it that abu Ja‘far (a.s.), came out and said, ‘Why is it that I see you move your fingers, O Hakam?’ I replied, ‘This woman has mentioned that her husband has died. He has left one thousand dirham as legacy. He owed to her five hundred dirham as her mahr (dower). She took her dower and the share of her inheritance but then a man came and said that her husband owed him one thousand dirham and she testified in his favor.’ Hakam has said, ‘By Allah I had not completed my words that he (the Imam) said, ‘She has confessed to give back one-third of what she has in her hand and she does not have anything as her share of inheritance.’ Hakam has said, ‘I had never seen, by Allah, anyone more intelligent than abu Ja‘far (a.s.).”’ [Note: The next several passages of the Arabic text are words of al-Fadl and are not translated.]

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 al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ibrahim ibn Mahziyar from Husayn ibn abu Hamzah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), if I can delay fasting of three days of every month to fast in winter. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

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

2. Through the same chain of narrators as the previous one from Ya’qub ibn Yazid from Muhammad ibn Murazim from a man from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one uses a balance with the intention to weigh for himself properly ends up weighing heavier for himself, and one who intends to weigh equally, ends up weighing less.’”

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 Khalid and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a man who says to his wife, ‘You from my side are free and cleared.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect.’”

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn Hamzah and Husayn ibn ‘Uthman from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has narrated the following: “About the case of a man who dies and certain ones of his heirs confirm his indebtedness to a man, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It becomes binding upon them on their shares.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurara from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “O Lord, I plead to receive from You (my share of) all good which Your knowledge encompasses, I seek protection with You against all evil which is encompassed by Your knowledge, O Lord, I plead before You for good health from You in all of my affairs, I seek protection with You against losses in this world and the torment of the next life.”

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

3. Ahmad ibn Idris and Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah from ‘Ammar ibn Musa who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who owes three days of fasting of every month if it is proper for him to delay and fast in the end of the month. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’ I then asked, ‘Should he fast with intervals in between or without it? He (the Imam) said, ‘Whichever way he likes, with or without interval as he chooses.’”

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

3. Through the same chain of narrators as the previous one from al-Hajjal from ‘Ubayd ibn Ishaq who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I own palm trees. Instruct me how to be proper in my giving and taking.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘Keep your intention to maintain it (crop) properly fair; if despite such intention, less proper fairness takes place, you are of those who maintain it properly. On the other hand, if you intended it to be less proper, but maintained it properly, you are of those who maintain it less properly.’”

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 Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who says to his wife, ‘You from my side are free, cleared and severed’ or ‘you are unlawful.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect.’”

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa and A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad all from Ali ibn Ziyad has said that Ali ibn Basir once wrote to the Imam asking him to write for him a supplication at the bottom of the page of his own letter with instructions, a supplication that would keep him safe from sins and with comprehensive benefits in this world and in the hereafter. The Imam (a.s.) wrote to me in his own handwriting: “(I begin) in the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, O the One who manifests the good things, hides the bad ones, does not rip apart the covering from me (my privacy), O magnanimous in pardoning, O the One who overlooks faults with grace, whose forgiveness is vast, whose hands are wide open with kindness, who is the companion of every whisperer, the end receiver of complaints, who honorably pardons, the great provider of favors, the initiator of bounties before a recipient would deserve it, O Lord, O Master, O Guardian, O Rescuer, grant al-Salat (favors) upon Muhammad and his family, and I plead before You not to place me in the fire.’”

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, from Ali ibn al-Hakam, from Muthanna al-Hannat, from some of our companions, from Abu Abdillah al-Sadiq (as), who said: "I said to him, 'A man has the intention of being honest, but when he measures, he does not know how to measure.' He said, 'What do those around him say?' I said, 'They say he does not fulfill (his measures).' He replied, 'This person should not measure.'"

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

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from more than one person who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not a proper weighing until a side of balance tilts.’”

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

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn abu Hamza from his father who has said the following: “Once I saw Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) praying in the vicinity of al-Ka’bah in the night. He prolonged in standing so much so that he would lean on his right leg once and then on the left leg. Then I heard him saying with a crying voice, ‘O my Master, will You punish me while there is Your love in my heart? If You will do so You will be placing me together with the people with whom, just for Your sake, I had been enemies all along.’”

