Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Chapter 10

Chapter On Prohibition on Attributing to Allah What He Himself has not Done so

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ مَعْرُوفٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ بْنِ عَتِيكٍ الْقَصِيرِ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ عَلَى يَدَيْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ قَوْماً بِالْعِرَاقِ يَصِفُونَ الله بِالصُّورَةِ وَبِالتَّخْطِيطِ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ جَعَلَنِيَ الله فِدَاكَ أَنْ تَكْتُبَ إِلَيَّ بِالْمَذْهَبِ الصَّحِيحِ مِنَ التَّوْحِيدِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ سَأَلْتَ رَحِمَكَ الله عَنِ التَّوْحِيدِ وَمَا ذَهَبَ إِلَيْهِ مَنْ قِبَلَكَ فَتَعَالَى الله الَّذِي لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ تَعَالَى عَمَّا يَصِفُهُ الْوَاصِفُونَ الْمُشَبِّهُونَ الله بِخَلْقِهِ الْمُفْتَرُونَ عَلَى الله فَاعْلَمْ رَحِمَكَ الله أَنَّ الْمَذْهَبَ الصَّحِيحَ فِي التَّوْحِيدِ مَا نَزَلَ بِهِ الْقُرْآنُ مِنْ صِفَاتِ الله جَلَّ وَعَزَّ فَانْفِ عَنِ الله تَعَالَى الْبُطْلانَ وَالتَّشْبِيهَ فَلا نَفْيَ وَلا تَشْبِيهَ هُوَ الله الثَّابِتُ الْمَوْجُودُ تَعَالَى الله عَمَّا يَصِفُهُ الْوَاصِفُونَ وَلا تَعْدُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَتَضِلُّوا بَعْدَ الْبَيَانِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from al-‘Abbass ibn Ma‘ruf from ibn abu Najran from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from Abd al-Rahim ibn ‘Utayk al-Qusayr who has said the following.

“I wrote through ‘Abdal Malik ibn ’a‘yan to Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). “In Iraq there are people who attribute to Allah forms and lines. If you consider it proper, may Allah take my soul in your service, please write for me the correct belief in the issue of the Oneness of Allah.”

The Imam wrote for me, “May Allah grant you blessings. You have asked about the Oneness of Allah and the belief of the group before you. Exalted is Allah, to Who nothing is similar. He is All-hearing and All-seeing. Allah is above what certain people attribute to Him and analogize Him with His creatures and the lies of those who speak lies about Him. Note that the true doctrine in the Oneness of Allah is what is revealed in the Quran in about the attributes of Allah, the Almighty, the Exalted. Keep away from the belief in Allah, the Most High, all ideas that amount to ignoring His existence altogether and those that amount to analogizing Him with the creatures. Neither should His existence be negated nor should He be considered similar to anything. He, Allah, the Most High exists. Exalted is He and far above what is falsely attributed to Him. Do not exceed the limits of the Quran lest you go astray after the clear presentation of Truth.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ قَالَ لِي عَلِيُّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) يَا أَبَا حَمْزَةَ إِنَّ الله لا يُوصَفُ بِمَحْدُودِيَّةٍ عَظُمَ رَبُّنَا عَنِ الصِّفَةِ فَكَيْفَ يُوصَفُ بِمَحْدُودِيَّةٍ مَنْ لا يُحَدُّ وَلا تُدْرِكُهُ الابْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الابْصَارَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ.

2. Muhammad ibn Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from abu Hamzah who has said that Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn said to me, “O abu Hamzah, Allah cannot be defined by the created things. Our Lord is far above being described through the attributes. How can the infinite be defined by the finite? ‘ No mortal eyes can see Him, but He can see all eyes. He is All-kind and All-aware.’” (6:103)

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْخَزَّازِ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ قَالا دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَحَكَيْنَا لَهُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) رَأَى رَبَّهُ فِي صُورَةِ الشَّابِّ الْمُوَفَّقِ فِي سِنِّ أَبْنَاءِ ثَلاثِينَ سَنَةً وَقُلْنَا إِنَّ هِشَامَ بْنَ سَالِمٍ وَصَاحِبَ الطَّاقِ وَالْمِيثَمِيَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ أَجْوَفُ إِلَى السُّرَّةِ وَالْبَقِيَّةُ صَمَدٌ فَخَرَّ سَاجِداً لله ثُمَّ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ مَا عَرَفُوكَ وَلا وَحَّدُوكَ فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ وَصَفُوكَ سُبْحَانَكَ لَوْ عَرَفُوكَ لَوَصَفُوكَ بِمَا وَصَفْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ سُبْحَانَكَ كَيْفَ طَاوَعَتْهُمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ أَنْ يُشَبِّهُوكَ بِغَيْرِكَ اللهمَّ لا أَصِفُكَ إِلا بِمَا وَصَفْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ وَلا أُشَبِّهُكَ بِخَلْقِكَ أَنْتَ أَهْلٌ لِكُلِّ خَيْرٍ فَلا تَجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيْنَا فَقَالَ مَا تَوَهَّمْتُمْ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَتَوَهَّمُوا الله غَيْرَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ نَحْنُ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ النَّمَطُ الاوْسَطُ الَّذِي لا يُدْرِكُنَا الْغَالِي وَلا يَسْبِقُنَا التَّالِي يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) حِينَ نَظَرَ إِلَى عَظَمَةِ رَبِّهِ كَانَ فِي هَيْئَةِ الشَّابِّ الْمُوَفَّقِ وَسِنِّ أَبْنَاءِ ثَلاثِينَ سَنَةً يَا مُحَمَّدُ عَظُمَ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي صِفَةِ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَنْ كَانَتْ رِجْلاهُ فِي خُضْرَةٍ قَالَ ذَاكَ مُحَمَّدٌ كَانَ إِذَا نَظَرَ إِلَى رَبِّهِ بِقَلْبِهِ جَعَلَهُ فِي نُورٍ مِثْلِ نُورِ الْحُجُبِ حَتَّى يَسْتَبِينَ لَهُ مَا فِي الْحُجُبِ إِنَّ نُورَ الله مِنْهُ أَخْضَرُ وَمِنْهُ أَحْمَرُ وَمِنْهُ أَبْيَضُ وَمِنْهُ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ مَا شَهِدَ لَهُ الْكِتَابُ وَالسُّنَّةُ فَنَحْنُ الْقَائِلُونَ بِهِ.

3. Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah has narrated from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Husayn ibn al-Hassan from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Hassan ibn Sa‘id from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Khazzaz and Muhammad ibn al-Husayn they both have said the following.

“We met Imam abu abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) and stated to him that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) saw His Lord in the fashion of a full grown young man of thirty years and added that Hisham ibn Salim and Sahib al-Taq and al-Maythami say that He is hallow down to His navel and the rest is solid. The Imam bowed down to a prostrating position and then said, ‘(O Lord), Glory belongs to you they have not recognized You nor have they acknowledged Your Oneness thus, they attribute to You such things. (O Lord, Glory belongs to You, had they recognized You they would have attributed to You what you yourself have attributed to Yourself and they would not have considered You similar to things other than You. O Lord, I do not attribute to You anything other than what You have attributed to Yourself and do not consider You similar to Your creatures. To You belongs all good. Do not place me among the unjust ones.’ The Imam (a.s.) then turned to us saying, “Whatever you may imagine (make Wahm of) consider Allah some thing other than it.” He continued, ‘We, people of the family of the Prophet (s.a.), are the middle type and the criteria. Those who exceed can not catch up with us and those who follow can not go ahead of us. O Muhammad, when the messenger of Allah looked at the greatness of his Lord he was of the type of people as fully grown up as thirty years old people. O Muhammad, my Lord, the Majestic, the Glorious, is far greater than to be of the qualities of the creatures.” The narrator has said that I said, “May the Lord take my soul for your service, who was the one with his feet in the green?” The Imam said, “He was Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) when looked at his Lord with his heart He placed him in the light like that of the Hujub so he can see what is inside the Hujub. Of the light of Allah some are green, red, white and others. O Muhammad whatever has confirmation in the book and the Sunnah we affirm it.”

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ الْقَصَبَانِيُّ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ الْجَهْمِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ لَوِ اجْتَمَعَ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ وَالارْضِ أَنْ يَصِفُوا الله بِعَظَمَتِهِ لَمْ يَقْدِرُوا.

4. Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Bashir al-Barqi who has said that ‘Abbass ibn ‘Amir al-Qasbani who has said that Harun ibn al-Juham from abu Hamza from Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has reported the following. “Even if all those in heavens and earth would gather together to speak of the greatness of Allah they will not be able to do so.”

5ـ سَهْلٌ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْهَمَذَانِيِّ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا مِنْ مَوَالِيكَ قَدِ اخْتَلَفُوا فِي التَّوْحِيدِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ جِسْمٌ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ صُورَةٌ فَكَتَبَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِخَطِّهِ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا يُحَدُّ وَلا يُوصَفُ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ أَوْ قَالَ الْبَصِيرُ.

5. Sahl has narrated from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Hamdani who has said the following.

“I wrote to the man (Imam abu al-Hassan the 3rd (a.s.) explaining, “Your followers in this city differ on the issue of the Oneness of Allah. Some of them say that Allah has a body, and others say that Allah has a form.” The Imam replied in his own handwriting, “Glory belongs to Allah, Who can not be defined nor described. There is nothing similar to Him. He is All-hearing, All-knowing, or the Imam said All-seeing.”

6ـ سَهْلٌ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ قَالَ كَتَبَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِلَى أَبِي أَنَّ الله أَعْلَى وَأَجَلُّ وَأَعْظَمُ مِنْ أَنْ يُبْلَغَ كُنْهُ صِفَتِهِ فَصِفُوهُ بِمَا وَصَفَ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ وَكُفُّوا عَمَّا سِوَى ذَلِكَ.

6. Sahl has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim from Muhammad ibn Hakim who has said the following.

“Imam abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) wrote to my father, ‘Allah is far High, Glorious and Great than that one can reach the essence of His attribute. Speak of only those of His attributes of which He Himself has spoken and refrain from attributes other than those ones.’”

7ـ سَهْلٌ عَنِ السِّنْدِيِّ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَفْصٍ أَخِي مُرَازِمٍ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الصِّفَةِ فَقَالَ لا تَجَاوَزْ مَا فِي الْقُرْآنِ.

7. Sahl has narrated from al-Sindi ibn al-Rabi‘ from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hafs, brother of Marazim from al-Mufaddal who has said the “I asked Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.) about certain matters of the attributes (of Allah) and the Imam said, “Do not exceed what is in the holy Quran.”

8ـ سَهْلٌ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْقَاسَانِيِّ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا قَدِ اخْتَلَفُوا فِي التَّوْحِيدِ قَالَ فَكَتَبَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا يُحَدُّ وَلا يُوصَفُ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ.

8. Sahl has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali al-Qasani (the right name is Ali ibn Muhammad, one of the companions of Imam abu al-Hassan al-Hadi, the tenth Imam (a.s.) who has said the following.

“I wrote to the Imam explaining that people before us had differences on the issue of the Oneness of Allah.” The Imam wrote, “Glory belongs to Allah, Who can not be defined nor described. There is nothing similar to Him. He is All-hearing, All-seeing.”

9ـ سَهْلٌ عَنْ بِشْرِ بْنِ بَشَّارٍ النَّيْسَابُورِيِّ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا قَدِ اخْتَلَفُوا فِي التَّوْحِيدِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ هُوَ جِسْمٌ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ هُوَ صُورَةٌ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا يُحَدُّ وَلا يُوصَفُ وَلا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ.

9. Sahl has narrated from Bishr ibn Bashshar al-Nayshaburi who has said the following.

“I wrote to the man (Imam) explaining that people before us had differences on the issue of the Oneness of Allah. There were people who said that Allah had a body, others said He had a form.” The Imam wrote for me, “Glory belongs to Allah, Who can not be defined nor described. There is nothing similar to Him. He is All-hearing, All-seeing.”

10ـ سَهْلٌ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سَنَةَ خَمْسٍ وَخَمْسِينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ قَدِ اخْتَلَفَ يَا سَيِّدِي أَصْحَابُنَا فِي التَّوْحِيدِ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ هُوَ جِسْمٌ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ هُوَ صُورَةٌ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ يَا سَيِّدِي أَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا أَقِفُ عَلَيْهِ وَلا أَجُوزُهُ فَعَلْتَ مُتَطَوِّلاً عَلَى عَبْدِكَ فَوَقَّعَ بِخَطِّهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سَأَلْتَ عَنِ التَّوْحِيدِ وَهَذَا عَنْكُمْ مَعْزُولٌ الله وَاحِدٌ أَحَدٌ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ خَالِقٌ وَلَيْسَ بِمَخْلُوقٍ يَخْلُقُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مَا يَشَاءُ مِنَ الاجْسَامِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ وَلَيْسَ بِجِسْمٍ وَيُصَوِّرُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَلَيْسَ بِصُورَةٍ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ وَتَقَدَّسَتْ أَسْمَاؤُهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ شِبْهٌ هُوَ لا غَيْرُهُ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ.

10. Sahl has said that I wrote to abu Muhammad al-Hassan al-‘Askari (a.s.) in 255 AH., “Our people (ashabuna) differ on the issue of the Oneness of Allah. There are those who say he has a body and others say He has a certain form. If you would consider to instruct me in this matter on which I would rely without excess it would be a great favor to your servant.” The Imam answered in his own handwriting, “You have asked about the Oneness of Allah. It is not your duty to find Allah’s self. Allah is One, the Only One. He has no children and is not anyone’s child. There nothing similar to Him. He is the Creator and is not created. He, the Most Holy, the Most High, creates whatever He wants of the bodies and non-bodies. He is not a body or a certain form. He gives form to whatever He wills but Himself is not a form, Majestic is His praise and Holy are His names and is far above being similar to other things. Only He, and not others, is the One to Who no one is similar and He is all-hearing and All-seeing.”

11ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ رِبْعِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله لا يُوصَفُ وَكَيْفَ يُوصَفُ وَقَدْ قَالَ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَما قَدَرُوا الله حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ فَلا يُوصَفُ بِقَدَرٍ إِلا كَانَ أَعْظَمَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ.

11. Muhammad ibn Isma'il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Rabi‘i ibn ‘Abdallah from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar, who has said the following.

“I heard Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah cannot be defined. How can He be defined when He Himself has said in His book, “They have not respected Allah the way He truly should have been respected.” (6:91) Therefore, He cannot be described in any way but that He is great and above that.’”

12ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَعَنْ غَيْرِهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ إِنَّ الله عَظِيمٌ رَفِيعٌ لا يَقْدِرُ الْعِبَادُ عَلَى صِفَتِهِ وَلا يَبْلُغُونَ كُنْهَ عَظَمَتِهِ لا؛ّّ تُدْرِكُهُ الابْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الابْصَارَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ وَلا يُوصَفُ بِكَيْفٍ وَلا أَيْنٍ وَحَيْثٍ وَكَيْفَ أَصِفُهُ بِالْكَيْفِ وَهُوَ الَّذِي كَيَّفَ الْكَيْفَ حَتَّى صَارَ كَيْفاً فَعُرِفَتِ الْكَيْفُ بِمَا كَيَّفَ لَنَا مِنَ الْكَيْفِ أَمْ كَيْفَ أَصِفُهُ بِأَيْنٍ وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَيَّنَ الايْنَ حَتَّى صَارَ أَيْناً فَعُرِفَتِ الايْنُ بِمَا أَيَّنَ لَنَا مِنَ الايْنِ أَمْ كَيْفَ أَصِفُهُ بِحَيْثٍ وَهُوَ الَّذِي حَيَّثَ الْحَيْثَ حَتَّى صَارَ حَيْثاً فَعُرِفَتِ الْحَيْثُ بِمَا حَيَّثَ لَنَا مِنَ الْحَيْثِ فَالله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى دَاخِلٌ فِي كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَخَارِجٌ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ لا تُدْرِكُهُ الابْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الابْصَارَ لا إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ.

12. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and others from Muhammad ibn Sulayman from Ali ibn Ibrahim from ‘Abdallah ibn Sinan from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah is Great and High. People cannot describe Him nor can they reach the depth of His Greatness. ‘ No mortal eyes can see Him, but He can see all eyes. He is All-kind and All-aware.’” (6:103) He cannot be described by means of how and where. How can I describe Him by means of any condition? He Himself has created the conditions and how and so it came into being. We came to know conditions because of His designing them for us. How can I describe Him by means of space? It is He, Who spaced the space so it became space. I, thus, came to know space by means of what He has made it into space. How can I describe Him by means of positions when He Himself has given position to positions so it came into position. I, thus, came to know the position by means of what He has made to come into position. Allah, the Holy, the Most High, is in every place but is out of everything. ‘ No mortal eyes can see Him, but He can see all eyes. He is All-kind and All-aware.’” (6:103)

Chapter 11

Chapter On Prohibition on Considering Allah as having Body (JISM) and Form (SURAH)

1ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سَمِعْتُ هِشَامَ بْنَ الْحَكَمِ يَرْوِي عَنْكُمْ أَنَّ الله جِسْمٌ صَمَدِيٌّ نُورِيٌّ مَعْرِفَتُهُ ضَرُورَةٌ يَمُنُّ بِهَا عَلَى مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ فَقَالَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا يَعْلَمُ أَحَدٌ كَيْفَ هُوَ إِلا هُوَ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ لا يُحَدُّ وَلا يُحَسُّ وَلا يُجَسُّ وَلا تُدْرِكُهُ الابْصَارُ وَلا الْحَوَاسُّ وَلا يُحِيطُ بِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلا جِسْمٌ وَلا صُورَةٌ وَلا تَخْطِيطٌ وَلا تَحْدِيدٌ.

1. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Ali ibn abu Hamzah, who has said the following.

“I stated before abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) that I have heard Hisham ibn al-Hakam quoting you that Allah is a body of Self-subsisting nature and is from light. He can very clearly be recognized and He bestows such knowledge to whoever among His creatures He wills.” The Imam said, “Glorious is He, Whom no one knows how He is except He Himself. There is no one similar to Him and He is All-hearing, All-seeing. He cannot be limited, nor can He be felt or touched or moved. Eyes cannot see Him nor any of the senses can comprehend Him. He cannot be contained in anything, nor has He any body or form or figure or confine.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْجِسْمِ وَالصُّورَةِ فَكَتَبَ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ لا جِسْمٌ وَلا صُورَةٌ.

وَرَوَاهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله إِلا أَنَّهُ لَمْ يُسَمِّ الرَّجُلَ.

Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Hamzah ibn Muhammad who has said the following.

“I wrote to Imam abu al-Hassan (al-Thalith 3rd (a.s.) asking about the body and form (of Allah). He wrote in reply, ‘Glorious is He similar to Who there is nothing. He is not a body nor has He any form.’”

This Hadith has also been narrated by Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah without giving the name of the person (from whom he has heard).

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ قَالَ جِئْتُ إِلَى الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ التَّوْحِيدِ فَأَمْلَى عَلَيَّ الْحَمْدُ لله فَاطِرِ الاشْيَاءِ إِنْشَاءً وَمُبْتَدِعِهَا ابْتِدَاعاً بِقُدْرَتِهِ وَحِكْمَتِهِ لا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَيَبْطُلَ الاخْتِرَاعُ وَلا لِعِلَّةٍ فَلا يَصِحَّ الابْتِدَاعُ خَلَقَ مَا شَاءَ كَيْفَ شَاءَ مُتَوَحِّداً بِذَلِكَ لاظْهَارِ حِكْمَتِهِ وَحَقِيقَةِ رُبُوبِيَّتِهِ لا تَضْبِطُهُ الْعُقُولُ وَلا تَبْلُغُهُ الاوْهَامُ وَلا تُدْرِكُهُ الابْصَارُ وَلا يُحِيطُ بِهِ مِقْدَارٌ عَجَزَتْ دُونَهُ الْعِبَارَةُ وَكَلَّتْ دُونَهُ الابْصَارُ وَضَلَّ فِيهِ تَصَارِيفُ الصِّفَاتِ احْتَجَبَ بِغَيْرِ حِجَابٍ مَحْجُوبٍ وَاسْتَتَرَ بِغَيْرِ سِتْرٍ مَسْتُورٍ عُرِفَ بِغَيْرِ رُؤْيَةٍ وَوُصِفَ بِغَيْرِ صُورَةٍ وَنُعِتَ بِغَيْرِ جِسْمٍ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله الْكَبِيرُ الْمُتَعَالِ.

3. Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il ibn Bazi‘ from Muhammad ibn Zayd who has said the following.

“I went to Imam al-Rida (a.s.) to ask about the Oneness of Allah (God). The Imam dictated to me thus, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Who is the originator of all things. He is the inventor of all things, an invention that came from His power and wisdom but not from a thing so it would invalidate the invention and not from a cause so it would invalidate the novelty. He created whatever He wanted and howsoever He liked. He alone did all this to manifest His Wisdom and the truth of His Providence. Intelligence cannot comprehend Him, (Awham) imagination cannot reach Him, eyes cannot see Him and measurements cannot confine Him. The power of expression is unable to express Him in words. All sights are exhausted from reaching Him and the power of describing and defining have gone astray in its description and definition of His-self. He is hidden without any veil and is concealed without any covering. He is known without being seen; described without any form, and praised without any body. There is no god, except Allah, the Great, the Most High.’”

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ قَالَ وَصَفْتُ لابِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَوْلَ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ الْجَوَالِيقِيِّ وَحَكَيْتُ لَهُ قَوْلَ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ أَنَّهُ جِسْمٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الله تَعَالَى لا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَيُّ فُحْشٍ أَوْ خَناً أَعْظَمُ مِنْ قَوْلِ مَنْ يَصِفُ خَالِقَ الاشْيَاءِ بِجِسْمٍ أَوْ صُورَةٍ أَوْ بِخِلْقَةٍ أَوْ بِتَحْدِيدٍ وَأَعْضَاءٍ تَعَالَى الله عَنْ ذَلِكَ عُلُوّاً كَبِيراً.

4. Muhammad ibn Abu ‘Abdallah has narrated from those he mentioned from Ali ibn al-‘Abbass from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Muhammad ibn Hakim. He has said that I explained to abu Ibrahim (Musa al-Kazim (a.s.), the words of Hisham ibn Salim al-Jawaliqi and the words of Hisham ibn al-Hakam that say Allah is a body. The Imam (a.s.) said, “Allah, the Most High, is not similar to any of the things. What can be more blasphemous and scandalous than to describe the Creator of all things by means of body, form, type of creation, limitations, limbs and organs. Allah, the Most High, the Great, is far above these things.”

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفَرَجِ الرُّخَّجِيِّ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَسْأَلُهُ عَمَّا قَالَ هِشَامُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ فِي الْجِسْمِ وَهِشَامُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ فِي الصُّورَةِ فَكَتَبَ دَعْ عَنْكَ حَيْرَةَ الْحَيْرَانِ وَاسْتَعِذْ بِالله مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ لَيْسَ الْقَوْلُ مَا قَالَ الْهِشَامَانِ.

5. Ali ibn Muhammad, in a marfu‘ manner, has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Faraj al-Rukhkhaji who has said the following.

“I wrote to Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the words of Hisham ibn al-Hakam, about the body and the words of Hisham ibn Salim about the form (of Allah). He wrote in reply, ‘Remove from thyself the confusion of the confounded people and seek refuge from Allah against Shaytan (Satan). What the two Hishams have said is not correct.’”

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ يُونُسَ بْنَ ظَبْيَانَ يَقُولُ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ هِشَامَ بْنَ الْحَكَمِ يَقُولُ قَوْلاً عَظِيماً إِلا أَنِّي أَخْتَصِرُ لَكَ مِنْهُ أَحْرُفاً فَزَعَمَ أَنَّ الله جِسْمٌ لانَّ الاشْيَاءَ شَيْئَانِ جِسْمٌ وَفِعْلُ الْجِسْمِ فَلا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَكُونَ الصَّانِعُ بِمَعْنَى الْفِعْلِ وَيَجُوزُ أَنْ يَكُونَ بِمَعْنَى الْفَاعِلِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَيْحَهُ أَ مَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ الْجِسْمَ مَحْدُودٌ مُتَنَاهٍ وَالصُّورَةَ مَحْدُودَةٌ مُتَنَاهِيَةٌ فَإِذَا احْتَمَلَ الْحَدَّ احْتَمَلَ الزِّيَادَةَ وَالنُّقْصَانَ وَإِذَا احْتَمَلَ الزِّيَادَةَ وَالنُّقْصَانَ كَانَ مَخْلُوقاً قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا أَقُولُ قَالَ لا جِسْمٌ وَلا صُورَةٌ وَهُوَ مُجَسِّمُ الاجْسَامِ وَمُصَوِّرُ الصُّوَرِ لَمْ يَتَجَزَّأْ وَلَمْ يَتَنَاهَ وَلَمْ يَتَزَايَدْ وَلَمْ يَتَنَاقَصْ لَوْ كَانَ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ لَمْ يَكُنْ بَيْنَ الْخَالِقِ وَالْمَخْلُوقِ فَرْقٌ وَلا بَيْنَ الْمُنْشِئِ وَالْمُنْشَإِ لَكِنْ هُوَ الْمُنْشِئُ فَرْقٌ بَيْنَ مَنْ جَسَّمَهُ وَصَوَّرَهُ وَأَنْشَأَهُ إِذْ كَانَ لا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلا يُشْبِهُ هُوَ شَيْئاً.

