Death & Bereavement

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ كَانَ أَبِي ع يَقُولُ‌ نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ الَّتِي تُعَجِّلُ الْفَنَاءَ وَ تُقَرِّبُ الْآجَالَ وَ تُخْلِي الدِّيَارَ وَ هِيَ قَطِيعَةُ الرَّحِمِ وَ الْعُقُوقُ وَ تَرْكُ الْبِرِّ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from Ishaq ibn ‘ Ammar who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘My father would say, “We seek refuge in Allah against the sin that hastens one’s perishing, draws death closer, and vacates the towns. Such sins are failing to maint

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ تَرْكُ الْخَطِيئَةِ أَيْسَرُ مِنْ طَلَبِ التَّوْبَةِ وَ كَمْ مِنْ شَهْوَةِ سَاعَةٍ أَوْرَثَتْ حُزْناً طَوِيلًا وَ الْمَوْتُ فَضَحَ الدُّنْيَا فَلَمْ يَتْرُكْ لِذِي لُبٍّ فَرَحاً[4].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, “Avoiding sin is easier than pleading for forgiveness. How many are the cases of very short period of lustful activities that cause prolonged sadness. Death disgraces the world (uncovers its worthlessness) and it has not left any hap

قَالَ: إِذَا أَتَتْ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً قِيلَ لَهُ خُذْ حِذْرَكَ فَإِنَّكَ غَيْرُ مَعْذُورٍ وَ لَيْسَ ابْنُ الْأَرْبَعِينَ بِأَحَقَّ بِالْحِذْرِ مِنِ ابْنِ الْعِشْرِينَ فَإِنَّ الَّذِي يَطْلُبُهُمَا وَاحِدٌ وَ لَيْسَ بِرَاقِدٍ فَاعْمَلْ لِمَا أَمَامَكَ مِنَ الْهَوْلِ وَ دَعْ عَنْكَ فُضُولَ الْقَوْلِ.

“When a man reaches the age of forty it is said to him, ‘Beware, you have no excuses!’ In fact, a person at the age of forty is not obliged to exercise caution against sins more than the person at the age of twenty. What is after both of them is the same (that is death) and it is not sleeping. Perform good deeds for wh

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ خُذْ لِنَفْسِكَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ خُذْ مِنْهَا فِي الصِّحَّةِ قَبْلَ السُّقْمِ وَ فِي الْقُوَّةِ قَبْلَ الضَّعْفِ وَ فِي الْحَيَاةِ قَبْلَ الْمَمَاتِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Take from your soul for your soul. Take from it in good health before illness, during its strength before weakness and in its lifetime before death.”’

إِنَّكُمْ فِي آجَالٍ مَقْبُوضَةٍ[1] وَ أَيَّامٍ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَ الْمَوْتُ يَأْتِي بَغْتَةً مَنْ يَزْرَعْ خَيْراً يَحْصُدْ غِبْطَةً وَ مَنْ يَزْرَعْ شَرّاً يَحْصُدْ نَدَامَةً وَ لِكُلِّ زَارِعٍ مَا زَرَعَ وَ لَا يَسْبِقُ الْبَطِي‌ءَ مِنْكُمْ حَظُّهُ وَ لَا يُدْرِكُ حَرِيصٌ مَا لَمْ يُقَدَّرْ لَهُ مَنْ أُعْطِيَ خَيْراً فَاللَّهُ أَعْطَاهُ وَ مَنْ وُقِيَ شَرّاً فَاللَّهُ وَقَاهُ.

“You live in a period of time that is continuously reduced and in calculated days. Death comes suddenly. Whoever sows goodness will harvest what is very much sought after. Whoever sows evil will harvest regret. Every farmer finds what he has planted. The sustenance of the slow moving ones among you will not move ahead

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي ذَرٍّ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ مَا لَنَا نَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ فَقَالَ لِأَنَّكُمْ عَمَرْتُمُ الدُّنْيَا وَ أَخْرَبْتُمُ الْآخِرَةَ فَتَكْرَهُونَ أَنْ تُنْقَلُوا مِنْ عُمْرَانٍ إِلَى خَرَابٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ فَكَيْفَ تَرَى قُدُومَنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا الْمُحْسِنُ مِنْكُمْ فَكَالْغَائِبِ يَقْدَمُ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ وَ أَمَّا الْمُسِي‌ءُ مِنْكُمْ فَكَالْآبِقِ يَرِدُ عَلَى مَوْلَاهُ قَالَ فَكَيْف

