Supplication

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا إِسْحَاقَ بْنَ فَرُّوخَ مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَشْراً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ مَلَائِكَتُهُ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ وَ مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ مَلَائِكَتُهُ أَلْفاً أَ مَا تَسْمَعُ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَ مَلائِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُماتِ إِلَى النُّ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once said, ‘O Ishaq ibn Farrukh, whoever asks from Allah al-Salat (favors) for the Holy Prophet and his family ten times, Allah and His angels will do the same for him one hundred times. Whoever asks from Allah al-Salat for the Holy Prophet and his family one hundred times, Allah and His angels w

مَا فِي الْمِيزَانِ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَثْقَلَ مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَتُوضَعُ أَعْمَالُهُ فِي الْمِيزَانِ فَتَمِيلُ بِهِ‌[2] فَيُخْرِجُ ص الصَّلَاةَ عَلَيْهِ فَيَضَعُهَا فِي مِيزَانِهِ فَيَرْجَحُ بِهِ.

“On the balance there will be no other thing as heavy as asking from Allah al-Salat (favors) for the Holy Prophet and his family. A man will place his deeds on the balance and it will tilt. Then he will bring forth his deed of asking from Allah al-Salat for the Holy Prophet and his family to place on the balance and it

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حَاجَةٌ فَلْيَبْدَأْ بِالصَّلَاةِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ثُمَّ يَسْأَلُ حَاجَتَهُ ثُمَّ يَخْتِمُ بِالصَّلَاةِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَكْرَمُ مِنْ أَنْ يَقْبَلَ الطَّرَفَيْنِ وَ يَدَعَ الْوَسَطَ إِذَا كَانَتِ الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ لَا تُحْجَبُ عَنْهُ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever needs help from Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, should first ask from Allah al-Salat (favors) for the Holy Prophet and his family, then pray and plead before Allah for help, then conclude it with asking from Allah al-Salat for the Holy Prophet and his family; Honor of Allah,

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي دَخَلْتُ الْبَيْتَ وَ لَمْ يَحْضُرْنِي شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ إِلَّا الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَخْرُجْ أَحَدٌ بِأَفْضَلَ مِمَّا خَرَجْتَ بِهِ.

‘I entered the house and I did not remember any prayer except asking from Allah al-Salat (favors) for the Holy Prophet and his family.’ The Imam said, ‘You should know that no one has come up with something better than what you have.’”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع فَقَالَ لِي مَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ- وَ ذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّى‌[4] قُلْتُ كُلَّمَا ذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ قَامَ فَصَلَّى فَقَالَ لِي لَقَدْ كَلَّفَ اللَّهُ- عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ هَذَا شَطَطاً[1] فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَكَيْفَ هُوَ فَقَالَ كُلَّمَا ذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ صَلَّى عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ.

“Once I went in the presence of abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) and he asked me, ‘What is the meaning of: “. . . remember the name of the Lord, and pray to Him.” (87:15) I said, ‘Whenever he remembered the name of his Lord, he stood up and prayed.’ The Imam said to me, ‘If so, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, had

إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ وَ لَمْ يَذْكُرِ النَّبِيَّ وَ آلَهُ ص فِي صَلَاتِهِ يُسْلَكُ بِصَلَاتِهِ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْجَنَّةِ[2] وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ ذُكِرْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيَّ دَخَلَ النَّارَ فَأَبْعَدَهُ اللَّهُ وَ قَالَ ص وَ مَنْ ذُكِرْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَنَسِيَ الصَّلَاةَ عَلَيَّ خُطِئَ بِهِ طَرِيقَ الْجَنَّةِ.

“Whenever anyone of you prays and does not mention the Holy Prophet and his family in his prayer, his prayer will be taken to a direction other than that toward paradise. The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If a person before whom my name is mentioned does not ask from Allah al-Salat (favors) for me, he will enter the fi

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ ذُكِرْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَنَسِيَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ عَلَيَّ خَطَّأَ اللَّهُ بِهِ طَرِيقَ الْجَنَّةِ[4].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If my name is mentioned before a person and he forgets to ask from Allah al-Salat (favors) for me, Allah will make him lose the way to paradise.’”

سَمِعَ أَبِي رَجُلًا مُتَعَلِّقاً بِالْبَيْتِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبِي يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لَا تَبْتُرْهَا[5] لَا تَظْلِمْنَا حَقَّنَا قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ.

