The Essence of Life (ain-al Hayat) عین الحیات

Chapter 14: Invocations

The Superiority Of Invocations; The superiority of Tasbeehat or Sanctification of Allah

It is narrated from Imam Hasan (as) that a group of Jews came to the presence of the Prophet of Allah (S) and their chief inquired about several religious matters and got satisfactory replies. The entire group embraced Islam. One of the questions asked by the Jew was about the words that were taught to Prophet Ibrahim (as) at the time of the construction of the Kaaba. The Prophet told him the pharse was as follows:

Glory to Allah and praise to Allah and there is no God but Allah and Allah is the most great.

The Jew asked, “What rewards one could get if he recites this phrase regularly?”

The Prophet of Allah said: When the sanctfier says*‘Subhan Allah’,* then the angels under the Firmament too will repeat*‘Subhan Allah’.* And the reciter will get ten times more reward. When the person says*‘Alhamdu lillah’,* then Allah rewards him with the world and the Hereafter. These are the words that will be on the mouth of the people who enter the precincts of the Heaven because they used to recite the same words while on the earth. When the person says,‘La ilaha il Allah’, Allah orders awarding to him a place in the Heaven for uttering these words, because*‘Hal jazaal ehsan illal ehsaan’. When the Jewish scholar heard this, he said, “O Muhammad! You tell the truth!”*

Amir’ul-Mu’mineen (as) said: A group of beggars came to the Prophet of Islam (S) and said, ‘Ya Rasool Allah (S)! The affluent have money and they can perform the Haj. We don’t have the means to fulfill this important tenet! They have slaves, whom they can free to earn Allah’s goodwill. We can’t do that. They have wealth that they can do charity. We cannot be charitable! They can go for Jehad, we cannot do that!’ The Prophet of Islam (S) replied,’ One who repeats the words*“Allaho Akbar”* a hundred times, he will get the reward equal to that for releasing a hundred slaves. One who repeats the words*“Subhan Allah”* a hundred times he will get the reward for a Haj in which a hundred camels had been offered as sacrifice by him. One who repeats the words*“Al hamdu Lillah”* a hundred times, he will get the reward for a Jehad for which he had donated a hundred steeds. When a person repeats the words*‘La ilaha il Allah”* a hundred times, the reward will be the maximum.’ This news reached the affluent people and they too started reciting the words. The beggars came back to the Prophet (S) and said, “O Prophet of Allah! The rich too have started doing the same as you have asked us to do!’ The Prophet (S) replied, ‘This is Allahs Bounty! He can give to whoever He wishes to!’”

Imam Ar-Ridha’ (as) has said, “One who recites a hundred times each of the following words,’ Alhamdulillah’ ‘Subhan Allah’ ‘La ilaha il Allah’ and says the Durood ‘Allahu ma salle ala Muhammadin wa aale Muhammad’ a hundred times, and later on says*‘Alla humma zawwijni min al hoor il ain’* ,

Allah will grant him the Hur al-’Ayn in the Heaven. These five hundred words will be theMehr ( alimony) for the Hur al-’Ayn. This is the reason why 500 Deenar is fixed as the alimony for theMu’mina women!”

The Reward For Tahleel Or Declaration Of Allah’s Unity

The Prophet of Islam (S) has said: Allah told to Prophet Musa (as) that if whatever is there on the earth and the sky is put in one pan of a balance and in the other the words ’La ilaha il Allah’ are put, the pan in which these words are put will tilt to its side’. And said, ‘Reciting these words when one takes his last breaths would be of immense advantage that the spirit would leave the body with ease.’

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) has said: The more these words are recited, the more one will earn Rewards. This is an invocation whose superiority is immeasurable. Every prayer has an end. When the five mandatory prayers are offered, ones duty has been done! But there is no limit to the recitation of*‘La ilaha il Allah’.* One can recite it, however much he wishes to do it. Then the Imam recited the following verse,

O” you who believe! remember Allah, remembering frequently And glorify Him morning and evening” (33:41-42)

(O believers! Talk of Allah a lot and do His invocation day and night.’

Imam Ar-Ridha’ (as) has said that Allah told to Prophet Nooh (as) that when his ark was engulfed in high tide, he should recite the following words a thousand times, “La ilaha il Allah” The Imam also said that the recitation of these words will ward away penury and hardship and also relieves one from the pressures of the grave. One who regularly recites these words everyday, Allah will pardon his five thousand sins. It will be like completing the recitation of the Qur’an twelve times that day’

Therefore, bearing witness to the Unity of Allah by reciting,“Ashaduan la ilaha il Allah” is a very important invocation and will be the cause of ones deliverence.