“A man came to abu Dhar and asked, ‘O abu Dhar, why do we dislike death?’ He said, ‘It is because you have developed the world and destroyed the next life and you dislike moving from developed to that which is mined.’ The man asked, ‘How do you see our moving in the presence of Allah?’ He replied, ‘The people of good d

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ دُعَاءَ قَلْبٍ لَاهٍ وَ كَانَ عَلِيٌ‌[3] ع يَقُولُ إِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ لِلْمَيِّتِ فَلَا يَدْعُو لَهُ وَ قَلْبُهُ لَاهٍ عَنْهُ وَ لَكِنْ لِيَجْتَهِدْ لَهُ فِي الدُّعَاءِ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, does not accept the prayer from a thoughtless heart. Ali (a.s.) would say, ‘Whenever any of you may pray for a dead person, he must not do it frivolously but must strive to be serious in his prayer.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَكُونُ أَدْعُو فَأَشْتَهِي الْبُكَاءَ وَ لَا يَجِيئُنِي وَ رُبَّمَا ذَكَرْتُ بَعْضَ مَنْ مَاتَ مِنْ أَهْلِي فَأَرِقُّ وَ أَبْكِي فَهَلْ يَجُوزُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَتَذَكَّرْهُمْ فَإِذَا رَقَقْتَ فَابْكِ وَ ادْعُ رَبَّكَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى.

‘When I pray and plead before Allah for help, I like to weep but it does not come through, but if I recall members of my family who have died I may feel weeping. Is that permissible?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, it is permissible. When you recall them and feel like weeping then pray to your Lord, the Most Blessed, the Most Hi

يَمُوتُ الْمُؤْمِنُ بِكُلِّ مِيتَةٍ إِلَّا الصَّاعِقَةَ- لَا تَأْخُذُهُ وَ هُوَ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“A believing person may die by any form of death except lightning that will not hit him when he is speaking of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious,.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ مِيتَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِ قَالَ يَمُوتُ الْمُؤْمِنُ بِكُلِّ مِيتَةٍ- يَمُوتُ غَرَقاً وَ يَمُوتُ بِالْهَدْمِ وَ يُبْتَلَى بِالسَّبُعِ وَ يَمُوتُ بِالصَّاعِقَةِ وَ لَا تُصِيبُ ذَاكِرَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the death of the believing persons. The Imam said, ‘A believing person may die in any form of death, drowning, by the debris of falling buildings, or beasts may cause his death. He may die because of lightning except when speaking of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’”

قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِعِيسَى ع يَا عِيسَى اذْكُرْنِي فِي نَفْسِكَ أَذْكُرْكَ فِي نَفْسِي وَ اذْكُرْنِي فِي مَلَئِكَ‌[1] أَذْكُرْكَ فِي مَلَإٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْ مَلَإِ الْآدَمِيِّينَ يَا عِيسَى أَلِنْ لِي قَلْبَكَ وَ أَكْثِرْ ذِكْرِي فِي الْخَلَوَاتِ وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ سُرُورِي أَنْ تُبَصْبِصَ‌[2] إِلَيَّ وَ كُنْ فِي ذَلِكَ حَيّاً وَ لَا تَكُنْ مَيِّتاً.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ibn Faddal in a marfu ’ manner from The Imam (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, said to Jesus, peace be upon him, ‘O Jesus, speak of Me to yourself; I speak of you to Myself, speak of Me in public;

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا أَدْنَى مَا يُجْزِي مِنَ التَّحْمِيدِ قَالَ تَقُولُ- الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَلَا فَقَهَرَ- وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي مَلَكَ فَقَدَرَ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي بَطَنَ فَخَبَرَ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي يُمِيتُ الْأَحْيَاءَ وَ يُحْيِ الْمَوْتى‌ وَ هُوَ عَلى‌ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَدِيرٌ.

“The least for thanksgiving is to say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah who is High, so all things are subdued before Him, all praise belongs to Allah who owns all things, so He provides sustenance to all of them, all praise belongs to Allah who is inside, so He has the news of all things, all praise belongs to Allah who c

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ لِي جَاراً مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ مِنْ آلِ مُحْرِزٍ قَدْ نَوَّهَ بِاسْمِي وَ شَهَرَنِي‌[4] كُلَّمَا مَرَرْتُ بِهِ قَالَ هَذَا الرَّافِضِيُّ يَحْمِلُ الْأَمْوَالَ إِلَى جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي فَادْعُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ إِذَا كُنْتَ فِي صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ وَ أَنْتَ سَاجِدٌ فِي السَّجْدَةِ الْأَخِيرَةِ مِنَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الْأُولَيَيْنِ فَاحْمَدِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مَ

