Ramadhan Special

A'amaal For Laylatul Qadr

The A'maal of Shab-e-Qadr (19th, 21st & 23rd of Ramadan)

Shab-e-Qadr is the night, which is the best night among the nights of the whole year. The "A'maal" (religious performances) of this night are better than the A'maal of 1000 months. In this night the divine Annual Decree is passed. The Angels and Roohul Ameen (A highly dignified Angel) descend on this earth, in that night. These call on the Imam of the time, and what is ordained (by Allah) for everybody is presented before the Imam.

The common A'maals are: -

1. To take a bath. Allama Majlisi says, "It is better to take a bath before sunset so that the night prayers may be performed after bath".

2. To offer two Raqats of Namaz, in every Raqat offer Surat-al-Hamd, and Surat-al-Tauhid/ Sure Ikhlaas (Kulhowallah) seven times, and after finishing the prayer 70 times recite: "Astagferullaah Rabbi Wa atoobo elaihe" i.e., "I seek pardon from God and ask for penitence from Him".

3. The Holy Qur'an should be opened and placed in front, then one should recite:

Translation: O Allah treat me as one of those who are free from Hell, in the name of this Holy Book sent by Thee, whatever there be in the Book. Including Ism-e-A'azam and Asmaa-e-Husnaa and the things to be dreaded, the things that may be expected and desired, like blessings of Jannat. Do forgive through the grace of this book.

(SALAWAT-After this he may beg from Allah whatever he wants).

He should place the Holy Qur'an on his head and say,

Translation: O Allah! I appeal to Thee in the name of this Qur'an and the Rooh that was sent along with it, and in the name of the Momin (believer) whose praise is contained in this Book and Tine obligation that is on them. No one else recognizes the right and truth more than Thee

(SALAWAT-After this he should repeat 10 times each):

BEKA YA ALLAH'HO (S.W.T.) بِكَ يَا اللَّهُ Ten times

BE MOHAMMADIN (S.A.W.) بِمُحَمَّدٍ Ten times

BE ALIYYIN (A.S.) بِعَلِىٍّ Ten times

BE FATEMATA (A.S.) بِفَاطِمَةَ Ten times

BIL HASANE (A.S.) بِالْحَسَنِ Ten times

BIL HUSAINE (A.S.) بِالْحُسَيْنِ Ten times

BE ALIY IBNIL HUSAIN (A.S.) بِعَلِىِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ Ten times

BE MOHAMMED IBN ALIYYIN (A.S.) بِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِىٍّ Ten times

BE JA'FAR IBN MOHAMMEDIN (A.S.) بِجَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ Ten times

BE MOOSA IBN JA'FAR (A.S.) بِمُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ Ten times

BE ALI IBN MOOSA (A.S.) بِعَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى Ten times

BE MOHAMMED IBN ALIYYIN (A.S.) بِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِىٍّ Ten times

BE ALI IBN MOHAMMED (A.S.) بِعَلِىِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ Ten times

BIL HASAN IBN ALIYYIN (A.S.) بِالْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِىٍّ Ten times

BIL HOJJATIL QAEM (A.S.) بِالْحُجَّةِ Ten times

5. To recite the Ziarat of Imam Hussain (A.S.). According to Hadis, during Shab-e-Qadr an angel proclaims from the Arsh (Throne) on the Seventh sky, "Allah the Benevolent forgives him, whosoever performs the Ziarat of the grave of Imam-e-Hussain (A.S.)."

6. One should keep himself awake throughout these three nights. The vigil during these nights carries great Sawab (heavenly reward).

7. To offer 100 Raq'ats of Namaz. It has been highly recommended. It is better to recite (after Surat-al-Hamd) 10 times the Surat-al-Tauhid/ Sure Ikhlaas (Kulhowallah). And also to read the following dua in the state of Roku'or Sojud:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّى أَمْسَيْتُ لَكَ عَبْدا دَاخِرا لا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِى نَفْعا وَ لا ضَرّا وَ لا أَصْرِفُ عَنْهَا سُوءا أَشْهَدُ بِذَلِكَ عَلَى نَفْسِى وَ أَعْتَرِفُ لَكَ بِضَعْفِ قُوَّتِى وَ قِلَّةِ حِيلَتِى فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَنْجِزْ لِى مَا وَعَدْتَنِى وَ جَمِيعَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ مِنَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ فِى هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ وَ أَتْمِمْ عَلَىَّ مَا آتَيْتَنِى فَإِنِّى مفاتيح‏الجنان ص : 226 عَبْدُكَ الْمِسْكِينُ الْمُسْتَكِينُ الضَّعِيفُ الْفَقِيرُ الْمَهِينُ اللَّهُمَّ لا تَجْعَلْنِى نَاسِيا لِذِكْرِكَ فِيمَا أَوْلَيْتَنِى وَ لا [غَافِلا] لِإِحْسَانِكَ فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَنِى وَ لا آيِسا مِنْ إِجَابَتِكَ وَ إِنْ أَبْطَأَتْ عَنِّى فِى سَرَّاءَ [كُنْتُ‏] أَوْ ضَرَّاءَ أَوْ شِدَّةٍ أَوْ رَخَاءٍ أَوْ عَافِيَةٍ أَوْ بَلاءٍ أَوْ بُؤْسٍ أَوْ نَعْمَاءَ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ

8. Recite: "Astagferullaah Rabbi Wa atoobo elaihe" 100 times.

(i.e., "I seek pardon from God and ask for penitence from Him").

9. Recite: "Allaahummal'an qatalatal Ameeril Momeneen" 100 times, (specially recommended for the 19th night of Ramadhan).

(i.e., "O Allah! Thy malison upon the assassin of Ameerul Moineneen Ali ibne Abi Talib").

10. Then it is recommended to recite the following Dua,

Translation: O One Who was before everything and then brought everything into existence. He will remain while all else will be destroyed. O the One sole and solitary excepting Whom there is none else in the high heavens or low earths or above and below them, or in between them who is worth worshipping. Only Thou art the deity and none else deserves to be worshipped. Thou only deserves the praise which cannot be encompassed but by Thee. Therefore bestow Peace and Blessings on Muhammad (S.A.W.) and Aal-e-Muhammad (A.S.) such as no body else has the power to encompass.

The following Du'a has been narrated from Imam Ja'afar Sadiq (a.s.) and is recommended to be read on every night of the month of Ramadhan specially on the 19th:

Translation : O Allah, while taking decisions and rendering possible things and events decisively and determining a rational and sensible course of affairs in the Night of Qadr (which cannot be changed or bypassed), write my name in the list of those pilgrims of Thy Sacred House whose pilgrimage receive Thy approval, whose efforts are appreciated, whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongdoings are overlooked; and, while taking decisions and rendering possible things and events, make possible for me a long life and enough means of livelihood, and fulfill (mention your legitimate desires).

Dua'a for 21st Ramadhan (1)

Translation : O Allah send blessings on Muhammad and on the children of Muhammad, and inculcate maturity (of thought and action) in me so that it stops me at the gate of ignorance; help me with guidance to cut off all links with every type of waywardness; let me have enough means to barricade the gaps of poverty, give me strength to avert weakness; raise me to noble heights to abstain from anything low and mean; let me reach higher regions to leave behind humiliation; take me to peaceful sanctuary to remain safe from all terrors;

cover me with safety to shield from the impact of all calamities; open my mind with knowledge to cultivate sure belief; let me be certain of the indubitable truth to dispel all doubts; stimulate me to make use of prayer to draw Thy attention for fulfillment (of my desires) in this night, (in fact) at this very moment. O Generous Giver; put fear (of the consequences of breaking Thy laws) in my heart to deserve (Thy) all-embracing mercy; preserve incorruptible integrity in me so that it puts a barrier between me and wrongdoing till I reach the sanctuary of all (14) Infallibles, to be presented before Thee for obtaining Thy mercy, O the Most Merciful.