6. Muhammad ibn Abu ‘Abdallah has narrated from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Husayn ibn al-Hassan from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Hassan ibn Sa‘id from ‘Abdullah ibn al-Mughirah from Muhammad ibn Ziyad who has said the following.

“I heard Yunus ibn Zabyan saying, ‘I went to meet abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), and said, “Hisham ibn al-Hakam has uttered monstrous words. I will briefly mention a few words. He thinks Allah has a body because things are of two types; (a) body and (b) the acts. It is not possible for the Creator Himself to be just actions or functions. But it is possible to consider Him as the agent.” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) then said, ‘That is not proper from him. Does he not know that the body has limits and the form has limits and an end? Whatever is subject to limitations is also subject to increase and reduction and such things are created.’

I then asked, “What then I should say?” He replied, ‘Allah is without body and form. He is the giver of body to all bodies and the giver of form to all forms. He can not be divided or limited. He does not grow or decrease. If it were as they say, then there would have been no difference between the Creator and the created, the inventor and the invented. But He is the Creator and the inventor. He has made the distinction and differentiation between that to which He has given body, form and that which He has invented. This is because nothing is similar to Him nor He resembles anything.’”

7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِمَّانِيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) إِنَّ هِشَامَ بْنَ الْحَكَمِ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الله جِسْمٌ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ عَالِمٌ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ قَادِرٌ مُتَكَلِّمٌ نَاطِقٌ وَالْكَلامُ وَالْقُدْرَةُ وَالْعِلْمُ يَجْرِي مَجْرَى وَاحِدٍ لَيْسَ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنْهَا مَخْلُوقاً فَقَالَ قَاتَلَهُ الله أَ مَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ الْجِسْمَ مَحْدُودٌ وَالْكَلامَ غَيْرُ الْمُتَكَلِّمِ مَعَاذَ الله وَأَبْرَأُ إِلَى الله مِنْ هَذَا الْقَوْلِ لا جِسْمٌ وَلا صُورَةٌ وَلا تَحْدِيدٌ وَكُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ سِوَاهُ مَخْلُوقٌ إِنَّمَا تُكَوَّنُ الاشْيَاءُ بِإِرَادَتِهِ وَمَشِيئَتِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ كَلامٍ وَلا تَرَدُّدٍ فِي نَفَسٍ وَلا نُطْقٍ بِلِسَانٍ.

7. Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah has narrated from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from Ali ibn al-‘Abbass from al-Hassan ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Hammani who has said the following.

“I said to abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘Hisham ibn al-Hakam claims that Allah is a body like unto Whom there is no one. He is All-knowing, All-hearing, All-seeing, All-powerful. He speaks and reasons. His word, His power, His knowledge are all in one. No one of them is created.’” The Imam said, “May Allah be his foe. Does he not know that the body is limited, and that the speech is other than what the speaker is? I seek refuge from Allah and I disclaim such words. Allah does not have a body, form or any kind of limitations. Allah has created everything. He creates things as and when He wills without any word or planing in the mind or utterance of the tongue.”

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ قَالَ وَصَفْتُ لابِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَوْلَ هِشَامٍ الْجَوَالِيقِيِّ وَمَا يَقُولُ فِي الشَّابِّ الْمُوَفَّقِ وَوَصَفْتُ لَهُ قَوْلَ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الله لا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Iisa from Yunus from Muhammad ibn Hakim who has said the following.

“I mentioned to abu al-Hassan al-Awwal (the first) (a.s.), the statements of Hisham al-Jawaliqi and what he says about fully grown up young man (see Hadith 3 Chapter on prohibited Attributes). I also mentioned the statements of Hisham ibn al-Hakam in this matter.” The Imam said, “Allah, certainly, is not similar to any thing.”

RECOMMENDED RITUALS OF FRIDAY NIGHT (SHAB-E-JUMAH)

Although the recommended rites on Friday nights are too many, we will briefly mention some of them as follows:

First: Repeat very often the following litanies:

“سبحان اللّه،و اللّه اكبر،و لا اله الاّ اللّه اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ”

It has been narrated that because Friday nights are illustrious and daytimes are brilliant, you may repeat very often the litanies of subhanallah, Allahu-akbar, and la-Ilaha-illallah. You may also invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon Muhammad and his Household very frequently at this night.

According to another narration, one may repeat the invocation of blessings upon Muhammad and his Household one hundred times at least at Friday nights. Yet, the more the best.

Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported as saying, “To invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon Muhammad and his Household at Friday nights is equal to winning one thousand rewards, having one thousand evildoings erased, and having one thousand ranks raised.”

It is recommended to start these invocations immediately after the Asr Prayer on Thursday up to the end of Friday daytime. In this regard, it has been authentically narrated that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) said, “On Thursday afternoons, angels from the heavens descend to the lowest space carrying golden pens and silver papers on which they record nothing except the invocations of blessings upon Muhammad and his Household."

Shaykh al-Tusi says it recommended, on Thursdays, to repeat the invocations of blessings upon Muhammad and his Household one thousand times in the following form:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَجِّلْ فَرَجَهُمْ وَ اَهْلِكْ عَدُوَّهُمْ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَ الْاِنْسِ مِنَ الْاَوَّلِينَ وَ الْآخِرِينَ.

Great reward will be the share of him who utters this invocation from Thursday afternoons up to the last hour of Fridays.

Shaykh al-Tusi has also recorded that it is recommended to say the following prayer of forgiveness at the last hour of Thursdays:

اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لا اِلَهَ اِلا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَ اَتُوبُ اِلَيْهِ تَوْبَةَ عَبْدٍ خَاضِعٍ مِسْكِينٍ مُسْتَكِينٍ لا يَسْتَطِيعُ لِنَفْسِهِ صَرْفا وَ لا عَدْلا وَ لا نَفْعا وَ لا ضَرّا وَ لا حَيَاةً وَ لا مَوْتا وَ لا نُشُورا وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عِتْرَتِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ الطَّاهِرِينَ الْاَخْيَارِ الْاَبْرَارِ وَ سَلَّمَ تَسْلِيما .

Second: At Friday nights, it is recommended to recite the following chapters (Surah) of the Holy Qur’an:

(1) Surah al-Isra’ (Bani-Isra’il; No. 17),

(2) Surah al-Kahf (No. 18),

(3) the three Surahs beginning with Ya-Sin, i.e. Surah al-Shu’ara’ (No. 26), Surah al-Naml (No. 27), and Surah al-Qasas (No. 28),

(4) Surah al-Sajdah (No. 32),

(5) Surah Yasin (No. 36),

(6) SurahSad (No. 38),

(7) Surah al-Ahqaf (No. 46),

(8) Surah al-Waqiah (No. 56),

(9) Surah Fussilat (No. 41),

(10) Surah al-Dukhan (No. 44),

(11) Surah al-Tur (No. 52),

(12) Surah al-Qamar (No. 54), and

(13) Surah al-Jumu’ah (No. 62).

If there is not enough time to recite all these Surahs, one may choose Surah al-Waqiah and those preceding it [in the aforesaid list].

Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said that one who recites Surah al-Isra’ each Friday night will join Imam al-Mahdi(a.s.) as one of his companions.

He (a.s.) is also reported as saying that one who recites Surah al-Kahf at Friday nights will die as martyr and will be resurrected with and in the line of the martyrs (on the Resurrection Day).

He (a.s.) is also reported as saying that one who recites the three Surahs beginning with Ya-Sin at Friday nights will be included with the intimate saints of Almighty Allah, will be made in the vicinity and under the protection of Him, will never be inflicted with misery in his worldly life, and will be given beyond his pleasure on the Resurrection Day.

