Supplication

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ أَنْفَذُ مِنَ السِّنَانِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Prayer, pleading before Allah for help is more effective than spears.’”

الدُّعَاءُ أَنْفَذُ مِنَ السِّنَانِ الْحَدِيدِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Prayer, pleading before Allah for help, is more effective than spears of iron.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ يَرُدُّ الْقَضَاءَ يَنْقُضُهُ كَمَا يُنْقَضُ السِّلْكُ وَ قَدْ أُبْرِمَ إِبْرَاماً[1].

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help repeals al- Qada, what is already determined, and severs it as threads are incised, even though it (threads) may have been coiled and knotted extremely strong and solid.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ يَرُدُّ مَا قَدْ قُدِّرَ وَ مَا لَمْ يُقَدَّرْ قُلْتُ وَ مَا قَدْ قُدِّرَ عَرَفْتُهُ فَمَا لَمْ يُقَدَّرْ قَالَ حَتَّى لَا يَكُونَ‌[2].

“I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.) saying, ‘Prayer, and pleading before Allah for help, repeals Quddira, what is already measured, and the unmeasured.’ I (the narrator) then asked the Imam, ‘I know the meaning of what is ‘Measured’, but what is the meaning of the ‘Unmeasured’?’ The Imam said, ‘So that it (a measure, of misf

إِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ يَرُدُّ الْقَضَاءَ وَ قَدْ نَزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَ قَدْ أُبْرِمَ إِبْرَاماً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help, repeals al- Qada ’, what is already determined, has already come down from heavens and is firmly established.’”

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ إِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ وَ الْبَلَاءَ لَيَتَرَافَقَانِ‌[3] إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ لَيَرُدُّ الْبَلَاءَ وَ قَدْ أُبْرِمَ إِبْرَاماً.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help, and misfortune are joined together and will remain so until the Day of Judgment. Prayer repeals misfortunes even though it (misfortune) may have already been firmly established.’”

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الدُّعَاءُ يَدْفَعُ الْبَلَاءَ النَّازِلَ وَ مَا لَمْ يَنْزِلْ.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help, repels the misfortune that has already come down and that which has not yet come down.’”

قَالَ لِي أَ لَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ لَمْ يَسْتَثْنِ فِيهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌[1] قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ الدُّعَاءُ يَرُدُّ الْقَضَاءَ وَ قَدْ أُبْرِمَ إِبْرَاماً وَ ضَمَّ أَصَابِعَهُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) once said to me, ‘Should I tell you something about a case in which even the Messenger of Allah is not an exception?’ I said, ‘Yes, (I like to know).’ The Imam said, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help repeals al-Qada, what is already determined, even though it may have firmly been established

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الدُّعَاءُ يَرُدُّ الْقَضَاءَ بَعْدَ مَا أُبْرِمَ إِبْرَاماً فَأَكْثِرْ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ فَإِنَّهُ مِفْتَاحُ كُلِّ رَحْمَةٍ وَ نَجَاحُ كُلِّ حَاجَةٍ وَ لَا يُنَالُ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَّا بِالدُّعَاءِ وَ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بَابٌ يُكْثَرُ قَرْعُهُ إِلَّا يُوشِكُ أَنْ يُفْتَحَ لِصَاحِبِهِ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help, repeals what is already determined, even after it is firmly established. Thus, increase your prayers; it is the key to all favors, success and need. What is with Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, cannot be achieved by any means oth

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع‌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالدُّعَاءِ فَإِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَ الطَّلَبَ إِلَى اللَّهِ يَرُدُّ الْبَلَاءَ وَ قَدْ قُدِّرَ وَ قُضِيَ وَ لَمْ يَبْقَ إِلَّا إِمْضَاؤُهُ- فَإِذَا دُعِيَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ سُئِلَ صَرَفَ الْبَلَاءَ صَرْفَةً.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from abu Wallad who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) has said, ‘You must pray and plead before Allah for help; pleading before Allah for help and requesting from Him repels misfortunes even though they may have already

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَيَدْفَعُ بِالدُّعَاءِ الْأَمْرَ الَّذِي عَلِمَهُ أَنْ يُدْعَى لَهُ فَيَسْتَجِيبُ وَ لَوْ لَا مَا وُفِّقَ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الدُّعَاءِ لَأَصَابَهُ مِنْهُ مَا يَجُثُّهُ مِنْ جَدِيدِ الْأَرْضِ‌[2].