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘I have a neighbor from Quraysh from the family of Muhriz who propagates against me negatively. Whenever I pass by he calls me a Rafida (rejecting successors to the Holy Prophet who are not special members of his family) and that I collect funds for Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.).’ The

لَمَّا قَتَلَ دَاوُدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْمُعَلَّى بْنَ خُنَيْسٍ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَأَدْعُوَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَنْ قَتَلَ مَوْلَايَ وَ أَخَذَ مَالِي فَقَالَ لَهُ دَاوُدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ إِنَّكَ لَتُهَدِّدُنِي بِدُعَائِكَ قَالَ حَمَّادٌ قَالَ الْمِسْمَعِيُّ فَحَدَّثَنِي مُعَتِّبٌ أَنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَمْ يَزَلْ لَيْلَتَهُ رَاكِعاً وَ سَاجِداً فَلَمَّا كَانَ فِي السَّحَرِ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ وَ هُوَ سَاجِد

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) said, ‘I will pray to Allah against whoever has murdered my Mawla (servant) and has seized my property.’ Dawud ibn Ali then said, ‘You threaten me with your prayer! (But I am not afraid).’ Hammad has said that al-Misma’i said that Mu’attib said to me, ‘Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) that night continued h

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ قَالَ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ وَ قَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا- لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَحْدَهُ‌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ‌ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ‌ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيتُ* وَ يُمِيتُ وَ يُحْيِي وَ هُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَ هُوَ عَلى‌ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَدِيرٌ* كَانَتْ كَفَّارَةً لِذُنُوبِهِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Whoever (sincerely) says ten times before sunrise and before sunset, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah alone Who has no partner, the Kingdom is His, all praise belongs to Him, He gives life, causes death, causes death and gives life, He is living and will never die, i

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ صَلَّى الْغَدَاةَ فَقَالَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْفُضَ‌[1] رُكْبَتَيْهِ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ‌ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَحْدَهُ‌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ‌ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيتُ* وَ يُمِيتُ وَ يُحْيِي وَ هُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَ هُوَ عَلى‌ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَدِيرٌ* وَ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ مِثْلَهَا لَمْ يَلْقَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَبْدٌ بِعَمَلٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ عَمَلِ

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever soon after performing the morning prayer and before raising his knees says ten times, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah alone, Who has no partner, the Kingdom is His, all praise belongs to Him, He gives life, causes death, causes death and gives life, He is living

إِذَا دَعَا الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ بَعْدَ مَا دَعَا- مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ اسْتَبْسَلَ عَبْدِي وَ اسْتَسْلَمَ لِأَمْرِي اقْضُوا حَاجَتَهُ‌[1].

“When a man prays and thereafter says, ‘As Allah wills, there are no means and no power without the help of Allah,’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, “My servant has accepted dying and has submitted himself to My command. Provide him the help that he needs.’”

كَانَ أَبِي ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا أَصْبَحَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ بِاللَّهِ وَ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ عَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص اللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَ إِلَيْكَ فَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي وَ عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْنِي حِفْظِ الْإِيمَانِ‌[2] مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيَّ وَ مِنْ خَلْفِي وَ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَ عَنْ شِمَالِي وَ مِنْ فَوْقِي وَ مِنْ تَحْتِي وَ مِنْ قِبَلِي

“My father (a.s.) in the morning would say, ‘(I begin) in the name of Allah, with Allah, and to Allah, for the cause of Allah and on the religion of the Messenger of Allah, O Lord, to You I have submitted my soul, to You I have left my affairs, before You I have placed my trust, O Lord of the worlds. O Lord, protect me

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ وَ اذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ‌ تَضَرُّعاً وَ خِيفَةً وَ دُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ‌ عِنْدَ الْمَسَاءِ- لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَحْدَهُ‌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ‌ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيتُ* وَ يُمِيتُ وَ يُحْيِي‌ وَ هُوَ عَلى‌ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَدِيرٌ* قَالَ قُلْتُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ قَالَ إِنَّ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرَ وَ لَكِنْ قُلْ كَمَا أَقُولُ لَكَ عَشْرَ م

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying in the evening, ‘Remember (speak of) your Lord deep within yourselves, humbly and privately, instead of shouting out loud, (in prayer) in the mornings and evenings and do not be of the heedless ones,’ (7:205) and ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah alone. Who has no partn

إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ الْمَغْرِبَ وَ الْغَدَاةَ فَقُلْ‌ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ* لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ قَالَهَا لَمْ يُصِبْهُ جُذَامٌ وَ لَا بَرَصٌ وَ لَا جُنُونٌ وَ لَا سَبْعُونَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْبَلَاءِ قَالَ وَ تَقُولُ إِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ وَ أَمْسَيْتَ- الْحَمْدُ لِرَبِّ الصَّبَاحِ الْحَمْدُ لِفَالِقِ الْإِصْبَاحِ مَرَّتَيْنِ ال

20. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa’Id from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn abu Hamza from abu Basir from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “When you perform the Maghrib (prayer at sunset) and morning prayers say, ‘(I begin) in the name of Allah,

مَهْمَا تَرَكْتَ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ فَلَا تَتْرُكْ أَنْ تَقُولَ فِي كُلِّ صَبَاحٍ وَ مَسَاءٍ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَصْبَحْتُ- أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ فِي هَذَا الصَّبَاحِ وَ فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ لِأَهْلِ رَحْمَتِكَ وَ أَبْرَأُ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ لَعْنَتِكَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَصْبَحْتُ أَبْرَأُ إِلَيْكَ فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ وَ فِي هَذَا الصَّبَاحِ مِمَّنْ نَحْنُ بَيْنَ ظَهْرَانَيْهِمْ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَ مِمَّا كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ‌

“You may give up whatever you give up but do not give up to say every morning and in the evening the following: “O Lord, this morning I seek forgiveness from You on this day for the people of kindness and disavow the people subject to Your condemnation. “O Lord, this morning and on this day I disavow the pagans around

إِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَ قَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا سُنَّةٌ وَاجِبَةٌ[2] مَعَ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ[3] وَ الْمَغْرِبِ تَقُولُ‌ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَحْدَهُ‌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ‌ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ‌ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيتُ* وَ يُمِيتُ وَ يُحْيِي وَ هُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَ هُوَ عَلى‌ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَدِيرٌ* عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ وَ تَقُولُ- أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ السَّمِيعِ الْعَلِيمِ‌ مِنْ هَ

“Prayer before sunrise and sunset is an established Sunnah (tradition). At sunrise and sunset say, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah, alone, Who has no partner. To Him belongs the Kingdom and all praise. He gives life, causes death, causes death and gives life and He does not die. In His hand is all good,

قُلْ أَسْتَعِيذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ وَ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ‌ أَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ‌ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ* وَ قُلْ‌ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَحْدَهُ‌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ‌ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيتُ وَ هُوَ عَلى‌ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَدِيرٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مَفْرُوضٌ هُوَ قَالَ نَعَمْ مَفْرُوضٌ مَحْدُودٌ تَقُولُهُ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَ قَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ فَإِنْ فَاتَكَ شَيْ

“Say, ‘I seek protection with Allah against Satan, the condemned to be stoned. I seek protection with Allah against the approach of Satan. Allah is Hearing and Omniscient.’ Say, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah alone. Who has no partner. He gives life and causes death. He has power over all things.’ The n

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ مِنْ الدُّعَاءِ مَا يَنْبَغِي لِصَاحِبِهِ إِذَا نَسِيَهُ أَنْ يَقْضِيَهُ يَقُولُ بَعْدَ الْغَدَاةِ- لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَحْدَهُ‌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ‌ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيتُ* وَ يُمِيتُ وَ يُحْيِي وَ هُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ‌ وَ هُوَ عَلى‌ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَدِيرٌ* عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ وَ يَقُولُ- أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ السَّمِيعِ الْعَلِيم

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Of the prayers are such that if one forgets one should make up for it. One should say after the morning prayer, “No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah, alone Who has no partner, to Him belongs the Kingdom and all praise, He gives life, causes death, causes death, gives life, He

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ التَّسْبِيحِ فَقَالَ مَا عَلِمْتُ شَيْئاً مُوَظَّفاً غَيْرَ تَسْبِيحِ فَاطِمَةَ ع- وَ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ بَعْدَ الْفَجْرِ تَقُولُ- لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَحْدَهُ‌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ‌ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيتُ- وَ هُوَ عَلى‌ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَدِيرٌ* وَ يُسَبِّحُ مَا شَاءَ تَطَوُّعاً.