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

15. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Sujaym from ibn abu Muhammad ibn Ya’Fur who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, his hands raised to the sky, ‘O Lord, do not ever leave me to myself, not even for a blinking of an eye, no less or more than that,’ and immediately with this tears flowed down on both sides of his beard. He then turned to me and said, ‘O ibn Ya’fur, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, left Yunus son of Mathew to his own self for less than a blinking of an eye and that sin came to take place.’ I then asked, ‘May Allah keep you well, did he reach disbelief in it?’ The Imam said, ‘No, but dying in such a condition is destruction.’”

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

20. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from certain individuals of his people from Husayn ibn ‘Ammarah from Husayn ibn abu Sa’id al-Makari and Jahm ibn abu Jahmah from abu Ja’far - a man from al-Kufa who was know by his being father of someone - who has said the following: “Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) to instruct me with a supplication with which I can pray to Allah. The Imam agreed and told me to say, ‘O the One who is my hope in all that is good, O the One whose anger is not feared (in certain cases) in every mistake, O the One who grants a great deal for very little, O the One who gives to whoever asks Him for help out of compassion and kindness, O the One who gives to those who do not even ask for help and do not even know Him, grant al-Salat (favors) upon Muhammad and his family, bestow upon me for my plea all the good of the world and the hereafter; what You have given me already is not just a little and increase for me from Your vast generosity, O the Magnanimous One.’”

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

22. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al- Husayn ibn Sa’id from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa and Harun ibn Kharijah who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘(O Allah) grant mercy upon me in the matters for which I do not have the ability to remain patient.’”

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

25. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Khath’ami from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once abu Dharr came to the Messenger of Allah while Jibril (Gabriel) was, in the form of Dihyah al-Kalbi (one of the companions of the Holy Prophet), in a private meeting with the Messenger of Allah. When he saw them he turned away from them and did not want to disrupt their conversation. Jibril (Gabriel) said, ‘O Muhammad this was abu Dharr passed by us and did not offer us the greeting of peace, had he done so we would have responded to his greeting. O Muhammad, he has a supplication with which he prays, and is well-known among the inhabitants of the heaven. When I will ascend ask him about it.’ “When Jibril (Gabriel) left, abu Dharr came to the Holy Prophet and the Messenger of Allah said to him, ‘O abu Dharr what stopped you from offering us the greeting of peace when you passed by?’ He said, ‘O Messenger of Allah I thought the person with you was Dihyah al-Kalbi in a private meeting for something of your affairs.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘That was Jibril (Gabriel), O abu Dharr and he said, “Had he (abu Dharr) offered us the greeting of peace we would have responded to his greeting.’’ When abu Dharr learned that it was Jibril (Gabriel) he, Allah knows well, how deeply he regretted his not offering the greeting. The Messenger of Allah asked, ‘What is the supplication with which you pray? Jibril (Gabriel) has informed me that you have a prayer whereby you implore and it is well-known in heaven’ He said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah, I say, “O Lord, I plead before You for peace and belief in You, affirmation of Your prophet, well-being and safety from all misfortunes, to be thankful for the well-being and safety and free of want from the people.’”

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

27. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Say, ‘O Lord, increase my sustenance, prolong my life, forgive my sins and make me of those whom You employ to support Your religion and do not replace me by others.’”

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

29. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Ya’qub ibn Shu’ayb from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “O light, O Holy, O the First of the beings in the beginning, O the Last of the beings of the later times, O the Beneficent, O the Merciful, forgive my such sins that change the bounties, forgive my such sins that bring in misfortunes, forgive my such sins that crush the protections, forgive my such sins that send down evil conditions, forgive my such sins that assist the enemy, forgive my such sins that hasten destruction, forgive my such sins that cut off hope, forgive my such sins that darken the space, forgive my such sins that remove the cover and grace, forgive my such sins that repulse the prayer and forgive my such sins that turn away the rain from the sky.”

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

2. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from abu Sulayman al-Jassas from Ibrahim ibn Maymun who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘O Lord, assist me in the horror of the Day of Judgment, take me out of this world safely, pair me up with the beings having intensely white and deep black eyes ( hur al- ‘ Ayn ) suffice me my needs, the needs of my dependents and the needs of people and include me in Your kindness among Your virtuous servants.’”

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

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from abu ‘Abd Allah al-Barqi and abu Talib from Bakr ibn Muhammad from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “O Lord, You are my trustee in every distressful condition. You are my hope in all suffering, You are for me in all of my problems, (You are) my trustee and my resources. How many were the distressful conditions wherein the heart weakened, patience ran thin, people near left out and the enemies rejoiced all matters were exhausted? You assisted me in the matters that I had brought before You and complained about them to You, turning away from everyone besides You and You changed it into happiness, removed the hardships and sufficed it (in its removal). You are the patron of all blessings, the provider of all help, the end of all interests, all praise belongs to You a great deal and thanks to You in addition.”