It is authentically narrated that once Jibrael (as) came to Prophet Yusuf (as) to the upper chamber of his royal palace. He noticed a wayfarer in tatters on the street. Jibrael (as) said, “O Prophet of Allah (S)! Do you know who that person is?” Prophet Yusuf (as) said, “Please tell me who he is?” Jibrael (as) said that the person was the one who bore witness to your innocence!’ Hearing this, Prophet Yusuf (as) asked his men to fetch the persaon to his presence.

When the person was brought up, Prophet Yusuf treated him with great deference, ordered his men to give him a nice bath, dress him in expensive raiment and provide to him a chamber in the palace to live in and get him married to a beautiful lass. When all this was accomplished as per the wish of Prophet Yusuf (as), the person went away from there in a state of happiness. Jibrael (as) then said, “O Prophet of Allah(S)!

How ungrateful is the human being that if he bears witness to the Unity of Allah from the depths of his heart, Allah would give him palaces in the Heaven, delicious food andHur al-’Ayn to consort with! When a creature of Allah could give all this to a person for bearing witness to his innocence,

then no doubt the words*“Ashaduan la ilaha il Allahu”* are the key to the Heaven!”

The Superiority Of Adhkar Or Invocations

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) narrates, “Whoever utters the words*‘La ilaha il Allah,’* Allah will creat a rooster that will hover over his head till the Day of Judgement and keep invoking Allah and the reward for that would go to the person.

The Prophet of Allah (S) has said, “Ask your people on the verge of death to recite*‘La ilaha il Allah* ,’ one whose last utterence are these words will certainly land in the Heaven.”

It is narrated from Imam Ar-Ridha’ (as) that when prophet Nooh (as) boarded the ark, Allah sent to him a Revelation, ‘When you feel the fear of ship wreck, recite these words a thousand times,‘La ilaha il Allah.’

It is narrated from Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) that whoever recites a hundred times the words

“There is no God but Allah, the king, the clear Truth”

Allah would save him from penury and he will be provided safety from the pressures of the grave. In this life he will become affluent.

It is narrated in another tradition that one who recites this invocation 32 times, will take a turn towards prosperity. Penury and difficulties would desert him. He will be knocking at the threshold of the Heaven.

An authentic tradition narrates that whoever recites the following words fifteen times,

I bear witness that there is no God but Allah indeed indeed, that there is no God but Allah with belief and certainty, that there is no God but Allah with slavery and ?

Allah will have a Bounteous look towards him and till the person enters the precincts of the Heaven, He will have an eye of Blessing on him.

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) narrates that if a person recites the following invocation ten times every day,

I bear witness that there is no God but Allah One that has no partner , no sons

his record of deeds will get entry of forty five thousand virtuous deeds and delete the record of forty five thousand bad deeds. To the same extent the person’s status would be elevated.

In another narration it is said that this invocation would save him from the machinations of the Satan on the Day of Judgement. He will be pardoned for the major sins committed by him. He will get the reward for reciting the complete Qur’an ten times and would also get a place in the Heaven.

The Superiority Of Tasbeeh Or The Rosary

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) says that when aMu’min says

Glory to Allah and praise to Him, glory and praise to Allah the most great.

Allah will enter three thousand virtuous deeds in his account and deletes one thousand misdeeds from there. Allah will create a rooster that will repeat this tasbeeh till the Day of Judgement and the reward for this will go to the account of the person.

Amir’ul-Mu’mineen (as) has said that when a person says ‘Subhan Allah ,’ the angels would pray for him.

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) has said that one who recites

Glory and praise to Allah*, Glory to Allah the Great.*

thirty times, Allah will remove penury and difficulties from him, make him affluent and allot a place for him in the Heaven.