“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about Tasbih (words to glorify Allah). The Imam said, ‘I do not know of anything other than Tasbih of Fatimah (a.s.) and ten times after the morning prayer, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah, alone Who has no partner, to Him belongs all praise, He gives life, causes death. H

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ مَنْ قَالَ حِينَ يَطْلُعُ الْفَجْرُ- لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَحْدَهُ‌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ‌ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيتُ* وَ يُمِيتُ وَ يُحْيِي وَ هُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَ هُوَ عَلى‌ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَدِيرٌ* عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ وَ سَبَّحَ خَمْساً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ مَرَّةً وَ هَلَّلَ خَمْساً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ م

35. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Isma’Il ibn Jabir from ‘Ubaydah al-Hadhdha’ who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever says before dawn, “No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah alone, Who has no partner, to Him belongs the k

مَنْ قَالَ حِينَ يَأْخُذُ مَضْجَعَهُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَلَا فَقَهَرَ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي بَطَنَ فَخَبَرَ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي مَلَكَ فَقَدَرَ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي‌ يُحْيِ الْمَوْتى‌* وَ يُمِيتُ الْأَحْيَاءَ وَ هُوَ عَلى‌ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَدِيرٌ* خَرَجَ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ كَهَيْئَةِ يَوْمَ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ.

“Whoever at the time of going to bed says three times, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Who is High, thus, He is Dominant. All praise belongs to Allah, Who is hidden, thus, He knows. All praise belongs to Allah, Who owns, thus. He has measured (all things), all praise belongs to Allah, Who gives life to the dead, and caus

أَنَّ شِهَابَ بْنَ عَبْدِ رَبِّهِ سَأَلَهُ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ‌[2] أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ قَالَ‌ قُلْ لَهُ إِنَّ امْرَأَةً تُفْزِعُنِي فِي الْمَنَامِ بِاللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ قُلْ لَهُ اجْعَلْ مِسْبَاحاً[1] وَ كَبِّرِ اللَّهَ أَرْبَعاً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ تَكْبِيرَةً وَ سَبِّحِ اللَّهَ ثَلَاثاً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ تَسْبِيحَةً وَ احْمَدِ اللَّهَ ثَلَاثاً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ وَ قُلْ‌ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَحْدَهُ‌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ‌ لَهُ الْم

“Ask the Imam, ‘A woman frightens me in my dream at night.’ The narrator has said that the Imam said, ‘Tell him to take rosary beads ( sabhah ) and say, ‘Allah is greater than can be described, thirty-four times, all praise belongs to Allah, thirty-three times, Allah is free of defects, thirty-three times,’ then say, “

إِذَا قَامَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيَقُلْ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ إِلَهِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَ رَبِّ الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ‌[1] وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي‌ يُحْيِ الْمَوْتى‌ وَ هُوَ عَلى‌ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَدِيرٌ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ صَدَقَ عَبْدِي وَ شَكَرَ.

11. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa’Id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from al-Qasim ibn Sulayman from Jarrah al-Mada’Ini from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “When one of you wakes up during the night and says, ‘Allah is free of defects, the Lord of the

كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذَا قَامَ آخِرَ اللَّيْلِ يَرْفَعُ صَوْتَهُ حَتَّى يُسْمِعَ أَهْلَ الدَّارِ وَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى هَوْلِ الْمُطَّلَعِ وَ وَسِّعْ عَلَيَّ ضِيقَ الْمَضْجَعِ وَ ارْزُقْنِي خَيْرَ مَا قَبْلَ الْمَوْتِ وَ ارْزُقْنِي خَيْرَ مَا بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ.

“When Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) toward the end of night was to wake up he would raise his voice so people of the house could hear him, saying, ‘O Lord, support me against the horror of the Day of Judgment, expand for me the congestion of the grave, grant me the best of what is before death and grant me what is best thereaft

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ كَانَ مَعَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ إِذَا قَامَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَسْتَفْتِحَ الصَّلَاةَ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَتَوَجَّهُ إِلَيْكَ- بِمُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أُقَدِّمُهُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ صَلَاتِي وَ أَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِمْ إِلَيْكَ‌[3] فَاجْعَلْنِي بِهِمْ‌ وَجِيهاً فِي الدُّنْيا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ‌ مَنَنْتَ عَلَيَّ بِمَعْرِفَتِهِمْ فَاخْ

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Nu’Man from certain individuals of his people from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever just before beginning the prayer says the following will be with Muhamma

يَقُولُ‌ بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءَيْنِ- اللَّهُمَّ بِيَدِكَ مَقَادِيرُ اللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ وَ مَقَادِيرُ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ مَقَادِيرُ الْمَوْتِ وَ الْحَيَاةِ وَ مَقَادِيرُ الشَّمْسِ وَ الْقَمَرِ وَ مَقَادِيرُ النَّصْرِ وَ الْخِذْلَانِ وَ مَقَادِيرُ الْغِنَى وَ الْفَقْرِ اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِي دِينِي وَ دُنْيَايَ وَ فِي جَسَدِي وَ أَهْلِي وَ وُلْدِي اللَّهُمَّ ادْرَأْ عَنِّي شَرَّ فَسَقَةِ الْعَرَبِ وَ الْعَ