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

6. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban from ‘Isa ibn ‘Abd Allah al- Qummi from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: "Say, ‘O Lord, I plead before You through Your Glory, Beauty and Magnanimity to provide me such and such help,’ one should mention one’s wishes.”

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

7. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Mahbub from al- Fadl ibn Yunus who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) once said to me, ‘Say very often, “O Lord, do not place me among those whose belief is temporary and do not take me out of shortcomings.” I (the narrator) then asked, ‘I know who the people of temporary belief are, but what is the meaning of, ‘Do not take me out of shortcomings?’ The Imam said, ‘In every good deed you may perform just for the sake of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, you should feel within yourself as falling far short; all people in their deeds between them and Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, fall far short from perfect.’”

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

8. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Mahbub from Aban from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘A’Yun who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, forgave a man from the village by two words with which he pleaded before Allah. He said, O Lord, if You punish me, it is because I deserve it and if You forgive me it is worthy of You (Your greatness) and (for this) Allah granted him forgiveness.’”

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

9. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Yahya ibn al- Mubarak from Ibrahim ibn abu al-‘Ala’-Balad, from his uncle from al-Rida (a.s.) who has said the following: “O the One who guided me to His Ownself and humbled my heart due to its affirming His existence, I plead before You for peace and belief in this world and in the hereafter.”

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

11. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from certain individuals of our people from Dawud al-Raqqi who has said the following: “I would listen to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) praying and what he insisted upon most when pleading before Allah was “throught right and virtue” of the five Holy personalities: the Messenger of Allah, Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib, Fatimah al-Zahra, al-Hassan and al-Husayn, recipients of divine supreme covenant. (For example saying, ‘O Lord, throught Muhammad and so and so grant me this and that.’)

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

12. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Ayyub from Ibrahim al-Karkhi who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) had instructed us with this supplication to read on Fridays: ‘O Lord, I have relied on Your help in my needs and I have arrived before You on the day of my poverty and destitution. Today I rely on Your forgiveness more than on my deeds; Your mercy is more vast than my sins. Take all of my needs in Your hands; You have power over all of them. They cause no burden for You and I am desperately needy. 1 have never received any good from anyone except You and no one has ever diverted any evil from me except You. I do not have any hope in anyone for my worldly or the affairs of the hereafter except from You, nor do I have any hope in anyone for my day of desperation when people leave me in the hole (the grave) dug for me and I am being left to You, O Lord, with my poverty.’”

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

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from al- Husayn ibn ‘Atiyyah from Zayd ibn al-Sa’Igh who has said the following: “Once I said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) ‘Please, pray to Allah for us.’ The Imam said, ‘O Lord, give them truthfulness in their words (Hadith), safe keeping of their trust and punctuality for prayer, O Lord, they are the most deserving, among Your creatures, of Your favors, O Lord, grant them favors.’”

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

14. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from abu Hamza from Ali ibn al- Husayn (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) would say, ‘O Lord, oblige me with the ability to place my trust in You and leave my affairs in Your hands, agree with Your measures, submit to Your command so that I do not love the hastening of what You have delayed or the delay of what You have hastened, O Lord of the worlds.’”

