Prayer

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي جَعَلْتُ ثُلُثَ صَلَوَاتِي لَكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ خَيْراً فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي جَعَلْتُ نِصْفَ صَلَوَاتِي لَكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ ذَاكَ أَفْضَلُ فَقَالَ إِنِّي جَعَلْتُ كُلَّ صَلَوَاتِي لَكَ فَقَالَ إِذاً يَكْفِيَكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَا أَهَمَّكَ مِنْ أَمْرِ دُنْيَاكَ وَ آخِرَتِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ أَصْلَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Once a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have assigned one third of my prayers for you.” The Messenger of Allah said, ‘That is good.’ He then said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have assigned half of my prayers for you.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘That

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ ارْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّهَا تَذْهَبُ بِالنِّفَاقِ.

‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “Raise your voices with al-Salat (asking from Allah favors for me); it removes hypocrisy.’”

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 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).’”

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 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

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

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

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.’”

أَوْشَكُ دَعْوَةٍ وَ أَسْرَعُ إِجَابَةٍ دُعَاءُ الْمَرْءِ لِأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ.

“The prayer closest to acceptance and the fastest to be heard is a man’s prayer for a brother (in belief) in his absence.”

دُعَاءُ الْمَرْءِ لِأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ يُدِرُّ الرِّزْقَ وَ يَدْفَعُ الْمَكْرُوهَ‌[1].

“A man’s prayer for his brother (in belief) in his absence increases his sustenance and repulses misfortune.”

هُوَ الْمُؤْمِنُ يَدْعُو لِأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ الْمَلَكُ آمِينَ وَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ وَ لَكَ مِثْلَا مَا سَأَلْتَ وَ قَدْ أُعْطِيتَ مَا سَأَلْتَ بِحُبِّكَ إِيَّاهُ.

“About the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, ‘He answers the prayers of the righteously striving believers and grants them increasing favors . . . ,’ (42:26) the Imam said, ‘This is a reference to a believing person who prays for his brother (in belief) in his absence and the angel says, “Amin.” Allah, the

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ أَسْرَعُ الدُّعَاءِ نُجْحاً لِلْإِجَابَةِ[3] دُعَاءُ الْأَخِ لِأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ يَبْدَأُ بِالدُّعَاءِ لِأَخِيهِ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ مَلَكٌ مُوَكَّلٌ بِهِ آمِينَ وَ لَكَ مِثْلَاهُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘The prayer quickest to success and acceptance is one’s prayer for his brother (in belief) in his absence where one starts praying for him and the angels guarding say, ‘Amin’ You will have twice as much you asked for him.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ دَعَا لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ إِلَّا رَدَّ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِ مِثْلَ الَّذِي دَعَا لَهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَ مُؤْمِنَةٍ مَضَى مِنْ أَوَّلِ الدَّهْرِ أَوْ هُوَ آتٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيُؤْمَرُ بِهِ إِلَى النَّارِ- يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيُسْحَبُ‌[1] فَيَقُولُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتُ يَا رَبِّ هَذَا الَّذِي كَانَ

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Any believing person who prays for the believing people male and female, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, returns to such person a reward equal to the reward for a likewise prayer with which all believing people, male and female have been praying from the beginning of time and

رَأَيْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ جُنْدَبٍ فِي الْمَوْقِفِ فَلَمْ أَرَ مَوْقِفاً كَانَ أَحْسَنَ مِنْ مَوْقِفِهِ مَا زَالَ مَادّاً يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَ دُمُوعُهُ تَسِيلُ عَلَى خَدَّيْهِ حَتَّى تَبْلُغَ الْأَرْضَ فَلَمَّا صَدَرَ النَّاسُ قُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ مَا رَأَيْتُ مَوْقِفاً قَطُّ أَحْسَنَ مِنْ مَوْقِفِكَ قَالَ وَ اللَّهِ مَا دَعَوْتُ إِلَّا لِإِخْوَانِي وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع- أَخ

“Once I saw ‘Abd Allah ibn Jundab in ‘Arafat but I had not seen any stay (spending the ninth day of Dulhajj) in ‘Arafat better than that. He continued stretching his hands to the sky and his tears flow on his both cheeks all the way to the ground. When people left I said to him, ‘O abu Muhammad, I have never seen a won

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ إِذَا سَمِعُوا الْمُؤْمِنَ يَدْعُو لِأَخِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ أَوْ يَذْكُرُهُ بِخَيْرٍ قَالُوا نِعْمَ الْأَخُ أَنْتَ لِأَخِيكَ تَدْعُو لَهُ بِالْخَيْرِ وَ هُوَ غَائِبٌ عَنْكَ وَ تَذْكُرُهُ بِخَيْرٍ قَدْ أَعْطَاكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِثْلَيْ‌[2] مَا سَأَلْتَ لَهُ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْكَ مِثْلَيْ مَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَكَ الْفَضْلُ عَ