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father in a marfu’ manner has said the following: “The Imam (a.s.) after ‘Isha ’ prayer would say, ‘O Lord, in Your hand are the measures of the night and day, the measures of this and the next world, the measures of death and life, the

بَعْدَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ وَ هُوَ آخِذٌ بِلِحْيَتِهِ بِيَدِهِ الْيُمْنَى- يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَ الْإِكْرَامِ ارْحَمْنِي مِنَ النَّارِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ وَ يَدُهُ الْيُسْرَى مَرْفُوعَةٌ وَ بَطْنُهَا إِلَى مَا يَلِي السَّمَاءَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَجِرْنِي مِنَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَلِيمِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ يُؤَخِّرُ يَدَهُ عَنْ لِحْيَتِهِ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُ يَدَهُ وَ يَجْعَلُ بَطْنَهَا مِمَّا يَلِي السَّمَاءَ[2] ثُمَّ يَقُولُ يَا عَزِي

“Whoever after every prayer, holds his beard in his right hand and says, ‘O the Owner of glory and magnanimity, have mercy upon me against fire,’ three times, with the left hand raised and the palms up to the sky and says, ‘Grant me safety from the painful torment,’ three times, then removes his hand from his beard and

كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ابْنُ الرِّضَا ع بِهَذَا الدُّعَاءِ وَ عَلَّمَنِيهِ‌[3] وَ قَالَ مَنْ قَالَ فِي دُبُرِ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ لَمْ يَلْتَمِسْ حَاجَةً إِلَّا تَيَسَّرَتْ لَهُ وَ كَفَاهُ اللَّهُ مَا أَهَمَّهُ- بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ بِاللَّهِ وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ‌ وَ أُفَوِّضُ أَمْرِي إِلَى اللَّهِ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبادِ فَوَقاهُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئاتِ ما مَكَرُوا لا إِلهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

6. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from certain individuals of his people from Muhammad ibn al-Faraj who has said the following: “Once abu Ja’far ibn al-Rida (a.s.) wrote to me and instructed me with this supplication saying, ‘Whoever recites it after the morning prayer, his wish will come true

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع دُعَاءً وَ أَنَا خَلْفَهُ فَقَالَ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِوَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيمِ وَ اسْمِكَ الْعَظِيمِ وَ بِعِزَّتِكَ‌ الَّتِي لَا تُرَامُ وَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ الَّتِي لَا يَمْتَنِعُ مِنْهَا شَيْ‌ءٌ أَنْ تَفْعَلَ بِي كَذَا وَ كَذَا قَالَ وَ كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ رُقْعَةً بِخَطِّهِ قُلْ يَا مَنْ عَلَا فَقَهَرَ وَ بَطَنَ فَخَبَرَ يَا مَنْ مَلَكَ فَقَدَرَ وَ يَا مَنْ‌ يُحْيِ الْمَوْتى‌ وَ هُوَ عَلى‌

19. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al- Husayn who has said the following: “Once I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.) to instruct me with a supplication while I was behind him. The Imam said, ‘O Lord, I plead before You, through Your magnanimous face, Your great name, Your majesty beyond reach, thr

يَسْأَلُهُ عُوذَةً لِلرِّيَاحِ الَّتِي تَعْرِضُ لِلصِّبْيَانِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ بِخَطِّهِ بِهَاتَيْنِ الْعُوذَتَيْنِ وَ زَعَمَ صَالِحٌ أَنَّهُ أَنْفَذَهُمَا إِلَيَّ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بِخَطِّهِ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَ لَا رَبَّ لِي إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ لَهُ ال

10. Muhammad ibn Ja’far abu al-‘Abbas has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Salih ibn Sa’id from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Harun who wrote to abu Ja’iar (a.s.) asking for a supplication for protection of children against bothering gasses: “The Imam wrote in his own hand writing the following supplications for protect

تَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ وَ لَمْ يَسْأَلِ الْعِبَادُ مِثْلَكَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيِّكَ وَ رَسُولِكَ وَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِكَ وَ صَفِيِّكَ وَ مُوسَى كَلِيمِكَ وَ نَجِيِّكَ وَ عِيسَى كَلِمَتِكَ وَ رُوحِكَ وَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِصُحُفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ تَوْرَاةِ مُوسَى وَ زَبُورِ دَاوُدَ وَ إِنْجِيلِ عِيسَى وَ قُرْآنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ بِكُلِّ وَحْيٍ أَوْحَيْتَهُ وَ قَضَاءٍ أَمْضَيْتَهُ وَ حَقٍّ قَضَيْتَ