It is narrated from Amir’ul-Mu’mineen (as) that when Allah had created the light (Noor) of the Prophet (S), He had kept it for twelve thousand years under a curtain,Hijab al-Qudrat . TheNoor used to recite the followingTasbeeh:

Glory be to my Lord the High, and by His Praise,

again for eleven thousand years thenoor was under a curtain,Hijab al-Azmath, when it recited the words,

Glory to the one knowledgeable of all secrets,

for another ten thousand years theNoor was under theHijab al Mann reciting,

Glory to Allah the alive who does not ,

for another nine thousand years theNoor was under the curtain,Hijab al-Rehmat, when it recited,

Subhan ar rabbi al aala,

thereafter theNoor was under the curtain,Hijab al Saadaat, for eight thousand years and it recited,

Subhana man huwa dayamun la yas-hu ,

for the next seven thousand years theNoor was under the curtain,Hijab al Karamat, and recited,

Subhana man huwa ghaniun la yaftaghir,

for the next six thousand years theNoor was under the curtain,Hijab al Manzila, when it recited,

Subhan il aleemul kareem,

for the next five thousand years theNoor was under the curtain,Hijab al Hidayat, when it recited,

Subhana zil arshil azeem,

for the next four thousand years theNoor was under the curtain,Hijab an nabbuwa, when it recited,

Subhana rabbil izzate amma yasefoon,

for the next three thousand years theNoor was under the curtain,Hijab ar rafaa, when it recited,

Subhana zil mulke wal malakoot,

then for the next two thousand years theNoor was under the curtain,Hijab al-Haibat, when it recited,

Subhan allahi wa behamde,

finally for one thousand years theNoor was under the curtain,Hijab ash Shafaat, when it recited,

Subhana Rabbil azeeme wa behamdehi

Superiority of Tahmeed Or Praising Allah

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) was asked what act was the best in the consideration of Allah? He replied, ‘Praising Him!’

Imam ‘Ali bin Husayn (as) said: One who uttered*‘Al hamdu lillah* ,’ he thanked Allah for all His Bounties.

Imam Ar-Ridha’ (as) said that the Prophet of Islam (S) has observed that Allah gives His Bounties to a person who remembers and praises Allah. One who experiences delays in getting his sustenance, he should doAsthagfar (seek Allah’s forgiveness). If a person is engrossed with difficulties, he should say,

La haula wa la quwwata illa billah.

Whenever the Prophet of Allah (S) was pleased with anything, he used to say,

Alhamdu lillahil lazi benematehi tatam as saalehaat

and whenever there was a sad event he said

Al hamdu lillahi ala kulle haal.

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) has narrated from the Prophet of Allah (S) that he used to praise Allah every day. He used to recite, as much as his physical condition permitted, the following words,

Al hamdu lillahi rab il aalameen katheeran ala kulle haal.

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq has said that one who says,

Alhamdu lillahi kama huwa ahlehi,

the chroniclers of deeds will tell to Allah that they were tiring recording good deeds in hisNama al-Aamaal. Allah will say, “Write whatever my creature is saying. Leave his record of deeds for Me to update!”

The Superiority Of Astaghfar-Seeking Allah’s Forgiveness

Amir’ul-Mu’mineen (as) has said that the smell of sins is warded off by the fragrance of repentence. Seeking Allah’s forgiveness (Astaghfar) becomes the cause of enhancement of one’s sustenance.

Imam Zain-ul-’Abidin (as) has said that a person who has the habit of saying

Astaghfar Allah Rabbi wa atoobe alaih

will never be proud and conceited.

Whichever group the Prophet of Allah (S) visited, he used to spend more time in saying theAstaghfar.

It is narrated that the Prophet of Allah used to say theAstaghfar a hundred times every night, although he was aMasoom (innocent) and not susceptible to commit any sins.Therefore, sayingAstaghfar in itself is a abig invocation, whether one has committed any sin or not.Astaghfar is liked by the Creator and His Prophet (S).

It is narrated from Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) that when a person commits a sin, he gets a respite of seven hours to repent and seek Allah’s forgiveness by saying theAstaghfar three times. If he does this, then the sin will not be entered in hisNama al-Aamaal. TheAstaghfar is

Astaghfarullah allazi la ilaha illa huwal hai al qayyumo wa atoobu ilaihi.

Then the Imam (as) said, “Whoever repeatsAstaghfar Allah a hundred times in a day, Allah will forgive seven hundred sins of his.Remember, there is no virtue in a person who can commit seven hundred sins in a day!”

It is narrated from Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) when aMu’min commits forty sins in a day and night, and in repentence recites the following invocation:

Astaghfarullah allazi la ilaha illa huwal haiulqayyumo badeeus samawate walarz zul jalale wal ikrame waasaalahu an yusalli ala muhammadin wa aale muhammadin wa atoobo alayya,

then Allah will pardon his sins.