‘Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘By means of prayer, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, repels a thing (a misfortune) that He knows He will divert it if a plea will be made before Him. However, if the servant (of Allah) fails to pray and plead before Allah for help, the misfortune will afflict him to the extent

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ عَلَيْكَ بِالدُّعَاءِ فَإِنَّهُ شِفَاءٌ مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once said to me, ‘You must pray and plead before Allah for help; it is the cure to all diseases.’”

الدُّعَاءُ كَهْفُ الْإِجَابَةِ كَمَا أَنَّ السَّحَابَ كَهْفُ الْمَطَرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help is the means for its acceptance just as clouds are means of rain.’”

مَا أَبْرَزَ عَبْدٌ يَدَهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْجَبَّارِ إِلَّا اسْتَحْيَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يَرُدَّهَا صِفْراً حَتَّى يَجْعَلَ فِيهَا مِنْ فَضْلِ رَحْمَتِهِ مَا يَشَاءُ فَإِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ فَلَا يَرُدَّ يَدَهُ حَتَّى يَمْسَحَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ وَ رَأْسِهِ.

“Any servant (of Allah) who raises his hands toward Allah, the Most Majestic, the Compelling, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will be shy to turn him down empty-handed, and without placing in it from His favors as He wills. After praying you (every one of you) should not return his hands to normal position bef

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ هَلْ تَعْرِفُونَ طُولَ الْبَلَاءِ مِنْ قِصَرِهِ قُلْنَا لَا قَالَ إِذَا أُلْهِمَ أَحَدُكُمُ الدُّعَاءَ عِنْدَ الْبَلَاءِ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْبَلَاءَ قَصِيرٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once asked, ‘Can you tell if a misfortune is of a lengthy duration or a shorter one?’ We said, ‘No, we do not know.’ The Imam said, ‘Whenever any of you is inspired to pray then you should know that the misfortune is of a shorter duration.’”

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع‌ مَا مِنْ بَلَاءٍ يَنْزِلُ عَلَى عَبْدٍ مُؤْمِنٍ فَيُلْهِمُهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الدُّعَاءَ إِلَّا كَانَ كَشْفُ ذَلِكَ الْبَلَاءِ وَشِيكاً[1] وَ مَا مِنْ بَلَاءٍ يَنْزِلُ عَلَى عَبْدٍ مُؤْمِنٍ فَيُمْسِكُ عَنِ الدُّعَاءِ إِلَّا كَانَ ذَلِكَ الْبَلَاءُ طَوِيلًا فَإِذَا نَزَلَ الْبَلَاءُ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالدُّعَاءِ وَ التَّضَرُّعِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Once abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) said, ‘Whenever a misfortune is about to arrive upon a believing servant (of Allah), if Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, inspires him to pray and plead before Allah for help, the diversion of misfortune from him will take place very shortly. Whenever a misfortune is to arrive upo

مَنْ تَقَدَّمَ فِي الدُّعَاءِ اسْتُجِيبَ لَهُ إِذَا نَزَلَ بِهِ الْبَلَاءُ وَ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ صَوْتٌ مَعْرُوفٌ وَ لَمْ يُحْجَبْ عَنِ السَّمَاءِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَتَقَدَّمْ فِي الدُّعَاءِ لَمْ يُسْتَجَبْ لَهُ إِذَا نَزَلَ بِهِ الْبَلَاءُ وَ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ إِنَّ ذَا الصَّوْتَ لَا نَعْرِفُهُ.

“Whoever prays and pleads before Allah for help before the fall of misfortune, his prayer is accepted when the misfortune arrives. The angels will say, ‘It is a known voice and it is not barred from heaven. ’ If one does not pray and plead before Allah for help before the fall of misfortune, his prayer will not be acce

مَنْ تَخَوَّفَ مِنْ بَلَاءٍ يُصِيبُهُ فَتَقَدَّمَ فِيهِ بِالدُّعَاءِ لَمْ يُرِهِ اللَّهُ‌[1] عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ذَلِكَ الْبَلَاءَ أَبَداً.