“I heard Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) saying, ‘When the angels hear the believing person praying for his brother (in belief) in his absence or speak of him good, they say, “You are a good brother (in belief). You pray for him in his absence and speak good of him. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has granted you dou

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ ثَلَاثَةٌ دَعْوَتُهُمْ مُسْتَجَابَةٌ الْحَاجُّ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ تَخْلُفُونَهُ وَ الْغَازِي فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ تَخْلُفُونَهُ وَ الْمَرِيضُ فَلَا تَغِيظُوهُ وَ لَا تُضْجِرُوهُ‌[1].

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Three people’s prayers are accepted: one who has gone to performing Hajj, thus, consider how can you deal properly with his affairs in his absence, a soldier fighting for the cause of Allah, thus, consider how can you deal properly with his affairs in his absence, and a person suf

كَانَ أَبِي ع يَقُولُ‌ خَمْسُ دَعَوَاتٍ لَا يُحْجَبْنَ عَنِ الرَّبِّ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى دَعْوَةُ الْإِمَامِ الْمُقْسِطِ وَ دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَأَنْتَقِمَنَّ لَكَ وَ لَوْ بَعْدَ حِينٍ وَ دَعْوَةُ الْوَلَدِ الصَّالِحِ لِوَالِدَيْهِ وَ دَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِ الصَّالِحِ لِوَلَدِهِ وَ دَعْوَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ لِأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ فَيَقُولُ وَ لَكَ مِثْلُهُ.

“My father (a.s.) has said, ‘Five kinds of prayers are not barred from the Lord, the Most Blessed, the Most High: the prayer of an Imam who is just in his dealings, the prayer of an oppressed as Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “I will revenge for you even if it may come after a long time,” the prayer

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ دَعْوَةَ الْمَظْلُومِ فَإِنَّهَا تُرْفَعُ فَوْقَ السَّحَابِ‌[2] حَتَّى يَنْظُرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهَا فَيَقُولَ ارْفَعُوهَا حَتَّى أَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ وَ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ دَعْوَةَ الْوَالِدِ فَإِنَّهَا أَحَدُّ مِنَ السَّيْفِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Beware of the prayer of an oppressed; it climbs over the cloud and Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, looks at it and says, “Raise it up so it is accepted,” and beware of the prayer of a father; it is sharper than a sword.’”

كَانَ أَبِي يَقُولُ‌ اتَّقُوا الظُّلْمَ فَإِنَّ دَعْوَةَ الْمَظْلُومِ تَصْعَدُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ.

“My father (a.s.) would say, ‘Stay away from injustice and oppression; the prayer of an oppressed climbs into the heavens.’”

مَنْ قَدَّمَ أَرْبَعِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ثُمَّ دَعَا اسْتُجِيبَ لَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever prays for forty believing persons and then for himself, his prayer will be accepted.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَرْبَعَةٌ لَا تُرَدُّ لَهُمْ دَعْوَةٌ حَتَّى تُفَتَّحَ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَ تَصِيرَ إِلَى الْعَرْشِ‌[1] الْوَالِدُ لِوَلَدِهِ وَ الْمَظْلُومُ عَلَى مَنْ ظَلَمَهُ وَ الْمُعْتَمِرُ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ وَ الصَّائِمُ حَتَّى يُفْطِرَ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The prayers of four people are not turned back before the door to heaven opens and they move to the Throne: the prayer of a father for his son, the prayer of an oppressed against his oppressor, the prayer of one who perfonns ‘Umrah until his returning home and the prayer of a person f

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ لَيْسَ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَسْرَعَ إِجَابَةً مِنْ دَعْوَةِ غَائِبٍ لِغَائِبٍ.

“The Holy Prophet has said, ‘No prayer is more quickly accepted than the prayer of one unseen for another unseen, that is, in each other’s absence.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ دَعَا مُوسَى ع وَ أَمَّنَ هَارُونُ ع وَ أَمَّنَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ع فَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى- قَدْ أُجِيبَتْ دَعْوَتُكُما فَاسْتَقِيما وَ مَنْ غَزَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ اسْتُجِيبَ لَهُ كَمَا اسْتُجِيبَ لَكُمَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Moses prayed and Hamn said Amin and the angels said Amin. Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, then said, “I have accepted your prayer be steadfast”, (10:89) and the prayer of one who fights for the cause of Allah will be answered just like the prayer of two of you (Moses and Hamn)