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan from Aban ibn Taghlib from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has, when pleading for help to memorize the Holy Quran, said that one sh

عَلَّمَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع دُعَاءً وَ أَمَرَنَا أَنْ نَدْعُوَ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي تَعَمَّدْتُ إِلَيْكَ بِحَاجَتِي وَ أَنْزَلْتُ بِكَ الْيَوْمَ فَقْرِي وَ مَسْكَنَتِي فَأَنَا الْيَوْمَ لِمَغْفِرَتِكَ أَرْجَى مِنِّي لِعَمَلِي وَ لَمَغْفِرَتُكَ وَ رَحْمَتُكَ أَوْسَعُ مِنْ ذُنُوبِي فَتَوَلَّ قَضَاءَ كُلِّ حَاجَةٍ هِيَ لِي بِقُدْرَتِكَ عَلَيْهَا وَ تَيْسِيرِ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْكَ وَ لِفَقْرِي إِلَي

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 be

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ وَ هُوَ رَافِعٌ يَدَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ- رَبِّ لَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ أَبَداً لَا أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَ لَا أَكْثَرَ قَالَ فَمَا كَانَ بِأَسْرَعَ مِنْ أَنْ تَحَدَّرَ الدُّمُوعُ مِنْ جَوَانِبِ لِحْيَتِهِ‌[1] ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيَّ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ إِنَّ يُونُسَ بْنَ مَتَّى وَكَلَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ أَقَلَّ مِنْ طَرْفَة

“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 M

أَمْلَى عَلَيَّ هَذَا الدُّعَاءَ- أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ هُوَ جَامِعٌ لِلدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ تَقُولُ بَعْدَ حَمْدِ اللَّهِ وَ الثَّنَاءِ عَلَيْهِ- اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ‌ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ‌ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ وَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ* وَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ‌ الْواحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ* وَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ الْجَبَّ

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 Al

يَا سَعْدُ تَعَلَّمُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِي أَحْسَنِ صُورَةٍ نَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا الْخَلْقُ وَ النَّاسُ صُفُوفٌ عِشْرُونَ وَ مِائَةُ أَلْفِ صَفٍّ ثَمَانُونَ أَلْفَ صَفٍّ أُمَّةُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَرْبَعُونَ أَلْفَ صَفٍّ مِنْ سَائِرِ الْأُمَمِ فَيَأْتِي عَلَى صَفِّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فِي صُورَةِ رَجُلٍ فَيُسَلِّمُ فَيَنْظُرُونَ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ

1. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-‘Abbas from h n Fadl ibn Shadhan ‘Abd al-Rahman from Sufyan al-Hariri from his father from Sa’d al-Khaffaf from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “O Sa’d, learn the Holy Quran; on the Day of Judgment the Holy Quran will come in the best form that people may have ever

سَمِعْتُ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ لِرَجُلٍ أَ تُحِبُّ الْبَقَاءَ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ وَ لِمَ قَالَ لِقِرَاءَةِ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ فَسَكَتَ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْدَ سَاعَةٍ يَا حَفْصُ مَنْ مَاتَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِنَا وَ شِيعَتِنَا وَ لَمْ يُحْسِنِ الْقُرْآنَ عُلِّمَ فِي قَبْرِهِ لِيَرْفَعَ اللَّهُ بِهِ مِنْ دَرَجَتِهِ فَإِنَّ دَرَجَاتِ الْجَنَّةِ عَلَى قَدْرِ آيَاتِ الْقُرْآنِ يُقَالُ لَه

“I heard Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) asking a man, ‘Do you like to live forever in this world’? The man said, ‘Yes, I do so.’ The Imam asked, ‘Why would you do so?’ The man said, ‘So that I can read {Say, "He is God, the One"}’ The Imam (a.s.) remained calm for a while and after an hour said, ‘O Hafs, if any of our lovers a

لَقَدْ وَافَى مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفاً وَ فِيهِمْ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع يُصَلُّونَ عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ بِمَا يَسْتَحِقُّ صَلَاتَكُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ بِقِرَاءَتِهِ‌ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ قَائِماً وَ قَاعِداً وَ رَاكِباً وَ مَاشِياً وَ ذَاهِباً وَ جَائِياً.

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Holy Prophet performed prayer for Sa’d ibn Mu’adh and said, ‘A delegate of seventy thousand angels was there, among them Jibril (Gabriel) was also there. They all performed prayer

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ قَرَأَ أَلْهاكُمُ التَّكاثُرُ عِنْدَ النَّوْمِ وُقِيَ فِتْنَةَ الْقَبْرِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever read al-Hakum al-Takathur Chapter 102 of the Holy Quran at bedtime will be safe from the mischief of the grave.’”