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

16. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid in a marfu’ manner has narrated the following: “Once Jibril (Gabriel) came to the Holy Prophet and said, ‘Your Lord says to you, “When you like to worship Me a day or night a true worshipping, raise your hands to Me and say, ‘O Lord, all praise belongs to You, the eternal praise with Your eternity, all praise belongs to You, a great unending deal of praise except by Your knowledge, all praise belongs to You, beyond the limits of all limits except by Your wish and will, all praise belongs to You, a great deal of praise for whose speaker nothing is enough reward except Your happiness, all praise belongs to You, all praise, all favors, all pride, all beauty, all the light, all the majesty, all the might, all greatness, all the world, all the hereafter, all the night, all the day, all the creatures and all good is in Your hand and to You all matters return, its apparent and hidden. “O Lord, all praise belongs to You, the praise for ever, Your trial is well done. Your tribute is glorious, Your bounties are delightful. Your determination is just, Your gifts are generous. Your rewards are handsome and You are the Lord of those on earth and the Lord of those in the heavens. O Lord, all praise belongs to You, a praise in the mighty seven, all praise belongs to You, in the well-stretched earth, all praise belongs to You, to the capability of the servants, all praise belongs to You, to the fill of the lands, all praise belongs to You in the mountains firmly standing, all praise belongs to You in the night when it becomes dark, all praise belongs to You in the day when it is bright, all praise belongs to You, in the hereafter and in the one before, all praise belongs to You, in the, al-Mathani (name of Chapter One of the Holy Quran) and the great Quran. I testify that Allah is free of all defects, I speak of His praise and all of the earth is in His control. On the Day of Judgment the heavens will be folded by His right hand. I testify that You are pure of all defects, our Lord, the Most High, the Most Blessed, the Most Holy, You have created all things by Your power, subdued all things by Your majesty. You are high above all things by Your highness, You are dominant over all things by Your power, You have invented all things by Your wisdom and knowledge, You have commissioned the messengers with Your books and guided the virtuous people by Your permission, supported the believing people with Your victory. You reign the creatures by Your authority, no one deserves to be worshipped except You alone and You have no partner. We do not worship anyone other than You, we do not ask for help from anyone other than You and we do not incline to anyone other than toward You, You are the One before Whom we complain, the end of our hope, our Lord and our owner.’”

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

17. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Mu’awiyah ibn ‘ Ammar who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) on his own initiation said to me, ‘O Mu’awiyah, bear in mind that a man once came to Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) complaining of the delay for the answer to his prayer. Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) asked, “Why do you not pray with the quick for acceptance supplication (prayer quickly accepted)?” The man then said, ‘Please tell me what that supplication is?’ The Imam told him to say, ‘O Lord, I plead before You through Your great name, the greatest one, the glorious one, the magnanimous one, the one treasured and hidden, the light of the truth, and the clear authority in the argument. It is a light with light, a light from a light, a light in a light, a light over a light, a light above all lights, a light that illuminates all darkness, crumbles down all hardships, all condemned devils and every hardheaded tyrant. (It is such) a light that the earth cannot hold and the sky cannot not withstand. With it every frightened person feels secure, every magician’s magic will turn invalid, and the transgression of every transgressor, the envy of every envier will turn ineffective. Due to its greatness the ocean splits open, the ships sail in safety when the angel speak with it, the waves will have no way to it and that is Your greatest of great, glorious of glorious name, the great light with which You have named Yourself and with it You have established Your power over Your Throne. I turn to You through Muhammad and his family and I plead before You to grant al-Salat (favors) upon Muhammad and his family, to provide me help in such and such of my needs. (One then should mention his wishes)”’

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

18. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Khalaf ibn Hammad from ‘Amr ibn abu al-Miqdam who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) dictated this supplication to me and it is of universal benefit for this and the hereafter. Say after thanking and praising Allah: “O Lord, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the Forbearing, the Magnanimous, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the Majestic, the Wise, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the One and only, the Conqueror, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the King, the Compeller, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the Merciful, the Forgiver, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, Whose retribution is most intense, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the Great, the Most High, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, The Hearer, the Seeing, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the Defender, the Most Powerful, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the Lenient, the Appreciator, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the Praiseworthy, the Glorious, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the Forgiving, the Loving, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the Compassionate, the Obliging, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the Forbearing, the recompensing. You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the Generous, the Exalted, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the One, the Only, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the Unseen, the Ever Present, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the Apparent and Hidden, You are Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except You, Who has the knowledge of all things. Your light is complete. You guide, You extend Your hand and give, O our Lord, Your face is the Most Honorable face, Your direction is the best direction. Your gift is the best gift and the most pleasant. When You, our Lord, are obeyed You appreciate, when You are disobeyed You forgive whoever You will. You answer the helpless and remove evil, accept repentance, and ignore sins. Your gifts cannot be matched and Y our bounties cannot be counted. The words of praising people cannot reach (the limits of) Your praise. “O Lord, grant al-Salat (favors) upon Muhammad and his family, grant them happiness quicker, grant them joy, comfort and delight. Make me feel the test of their happiness; destroy their enemies, among the Jinn and human beings. Confer upon us goodness in this world and in the hereafter and protect us against the fire, make us of those who will suffer no fear and sadness and make me of those who exercise patience and place their trust in their Lord, keep me steadfast with the solid word in this life and in the hereafter, bestow upon me blessings in life and in death, on the Day of Judgment, resurrection, reckoning, the balance and in the horrors of the Day of Judgment, keep me safe on the bridge, help me pass over it, grant me beneficial knowledge, true certainty, piety, restraint from worldly things, fear of You and concern that make me reach Your success, will not take me away from You, make me loveable and not hated, receiving support, not betrayed, and grant me all the good of this and the hereafter that I know or that which I do not know, protect me against all evil in its entirety, that which I know and that which I do not know.’”