صَحِبْتُهُ بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَ الْمَدِينَةِ فَجَاءَ سَائِلٌ فَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُعْطَى ثُمَّ جَاءَ آخَرُ فَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُعْطَى ثُمَّ جَاءَ آخَرُ فَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُعْطَى ثُمَّ جَاءَ الرَّابِعُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يُشْبِعُكَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيْنَا فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا مَا نُعْطِيهِ وَ لَكِنْ أَخْشَى أَنْ نَكُونَ كَأَحَدِ الثَّلَاثَةِ الَّذِينَ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ دَعْوَةٌ رَجُلٌ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّ

“Once I accompanied Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) between Makkah and Madinah and at a certain place a beggar came and he ordered his people to help. Another beggar came he ordered his people to help, another came and he ordered to help, then the fourth one came and abu ‘Abd Allah said, ‘May Allah satisfy you,’ and he turned to

أَرْبَعَةٌ لَا تُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ دَعْوَةٌ رَجُلٌ جَالِسٌ فِي بَيْتِهِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي فَيُقَالُ لَهُ أَ لَمْ آمُرْكَ بِالطَّلَبِ وَ رَجُلٌ كَانَتْ لَهُ امْرَأَةٌ فَدَعَا عَلَيْهَا فَيُقَالُ لَهُ أَ لَمْ أَجْعَلْ أَمْرَهَا إِلَيْكَ وَ رَجُلٌ كَانَ لَهُ مَالٌ فَأَفْسَدَهُ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي فَيُقَالُ لَهُ أَ لَمْ آمُرْكَ بِالاقْتِصَادِ أَ لَمْ آمُرْكَ بِالْإِصْلَاحِ ثُمَّ قَالَ‌ وَ الَّذِينَ

“The prayers of four kinds of people are not heard: a man who sits home and says, ‘O Lord, grant me sustenance,’ and it is said to him, “Have I not commanded you to work?” a man who is troubled by his wife so he prays for relief, but he will be asked, ‘Have 1 not made dissolving marriage lawful?’ A man who has destroye

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ ثَلَاثَةٌ تُرَدُّ عَلَيْهِمْ دَعَوْتُهُمْ رَجُلٌ رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ مَالًا فَأَنْفَقَهُ فِي غَيْرِ وَجْهِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ ارْزُقْنِي فَيُقَالُ لَهُ أَ لَمْ أَرْزُقْكَ وَ رَجُلٌ دَعَا عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ وَ هُوَ لَهَا ظَالِمٌ‌[3] فَيُقَالُ لَهُ أَ لَمْ أَجْعَلْ أَمْرَهَا بِيَدِكَ وَ رَجُلٌ جَلَسَ فِي بَيْتِهِ وَ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ ارْزُقْنِي فَيُقَالُ لَهُ أَ لَمْ أَجْعَلْ لَكَ السَّبِيلَ إِلَى طَ

The prayer of three kinds of people is not accepted: a man to whom Allah has granted wealth but spends it improperly and then says, “O Lord, grant me wealth,” to him it is said, ‘Did I not give you wealth?’ A man who prays against his unjust wife, and it is said to him, ‘Have I not left her affairs to you (dissolving o

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جَاراً لِي وَ مَا أَلْقَى مِنْهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِيَ ادْعُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَفَعَلْتُ فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئاً فَعُدْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَشَكَوْتُ إِلَيْهِ- فَقَالَ لِيَ ادْعُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئاً فَقَالَ كَيْفَ دَعَوْتَ عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ إِذَا لَقِيتُهُ دَعَوْتُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ ادْعُ عَلَيْهِ إِذَا أَدْبَرَ[1] وَ إِذَا اسْتَدْبَرَ ف

“Once I complained before Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about my neighbor and what 1 had suffered from him. The narrator has said that the Imam said, ‘Pray and plead before Allah against him.’ I did so and did not have any results and I went back to the Imam to complain. He said, ‘Pray against him.’ I said, ‘May Allah keep my s

إِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ عَلَى أَحَدٍ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ اطْرُقْهُ بِبَلِيَّةٍ لَا أُخْتَ لَهَا وَ أَبِحْ حَرِيمَهُ‌[3].

“When any of you prays against the other person he should say, ‘O Lord, strike him with peerless misfortune in the night and allow his defenses to be ransacked.’”

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

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ الْعَلَاءُ بْنُ كَامِلٍ إِنَّ فُلَاناً يَفْعَلُ بِي وَ يَفْعَلُ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ أَنْ تَدْعُوَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقَالَ هَذَا ضَعْفٌ بِكَ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَكْفِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ وَ لَا يَكْفِي مِنْكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَاكْفِنِي أَمْرَ فُلَانٍ بِمَ شِئْتَ وَ كَيْفَ شِئْتَ وَ مِنْ حَيْثُ شِئْتَ وَ أَنَّى شِئْتَ.