“My father once heard a man, clinging to the Ka’bah, saying, ‘O Lord, grant al-Salat (favors) to Muhammad.’ My father then said to him, ‘O servant of Allah, do not shorten it that way. Do not do injustice to us in our rights. Say, “O Lord, grant al-Salat to Muhammad and his family.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا مِنْ مَجْلِسٍ يَجْتَمِعُ فِيهِ أَبْرَارٌ وَ فُجَّارٌ فَيَقُومُونَ عَلَى غَيْرِ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَّا كَانَ حَسْرَةً عَلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘If any gathering attended by virtuous and non-virtuous people disperses without mentioning the name of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, it (gathering) will become a regret for them on the Day of Judgment.’”

مَا اجْتَمَعَ فِي مَجْلِسٍ قَوْمٌ لَمْ يَذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لَمْ يَذْكُرُونَا إِلَّا كَانَ ذَلِكَ الْمَجْلِسُ حَسْرَةً عَلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌[2] إِنَّ ذِكْرَنَا مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَ ذِكْرِ عَدُوِّنَا مِنْ ذِكْرِ الشَّيْطَانِ.

“If a people gather together in a place and do not make any remembrance of Allah, the Most Majestic and Glorious, and do not make any remembrance of us, that gathering will become a regret for them on the Day of Judgment.’ he then said, ‘Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, “Our remembrance is from the remembrance of Allah, and

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتَالَ بِالْمِكْيَالِ الْأَوْفَى فَلْيَقُلْ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَقُومَ مِنْ مَجْلِسِهِ- سُبْحانَ رَبِّكَ‌ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ وَ سَلامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ‌ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ‌.

“Whoever likes to receive his reward in a correct measurement, when leaving a gathering should say, ‘Glory belongs to your Lord, the Lord Who is by far more Majestic than what they (certain people) call Him to be. May peace be upon the Messengers of Allah. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds.’”

مَكْتُوبٌ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ الَّتِي لَمْ تُغَيَّرْ أَنَّ مُوسَى ع سَأَلَ رَبَّهُ فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ أَ قَرِيبٌ أَنْتَ مِنِّي فَأُنَاجِيَكَ أَمْ بَعِيدٌ فَأُنَادِيَكَ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ يَا مُوسَى أَنَا جَلِيسُ مَنْ ذَكَرَنِي فَقَالَ مُوسَى فَمَنْ فِي سِتْرِكَ يَوْمَ لَا سِتْرَ إِلَّا سِتْرُكَ فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَنِي فَأَذْكُرُهُمْ وَ يَتَحَابُّونَ‌ فِيَّ فَأُحِبُّهُمْ فَأُولَئِكَ الَّذِي

“It is written in the Torah that is not changed that once Moses (a.s.) asked his Lord, ‘O Lord, are You near me so I may whisper to You or far from me so I call You?’ Allah, the Most Majestic and Most Exalted, inspired to him, ‘O Moses, I am in a face-to-face meeting with anyone who speaks of Me.’ Moses then said, ‘Who

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا مِنْ قَوْمٍ اجْتَمَعُوا فِي مَجْلِسٍ فَلَمْ يَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا عَلَى نَبِيِّهِمْ إِلَّا كَانَ ذَلِكَ الْمَجْلِسُ حَسْرَةً وَ وَبَالًا عَلَيْهِمْ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If a people gather together in a place and do not speak of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and do not ask from Allah favors al-Salat for His Holy Prophet, that gathering will become a regret and a loss for them (on the Day of Judgment).’”

لَا بَأْسَ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَ أَنْتَ تَبُولُ فَإِنَّ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حَسَنٌ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ فَلَا تَسْأَمْ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘It is not an offense to speak of Allah when you are urinating; speaking of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, is good in all conditions. Do not feel embarrassed about it.’”

أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى مُوسَى ع يَا مُوسَى ع لَا تَفْرَحْ بِكَثْرَةِ الْمَالِ وَ لَا تَدَعْ ذِكْرِي عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ فَإِنَّ كَثْرَةَ الْمَالِ تُنْسِي الذُّنُوبَ وَ إِنَّ تَرْكَ ذِكْرِي يُقْسِي الْقُلُوبَ.

“Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, sent revelations to Moses saying, ‘Moses, do not be very happy about great wealth and do not avoid speaking of Me in all conditions. Great wealth causes one to forget his sins and ignoring to speak of Me hardens his heart.’”