Miscellaneous Invocations

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) has said that he was surprised why a person who is scared of an enemy doesn’t recite the following:

Hasbanallaha wa naimal wakeel

Because Allah has said that those who utter these words have acquired a great Bounty.

The Imam (as) was surprised that why people don’t recite the following words that Prophet Yunus (as) recited while he was in the belly of the fish:

La ilaha anta subhanaka inni kunto min azzaalemeen

Because Allah says that He heard the prayer of Yunus and gave him relief from his trouble.

The Imam (as) wondered that when a person’s enemies are deceitful against him, he doesn’trecite these words

Ufawwazo amri ilallahi innallaha baseerum bilibaad

Because Allah says, thereafter, that when theMu’mins of the Tribe of Pharo recited these words, He protected them from the deceit of their enemies.

The Imam (as) wondered that when a person aspires for wealth and property, why doesn’t he recite the following words

Maasha Allaha lahaula wala quwwata illa billahi

Because thereafter, Allah has promised to answer theMu’min’s prayers.

One person complained to the Prophet (S) about fears and the burden of debts. The Prophet (S) advised him to recite the following words

Tawakkalto alalhai al lazi la yamooto wal hamdu lillahil lazi lam yattakhizo sahebatan wa la waladan wa lam yakunlahu shareekun filmulke wa lam yakunlahu waliun min azzulle wakabirrehu takbeera

The prophet of Islam (S) narrated that prophet Adam (as) complained to Allah about fears and uneasiness. Jibrael (as) came and said that if he recited the following words, his fears would vanish

La haula wa la quwwata illa billahi

Also the Prophet of Allah (S) said that Allah will shower His Bounties on a person who recited the words

Al hamdu lillahi rabbil aalameen

The person who is engulfed in sorrow and difficulties should recite

La haula wala quwwata illa billahil alil azeem

The Prophet (S) also said that one Night ofMeraj Allah has sent the following words through a Revelation

La haula wala quwwata illa billahi wala maljaam minka illa ilaika

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) has said that when a person recites the following words, while offering supplications, his prayers will definitely be answered:

Maasha allaho lahaula wala quwwata illa billahi

The Imam (as) also said when a person recites the following words seven times

Ya arham ar rahemeen

The angels say, ‘your voice has been heard by theArham ar Rahemeen and whatever you have wished for will be granted by Him!’

And when a person repeats ten times the words

Ya Allaho

Then Allah says, ‘Ask for whatever is required by you!’

Imam Ar-Ridha’ (as) said: When a person is afflicted with difficulties he should continuously recite

Ya Raoofo ya Raheemo

It is narrated from Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) when one recites the verses of “Qul hu walla ,” “Inna anzalna ” and “Ayat al Kursi ”

Facing the Kaaba, Allah will definitely answer his wishes because these contain theIsm al-Azam (the ineffable words).

Imam Ar-Ridha’ (as) has said the following are Ineffable Words

Ya haiyo ya Qayyum

It is narrated from Imam ‘Ali bin al Husayn (as) that the following supplication is based on Ism al-Azam and reciting it will get the prayers answered:

Ya allaho ya Allaho ya Allaho wahdaka wahdaka la shareeka laka antal mannan badius samawaate wal arza zul jalale wal ikraame wazussamail izaame wazul izzallazi la yuramo wa ilahukum ilahun wahedun la ilaha illa huwar Rahman urraheeme wa salallaho ala muhammadin wa aalehi ajmaeen

It is narrated from Sakeen bin Ammar that one night he was asleep in the city of Mecca. He saw a person in the dream asking him to awaken and see that a person was reciting Invocations to Allah. He awoke from the sleep, but fell asleep again. He saw the same dream a second time. He awoke and fell asleep again. When he saw the dream again, he heard a loud voice saying that Imam Musa bin Ja’far (as) reciting the Ism al-Azam. He took a bath, wore fresh clothes and went near theHajr al-Aswad. He found a revered person prostrating toward the Kaaba. He went and stood near him. When he heard intently, the following words were audible to him:

Yanooro ya quddooso (three times)

Ya haiyo ya Qayyumo (three times)

Ya haiyo la yamooto (three times)

Ya haiyo heena la haiyo (three times)

Ya haiyo la ilaha illa anta (three times)

Asaloka be-an la ilaha illa anta (three times)

Sikeen says that the Imam (as) repeated the words so many times that he could memorise them.

Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) says that one who recites the following words will certainly get his prayers answered:

Ya asma as saame eena wa ya absaran naazereena wa ya asraul haasebeena ya arham ar raahemeena wa ya ahkamul haakemeena

The Timings For Special Invocations

The Invocations After The Mandatory Prayers Of The Mornings And Evenings

Imam Musa al-Kadhim (as) narrates that when you have finished the evening (Maghrib) prayer, then without talking to anyone, say the following a hundred times:

Bismillahir Rahmaan ir Raheem la haula wa la quwwata illa billahil ‘Ali il azeem

Do the same after the morning (Fajr) prayers. Allah will ward away a hundred evils from you because there isIsm al-Azam in these words.

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) has said: When a person recites the following ten times before the sunrise and before the sunset every day, all his sins committed on that day will be pardoned:

La ilaha il Allaho wahdahu la shareeka lahu lahul mulko wa lahul hamdo yohi wa yumeeto wa yohi wa huwa hayyun la yamooto be yadahil khaire wa huwa ala kulle shaiyin qadeer

Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) has said, “One who recites theSalawat on Muhammad and his progeny ten times at dawn and repeats the following words

Subhan Allah (35 times)

La ilaha il Allah (35 times)

Alhamdu lillah (35 times)

And repeats the same at dusk, then he will be counted as those who are busy supplicating to Allah throughout the day. And one who saysallaho Akbar a hundred times at dawn and at dusk, he will get Reward equal to releasing a hundred slaves.

It is narrated that the Prophet of Allah (S) used to revite three hundred and sixty times every dawn and dusk the following

Alhamdu lillahi rabbilaalimeen kateeran ala kulle haalin

He (S) said that there are 360 veins in the human body. Of them 180 are mobile and the other 180 are static. If, even one mobile vein becomes static, or any of the static veins becomes mobile, then the person doesn’t get the sleep and remains restless the whole night. He should therefore regularly recite the invocation mentioned above.

It is narrated from Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) that one should recite the following invocation in the mornings:

I have risen with belief in Allah and on the faith of Mohammad and his tradition and the faith of ‘Ali and his his Asbahto billahi moomenan ala deene Muhammadin wa Sunnaehi wa deenil ausiae wa Sunnaehim aamanto besirrehim wa alniyatehim wa shahedehim wa ghayebehim wa aaoozu billahi mimma asta aaza minhu rasoolillahi sal allaho alaihi wa aalehi wa alal ausiyae salawaat ullahi alaihim wa arghub ilallahi feeha raghebu ilaihi wa la haula wa la quwwata illa billahi.

It is also narrated from the Prophet of Allah (S) that one who recites the following supplication before the sunrise, an angel will take it on its wings and go to the Firmament. When it arrives there, the other angels ask him what it was carrying. It says that it was carrying the supplication of aMu’min. The angels then pray to Allah for the acceptance of theMu’min’s supplication. Similarly all the angels and the people of the Firmament will pray on his behalf. This supplication is treasured with the record of the good deeds of theMu’min.

“Allah is the Most Great, Allah is the Most Great, and Glory to Allah in the morning and sunset, and plenty of praise to Allah the Lord of the worlds, He has no partner, and may Allah send his blessings upon Mohammad and the children of Mohammad?”

Prophet Ibrahim (as) used to recite the following supplication thrice every morning. Allah used to keep him safe from all calamities the whole day:

“I have risen in praise to my Lord, I have risen and I do not accept parteners with Allah and I do not seek with Allah another lord and I do not see any guardian but Him?”

It is narrated from Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) that before talking to anyone in the morning, one should recite theSura al-Qadr and blow on the Aqeeq stone (cornelian) and then recite the following supplication:

“I believe in Allah alone without any partner and I disbelieve in idols and false deities and I believe in what is kept safe and secret and what is

announced by the children of Mohammad and by what they reveal and hide, and in the first and last amongst them. ?”

Then Allah will save him from all calamities that day.

It is narrated from Amir’ul-Mu’mineen (as) that anyone who recites the following verse three times at the time ofMaghrib prayer, till the next morning he will not suffer any loss and he will be safe from natural calamities:

“So glory be to Allah when you enter the night and when you enter the morning and unto Him be praise in the heavens and the earth! - and at the sun's decline and in the noonday.”– 30.18

Amir’ul-Mu’mineen has said that anyone who recited three times the following words every morning and evening, then Allah will certainly enter him into the Heaven:

“I am satisfied to have Allah as my Lord and Islam as my faith and Mohammad, may Allah send His blessings upon him and his children,as a prophet, and Qur’an as a warner, and ‘Ali and the appointed ones among his children as Imams.?”