لَوْ قُرِئَتِ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى مَيِّتٍ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً ثُمَّ رُدَّتْ فِيهِ الرُّوحُ مَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ عَجَباً.

“If you read al-Hamd (Chapter One of the Holy Quran) seventy times over a dead body and it comes back to life, do not be astonished.”

لَا تَمَلُّوا مِنْ قِرَاءَةِ- إِذا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزالَها فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ كَانَتْ قِرَاءَتُهُ بِهَا فِي نَوَافِلِهِ لَمْ يُصِبْهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِزَلْزَلَةٍ أَبَداً وَ لَمْ يَمُتْ بِهَا وَ لَا بِصَاعِقَةٍ وَ لَا بِآفَةٍ مِنْ آفَاتِ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَمُوتَ وَ إِذَا مَاتَ نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّهِ فَيَقْعُدُ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ فَيَقُولُ يَا مَلَكَ الْمَوْتِ ارْفُقْ بِوَلِيِّ الل

“Do not be dismayed in reading Chapter 99 of the Holy Quran. If one reads it in the optional prayers, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, protects him, all the time, against earthquakes and will not die thereby or by lightening and of worldly calamities until the time of his death. When he dies a noble angel comes

سُورَةُ الْمُلْكِ هِيَ الْمَانِعَةُ تَمْنَعُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَ هِيَ مَكْتُوبَةٌ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ سُورَةَ الْمُلْكِ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَهَا فِي لَيْلَتِهِ فَقَدْ أَكْثَرَ وَ أَطَابَ وَ لَمْ يُكْتَبْ بِهَا مِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ وَ إِنِّي لَأَرْكَعُ بِهَا بَعْدَ عِشَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ وَ أَنَا جَالِسٌ وَ إِنَّ وَالِدِي ع كَانَ يَقْرَأُهَا فِي يَوْمِهِ وَ لَيْلَتِهِ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَهَا إِذَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فِي قَبْرِهِ نَاكِرٌ

Surah al-Mulk (Chapter 67) is a protector. It protects against the torment of the grave. It ( Surah al-Mulk) is written in the Torah. Whoever reads it at night has done a great good deed and with it he will not be written of the neglectful ones. I read it in Ruku’ position while, sitting after ‘Isha’ prayer. My father

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ- وَ حُسْنِ الْجِوَارِ لِلنَّاسِ‌[1] وَ إِقَامَةِ الشَّهَادَةِ وَ حُضُورِ الْجَنَائِزِ إِنَّهُ لَا بُدَّ لَكُمْ مِنَ النَّاسِ إِنَّ أَحَداً لَا يَسْتَغْنِي عَنِ النَّاسِ حَيَاتَهُ وَ النَّاسُ لَا بُدَّ لِبَعْضِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘You must pray in the Mosques, maintain good neighborly relations with people, present your testimony, and attend funeral processions. You need people. There is no one who does not need people in his life. People need each other.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ انْظُرُوا مَنْ تُحَادِثُونَ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَنْزِلُ بِهِ الْمَوْتُ إِلَّا مُثِّلَ لَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ‌[2] إِلَى اللَّهِ إِنْ كَانُوا خِيَاراً فَخِيَاراً وَ إِنْ كَانُوا شِرَاراً فَشِرَاراً وَ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ يَمُوتُ إِلَّا تَمَثَّلْتُ لَهُ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Consider who you talk to (make friendship). Everyone after death will find the forms of his associates in the presence of Allah; these forms follow the worldly origins. A good form is from a good origin and an evil form is from

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِذَا صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ قَالَ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يَتَجَنَّبَ مُوَاخَاةَ ثَلَاثَةٍ الْمَاجِنِ الْفَاجِرِ وَ الْأَحْمَقِ وَ الْكَذَّابِ فَأَمَّا الْمَاجِنُ الْفَاجِرُ فَيُزَيِّنُ لَكَ فِعْلَهُ وَ يُحِبُّ أَنَّكَ مِثْلُهُ وَ لَا يُعِينُكَ عَلَى أَمْرِ دِينِكَ وَ مَعَادِكَ وَ مُقَارَبَتُهُ جَفَاءٌ وَ قَسْوَةٌ وَ مَدْخَلُهُ وَ مَخْرَجُهُ عَارٌ عَلَيْكَ وَ أَمَّا الْأَحْمَقُ فَإِنَّ

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Amr Aban ibn ‘Uthman ‘Uthman from Muhammad ibn Salim al-Kindy from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “When Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) were to take his place on