Dua (2) for 21st Ramadhan

يا مُولِجَ اللَّيْلِ فِى النَّهَارِ وَ مُولِجَ النَّهَارِ فِى اللَّيْلِ وَ مُخْرِجَ الْحَىِّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَ مُخْرِجَ الْمَيِّتِ مِنَ الْحَىِّ يَا رَازِقَ مَنْ يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ يَا اللَّهُ يَا رَحْمَانُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا رَحِيمُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ لَكَ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى وَ الْأَمْثَالُ الْعُلْيَا وَ الْكِبْرِيَاءُ وَ الْآلاءُ أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّىَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ اسْمِى فِى هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ فِى السُّعَدَاءِ وَ رُوحِى مَعَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَ إِحْسَانِى فِى عِلِّيِّينَ وَ إِسَاءَتِى مَغْفُورَةً وَ أَنْ تَهَبَ لِى يَقِينا تُبَاشِرُ بِهِ قَلْبِى وَ إِيمَانا يُذْهِبُ الشَّكَّ عَنِّى وَ تُرْضِيَنِى بِمَا قَسَمْتَ لِى وَ آتِنَا فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَ فِى الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الْحَرِيقِ وَ ارْزُقْنِى فِيهَا ذِكْرَكَ وَ شُكْرَكَ وَ الرَّغْبَةَ إِلَيْكَ وَ الْإِنَابَةَ وَ التَّوْفِيقَ لِمَا وَفَّقْتَ لَهُ مُحَمَّدا وَ آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ دعاى شب بيست و دوم يَا سَالِخَ النَّهَارِ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَإِذَا نَحْنُ مُظْلِمُونَ وَ مُجْرِىَ الشَّمْسِ لِمُسْتَقَرِّهَا بِتَقْدِيرِكَ يَا عَزِيزُ يَا عَلِيمُ وَ مُقَدِّرَ الْقَمَرِ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّى عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ يَا نُورَ كُلِّ نُورٍ وَ مُنْتَهَى كُلِّ رَغْبَةٍ وَ وَلِىَّ كُلِّ نِعْمَةٍ يَا اللَّهُ يَا رَحْمَانُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا قُدُّوسُ يَا أَحَدُ يَا وَاحِدُ يَا فَرْدُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ لَكَ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى وَ الْأَمْثَالُ الْعُلْيَا وَ الْكِبْرِيَاءُ وَ الْآلاءُ مفاتيح‏الجنان ص : 229 أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّىَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ [عَلَى‏] أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ اسْمِى فِى هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ فِى السُّعَدَاءِ وَ رُوحِى مَعَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَ إِحْسَانِى فِى عِلِّيِّينَ وَ إِسَاءَتِى مَغْفُورَةً وَ أَنْ تَهَبَ لِى يَقِينا تُبَاشِرُ بِهِ قَلْبِى وَ إِيمَانا يُذْهِبُ الشَّكَّ عَنِّى وَ تُرْضِيَنِى بِمَا قَسَمْتَ لِى وَ آتِنَا فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَ فِى الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الْحَرِيقِ وَ ارْزُقْنِى فِيهَا ذِكْرَكَ وَ شُكْرَكَ وَ الرَّغْبَةَ إِلَيْكَ وَ الْإِنَابَةَ وَ التَّوْفِيقَ لِمَا وَفَّقْتَ لَهُ مُحَمَّدا وَ آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ دعاى شب بيست و سوم يَا رَبَّ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ وَ جَاعِلَهَا خَيْرا مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ وَ رَبَّ اللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ وَ الْجِبَالِ وَ الْبِحَارِ وَ الظُّلَمِ وَ الْأَنْوَارِ وَ الْأَرْضِ وَ السَّمَاءِ يَا بَارِئُ يَا مُصَوِّرُ يَا حَنَّانُ يَا مَنَّانُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا رَحْمَانُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا قَيُّومُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا بَدِيعُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ لَكَ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى وَ الْأَمْثَالُ الْعُلْيَا وَ الْكِبْرِيَاءُ وَ الْآلاءُ أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّىَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ اسْمِى فِى هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ فِى السُّعَدَاءِ وَ رُوحِى مَعَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَ إِحْسَانِى فِى عِلِّيِّينَ وَ إِسَاءَتِى مَغْفُورَةً وَ أَنْ تَهَبَ لِى يَقِينا تُبَاشِرُ بِهِ قَلْبِى وَ إِيمَانا يُذْهِبُ الشَّكَّ عَنِّى وَ تُرْضِيَنِى بِمَا قَسَمْتَ لِى وَ آتِنَا فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَ فِى الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الْحَرِيقِ وَ ارْزُقْنِى فِيهَا ذِكْرَكَ وَ شُكْرَكَ وَ الرَّغْبَةَ إِلَيْكَ وَ الْإِنَابَةَ وَ التَّوْبَةَ وَ التَّوْفِيقَ لِمَا وَفَّقْتَ لَهُ مُحَمَّدا وَ آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ

Translation : O (One) who causes the night to pass into the day, and the day to pass into the night. O (One) who brings forth the living from the dead, and brings forth the dead from the living. O the Provider of sustenance for whoever He pleases, without measure. O Allah, O Beneficent, O Allah, O Merciful. O Allah, O Allah, O Allah, You have the most beautiful names, the highest examples, the grandeur, the bounties. I beseech You to, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and place my name, in this night, among the fortunate, and my soul among the martyrs, let my good deeds be (written) in the 'Illiyyin (Book of the virtuous), and my evil deeds be forgiven.

(And I beseech You to ) grant me a certainty which gives joy to my heart, and a faith which drives doubt away from me, and make me pleased with what You have granted me. (And I beseech You to) Give us good in this world, and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the burning fire.(HQ 2:201) (And I beseech You to) grant me in it (Laylatul Qadr) Your remembrance, and Your gratitude, and desire for (pleasing) You, turning (to You for repentance), and success, for all that You have granted Muhammad and his family, peace be on him and on them.