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) has said that one who recites the following words 25 times every day, then Allah will write one virtue in the names of all theMu’mins from Adam (as) till the Day of Reckoning and to that individual he will Reward equal to that of all theMu’mins:

“O Allah bestow your forgiveness to the believers(men and women), and to muslims(men and women).”

Halqam asked Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as), ‘Ya Bin Rasool Allah (as)! Teach me a supplication that will be beneficial for me now and also in the Hereafter.” The Imam said: After theFajr prayer, till the dawn, recite the following:

“Glory is to Allah the great and praise is to Him, I seek forgiveness from Allah and I ask Him His grace.? ”

Supplications After Every Mandatory Prayer

In the supplications to be recited after eyery mandatory prayer, the best is theTasbeeh al-Fatima (as). It requires reciting:

Allaho Akbar, Allah is the Greatest (34 times)

Alhamdu lillah, Praise is for Allah (33 times)

Subhan Allah, Glory is to Allah (33 times)

Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) has said that after every mandatory prayer, there is no better invocation than theTasbeeh al-Fatima (as) . If there was any other, more effective, way of Praising Allah, the Prophet (S) would most certainly haveinstructed his daughter about that.

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq has said that reciting theTasbeeh al-Fatima (as) after every compulsory prayer is better than performing a thousand genuflections. One should say once after reciting theTasbeeh the following words:

La ilaha il Allah, There is no God save He

Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) has said, One who sits quietly after each mandatory prayer and recites thrice the following words, Allah will pardon all his sins:

“I seek forgiveness from the Lord (testifying) There is no God other than Him The Living and the Everlasting Of Majesty and Splendour And I turn to Him In Repentence!”

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq has said that if a person recites thirty times the following words after each compulsory prayer, all his sins will be pardoned:

Subhan Allah, Glory is to Allah

It is narrated from Amir’ul-Mu’mineen (as) if one desires to depart from this world as innocent as he was at his birth, then he should recite theSura al-Iqlaas twelve times after every compulsory prayer and then raise his hands towards the sky and recite the following invocation:

“O Allah, I ask You by Your hidden, safeguarded, pure, purifying and blessed name, and I ask You by Your great name and Your everexisting power, O Giver of gifts and unleasher of captives, who unties necks from the hellfire, I ask you to send blessings on Mohammad and the children of Mohammad, and to free my neck from the hellfire, and to save my faith in this world and to let me into paradise, and to help me ask for wishes that start with prosperity, and continue in success, and end with goodness. إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلامُ الغُيُوبِ ). You are indeed the Knower of the Unseen”

Imam Ar-Ridha’ (as) was asked about the method of offering salutations to the Prophet (S) and hisAhl-ul-Bayt (as) after the mandatory prayers. The Imam (as) asked one to say the following:

“Peace be upon you O Messenger of Allah and His mercy and blessings be upon you, Peace be upon you O Mohammad son of Abdullah, Peace be upon you O Elect of Allah, Peace be upon you O Beloved of Allah, Peace be upon you O Preferred by Allah, Peace be upon you O Trustee of Allah , I testify that you are His Messenger, and you are Muhammad son of Abdullah; and I testify that you had advised your community (Ummah) and that you have strived in the path of your Lord, and that you have worshipped Him until the end,so may Allah reward you, O Messenger of Allah, with the best reward a Prophet or a Messenger ever received on behalf of his Community, O Allah send blessings on Mohammad and the children of Mohammad more pleasant than the blessings on Ibrahim and the children of Ibrahim, verily You are worthy of praise and glory.”

It is narrated from Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) that after every mandatory prayer he continued sitting at the place of the prayer till he cursed four accursed men andfour accursed women of theummat.

Invocations After Zuhr Prayer

It is narrated from Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as) that the Prophet of Allah (S) used to recite the following supplication after theZuhr prayer.