“If one fears the fall of a misfortune upon him and prays and pleads before Allah for help before its fall, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will never show him that misfortune.”

إِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ فِي الرَّخَاءِ يَسْتَخْرِجُ الْحَوَائِجَ فِي الْبَلَاءِ[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help in one’s enjoying well-being brings about (causes to happen) what one needs in the fall of misfortune.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يُسْتَجَابَ لَهُ فِي الشِّدَّةِ فَلْيُكْثِرِ الدُّعَاءَ فِي الرَّخَاءِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever likes his prayers answered in difficult times should pray when he enjoys well-being and comfort.’”

كَانَ جَدِّي يَقُولُ‌ تَقَدَّمُوا فِي الدُّعَاءِ فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا كَانَ دَعَّاءً فَنَزَلَ بِهِ الْبَلَاءُ فَدَعَا قِيلَ صَوْتٌ مَعْرُوفٌ وَ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ دَعَّاءً فَنَزَلَ بِهِ بَلَاءٌ فَدَعَا قِيلَ أَيْنَ كُنْتَ قَبْلَ الْيَوْمِ.

“My grandfather would say, ‘You must pray and plead before Allah for help before the fall of misfortune; if a servant (of Allah) is prayerful and misfortune befalls him and he prays, it is then said, ‘It is a familiar voice,’ but if he does not pray and plead before Allah for help when misfortune befalls him, only then

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الدُّعَاءُ بَعْدَ مَا يَنْزِلُ الْبَلَاءُ لَا يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) would say, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help after the fall of misfortune does not benefit one.’”

إِذَا دَعَوْتَ فَظُنَّ أَنَّ حَاجَتَكَ بِالْبَابِ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whenever you pray and plead before Allah for help, consider that what you have asked for has arrived at the door.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَا يَسْتَجِيبُ دُعَاءً بِظَهْرِ قَلْبٍ سَاهٍ‌[2] فَإِذَا دَعَوْتَ فَأَقْبِلْ بِقَلْبِكَ ثُمَّ اسْتَيْقِنْ بِالْإِجَابَةِ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, does not accept an inattentive prayer. Whenever you may pray and plead before Allah for help, do it with an attentive heart and with certainty in its acceptance.’”

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.’”

إِذَا دَعَوْتَ فَأَقْبِلْ بِقَلْبِكَ وَ ظُنَّ حَاجَتَكَ بِالْبَابِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whenever you pray and plead before Allah for help, do it whole-heartedly and consider that what you have asked for has arrived at the door.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَا يَسْتَجِيبُ دُعَاءً بِظَهْرِ قَلْبٍ قَاسٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, does not accept a prayer coming superficially from a hardhearted attitude.’”

لَمَّا اسْتَسْقَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ سُقِيَ النَّاسُ حَتَّى قَالُوا إِنَّهُ الْغَرَقُ وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِيَدِهِ‌[1] وَ رَدَّهَا اللَّهُمَّ حَوَالَيْنَا وَ لَا عَلَيْنَا[2] قَالَ فَتَفَرَّقَ السَّحَابُ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اسْتَسْقَيْتَ لَنَا فَلَمْ نُسْقَ ثُمَّ اسْتَسْقَيْتَ لَنَا فَسُقِينَا قَالَ إِنِّي دَعَوْتُ وَ لَيْسَ لِي فِي ذَلِكَ نِيَّةٌ ثُمَّ دَعَوْتُ وَ لِيَ فِي ذَلِكَ نِيَّةٌ.

“When the Messenger of Allah prayed for rain, people were drenched so much that they thought they might be drowned and the Messenger of Allah made hand gestures to scatter the cloud, saying, ‘O Lord make it to rain around us, not on us.’ The Imam said, ‘The clouds scattered and people asked, “O Messenger of Allah, how

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا دَعَا لَمْ يَزَلِ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى فِي حَاجَتِهِ مَا لَمْ يَسْتَعْجِلْ. - مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ الطَّوِيلِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مِثْلَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whenever a servant (of Allah) prays and pleads before Allah for help, (the will of) Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, is in fulfilling his needs, provided he is not in (big) haste.’” Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Husayn

إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا عَجَّلَ فَقَامَ لِحَاجَتِهِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَ مَا يَعْلَمُ عَبْدِي أَنِّي أَنَا اللَّهُ الَّذِي أَقْضِي الْحَوَائِجَ.