Dua'a for 23rd Ramadhan (1)

Translation : O Lord of Laylatul Qadr (night of power), who has made it better than a thousand months. O Lord of the night and the day, of the mountains and the seas, of darkness and light, and the earth and the sky. O the Originator, the Designer, The Affectionate, the Gracious. O Allah, the Beneficent, O Allah, the Everlasting, O Allah, O (the) Maker, O Allah, O Allah, O Allah, You have the most beautiful names, the highest examples, the grandeur, the bounties. I beseech You to, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and place my name,

in this night, among the fortunate, and my soul among the martyrs, let my good deeds be (written) in the 'Illiyyin (Book of the virtuous),and my evil deeds be forgiven. (And I beseech You to ) grant me a certainty which gives joy to my heart, and a faith which drives doubt away from me, and make me pleased with what You have granted me. (And I beseech You to) Give us good in this world, and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the burning fire. (HQ 2:201) (And I beseech You to) grant me in it (Laylatul Qadr) Your rememberance, and Your gratitude, and desire for (pleasing) You, turning (to You for repentance), and success, for all that You have granted Muhammad and his family, peace be on him and on them.

The following Du'a ?s also recommended to be rec?ted on the 21st n?ght of the month of Ramadhan.

Translation : O intrinsic Fundamental (Secret) evident in His exposed intelligible expression (manifest), and O Rational Exposition (Manifest) leading to His genuine quintessential (secret). O Innate Unseeable but not unintelligible. O Expressive exposition but not seeable. O He who is distinguished by qualities but no description points out His Being, nor any definition defines Him. O He who is transcendental but not missing. O He who is present but not perceivable! No sooner He is longed for (remembered) He reaches to pay attention. At no time, even for a flash of the eyelids (lesser than that), the heavens and the earth and that which is between them is empty of His presence. There is no way to know how is He, nor find out where is He, nor say why is He. Thou art the Light of every light, and the Lord of the lords, Thou controls every aspect of all phenomena. Glory be to He like unto whom there is nothing. He is Hearing, Seeing. Glory be to He who is "just like that", and is not "just like that" anyone other than He.

Miscellaneous Recommend Du'as for the month of Ramadhan

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) had advised the faithfuls to recite the following du'a after every obligatory Salaat to obtain Allah's mercy.

O Allah, let peace and tranquillity prevail over the people buried in the graves! O Allah, let the have-nots get rid of scarcity! O Allah, let the hungry be able to eat their fill! O Allah provide clothes to the mortals in tatters! O Allah, enable all debtors pay back the debts! O Allah, cheer up every heart-broken! O Allah, let every wayfarer return to his home! O Allah set free every detained captive! O Allah let every trouble maker see the right path in the common interest of the Muslims! O Allah make the sick get well! O Allah, fill the yawning gaps of destitution through Thy unlimited resources! O Allah, make better our deteriorating condition with the help of Thy free bounties and benefits! O Allah free us from the burden of debts and poverty! Verily, Thou are able to do all things.

Imam Ja'far bin Muhammad al-Sadiq (a.s.) and Imam Musa bin Ja'far al-Kaazim (a.s.) had advised the faithfuls to recite the following Du'as after every obligatory salaat:

O Allah, give me enough means so that I may go to Thy Holy House for pilgrimage this year and every year till I live in ease and comfort bestowed upon me by Thee; do not deny me these opportunities of visiting the venerable places and calling upon the resting abode of Thy Prophet (Thy blessings be on him and on his children), and in the matter of all the needs of this world and the hereafter continue to do good for me. O Allah, I request you to take a decisive decision regarding my affairs in the night of "Qadr", a decision that cannot be reversed,

nor can be changed, which includes me among the pilgrims of the "Sacred House" their dutiful pilgrimage receiving Thy approval, their efforts acknowledged their mistakes forgiven, their sins atoned for; and in the course of it make it possible that I live long in ease and comfort, pay back my debts and settle the money obligations. So be it, O the Lord of the worlds.

The following dua has also been advised by the Imams. It is recommended that this Du'a be recited after every obligatory prayer.

O the High, O the Great, O the Forgiver, O the Merciful, Thou are the Lord of the lords, Thee, and Thou hears and sees everything. This is the month Thou has made great, exalted, distinguished, rendered superior over all other months, and this is the month in which Thou has made fasting obligatory for me, and this is the month of Ramazan in which Thou sent down the Holy Quran, guidance for the mankind, which has clear signs to show the right path and set apart truth from falsehood; and Thou celebrated it with the "Night of Qadr" a night better than a thousand months. So, O the Owner of favours and benefits whom none can oblige, have mercy on me by cutting off my drift towards the hellfire and direct me unto the Paradise, O the Most Merciful.

Du'a Faraj

(Du'a for the reappearance of the Imam of the Time (a.s.)

O Allah, be for Your representative the Hujjat (proof), son of Al-Hasan, Your blessings be on him and his forefathers in this hour and in every hour, a guardian, a protector, a leader, a helper, a proof, and an eye until You make him live on the earth, in obedience (to You), and cause him to live in it for a long time.