“In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

There is no god But Allah, the Great, the Clement: there is no god but Allah, the Lord of ‘Arsh (the throne) of Grace; and all praise is for Allah, the Lord of the worlds: O’ Allah I beseech Thee for all that time which is the cause of Thy Mercy, and that which ascertain Thy Forgiveness: and the benefit of every virtue, and safety from every sin: O’ Allah leave not any sin on me but that You forgive it, and any affliction but that You remove it, and any illness but that You heal it, and any defect but that You conceal it, and

any subsistence but that You increase it, and any fear but that You protect (me) from it; and any evil but that You repel it, an any of my need in which is Thy pleasure and which is beneficial for me, but that You grant it; O’ that Most Merciful, grant me my supplication, O’ the Lord of the worlds”

The Supplication After Asr Prayer

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq has said that a person who saysAsthgfar seventy time after the Asr prayer, Allah will pardon his seven hundred sins. If he doesn’t have so many sins in his account, Allah will pardon the sins of his parents or other relatives.

The Prophet of Allah (S) has said that the person who recitesAstaghfar once after the Asr prayer, Allah will forgive all his sins. TheAstaghfar is as follows

“I ask forgiveness of Allah, (who is) "There is no god save He," everliving, eternal, beneficent, merciful, owner of might and majesty. I beseech Him to accept my repentance, the repentance of a servant-insignificant, submissive, destitute, needy, worried and helpless seeking protection, who, on his own, neither can win nor lose, nor die, nor live, nor come to life again.”

The Invocations After The Late Night Prayers

Imam Muhammad Taqi (as) has said that one who recites the verseInna anzalna after the mandatory maghribain prayers, he will remain in the care of Allah till the morning.

Sheik Toosi has said that after the late night prayer (namaz al-Shab) one should recite ten timesSurat Al-Fatiha, Sura Qul huwalla, Sura Qul auzu berabbil naas, Sura Qul auzu Berabbil falaq. Also recite ten timesTasbeehaat al-Arba and the Salawat.

Sajda al-Shukr- The Prostration Of Thanksgiving

Prostration of thanksgiving after every mandatory prayer was the practice (Sunna Mu’akkada ) of the Prophet (S).

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) has hinted at it’s being mandatory and said that when a person makes a prostration of thanksgiving, Allah addresses the angels and tells them that a sincere creature is doing theSajda al-Shukr. He asks the angels to suggest what Reward must be given to the person. The angels would suggest that Allah keep His Blessings with the person for his act. Allah will again ask them what else should be the Reward for the person?

The angels say, ‘O Sustainer! Give him a place in the Heaven!’ Allah will again ask the angels,’ What else?’ The angels reply, ‘O Allah! Give a place in the Heaven for the person’s parents and children, as well!’ Allah will again ask the angels to suggest some more Reward for the person. The angels would reply,’ We have made suggestions to the best of our

knowledge! We have nothing else to suggest! You know everything!’ Then Allah would say, ‘The person has thanked Me in all sincerity and humility, therefore, in return, I too shall thank him!’

Imam Ar-Ridha’ (as) has said that while making the prostration of thanksgiving, a person should sayShukran lillah atleast three times. Also he should say a hundred timesAfwan or Shukran. Either in prostration he should first say a hundred timesAfwan or Al-afu Al-afu. Then he should keep the right cheek at the place of prostration and s make any supplication as, for example,Ya Allaho, Ya Rabbaho, Ya Syedaho. Similarly he should keep his left cheek at the place of prostration and say the same words. In the end he should place his forehead at the same spot and repeatShukran Shukran ya Shukran Allah a hundred times.

Remember that this prostration is not a part of the mandatory prayer. This is only aSunna. While doing this, the person should place his chest and the tummy on the ground, spread his arms and keep his kness flat on the ground. He should pray for the welfare of himself and all theMu’mineen with tearful eyes. Allah likes his creatures imploring Him for help in this manner.

Our Imams (as) used to make long prostrations of thanksgiving. Specially Imam Musa al-Kadhim (as) used to do thesajda after completing hisfajr prayer which stretched well into the sun up. When he was asked about hisSajda al-Shukr, the Imam (as) said, one should recite the following supplication while doing theSajda:

“O Allah I bear witness to you, your angels and your prophets and your messengers and all your creations, that you Allah, is my Lord and Islam is my religion and Muhammad is my prophet, ‘Ali, Hasan, Husain, ‘Ali son of Husain, and Muhammad son of ‘Ali, Jaffer son of Muhammad, Musa son of Jaffer, ‘Ali son of Musa, Muhammad son of ‘Ali, ‘Ali son of Muhammad, Hasan son of ‘Ali and the Proof, son of Hasan , are my Imams and I follow them and denounce their enemies.”

Then the person should reciteShukran a hundred times and also say theSalawat.