“If a servant (of Allah) hastens in his prayer and stands up to do what he needs, Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, then asks, ‘Does My servant not know that I am Allah who fulfils the needs of people?”’

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ وَ اللَّهِ لَا يُلِحُّ عَبْدٌ مُؤْمِنٌ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي حَاجَتِهِ إِلَّا قَضَاهَا لَهُ.

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘By Allah, if a believing servant (of Allah) insists before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, on praying and pleading before Allah for help. He will fulfill his needs.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كَرِهَ إِلْحَاحَ النَّاسِ بَعْضِهِمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ وَ أَحَبَّ ذَلِكَ لِنَفْسِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يُسْأَلَ وَ يُطْلَبَ مَا عِنْدَهُ.

4. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hajjal from Hassan from abu al-Sabbah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, dislikes people insisting before one another for help but He likes it before Himself. A

لَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا يُلِحُّ عَبْدٌ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَّا اسْتَجَابَ اللَّهُ لَهُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘By Allah, if a man insists before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, on praying and pleading for help. He will accept his prayers.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ عَبْداً طَلَبَ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حَاجَةً فَأَلَحَّ فِي الدُّعَاءِ اسْتُجِيبَ لَهُ أَوْ لَمْ يُسْتَجَبْ لَهُ وَ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- وَ أَدْعُوا رَبِّي‌ عَسى‌ أَلَّا أَكُونَ بِدُعاءِ رَبِّي شَقِيًّا[1].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘May Allah grant favors upon a servant who requests help from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and insists on praying and pleading before Him for help, accepted or not. He then read this verse of the Holy Quran: “. . . I worship my Lord and hope that my prayers will not be igno

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يَعْلَمُ مَا يُرِيدُ الْعَبْدُ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَ لَكِنَّهُ يُحِبُّ أَنْ تُبَثَّ إِلَيْهِ الْحَوَائِجُ فَإِذَا دَعَوْتَ فَسَمِّ حَاجَتَكَ. - وَ فِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ قَالَ قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَعْلَمُ حَاجَتَكَ وَ مَا تُرِيدُ وَ لَكِنْ يُحِبُّ أَنْ تُبَثَّ إِلَيْهِ الْحَوَائِجُ.

“Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, knows what a servant wants when he prays and pleads before Him for help, but He loves that one’s needs are brought before Him in detail. Whenever you pray, name your request. ’ In another Hadith it is said, ‘Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, knows your needs and what you w

دَعْوَةُ الْعَبْدِ سِرّاً دَعْوَةً وَاحِدَةً تَعْدِلُ سَبْعِينَ دَعْوَةً عَلَانِيَةً. - وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى‌ دَعْوَةٌ تُخْفِيهَا أَفْضَلُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ دَعْوَةً تُظْهِرُهَا[1].

“A servant’s praying and pleading before Allah for help, privately once, is equal to seventy such prayers in public.’ In another Hadith it is said: ‘A prayer that you (hide from people) is better before Allah than seventy prayers made in public.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ اطْلُبُوا الدُّعَاءَ فِي‌ أَرْبَعِ سَاعَاتٍ عِنْدَ هُبُوبِ الرِّيَاحِ وَ زَوَالِ الْأَفْيَاءِ[1] وَ نُزُولِ الْقَطْرِ وَ أَوَّلِ قَطْرَةٍ مِنْ دَمِ الْقَتِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَإِنَّ أَبْوَابَ السَّمَاءِ تُفَتَّحُ عِنْدَ هَذِهِ الْأَشْيَاءِ.

"Seek supplication at four times: during the blowing of the winds, the fading of the shadows, the descent of rain, and when the first drop of blood from a martyred believer has spilled, for indeed the gates of heaven open at these times."

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يُسْتَجَابُ الدُّعَاءُ فِي أَرْبَعَةِ مَوَاطِنَ فِي الْوَتْرِ وَ بَعْدَ الْفَجْرِ وَ بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ وَ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ.