مَكْتُوبٌ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ الَّتِي لَمْ تُغَيَّرْ أَنَّ مُوسَى سَأَلَ رَبَّهُ فَقَالَ إِلَهِي إِنَّهُ يَأْتِي عَلَيَّ مَجَالِسُ أُعِزُّكَ وَ أُجِلُّكَ أَنْ أَذْكُرَكَ فِيهَا فَقَالَ يَا مُوسَى إِنَّ ذِكْرِي حَسَنٌ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ.

“It is written in the Torah, which is not changed, that Moses asked his Lord saying, ‘O Lord, sometimes I find myself in certain gatherings where I feel speaking of Y ou is not worthy of Your Honor and Glory. He (Allah) said, Moses, speaking of Me is good in all conditions.’”

قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِمُوسَى أَكْثِرْ ذِكْرِي بِاللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ وَ كُنْ عِنْدَ ذِكْرِي خَاشِعاً وَ عِنْدَ بَلَائِي صَابِراً وَ اطْمَئِنَّ عِنْدَ ذِكْرِي وَ اعْبُدْنِي وَ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئاً إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ يَا مُوسَى اجْعَلْنِي ذُخْرَكَ وَ ضَعْ عِنْدِي كَنْزَكَ مِنَ الْبَاقِيَاتِ الصَّالِحَاتِ.

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ibn Faddal from certain individuals of his people from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, said to Moses, ‘Speak of Me a great deal during

قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِمُوسَى اجْعَلْ لِسَانَكَ مِنْ وَرَاءِ قَلْبِكَ تَسْلَمْ وَ أَكْثِرْ ذِكْرِي بِاللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ وَ لَا تَتَّبِعِ الْخَطِيئَةَ فِي مَعْدِنِهَا فَتَنْدَمَ‌[1] فَإِنَّ الْخَطِيئَةَ مَوْعِدُ أَهْلِ النَّارِ.

10. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said to Moses, ‘Keep your tongue behind your heart and you will remain safe. Speak of Me very often during the day and night. Do not follow a sin in its pit (sinful

فِيمَا نَاجَى اللَّهُ بِهِ مُوسَى ع قَالَ يَا مُوسَى لَا تَنْسَنِي عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ فَإِنَّ نِسْيَانِي يُمِيتُ الْقَلْبَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Of the words of Allah to Moses was that He said, “O Moses do not forget Me in any condition; forgetting Me deadens a heart.”’

قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ اذْكُرْنِي فِي مَلَإٍ أَذْكُرْكَ فِي مَلَإٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْ مَلَئِكَ.

12. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Faddal from Ghalib ibn ‘Uthman from Bashir al-Dahhan from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘O sons of Adam, speak of Me in public, I will speak of you in a public that is better than y

قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي مَلَإٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي مَلَإٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ.[2]

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “Whoever speaks of Me in a group of people, I speak of him in a group of angels.’”

مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ إِلَّا وَ لَهُ حَدٌّ يَنْتَهِي إِلَيْهِ إِلَّا الذِّكْرَ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ حَدٌّ يَنْتَهِي إِلَيْهِ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْفَرَائِضَ فَمَنْ أَدَّاهُنَّ فَهُوَ حَدُّهُنَّ وَ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ فَمَنْ صَامَهُ فَهُوَ حَدُّهُ وَ الْحَجَّ فَمَنْ حَجَّ فَهُوَ حَدُّهُ إِلَّا الذِّكْرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمْ يَرْضَ مِنْهُ بِالْقَلِيلِ وَ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ حَدّاً يَنْتَهِي إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَل

“Everything has a limit where it ends except speaking of Allah which has no limit to end. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has sanctioned obligations. When one fulfills them, their limit is where they end. The limit for the month of Ramadan is that when one fasts that is its limit where it ends, and the limit o

شِيعَتُنَا الَّذِينَ إِذَا خَلَوْا ذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيراً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Our Shi’a (followers) are those who when alone speak of Allah very often.’”

رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ أَكْثَرَ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَحَبَّهُ اللَّهُ وَ مَنْ ذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً كُتِبَتْ لَهُ بَرَاءَتَانِ بَرَاءَةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ بَرَاءَةٌ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever speaks of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, often Allah loves him and whoever speaks of Allah very often, two kinds of freedoms will be written for him: freedom from fire and freedom from hypocrisy.’”

تَسْبِيحُ فَاطِمَةَ الزَّهْرَاءِ ع- مِنَ الذِّكْرِ الْكَثِيرِ الَّذِي قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْراً كَثِيراً. - عَنْهُ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي أُسَامَةَ زَيْدٍ الشَّحَّامِ وَ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ وَ سَعِيدٍ الْأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مِثْلَهُ.