He (a.s.) is also reported as saying that one who recites Surah al-Sajdah at Friday nights will be given his Record of Deeds in his right hand, will not be interrogated about his evildoings, and will be included with the companions of Muhammad and his Household - peace be upon them all.

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) is authentically reported to have said that one who recites SurahSad at Friday nights will be granted the welfare of this world as well as the Next World in such an excellent way that none would deserve except Prophets and archangels and will be allowed to Paradise as well as all those whom he loves among his household including the servants.

Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said that one who recites on Fridays or at Friday nights Surah al-Ahqaf will be saved, by Almighty Allah, from terrors in the worldly life and will be secured from the horror of the Resurrection Day.

He (a.s.) is also reported as saying that one who recites Surah al-Waqiah at Friday nights will be loved by Almighty Allah, all people will be made to love him, will be saved from all miseries, poverty, neediness, and misfortunes in this worldly life, and will be joined to the companions of Imam AliAmeer al-Momineen(a.s.) because this Surah is ascribed to him.

It has been also narrated that to recite Surah al-Jumu’ah at Friday nights is decided as expiation (forgiving the sins) for the evildoings committed throughout the week. A similar merit has been narrated for reciting Surah al-Kahf at Friday nights or after the two obligatory Zohr and Asr Prayers on Fridays.

It is worth mentioning that it is highly recommended to offer many (supererogatory) prayers at Friday nights such as Imam Ali’s Prayer, known as (Salat Ameer al-Momineen) and the two-unit prayer in each of which one should recite Surah al-Faatehah once and repeat Surah al-Zalzalah (No. 99) fifteen times. It has been narrated that one who offers this prayer will be saved, by Almighty Allah, from the grave torment and the horrors on the Resurrection Day.

Third: It is recommended to recite Surah al-Jumu’ah (No. 62) in the first unit of the Maghrib (Sunset) and Isha’ (Evening) obligatory Prayers, and to recite Surah al-Tawheed (No. 112) in the second unit of the Maghrib Prayer and Surah al-A’la (No. 87) in the second unit of the Isha’ Prayer.

Fourth: It is highly recommended to avoid reciting poetry at Friday nights. Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) is authentically reported to have said that it is abominable to say poetry for one observing fasting (sawm), the Muhrim (entering into Ihram: putting the pilgrimage uniform and entering the state of being performing the obligatory rites of the ritual Hajj), and on Fridays and at Friday nights. When he was asked whether this instruction is effective on the religiously acceptable poetry too, the Imam (a.s.) answered affirmatively.

It has been also authentically narrated on the authority of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, “One who utters even one verse of poetry on Fridays and at Friday nights will have nothing of the rewards except that of uttering that poetry.”

According to another narration, the prayers of those who recite poetry on Fridays will not be accepted.

Fifth: It is highly recommended to pray Almighty Allah for the good of one’s brethren-in-faith very frequently so as to copy the deed of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra’. According to a Hadith, one who prays for ten deceased individuals will be unquestionably allowed to enter Paradise.

Sixth: It is also recommended to say the supplications dedicated to Fridays. Actually, these supplications are too numerous to be cited in this chapter; therefore, a few of them will be hereinafter mentioned:

Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) is authentically reported as saying that one who says the following supplicatory prayer in the last prostration of the Isha’ supererogatory prayer at Friday nights and repeats it seven times will have all his sins forgiven as soon as he accomplishes that prayer. Yet, it is desirable to repeat this deed each night:

اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّي اَسْاَلُكَ بِوَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيمِ وَ اسْمِكَ الْعَظِيمِ اَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِي ذَنْبِيَ الْعَظِيمَ .

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is reported to have said that one who repeats the following supplicatory prayer seven times at Friday night will be allowed Paradise if he departs life at that night; and one who repeats it seven times on Friday will be also allowed Paradise if he departs life on that day:

اللَّهُمَّ اَنْتَ رَبِّي لا اِلَهَ اِلا اَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَ اَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَ ابْنُ اَمَتِكَ وَ فِي قَبْضَتِكَ وَ نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ اَمْسَيْتُ عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَ وَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ اَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ اَبُوءُ بِنِعْمَتِكَ [بِعَمَلِي‏] وَ اَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي [بِذُنُوبِي‏] فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي اِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ اِلا اَنْتَ .

Shaykh al-Tusi, Sayyid Ibn Tawus, al-Kaf’ami, and Sayyid Ibn Baqi have recorded that it is recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer on Fridays and at Friday nights and on the day and night of ‘Arafat (the ninth of Dhu’l-Hijjah). However, the supplication will be hereinafter cited as quoted from Shaykh al-Tusi’s book of al-Misbah:

اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ تَعَبَّاَ وَ تَهَيَّاَ وَ اَعَدَّ وَ اسْتَعَدَّ لِوِفَادَةٍ اِلَى مَخْلُوقٍ رَجَاءَ رِفْدِهِ وَ طَلَبَ نَائِلِهِ وَ جَائِزَتِهِ فَاِلَيْكَ يَا رَبِّ تَعْبِيَتِي وَ اسْتِعْدَادِي رَجَاءَ عَفْوِكَ وَ طَلَبَ نَائِلِكَ وَ جَائِزَتِكَ فَلا تُخَيِّبْ دُعَائِي يَا مَنْ لا يَخِيبُ عَلَيْهِ سَائِلٌ [السَّائِلُ‏] وَ لا يَنْقُصُهُ نَائِلٌ فَاِنِّي لَمْ آتِكَ ثِقَةً بِعَمَلٍ صَالِحٍ عَمِلْتُهُ وَ لا لِوِفَادَةِ مَخْلُوقٍ رَجَوْتُهُ اَتَيْتُكَ مُقِرّا عَلَى نَفْسِي بِالْاِسَاءَةِ وَ الظُّلْمِ، مُعْتَرِفا بِاَنْ لا حُجَّةَ لِي وَ لا عُذْرَ اَتَيْتُكَ اَرْجُو عَظِيمَ عَفْوِكَ الَّذِي عَفَوْتَ [عَلَوْتَ‏] بِهِ [عَلَى‏] عَنِ الْخَاطِئِينَ [الْخَطَّائِينَ‏] فَلَمْ يَمْنَعْكَ طُولُ عُكُوفِهِمْ عَلَى عَظِيمِ الْجُرْمِ اَنْ عُدْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِالرَّحْمَةِ فَيَا مَنْ رَحْمَتُهُ وَاسِعَةٌ وَ عَفْوُهُ عَظِيمٌ يَا عَظِيمُ يَا عَظِيمُ يَا عَظِيمُ لا يَرُدُّ غَضَبَكَ اِلا حِلْمُكَ وَ لا يُنْجِي مِنْ سَخَطِكَ اِلا التَّضَرُّعُ اِلَيْكَ فَهَبْ لِي يَا اِلَهِي فَرَجا بِالْقُدْرَةِ الَّتِي تُحْيِي بِهَا مَيْتَ الْبِلادِ ، وَ لا تُهْلِكْنِي غَمّا حَتَّى تَسْتَجِيبَ لِي وَ تُعَرِّفَنِي الْاِجَابَةَ فِي دُعَائِي وَ اَذِقْنِي طَعْمَ الْعَافِيَةِ اِلَى مُنْتَهَى اَجَلِي وَ لا تُشْمِتْ بِي عَدُوِّي وَ لا تُسَلِّطْهُ عَلَيَّ وَ لا تُمَكِّنْهُ مِنْ عُنُقِي اللَّهُمَّ [اِلَهِي‏] اِنْ وَضَعْتَنِي فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَرْفَعُنِي وَ اِنْ رَفَعْتَنِي فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَضَعُنِي وَ اِنْ اَهْلَكْتَنِي فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَعْرِضُ لَكَ فِي عَبْدِكَ اَوْ يَسْاَلُكَ عَنْ اَمْرِهِ، وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُ اَنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِي حُكْمِكَ ظُلْمٌ وَ لا فِي نَقِمَتِكَ عَجَلَةٌ وَ اِنَّمَا يَعْجَلُ مَنْ يَخَافُ الْفَوْتَ وَ اِنَّمَا يَحْتَاجُ اِلَى الظُّلْمِ الضَّعِيفُ وَ قَدْ تَعَالَيْتَ يَا اِلَهِي عَنْ ذَلِكَ عُلُوّا كَبِيرا اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّي اَعُوذُ بِكَ فَاَعِذْنِي وَ اَسْتَجِيرُ بِكَ فَاَجِرْنِي وَ اَسْتَرْزِقُكَ فَارْزُقْنِي وَ اَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ فَاكْفِنِي وَ اَسْتَنْصِرُكَ عَلَى عَدُوِّي [عَدُوِّكَ‏] فَانْصُرْنِي وَ اَسْتَعِينُ بِكَ فَاَعِنِّي وَ اَسْتَغْفِرُكَ يَا اِلَهِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي آمِينَ آمِينَ آمِينَ .