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

19. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from Mu’awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Once I said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) ‘Will you instruct me with a special supplication?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, I will do so, say, “O the One, the Glorious, the Only, O self-sufficient. Who has not given birth to anyone and is not born from anyone and Who has no partner, O Majestic, O Magnanimous, O Compassionate, O Obliging, O Hearer of supplications, O the Most Generous of those who are asked for help, O the Best of those who give, O Allah, O Allah, O Allah, You have said, ‘Noah pleaded before Us for help and We are the best to answer.’ “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) then said, ‘The Messenger of Allah would say, “Yes, indeed. You are the best Who answers, the best to be called for help, and the best to plead with, I plead before You through the light of Your face, through Your majesty, Your power, Your might, I plead before You through Your kingdom, through Your formidable coats of arm and Your community, the members of Your community all of them, through Muhammad (a.s.) and the successors after Muhammad to grant al-Salat (favors) upon Muhammad and his family and provide me help in such and such matters.” (One should mention one’s wishes).”’

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

21. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) in a marfu ’ manner from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who instructed his brother ‘Abd Allah ibn Ali with following supplication: “O Lord, raise the degree of my knowledge upwards, do not allow any enemy or envier to become covetous of me, protect me standing, sitting, awake or sleeping. O Lord, forgive me, favor me, guide me to Y our straight path, save me from the heat of hell, shake off of me my liabilities and sins and make me of the best of best of the world.”

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

23. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from ibn Sinan from Hafs from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I asked him to instinct me with a supplication. He asked, ‘Why do you not pray with the supplication of pleading before Allah for help?’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘What is the supplication of pleading before Allah for help?’ The Imam said say, ‘O Lord, the Lord of the seven heavens and all that is in between, the Lord of the great Throne, Lord of Jibril (Gabriel), Michael and Israfeil, Lord of the great Quran, and Lord of Muhammad, the last of the prophets, I plead before You through that with which You keep the heavens, with which You keep the earth, with which You disperse the gatherings and place together what is scattered, with which You provide sustenance to the living, with which You keep the counts of sands, the weight of the mountains and the measurement of the oceans.’ Then ask Allah’s al-Salat (favor) for Muhammad and his family and ask for help and insist pleading before Allah for help.’”

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

24. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Karram from ibn abu Ya’fur from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “O Lord, fill my heart with love for You, concern about You, affirmation of and belief in Your existence, fear from You and longing toward You, O Glorious, O Magnanimous. O Lord, make me love meeting You, and such meeting to be good, mercy, and full of blessings, join me with the virtuous and do not leave me behind with the wicked ones. Join me with the virtuous of the past and those to come, lead me on the path of virtuous ones, assist me against my soul by that with which You assist the virtuous ones against their souls, do not turn me in the evil from which You want to rescue me, O Lord of the worlds. I plead before You for a belief free of timing before meeting You, with which You will keep me living, cause me to die, and raise me up with it when You will resurrect me. Free my heart from showing off, desire for popularity, and doubt in Your religion. “O Lord, give me victory in Your religion, energy to worship, understanding of Your creatures, support me twice with Your kindness (in this life and hereafter), brighten my face with Your light, make me interested in what is with You, cause me to die in Your way and in Your religion, the religion of Your Messenger. “O Lord, I seek protection against laziness, old age, cowardice, stinginess, carelessness, hardheartedness, weakness, and destitution. I seek protection with You, O Lord against a soul that does not become satisfied, the heart that does not become humble, the supplication that is not heard, and the prayer (formal) that does not yield any benefit. I seek protection with You for myself, my family, and my children against condemned Satan. “O Lord, no one can protect me against Y ou, I do not find any place to hide from You, do not humiliate me and do not throw me in perdition and in torment. I plead before You to keep me to remain steadfast in Your religion, affirm Your book, and follow Y our messenger. “O Lord, speak of me with Your mercy and do not speak of me with my sins, accept from me (my good deeds), increase for me from Your generosity; I am interested toward You. O Lord, make my reward for speaking and sitting to be Your happiness with me, make my deeds and supplication purely for You, make my reward paradise through Y our mercy, place me together with all I pleaded for before You and increase for me through Your favor; I am greatly interested toward You. O Lord, the stars have disappeared, eyes have gone to sleep, You are living and guarding, the dark night cannot disappear from You nor the starry skies or the well-stretched earth, the choppy ocean, or the darkness upon darkness. You send mercy upon whomever You will among Your creatures; You know the secret glance of the eyes and what the hearts conceal. I testify to what You have testified for yourself, to what Your angels have testified, and people of knowledge have testified that no one deserves to be worshipped except You, the Majestic, the Wise. Whoever does not testify to what You have testified for yourself. Your angels have testified, and people of knowledge have testified, then write my testimony in place of their testimony. O Lord, You are the Peace, and from You is peace. I plead before You, O the Owner of glory and magnanimity to set my neck free of the fire.’”