“Tasbih of Fatimah al-Zahra (a.s.) is a form of ‘Often speaking and remembering Allah’ about which Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘Believers, remember Allah very often (33:41) and glorify Him both in the mornings and in the evenings.’” (33:42) It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) f

مَنْ أَكْثَرَ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَظَلَّهُ اللَّهُ فِي جَنَّتِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever speaks of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, very often, Allah will provide him a shadow in paradise.’”

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,.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ الصَّوَاعِقَ لَا تُصِيبُ ذَاكِراً قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا الذَّاكِرُ قَالَ مَنْ قَرَأَ مِائَةَ آيَةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘lightning does not affect the speaker (of Allah).’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘Who is a speaker?’ The Imam said, ‘One who reads one hundred verses of the Holy Quran.’”

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.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ مَنْ شُغِلَ بِذِكْرِي عَنْ مَسْأَلَتِي أَعْطَيْتُهُ أَفْضَلَ مَا أُعْطِي مَنْ سَأَلَنِي.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, ‘One who is occupied in speaking of Me instead of asking Me for help, I will grant him better than what 1 am to grant to one who

إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَكُونُ لَهُ الْحَاجَةُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَيَبْدَأُ بِالثَّنَاءِ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ حَتَّى يَنْسَى حَاجَتَهُ فَيَقْضِيهَا اللَّهُ لَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَسْأَلَهُ إِيَّاهَا.

“A servant (of Allah) may need help from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and he begins to praise Allah and ask from Allah al-Salat (favors) for the Holy Prophet and his family until he forgets to ask for help but Allah, without his asking, grants him the help that he was to ask for.”

قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَنْ ذَكَرَنِي سِرّاً ذَكَرْتُهُ عَلَانِيَةً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “Whoever speaks of Me secretly, I speak of him in public.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَنْ ذَكَرَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي السِّرِّ فَقَدْ ذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ كَانُوا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ عَلَانِيَةً وَ لَا يَذْكُرُونَهُ فِي السِّرِّ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- يُراؤُنَ النَّاسَ‌ وَ لا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا[1].

“Whoever speaks of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, secretly, has spoken of Allah very often. The hypocrites speak of Allah in public but they do not speak of Him in secret to which Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘They stand up in prayer lazily just to show that they pray, but, in truth they

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;

لَا يَكْتُبُ الْمَلَكُ إِلَّا مَا سَمِعَ وَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ اذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ‌ تَضَرُّعاً وَ خِيفَةً[3] فَلَا يَعْلَمُ ثَوَابَ ذَلِكَ الذِّكْرِ فِي نَفْسِ الرَّجُلِ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِعَظَمَتِهِ.

“The angel writes down only what he hears and Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘Speak of your Lord deep within yourselves, humbly and privately. . . .’ (7:205) Thus, no one knows the reward for that act (of speaking deep within oneself) of Allah except Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, due to H

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الذَّاكِرُ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي الْغَافِلِينَ كَالْمُقَاتِلِ فِي الْمُحَارِبِينَ‌[4].

“The speaker of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, among indifferent people is like a soldier on the offensive upon the enemies.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ ذَاكِرُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي الْغَافِلِينَ كَالْمُقَاتِلِ عَنِ الْفَارِّينَ وَ الْمُقَاتِلُ عَنِ الْفَارِّينَ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ.

“The messenger of Allah has said, ‘The speaker of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, among the indifferent people is like a soldier on the offensive while others are running away. The reward for a fighter among runaway ones is paradise.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ عَلِّمْنِي دُعَاءً جَامِعاً فَقَالَ لِيَ احْمَدِ اللَّهَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَبْقَى أَحَدٌ يُصَلِّي إِلَّا دَعَا لَكَ يَقُولُ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ.

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, teach me a comperehensive prayer.’ The Imam said to me, ‘Praise Allah; everyone who performs prayer prays for you saying, “Allah listens to (answers the prayers of) those who praise Him” (a reference to the meaning of the phrase sai

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقَالَ أَنْ تَحْمَدَهُ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘What deed is the most beloved to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy?’ The Imam said, ‘It is your deed of praising Him.’”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ ثَلَاثَمِائَةِ مَرَّةٍ وَ سِتِّينَ مَرَّةً عَدَدَ عُرُوقِ الْجَسَدِ يَقُولُ‌ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* كَثِيراً عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ.