Seventh: It is highly recommended to say the famous supplicatory prayer known as Dua Kumayl, which will be cited in the coming section of this book, at Friday nights.

Eighth: It is also recommended to say the supplication that begins with the following statements. This supplication is also recommended to be said at the ‘Arafat Night, and will be cited later on in this book:

“اللّهمّ يا شاهد كلّ نجوى”

Ninth: It is recommended to repeat the following supplicatory prayer ten times:

يَا دَائِمَ الْفَضْلِ عَلَى الْبَرِيَّةِ يَا بَاسِطَ الْيَدَيْنِ بِالْعَطِيَّةِ يَا صَاحِبَ الْمَوَاهِبِ السَّنِيَّةِ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ خَيْرِ الْوَرَى سَجِيَّةً وَ اغْفِرْ لَنَا يَا ذَا الْعُلَى فِي هَذِهِ الْعَشِيَّةِ.

This honorable supplicatory prayer is also recommended to be said at the night of ‘Id al-Fitr (fast-break Feast; the first of Shawwal).

Tenth: Following Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) it is recommended to have pomegranate at Friday nights. Yet, it is preferable to have it before going to sleep. In this respect, it has been narrated that to eat pomegranate before going to sleep procures security until morning. It is also instructive to extend a handkerchief on the ground so as to save all the seeds of a pomegranate from loss and then eat them all. It is also recommended not to share anyone with it.

Eleventh: In his book of al-’Arus, Shaykh Ja’far ibn Ahmad al-Qummi has recorded that Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said that one who repeats the following litany one hundred times between the Dawn supererogatory and obligatory prayers will be owned, by Almighty Allah, a house in Paradise:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَ اَتُوبُ اِلَيْهِ

Twelfth: Shaykh al-Tusi, Sayyid Ibn Tawus, and others have mentioned the following supplicatory prayer confirming that it is recommended to say it at Friday nights just before dawn:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ وَ هَبْ لِيَ الْغَدَاةَ رِضَاكَ وَ اَسْكِنْ قَلْبِي خَوْفَكَ وَ اقْطَعْهُ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ حَتَّى لا اَرْجُوَ وَ لا اَخَافَ اِلا اِيَّاكَ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ وَ هَبْ لِي ثَبَاتَ الْيَقِينِ وَ مَحْضَ الْاِخْلاصِ وَ شَرَفَ التَّوْحِيدِ وَ دَوَامَ الاسْتِقَامَةِ وَ مَعْدِنَ الصَّبْرِ وَ الرِّضَا بِالْقَضَاءِ وَ الْقَدَرِ يَا قَاضِيَ حَوَائِجِ السَّائِلِينَ يَا مَنْ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي ضَمِيرِ الصَّامِتِينَ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ، وَ اسْتَجِبْ دُعَائِي وَ اغْفِرْ ذَنْبِي وَ اَوْسِعْ رِزْقِي وَ اقْضِ حَوَائِجِي فِي نَفْسِي وَ اِخْوَانِي فِي دِينِي وَ اَهْلِي اِلَهِي طُمُوحُ الْآمَالِ قَدْ خَابَتْ اِلا لَدَيْكَ وَ مَعَاكِفُ الْهِمَمِ قَدْ تَعَطَّلَتْ اِلا عَلَيْكَ وَ مَذَاهِبُ الْعُقُولِ قَدْ سَمَتْ اِلا اِلَيْكَ فَاَنْتَ الرَّجَاءُ وَ اِلَيْكَ الْمُلْتَجَاُ يَا اَكْرَمَ مَقْصُودٍ وَ اَجْوَدَ مَسْئُولٍ هَرَبْتُ اِلَيْكَ بِنَفْسِي يَا مَلْجَاَ الْهَارِبِينَ، بِاَثْقَالِ الذُّنُوبِ اَحْمِلُهَا عَلَى ظَهْرِي لا اَجِدُ لِي اِلَيْكَ شَافِعا سِوَى مَعْرِفَتِي بِاَنَّكَ اَقْرَبُ مَنْ رَجَاهُ الطَّالِبُونَ وَ اَمَّلَ مَا لَدَيْهِ الرَّاغِبُونَ يَا مَنْ فَتَقَ الْعُقُولَ بِمَعْرِفَتِهِ وَ اَطْلَقَ الْاَلْسُنَ بِحَمْدِهِ وَ جَعَلَ مَا امْتَنَّ بِهِ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ فِي كِفَاءٍ لِتَأْدِيَةِ حَقِّهِ [اَنَالَ بِهِ حَقَّهُ‏] صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ وَ لا تَجْعَلْ لِلشَّيْطَانِ عَلَى عَقْلِي سَبِيلا وَ لا لِلْبَاطِلِ عَلَى عَمَلِي دَلِيلا.

When Friday dawns, it is recommended to say the following:

اَصْبَحْتُ فِي ذِمَّةِ اللّٰهِ وَ ذِمَّةِ مَلائِكَتِهِ وَ ذِمَمِ اَنْبِيَائِهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ وَ ذِمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ ذِمَمِ الْاَوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ آمَنْتُ بِسِرِّ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ وَ عَلانِيَتِهِمْ وَ ظَاهِرِهِمْ وَ بَاطِنِهِمْ وَ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّهُمْ فِي عِلْمِ اللّٰهِ وَ طَاعَتِهِ كَمُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ.

It has been also narrated that one who says the following litany three times before the Dawn (Fajr) Prayer on Fridays will have all his sins forgiven even if they are as innumerable as swelling foams:

اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لا اِلَهَ اِلا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَ اَتُوبُ اِلَيْهِ.

RECOMMENDED RITES OF FRIDAY

Too many are the recommended rites on Fridays; yet, we will briefly mention the following:

First: In the first unit of the Dawn Prayer, it is recommended to recite Surah al-Jumu’ah (No. 62) and, in the second unit, Surah al-Tawheed (No. 112).

Second: Before opening the mouth with any word, it is recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer after the Dawn Prayer so that all sins committed throughout the week will be forgiven:

اللَّهُمَّ مَا قُلْتُ فِي جُمُعَتِي هَذِهِ مِنْ قَوْلٍ اَوْ حَلَفْتُ فِيهَا مِنْ حَلْفٍ اَوْ نَذَرْتُ فِيهَا مِنْ نَذْرٍ فَمَشِيَّتُكَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ فَمَا شِئْتَ مِنْهُ اَنْ يَكُونَ كَانَ وَ مَا لَمْ تَشَأْ مِنْهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَ تَجَاوَزْ عَنِّي اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ صَلَّيْتَ عَلَيْهِ فَصَلَوَاتِي عَلَيْهِ وَ مَنْ لَعَنْتَ فَلَعْنَتِي عَلَيْهِ.

This act should be done once a month at least.

It has been also narrated that one who, after the accomplishment of the Dawn Prayer on Fridays, does devotional acts and says supplications and invocations until sunrise will be raised seventy ranks to the Supreme Paradise.

Shaykh al-Tusi has recorded that it is highly recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer after the Dawn Prayer on Fridays:

اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّي تَعَمَّدْتُ اِلَيْكَ بِحَاجَتِي وَ اَنْزَلْتُ اِلَيْكَ الْيَوْمَ فَقْرِي وَ فَاقَتِي وَ مَسْكَنَتِي فَاَنَا لِمَغْفِرَتِكَ اَرْجَى مِنِّي لِعَمَلِي وَ لَمَغْفِرَتُكَ وَ رَحْمَتُكَ اَوْسَعُ مِنْ ذُنُوبِي فَتَوَلَّ قَضَاءَ كُلِّ حَاجَةٍ لِي بِقُدْرَتِكَ عَلَيْهَا وَ تَيْسِيرِ [تَيَسُّرِ] ذَلِكَ عَلَيْكَ وَ لِفَقْرِي اِلَيْكَ فَاِنِّي لَمْ اُصِبْ خَيْرا قَطُّ اِلا مِنْكَ وَ لَمْ يَصْرِفْ عَنِّي سُوءا قَطُّ اَحَدٌ سِوَاكَ وَ لَسْتُ [لَيْسَ‏] اَرْجُو لِآخِرَتِي وَ دُنْيَايَ وَ لا لِيَوْمِ فَقْرِي يَوْمَ يُفْرِدُنِي النَّاسُ فِي حُفْرَتِي وَ اُفْضِي اِلَيْكَ بِذَنْبِي سِوَاكَ

Third: It has been narrated that one who says the following invocation after the Zohr and Fajr Prayers on Fridays, as well as other days, will catch Imam al-Mahdi(a.s.) before he dies:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَجِّلْ فَرَجَهُمْ

In addition, it has been narrated that one who repeats the aforesaid invocation one hundred times will have sixty of his requests granted for him - thirty in this worldly life and thirty on the Resurrection Day.