"Supplications are answered at four periods: during Salat al-Witr, after Salat al-Fajr, after Salat al-Dhuhr, and after Salat al-Maghrib."

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ اغْتَنِمُوا الدُّعَاءَ عِنْدَ أَرْبَعٍ عِنْدَ قِرَاءَةِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ عِنْدَ الْأَذَانِ وَ عِنْدَ نُزُولِ الْغَيْثِ وَ عِنْدَ الْتِقَاءِ الصَّفَّيْنِ لِلشَّهَادَةِ.

"Take advantage of supplication at four times: during the recitation of the Quran, at the call to prayer (Adhan), when rain falls, and at the meeting of the two armies for battle."

كَانَ أَبِي إِذَا كَانَتْ لَهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ حَاجَةٌ طَلَبَهَا فِي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ يَعْنِي زَوَالَ الشَّمْسِ.

"When my father had a need before Allah (swt), he would ask Him during this hour." - meaning declining of the sun from its peak position (i.e., dhuhr time).

إِذَا رَقَّ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَدْعُ فَإِنَّ الْقَلْبَ لَا يَرِقُّ حَتَّى يَخْلُصَ.

"When one of you feels tenderness in your heart, let him supplicate, for the heart does not become tender until it is sincere."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَيْرُ وَقْتٍ دَعَوْتُمُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهِ الْأَسْحَارُ وَ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ فِي قَوْلِ يَعْقُوبَ ع- سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّي‌[2] وَ قَالَ أَخَّرَهُمْ إِلَى السَّحَرِ.

"The best time to supplicate to Allah (azwj) is during the pre-dawn hours (Al-Asḥār)." Then he recited this verse from the words of Ya'qub (as): «I will ask forgiveness for you from my Lord» (12:98) and he (the Prophet) said, "He delayed them until pre-dawn hours (to pray for them)."

كَانَ أَبِي إِذَا طَلَبَ الْحَاجَةَ طَلَبَهَا عِنْدَ زَوَالِ الشَّمْسِ- فَإِذَا أَرَادَ ذَلِكَ قَدَّمَ شَيْئاً فَتَصَدَّقَ بِهِ وَ شَمَّ شَيْئاً مِنْ طِيبٍ وَ رَاحَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَ دَعَا فِي حَاجَتِهِ بِمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ.

Whenever my father had a need to be fulfilled, he would seek it to be fulfilled during the decline of the sun from its peak position (i.e. dhuhr time). When he intended to do this, he would first give something in charity, wear some perfume, go to the mosque, and then supplicate for his need as Allah willed."

إِذَا اقْشَعَرَّ جِلْدُكَ وَ دَمَعَتْ عَيْنَاكَ فَدُونَكَ دُونَكَ فَقَدْ قُصِدَ قَصْدُكَ‌[1]. قَالَ وَ رَوَاهُ‌- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْمَاعِيلَ السَّرَّاجِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ مِثْلَهُ.

“Whenever your skin feels a tingling sensation and your eyes tear up, then you must go (to supplicate to Allah), for it (your prayer) is coming your way." He (Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Khalid) said: A similar hadith was also narrated by Muhammad ibn Isma'il from Isma'il al-Sarraj from Muhammad ibn Hamza from Sa'eed.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُحِبُّ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كُلَّ عَبْدٍ دَعَّاءٍ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالدُّعَاءِ فِي السَّحَرِ إِلَى طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ فَإِنَّهَا سَاعَةٌ تُفَتَّحُ فِيهَا أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَ تُقَسَّمُ فِيهَا الْأَرْزَاقُ وَ تُقْضَى فِيهَا الْحَوَائِجُ الْعِظَامُ.

"Indeed, Allah (azwj) loves from His believing servants every servant who is persistent in supplication. Therefore, you should engage in supplication during the pre-dawn hours until sunrise, for it is a time when the gates of heaven are opened, provisions are distributed, and great needs are fulfilled."

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ فِي اللَّيْلِ لَسَاعَةً مَا يُوَافِقُهَا عَبْدٌ مُسْلِمٌ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي وَ يَدْعُو اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهَا إِلَّا اسْتَجَابَ لَهُ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ قُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ وَ أَيُّ سَاعَةِ هِيَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ قَالَ إِذَا مَضَى نِصْفُ اللَّيْلِ وَ هِيَ السُّدُسُ الْأَوَّلُ مِنْ أَوَّلِ النِّصْفِ‌[4].