Afterwards he should say thrice:

Allahumma inni unshudaka dam al mazloom

Then repeat the following thrice as well:

Allahumma inni unsheduka bayuaayeka ala nafseka leaadayeka letuhlaknahum beaidiana wa aidial Mu’mineena allahumma inni ansheduka beyuaieka ala nafseka leauliyaeka letuzfera behim beaduweka wa aduwwehim antusalle ala Muhammadin wa alal mustahfezeena min aale Muhammadin

Then he should recite the following thrice:

Allahumma inni asalukal yusra baadal usre

Then he should keep his right cheek at the place of prostration and repeat thrice the following:

Ya kahufi heena tuainil mazahiba wa tuzeeqa alalarze bema rahubato wa ya berabbia khalqi rahmata bee wa kunto min qalqi ghaniyan salle ala Muhammadin wa alal mustahfezeena min aale Muhammadin

Then the left cheek is kept at the place of prostration and the following words recited thrice:

Ya muzilla kulli jabbarin ya muizza kulli zaleelin qad izzateka balagh bee majuhoori.

In one narration it is said that the Prophet of Allah (S) used to recite the following while doing the prostration of thanksgiving:

Aauzubeka min naarin harreha la yutfa wa aaoozubeka min naarin jadeeduha la yubla wa aauzubeka min naarin utusanuha la yuruwayee wa aaoozubeka min naarin masukubaha la yuksa

It is narrated that Amir-ulMu’mineen (as) used to recite the following supplication while doing theSajda al-Shukr:

Irhamo zulli baina yadaika wa tazurrai ilaika wa wahshati minan naase wa unsa beka ya kareem

The Supplications Before Going To Bed

Before sleeping it is adv’Isable to do the ablution. One should sleep on the right arm. And keep the face towards theKaaba. It is better to recite theTasbeeh al-Fatima before going to bed that he doesn’t get disturbing dreams.

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) has said that before going to bed one should recite the suraInna anzalna eleven times and also suraIqlas eleven times. One who does this, will be pardoned his sins during the next fifty years. If someone sees disturbing dreams, he should recite themaoozatain, that is,Qul aaoozo berabbil falaq and Qul aaoozo Berabbil Naas before going to bed.

Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) says that when one turns in the bed, he should say:

Alhamdu lillah wallaho akbar

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) has said that when a person wishes to wake up at a particular time in the night, he should recite the following before going to bed:

Allahumma la tunsini zikraka wa la tumani makruka wa la tajalni min al ghafeleena wa anabbehuni leuhibbul saa aate ilaika adooka fiha fatastajeebo li wa asaluka fatuhtaini wa astaghferuka fataghfirli innahu la egferul zunooba illa anta ya arham ar rahemeen

Syed Taoos has quoted from Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) that if a believer wishes to see the Prophet (S) in his dream, then after theIsha prayer he should take a bath of purification, offer four genuflections of prayer and in each of these genuflections he should he should recite SuraHamd once andAyat al Kursi a hundred times. After the prayer he should offerDurood on the Prophet (S) and His Holy Progeny (as) a thousand times. The person then should sleep in a dress free of any impurity. He should keep his right hand under his head while lying down to sleep and say a hundred times:

Subhan allah wal hamdu lillah wa la ilaha il Allaho wallaho akbar wa la haula wala quwwata illa billah

And he should say a hundred times these words before sleeping:

Masha Allah

He will witness the Prophet of Allah (S) in his dream.

And if a person wishes to see Amir’ul-Mu’mineen (as) in his dream, he should recite the following supplication before going to bed:

Allahumma inni asaluka ya man lahu lutfun khafiun wa ayadaihe basitatun la tanquzi asoluka belutfekal khafi allazi ma latafta behi leabdil akfa an turiani maulaya ameeralMu’mineena fi manayaa

If someone wishes to see a dead and departed relative in his dream, he should do the ablution, recite theTasbeeh al-Fatima , and then recite the following invocation

“Oh Allah, you are the Alive who can not be describedand faith is known by you, you are the origin of things and everything goes back to you, whoever has worked for your sakeyou were their refuge and savior, and whoever has not has not refuge or salvation from you except you, and I ask you with

Amongst the most popular supplications is theNamaz al-Amir’ul-Mu’mineen. This requires one to offer four genuflections of prayer and twosalaams (benedictions). In every genuflection (Rakat) after reciting theSura al-Fateha one should recite theSura al-Ahad fifty times. When a person completes this prayer, all his sins would have been pardoned by Allah!