“Once I was in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and al-‘Ala’ ibn Kamil said to him, ‘So and so acts against me again and again, if you consider it proper, pray to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’ The Imam said, ‘This is more than enough for you. Say, “O Lord, You are sufficient for everything and nothing i

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

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ثَلَاثَ سَاعَاتٍ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَ ثَلَاثَ سَاعَاتٍ فِي النَّهَارِ يُمَجِّدُ فِيهِنَّ نَفْسَهُ فَأَوَّلُ سَاعَاتِ النَّهَارِ حِينَ تَكُونُ الشَّمْسُ هَذَا الْجَانِبَ يَعْنِي مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ مِقْدَارَهَا مِنَ الْعَصْرِ يَعْنِي مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ الْأُولَى وَ أَوَّلُ سَاعَاتِ اللَّيْلِ فِي الثُّلُثِ الْبَاقِي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِلَى أَنْ يَنْفَجِرَ الصُّبْحُ‌[2] يَقُولُ إِنِّي أ

“In three hours of the day and in three hours of the night Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, glorifies Himself. The first hours of the day begin when the distance of the sun from this side, the East, is equal to that between ‘Asr (the beginning of afternoon prayer), on the West, and the start of the time of the first

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

مَنْ قَالَ فِي دُبُرِ صَلَاةِ الْفَرِيضَةِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَثْنِيَ رِجْلَيْهِ- أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي‌ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ* ذُو الْجَلالِ وَ الْإِكْرامِ‌ وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ ذُنُوبَهُ وَ لَوْ كَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ.

“Whoever after an obligatory prayer and before moving his legs to a second position says, ‘I plead before Allah for forgiveness, no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah, the Living, the Guardian, the Possessor of Glory and Honor and to Him I return,’ three times Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will forgi

هُوَ الدُّعَاءُ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَ قَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا وَ هِيَ سَاعَةُ إِجَابَةٍ.

“About the words of Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, ‘All in the heavens and the earth prostrate themselves before Allah, either of their own free will or by force, just as do their shadows in the mornings and evenings,’ (13:15) the Imam said, ‘This is prayer before sunrise and before sunset and it is the hour i

إِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ قُلِ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِنْدَ إِقْبَالِ لَيْلِكَ وَ إِدْبَارِ نَهَارِكَ وَ حُضُورِ صَلَوَاتِكَ وَ أَصْوَاتِ دُعَائِكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ ادْعُ بِمَا أَحْبَبْتَ.

“In the evening say, ‘O Lord, I ask You in the approaching of Your night and retreating of Your day, in the presence of Your blessings, among the voices of prayer to You to grant al-Salat (favors) upon Muhammad and Ale (family of) Muhammad,’ then pray for whatever you wish.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا تَغَيَّرَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَاذْكُرِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مَعَ قَوْمٍ يَشْغَلُونَكَ- فَقُمْ وَ ادْعُ.

‘When the sun changes, speak of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and if there are people keeping you occupied, stand up and pray.’”

ثَلَاثٌ تَنَاسَخَهَا الْأَنْبِيَاءُ[1] مِنْ آدَمَ ع حَتَّى وَصَلْنَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ إِذَا أَصْبَحَ يَقُولُ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ إِيمَاناً تُبَاشِرُ بِهِ قَلْبِي وَ يَقِيناً[2] حَتَّى أَعْلَمَ أَنَّهُ لَا يُصِيبُنِي إِلَّا مَا كَتَبْتَ لِي وَ رَضِّنِي بِمَا قَسَمْتَ لِي. - وَ رَوَاهُ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا وَ زَادَ فِيهِ‌ حَتَّى لَا أُحِبَّ تَعْجِيلَ مَا أَخَّرْتَ وَ لَا تَأْخِيرَ مَا عَجَّلْتَ يَا

“There are three things that the prophets inherited from Adam until they reached the Messenger of Allah. In the morning he would say, ‘O Lord, I request You to grant me a belief that accompany with my heart, a certainty in the fact that nothing can affect me except what You have written, make me happy with the share th

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

مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَقُولُ إِذَا أَصْبَحَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ- اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيراً وَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ‌ بُكْرَةً وَ أَصِيلًا وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* كَثِيراً لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ إِلَّا ابْتَدَرَهُنَّ مَلَكٌ وَ جَعَلَهُنَّ فِي جَوْفِ‌[5] جَنَاحِهِ وَ صَعِدَ بِهِنَ‌ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَتَقُولُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ مَا مَعَكَ فَيَقُول

“Whoever says in the morning before sunrise, ‘Allah is greater than can be described, Allah is greater than can be described, the Most Great. I glorify Allah in the morning and in the evening, all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, a great deal of praise. He has no partners. O Lord, grant al-Salat (favors) up

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,