"Indeed, there is an hour in the night during which if a Muslim servant coincides with it in prayer and supplication to Allah (azwj), his supplication will be answered. This happens every night." I asked, "May Allah improve your condition, which hour of the night is it?". He said, "When half of the night has passed, it

الرَّغْبَةُ أَنْ تَسْتَقْبِلَ بِبَطْنِ كَفَّيْكَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَ الرَّهْبَةُ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ ظَهْرَ كَفَّيْكَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَ قَوْلُهُ‌ وَ تَبَتَّلْ‌ إِلَيْهِ تَبْتِيلًا[3] قَالَ الدُّعَاءُ بِإِصْبَعٍ وَاحِدَةٍ تُشِيرُ بِهَا وَ التَّضَرُّعُ تُشِيرُ بِإِصْبَعَيْكَ وَ تُحَرِّكُهُمَا وَ الِابْتِهَالُ رَفْعُ الْيَدَيْنِ وَ تَمُدُّهُمَا وَ ذَلِكَ عِنْدَ الدَّمْعَةِ ثُمَّ ادْعُ.

“ Al-Raghbah means keeping the palms of your hands toward the sky. Al-Rahbah means keeping the back of your hands toward the sky. The words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘glorify the name of your Lord, with due sincerity (al- Tabattul), ’ (73:8) ‘refers to hand gestures made in prayer with one finger. Al-

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَمَا اسْتَكانُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ‌ وَ ما يَتَضَرَّعُونَ‌[1] فَقَالَ الِاسْتِكَانَةُ هُوَ الْخُضُوعُ وَ التَّضَرُّعُ هُوَ رَفْعُ الْيَدَيْنِ وَ التَّضَرُّعُ بِهِمَا.

“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . but they did not ‘Istakanu (submit themselves to their Lord,) nor did they make themselves humble ( yatadarra’un ).’ (23:76) The Imam said, ’’Al-Tstikana, means humility and al- tadarru’ means raising both hands and beggi

ذَكَرَ الرَّغْبَةَ وَ أَبْرَزَ بَاطِنَ رَاحَتَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ[2] وَ هَكَذَا الرَّهْبَةُ وَ جَعَلَ ظَهْرَ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَ هَكَذَا التَّضَرُّعُ وَ حَرَّكَ أَصَابِعَهُ يَمِيناً وَ شِمَالًا وَ هَكَذَا التَّبَتُّلُ وَ يَرْفَعُ أَصَابِعَهُ مَرَّةً وَ يَضَعُهَا مَرَّةً وَ هَكَذَا الِابْتِهَالُ وَ مَدَّ يَدَهُ تِلْقَاءَ وَجْهِهِ إِلَى الْقِبْلَةِ وَ لَا يَبْتَهِلُ حَتَّى تَجْرِيَ الدَّمْعَةُ.

“Once al-Raghbah (fondness) was mentioned before Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and he raised his hands to the sky with his palms upward. He then turned the back of his hands upward to the sky and said, “This way is al-Rahbah (expressing anxiety). He moved his fingers right and left and said that such is al-Tadarru’ . He then ra

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَرَّ بِي رَجُلٌ وَ أَنَا أَدْعُو فِي صَلَاتِي بِيَسَارِي فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بِيَمِينِكَ فَقُلْتُ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى حَقّاً عَلَى هَذِهِ كَحَقِّهِ عَلَى هَذِهِ وَ قَالَ الرَّغْبَةُ تَبْسُطُ يَدَيْكَ وَ تُظْهِرُ بَاطِنَهُمَا وَ الرَّهْبَةُ تَبْسُطُ يَدَيْكَ وَ تُظْهِرُ ظَهْرَهُمَا وَ التَّضَرُّعُ تُحَرِّكُ السَّبَّابَةَ الْيُمْن

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Fadalah from al-‘Ala’ from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘Once a man passed by when I was praying in my prayer with my left hand raised. The man said, ‘O ‘Abd Allah, (