Fourth: It is recommended to recite Surah al-Rahman (No. 55) after the Fajr Prayer on Fridays and to say, “None of Your favors do I deny,”wherever the verses, “Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?” are recited.

Fifth: Shaykh al-Tusi has recorded that it is highly recommended to recite Surah al-Tawheed, to invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon Muhammad and his Household, and to pray Him for forgiveness each one hundred times after the Fajr Prayer on Fridays. It is also highly recommended to recite Surahs al-Nisa’ (No. 4), Hud (No. 11), al-Kahf (No. 18), al-Saaffaat (No. 37), and al-Rahman (No. 55) during that time.

Sixth: It is recommended to recite Surah al-Ahqaf (No. 46) and Surah al-Mu’minun (No. 23).

Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported as saying that anyone who recites Surah al-Ahqaf at Friday nights or on Fridays will not be inflicted by dismays in his worldly life and will be saved from the horrors on the Resurrection Day. The Imam (a.s.) is also reported as saying that anyone who recites Surah al-Mu’minun regularly each Friday will come upon a happy end and will be granted an abode in the Supreme Paradise with the Prophets and Messengers of Almighty Allah.

Seventh: It is recommended to repeat Surah al-Kafirun (No. 109) ten times before sunrise and then pray Almighty Allah so that all prayers will be answered.

It has been narrated that Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-’Abidin (a.s.) used to repeat reciting Ayah al-Kursi (verse No. 255 of Surah al-Baqarah No. 2) from early morning up to midday on Fridays. When he accomplished the obligatory prayers, he would recite Surah al-Qadr (No. 97) frequently.

It is worth mentioning that to recite Ayah al-Kursi in the form of revelationon Fridays achieves a great reward.

Eighth: It is highly recommended to bathe oneself. In fact, this is one of the most confirmed rituals of Fridays. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is reported to have instructed Imam Ali(a.s.) by saying, “O Ali; wash yourself every Friday even if you have to purchase water with your Daily provisions and have nothing to eat. Verily, no voluntary act is better than this.”

Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is also reported to have said: Whoever washes himself on Fridays and, meanwhile, says the following supplicatory prayer will be pure all through that week:

اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لا اِلَهَ اِلا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدا عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ وَ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ.

“Pure” in the aforesaid Hadith stands for purification from sins or acceptance of the deeds, which is thus moral purification.

In any case, it is important not to neglect bathing oneself on Fridays when possible. The recommended time of this bathing is between sunrise and midday. In addition, the nearer to midday the better.

Ninth: It is recommended to dye with hibiscus, for it saves from leprosy and insanity.

Tenth: It is also recommended to cut the mustache neatly and trim the nails so as not to miss the great merits of doing these acts. As has been mentioned in narrations, these acts bring about expansion in sustenance, cancellation of sins up to the next Friday, and security from insanity and leprosy. On doing that, it is recommended to say the following litany:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَ بِاللّٰهِ وَ عَلَى سُنَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ [رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ ‏] وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

It is also recommended, on cutting the nails, to start with the little finger of the left hand and end with that of the right hand. The same thing is applicable to the nails of the feet. Then, the cut nails should be buried.

Eleventh: It is recommended to apply perfume and put on the best of one’s clothes.

Twelfth: It is recommended to give alms, for the rewards are doubled up on Fridays and at Friday nights, as is confirmed by narrations, as one thousand folds as giving alms on other days.

Thirteenth: It is recommended to arrange fruits and wholesome meals to the family members so that Fridays will be their days of pleasure.

Fourteenth: It is recommended to eat pomegranate before breakfast and to eat seven leaves of endive before midday. In this connection, Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.) is reported to have said, “The heart of him who eats a pomegranate before breakfast on Fridays will be enlightened for forty days. To eat two pomegranates increases the period of enlightenment to eighty days, and so on. It also dismisses the evil suggestions. Of course, to get rid of Satan’s suggestions is to stop acting disobediently to Almighty Allah; and to stop acting disobediently to Him allows entrance to Paradise.”

In al-Misbah, the author has said that to eat pomegranates on Fridays and at Friday nights achieves great merits.

Fifteenth: It is recommended to dedicate Fridays to learning the religious laws and instructions, not to wandering in others’ gardens, accompanying the vicious and the licentious, speaking about the others’ defects, laughing and guffawing, reciting poetry, and discussing useless subjects as well as similar matters. Disadvantages arisen from such matters are too many to be mentioned.

Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported as saying, “Woe to a Muslim who does not dedicate Fridays to learning the affairs of his religion.”

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is also reported to have said, “If you, on Fridays, see old men telling the tales of infidelity and of the pre-Islamic era, you should then make their heads the targets of stones.”

Sixteenth: It is recommended to repeat one thousand times at least the invocation of blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) is reported to have said, “For me, no act of worship is more favorable than invoking blessings upon the Prophet and his immaculate Household - may Allah bless them all - on Fridays.”

If there is not enough time to repeat this invocation one thousand times, it must be repeated one hundred times at least so that faces will be brightened on the Judgment Day.

It has been also narrated that all sins will be totally forgiven for those who repeat invocations of blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household one hundred times, repeat the following supplicatory prayer one hundred times, and recite Surah al-Tawheed (No. 112) one hundred times on Fridays:

اَستَغفِرُاللهَ رَبَّی وَ اَتُوبُ اِلَیهِ

It has been also narrated that to invoke blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his household is equal (in reward) to seventy times of going on Hajj.

Seventeenth: It is recommended to say the ritual Ziyarahs of the Holy Prophet and Imams, peace be upon them all. A section of this book is dedicated to the etiquettes and methods of Ziyarahs.

Eighteenth: It is recommended to visit the tombs of one’s relatives in general and parents in particular. Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) is reported as saying, “Visit the graves of your relatives on Fridays, for they know about those who visit their graves and will be happy for that.”

Nineteenth: It is recommended to say Dua al-Nudbah Supplication, which is one of the rites to be done on the Four Feast Days (i.e. ‘Id al-Fitr - the first of Shawwal, ‘Id al-Adha - the tenth of Dhu’l-Hijjah, ‘Id al-Ghadir - the eighteenth of Dhu’l-Hijjah, and Fridays).

NAMAZ E KAMILAH

Twentieth: Excluding the Friday Supererogatory Prayer (Nafilat al-Jumu’ah), many other optional prayers are reported to be offered on Fridays. Although the majority of these prayers are not dedicated to Fridays, it is highly recommended to offer them on Fridays.

One of these prayers is al-Salat al-Kamilah (The Perfect Prayer) that has been mentioned by many master scholars through numerous authentic series of reporters from Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq on the authority of his honorable fathers on the authority of the Holy Prophet - Allah’s peace and blessings be upon them all. In this connection, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is reported to have said: As for anyone who, before midday on Fridays, offers a four-unit prayer and recites the following in each unit: (1) Surah al-Faatehah ten times, (2) Surah al-Nas (No. 114) ten times, (3) Surah al-Falaq (No. 113) ten times, (4) Surah al-Tawheed (No. 112) ten times, (5) Surah al-Kafirun (No. 109) ten times, (6) Ayah al-Kursi (2:155) ten times, [And, according to another narration, (7) Surah al-Qadr (No. 97) ten times, (8) Ayat Shahidallah (3:18-19) ten times,] and, after the accomplishment of the prayer,

(1) repeats the following statement one hundred times:

ASTAGFIRU ALLAH

(2) repeats the following litany one hundred times:

سُبحانَ اللهِ وَالحَمدُلِلّهِ وَ لا اِلهَ اِلّا اللهُ اَکبَرُ وَ لا حَولَ وَلا قُوَّة الّا بِاللهِ العَلِیِّ العَظیمِ .

