The Book of Supplication

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)

جَاءَ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الْأَغْنِيَاءَ لَهُمْ مَا يُعْتِقُونَ وَ لَيْسَ لَنَا وَ لَهُمْ مَا يَحُجُّونَ وَ لَيْسَ لَنَا وَ لَهُمْ مَا يَتَصَدَّقُونَ وَ لَيْسَ لَنَا وَ لَهُمْ مَا يُجَاهِدُونَ وَ لَيْسَ لَنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ كَبَّرَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ كَانَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ عِتْقِ مِائَةِ رَقَبَةٍ وَ مَنْ سَبَّحَ اللَّهَ مِائَةَ مَرّ

“Once the poor people came to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, the wealthy people have the means to set free slaves, we do not have it, they can go for Hajj, but we cannot, they can provide charity, but we cannot and they can join the defense army for Jihad, but we cannot do so.’ The Messenger of

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ أَكْثِرُوا مِنَ التَّهْلِيلِ وَ التَّكْبِيرِ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنَ التَّهْلِيلِ وَ التَّكْبِيرِ.

“I heard one of the two Imam (a.s.) (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah) saying, ‘Increase al- Tahlil and al-Takbir, there is nothing more beloved to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, than al-Tahlil and al-Takbir , ’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ التَّسْبِيحُ نِصْفُ الْمِيزَانِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ يَمْلَأُ الْمِيزَانَ وَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ يَمْلَأُ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘Al-Tasbih is half of the balance, al- Hamdu li Allah fills out the balance and Allahu Akbar fills from earth to heaven.’”

مَرَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِرَجُلٍ يَغْرِسُ غَرْساً فِي حَائِطٍ لَهُ فَوَقَفَ لَهُ‌[1] وَ قَالَ أَ لَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى غَرْسٍ أَثْبَتَ أَصْلًا وَ أَسْرَعَ إِينَاعاً[2] وَ أَطْيَبَ ثَمَراً وَ أَبْقَى قَالَ بَلَى فَدُلَّنِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ إِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ وَ أَمْسَيْتَ فَقُلْ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ فَإِنَّ لَكَ إِنْ قُلْتَهُ بِكُلِّ تَسْبِيحَةٍ

“The Messenger of Allah once was passing by a man who was planting a plant in his yard. The Holy Prophet stopped and asked, ‘Should I tell you about a plantation that has stronger roots, ripens faster and is of finer fruits?’ The man said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah, tell me about it.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘In

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَيْرُ الْعِبَادَةِ قَوْلُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The best form of worship is saying, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah.’”

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

قُلْتُ إِنَّا نُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فَنَحْتَجُّ عَلَيْهِمْ بِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَ أَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ‌ فَيَقُولُونَ نَزَلَتْ فِي أُمَرَاءِ السَّرَايَا فَنَحْتَجُّ عَلَيْهِمْ بِقَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِنَّما وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ‌ إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَةِ[4] فَيَقُولُونَ نَزَلَتْ فِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ نَحْتَجُّ عَلَيْهِمْ بِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلّ

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘We speak to people and in support of our (Shi’a Muslim) belief refer them to the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘O believers, obey Allah, His Messenger, and your leaders (who possess Divine Authority)...’ (4:59) They say, ‘It applies to the commanders of the miss

السَّاعَةُ الَّتِي تُبَاهِلُ فِيهَا مَا بَيْنَ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ إِلَى طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ. - عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مَخْلَدٍ أَبِي الشُّكْرِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ مِثْلَهُ.

‘The time for al-Mubahalah is between dawn and sunrise.’” A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Isma’Il from Mukhallad abu al-Shukr from abu Hamza from abu Ja’far (a.s.) a similar Hadith.

تُشَبِّكُ أَصَابِعَكَ فِي أَصَابِعِهِ ثُمَّ تَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ فُلَانٌ جَحَدَ حَقّاً وَ أَقَرَّ بِبَاطِلٍ فَأَصِبْهُ بِحُسْبَانٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَوْ بِعَذَابٍ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَ تُلَاعِنُهُ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً.

“Crisscross the fingers of your hand with his fingers and say, ‘O Lord, if so and so has rejected a truth or has professed a falsehood, make him suffer misfortune from the sky or a painful punishment by Your command and then (the parties) renounce each other seventy times.’”

تُشَبِّكُ أَصَابِعَكَ فِي أَصَابِعِهِ ثُمَّ تَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ فُلَانٌ جَحَدَ حَقّاً وَ أَقَرَّ بِبَاطِلٍ فَأَصِبْهُ بِحُسْبَانٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَوْ بِعَذَابٍ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَ تُلَاعِنُهُ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً.

“Crisscross the fingers of your hand with his fingers and say, ‘O Lord, if so and so has rejected a truth or has professed a falsehood, make him suffer a misfortune from the sky or a punishment from You’, and then renounce each other seventy times.’”

إِذَا جَحَدَ الرَّجُلُ الْحَقَّ فَإِنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ تُلَاعِنَهُ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَ رَبَّ الْأَرَضِينَ السَّبْعِ وَ رَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ إِنْ كَانَ فُلَانٌ جَحَدَ الْحَقَّ وَ كَفَرَ بِهِ فَأَنْزِلْ عَلَيْهِ حُسْبَاناً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَوْ عَذَاباً أَلِيماً.

“If a man rejects the truth and if he is ready for renunciation then say, ‘O Lord, the Cherisher of the seven heavens and seven earths, and Lord of the great Throne, if so and so has rejected the truth and denied it, send upon him misfortune from the sky or a painful punishment.’”

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

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يُمَجِّدُ نَفْسَهُ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَ لَيْلَةٍ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَمَنْ مَجَّدَ اللَّهَ بِمَا مَجَّدَ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ كَانَ فِي حَالِ شِقْوَةٍ حَوَّلَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى سَعَادَةٍ يَقُولُ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْعَل

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ‘Abd Allah ibn Bukayr from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘A’Yun from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, glorifies Himself three times every-day and night. Whoever glorifies Allah with the words w

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَعْظَمَ ثَوَاباً مِنْ شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَا يَعْدِلُهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ لَا يَشْرَكُهُ فِي الْأُمُورِ أَحَدٌ.

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘There is nothing greater in rewards than testifying to the truth and believing in the meaning of the testimony of belief in Allah: ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah’, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, Who has no equal and no one shares Him in any issue. ’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ قَالَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ غُرِسَتْ لَهُ شَجَرَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِنْ يَاقُوتَةٍ حَمْرَاءَ مَنْبِتُهَا فِي مِسْكٍ أَبْيَضَ أَحْلَى مِنَ الْعَسَلِ وَ أَشَدَّ بَيَاضاً مِنَ الثَّلْجِ وَ أَطْيَبَ رِيحاً مِنَ الْمِسْكِ فِيهَا أَمْثَالُ ثُدِيِّ الْأَبْكَارِ تَعْلُو عَنْ سَبْعِينَ حُلَّةً وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص خَيْرُ الْعِبَادَةِ قَوْلُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ قَالَ خَيْرُ الْعِ

‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever (sincerely) says, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah’, a tree is planted for him in paradise, from red ruby that grows out of white musk, sweeter than honey, whiter than snow, of a fragrance better than musk, in which there is something like the breast of virgins,