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

26. Ali has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from abu Hamza who has said the following: “I acquired this supplication from abu Ja’far, Muhammad ibn Ali, recipient of divine supreme covenant. Abu Ja’far (a.s.) would call it al-Jami’ (comprehensive supplication): “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, I testify that no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah alone, Who has no partner and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. I believe in Allah, in all of His messengers, in all that He has revealed to all the messengers, that the promise of Allah is true, meeting Him is true, Allah has spoken the truth, and the messengers have preached. “All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, all glory belongs to Allah whenever anyone glorifies Allah, the way Allah loves to be glorified, all praise belongs to Allah whenever anyone praises Allah in the way Allah loves to be praised, no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah whenever anyone expresses this declaration and testimony as Allah loves to be spoken of as such, Allah is greater than can be described, whenever anyone speaks of Allah as such and as Allah loves to be spoken of as such. “O Lord, I plead before You for the opening of virtue and good and its end, its pleasures and benefits, its blessings and what I know of as well as what I do not know of and my memory has fallen short to keep them. “O Lord, plan for me the means of knowing it (good and virtue), open for me its doors, cover me with the blessings of Y our kindness, oblige me with protection against slipping away from Your religion, cleanse my heart from doubt, do not allow the immediate issue of living of this life divert my attention away from the rewards of the next life, engage my heart in saving what You will not accept my ignorance of it. Humble my tongue for all virtuous deeds, cleanse my heart from showing off, do not allow it (showing off) running in my joints, but making my deeds stand pure. “O Lord, I seek protection with You against the evil of all kinds of indecency, the apparent and the hidden, its carelessness and all of whatever the condemned Satan wants to involve me in, whatever a hostile ruler wants from me, which Your knowledge encompass and You have the power to divert away from me. “Lord I seek protection with You against the encounters of Jinns and human beings, their anger, evil altercations, evil plots, sinful exposures of the Jinn and human beings that may cause me to slip away from my religion, may ruin my hereafter, harm me in my living or an incident of misfortune from them that I may not have the power to deal with, or patience to bear. Do not cause me to suffer such things, O Lord, and its hardships that may prevent me from speaking of You and divert me away from Your worship. You are the protector, the defender, and the savior from all such things. I plead before You O Lord, for comfort in my living as long as You will allow me to live, a living with which I will be able to obey You and earn Your happiness with me, and move thereby to the house of life tomorrow. Do not provide me a sustenance that may cause me to transgress, do not afflict me with a poverty that gives me misery due to constraint, grant me a share good enough for my hereafter, a living that is vast, pleasing, and delightful in my worldly life. Do not make the world a prison for me, or departing it a sorrowful to me, provide me protection against its trials and tribulations. Make my deeds in it acceptable, and my efforts appreciated. “O Lord, whoever intends evil against me, plan against him similarly, whoever plots against me, plan against him and protect me the concern of that which has causes me concern, plot against whoever plots against me; You are the best devisor, cause blindness to the eyes of the unbelievers, oppressors, rebellious ones and enviers against me. “O Lord, send upon me comfort and calm from You and dress me up with Your protective coat of arms, save me with Your safe guarding cover, beautify me with Your well-being, good and beneficial health. Make my words and deeds true. Grant me blessings in my children, my family and my property. “O Lord, forgive me for whatever I have done before, whatever I will do, whatever I neglected, did intentionally, out of laziness, openly or secretly. O the Most Merciful of all merciful ones.’”

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

28. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Ya’qub ibn Shu’ayb from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “O the One who appreciates the very little and pardons a great deal, who is forgiving and merciful, forgive my sins, the pleasures of which are gone and the consequences have remained.”

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