“The Messenger of Allah would praise Allah everyday, three hundred sixty times, equal to the number of the veins in the body, saying ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, a great deal of praise in all conditions.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّ فِي ابْنِ آدَمَ ثَلَاثَمِائَةٍ وَ سِتِّينَ عِرْقاً مِنْهَا مِائَةٌ وَ ثَمَانُونَ مُتَحَرِّكَةٌ وَ مِنْهَا مِائَةٌ وَ ثَمَانُونَ سَاكِنَةٌ فَلَوْ سَكَنَ الْمُتَحَرِّكُ لَمْ يَنَمْ وَ لَوْ تَحَرَّكَ السَّاكِنُ لَمْ يَنَمْ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا أَصْبَحَ قَالَ- الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِ‌ الْعالَمِينَ* كَثِيراً عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ ثَلَاثَمِائَةٍ

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said that in a son of Adam there are three hundred sixty veins of which one hundred eighty are moving and one hundred eighty are quiet. If a moving vein becomes quiet one cannot sleep and if a quiet one moves one cannot sleep’. The Messenger of Allah in

مَنْ قَالَ أَرْبَعَ مَرَّاتٍ إِذَا أَصْبَحَ- الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* فَقَدْ أَدَّى شُكْرَ يَوْمِهِ وَ مَنْ قَالَهَا إِذَا أَمْسَى فَقَدْ أَدَّى شُكْرَ لَيْلَتِهِ.

“Whoever says four times in the morning, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds,’ has completed his thanksgiving for that day and if one does the same thing in the evening he has completed his thanksgiving for the night.’”

كُلُّ دُعَاءٍ لَا يَكُونُ قَبْلَهُ تَحْمِيدٌ فَهُوَ أَبْتَرُ إِنَّمَا التَّحْمِيدُ ثُمَّ الثَّنَاءُ قُلْتُ مَا أَدْرِي مَا يُجْزِي مِنَ التَّحْمِيدِ وَ التَّمْجِيدِ قَالَ يَقُولُ- اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْأَوَّلُ فَلَيْسَ قَبْلَكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ أَنْتَ الْآخِرُ فَلَيْسَ بَعْدَكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ أَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ فَلَيْسَ فَوْقَكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ أَنْتَ الْبَاطِنُ فَلَيْسَ دُونَكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Any prayer that does not have thanksgiving before it is incomplete. First it is thanksgiving, then praising.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘I do not know what is enough for thanksgiving?’ The Imam said one should say, ‘O Lord, You are the First, no one was ever before You, You are the

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

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَيْرُ الدُّعَاءِ الِاسْتِغْفَارُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The best prayer and plea before Allah for help is the plea for forgiveness and protection against the consequences of sins.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا أَكْثَرَ الْعَبْدُ مِنَ الِاسْتِغْفَارِ رُفِعَتْ صَحِيفَتُهُ وَ هِيَ تَتَلَأْلَأُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘One who pleas for forgiveness often, his book of record of deeds is raised and it shines brilliantly.’”

مَثَلُ الِاسْتِغْفَارِ مَثَلُ وَرَقٍ عَلَى شَجَرَةٍ تُحَرَّكُ فَيَتَنَاثَرُ وَ الْمُسْتَغْفِرُ مِنْ ذَنْبٍ وَ يَفْعَلُهُ كَالْمُسْتَهْزِئِ بِرَبِّهِ.

“A plea for forgiveness is like shaking a tree from which leaves fall off. One who pleas forgiveness and commits sins is like one who derides his Lord.”

‌ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ لَا يَقُومُ مِنْ مَجْلِسٍ وَ إِنْ خَفَّ حَتَّى يَسْتَغْفِرَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَمْساً وَ عِشْرِينَ مَرَّةً

“The Messenger of Allah would not leave a gathering - even a small one until - he would plea for protection (forgiveness) from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, twenty-five times.”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً وَ يَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً قَالَ قُلْتُ كَانَ يَقُولُ- أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ كَانَ يَقُولُ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً وَ يَقُولُ وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً.

“The Messenger of Allah would plea for protection seventy times everyday and turn to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, seventy times everyday.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘Would he say, I plea for protection (forgiveness) from Allah and turn to Him?’ The Imam said, ‘He would say, “I plea for protection (forgiv

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الِاسْتِغْفَارُ وَ قَوْلُ- لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْعِبَادَةِ قَالَ اللَّهُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ- فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَ اسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنْبِكَ‌[1].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Plea for forgiveness, and the words: ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah’ are the best forms of worship.’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Mighty, has said, ‘Notice that Allah is the only Lord who deserves to be worshipped. Ask forgiveness for your sins. . . .’” (47:19)