(3) repeats the following invocation one hundred times:

ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALA MUHAMMADIN WA ALI MUHAMMADIN

As for him who offers this prayer, Almighty Allah will save him from the evils of the inhabitants of the heavens, the inhabitants of the earth, the devil, and all unjust rulers.

ANOTHER PRAYER

It has been narrated on the authority of al-Harith al-Hamadani that Imam AliAmeer al-Momineen(a.s.) said: If possible, offer on Fridays ten units of prayer with perfect genuflection (ruku’) and prostration (sujud) repeating the following litany one hundred times between each couple (i.e. two) of units:

سبحانَ اللهِ وَ بِحَمدِهِ

To offer this prayer brings about a great reward.

A THIRD PRAYER

It has been authentically narrated that Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) said, “One who recites Surahs Ibrahim (No. 14) and al-Hijr (No. 15) altogether in a two-unit prayer on Fridays will be saved from poverty, insanity, and misfortunes forever.”

NAMAZ OF HOLY PROPHET(S)

Sayyid Ibn Tawus, may Allah have mercy on him, has narrated, through an authenticated chain of authority, that when he was asked about Ja’far al-Tayyar’s Prayer, Imam al-Rida(a.s.) said, “Have you known about the Holy Prophet’s Prayer? Perhaps, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had never offered Ja’far al-Tayyar’s Prayer and Ja’far al-Tayyar had never offered the Holy Prophet’s Prayer.” When the asker asked him to teach him that prayer, Imam al-Rida(a.s.) said,

Offer a two-unit prayer reciting in each unit Surah al-Faatehah (No. 1) once and Surah al-Qadr (No. 97) fifteen times. When you come to the Ruku’ (genuflection), repeat it (i.e. Surah al-Qadr) fifteen times; when you raise your body after the Ruku’, recite it fifteen times; when you do the Sujud (prostration), repeat it fifteen times; when you raise your head from the Sujud, repeat it fifteen times; when you do the second prostration, repeat it fifteen times; and when you raise your head from the second prostration, repeat it fifteen times. When you finish your prayer, you will have all your sins forgiven by Almighty Allah and you will have all your requests granted for you. The supplication that should be said thereafter is as follows:

لا اِلَهَ اِلا اللَّهُ رَبُّنَا وَ رَبُّ آبَائِنَا الْاَوَّلِينَ لا اِلَهَ اِلا اللَّهُ اِلَها وَاحِدا وَ نَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ لا اِلَهَ اِلا اللَّهُ لا نَعْبُدُ اِلا اِيَّاهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ لا اِلَهَ اِلا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ وَحْدَهُ وَحْدَهُ اَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ وَ نَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَ اَعَزَّ جُنْدَهُ وَ هَزَمَ الْاَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ فَلَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ اللَّهُمَّ اَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ وَ مَنْ فِيهِنَّ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ [وَ لِلَّهِ الْمُلْكُ وَ الْحَمْدُ] وَ اَنْتَ قَيَّامُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ وَ مَنْ فِيهِنَّ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَ اَنْتَ الْحَقُّ وَ وَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ [حَقٌ‏]، وَ قَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ وَ اِنْجَازُك حَقٌّ وَ الْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ وَ النَّارُ حَقٌّ [وَ اَنْتَ الْحَقُ‏] اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ اَسْلَمْتُ وَ بِكَ آمَنْتُ وَ عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَ بِكَ خَاصَمْتُ وَ اِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَ اَخَّرْتُ وَ اَسْرَرْتُ وَ اَعْلَنْتُ اَنْتَ اِلَهِي لا اِلَهَ اِلا اَنْتَ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اغْفِرْ لِي وَ ارْحَمْنِي وَ تُبْ عَلَيَّ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ .

NAMAZ OF IMAM ALI (A.S.)

Shaykh al-Tusi and Sayyid Ibn Tawus have recorded that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) said: One who offers the four-unit prayer of Imam AliAmeer al-Momineen(a.s.) will be as free of sins as newborns and will have all his requests granted. In the first unit, recite Surah al-Faatehah (No. 1) once and repeat Surah al-Tawheed (No. 112) fifty times. On accomplishment, say the following litany of Imam Ali, peace be upon him:

سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا تَبِيدُ مَعَالِمُهُ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا تَنْقُصُ خَزَائِنُهُ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا اضْمِحْلالَ لِفَخْرِهِ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا يَنْفَدُ مَا عِنْدَهُ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا انْقِطَاعَ لِمُدَّتِهِ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا يُشَارِكُ اَحَدا فِي اَمْرِهِ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا اِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ

Thereafter, say the following supplicatory prayer:

يَا مَنْ عَفَا عَنِ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَ لَمْ يُجَازِ بِهَا ارْحَمْ عَبْدَكَ يَا اللَّهُ نَفْسِي نَفْسِي اَنَا عَبْدُكَ يَا سَيِّدَاهْ اَنَا عَبْدُكَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ اَيَا رَبَّاهْ، اِلَهِي بِكَيْنُونَتِكَ يَا اَمَلاهْ يَا رَحْمَانَاهْ يَا غِيَاثَاهْ عَبْدُكَ عَبْدُكَ لا حِيلَةَ لَهُ يَا مُنْتَهَى رَغْبَتَاهْ يَا مُجْرِيَ الدَّمِ فِي عُرُوقِي [عَبْدُكَ‏] يَا سَيِّدَاهْ يَا مَالِكَاهْ اَيَا هُوَ اَيَا هُوَ يَا رَبَّاهْ عَبْدُكَ عَبْدُكَ لا حِيلَةَ لِي وَ لا غِنَى بِي عَنْ نَفْسِي وَ لا اَسْتَطِيعُ لَهَا ضَرّا وَ لا نَفْعا وَ لا اَجِدُ مَنْ اُصَانِعُهُ تَقَطَّعَتْ اَسْبَابُ الْخَدَائِعِ عَنِّي وَ اضْمَحَلَّ كُلُّ مَظْنُونٍ عَنِّي اَفْرَدَنِي الدَّهْرُ اِلَيْكَ فَقُمْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ هَذَا الْمَقَامَ يَا اِلَهِي بِعِلْمِكَ كَانَ هَذَا كُلُّهُ فَكَيْفَ اَنْتَ صَانِعٌ بِي وَ لَيْتَ شِعْرِي كَيْفَ تَقُولُ لِدُعَائِي اَ تَقُولُ نَعَمْ اَمْ تَقُولُ لا، فَاِنْ قُلْتَ لا فَيَا وَيْلِي يَا وَيْلِي يَا وَيْلِي يَا عَوْلِي يَا عَوْلِي يَا عَوْلِي يَا شِقْوَتِي يَا شِقْوَتِي يَا شِقْوَتِي يَا ذُلِّي يَا ذُلِّي يَا ذُلِّي اِلَى مَنْ وَ مِمَّنْ اَوْ عِنْدَ مَنْ اَوْ كَيْفَ اَوْ مَا ذَا اَوْ اِلَى اَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ اَلْجَاُ وَ مَنْ اَرْجُو وَ مَنْ يَجُودُ عَلَيَّ بِفَضْلِهِ حِينَ تَرْفُضُنِي يَا وَاسِعَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ وَ اِنْ قُلْتَ نَعَمْ كَمَا هُوَ الظَّنُّ بِكَ وَ الرَّجَاءُ لَكَ فَطُوبَى لِي اَنَا السَّعِيدُ وَ اَنَا الْمَسْعُودُ فَطُوبَى لِي وَ اَنَا الْمَرْحُومُ، يَا مُتَرَحِّمُ يَا مُتَرَئِّفُ يَا مُتَعَطِّفُ يَا مُتَجَبِّرُ [مُتَحَنِّنُ‏] يَا مُتَمَلِّكُ يَا مُقْسِطُ لا عَمَلَ لِي اَبْلُغُ بِهِ نَجَاحَ حَاجَتِي اَسْاَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الَّذِي جَعَلْتَهُ فِي مَكْنُونِ غَيْبِكَ وَ اسْتَقَرَّ عِنْدَكَ فَلا يَخْرُجُ مِنْكَ اِلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ سِوَاكَ اَسْاَلُكَ بِهِ وَ بِكَ وَ بِهِ فَاِنَّهُ اَجَلُّ وَ اَشْرَفُ اَسْمَائِكَ لا شَيْ‏ءَ لِي غَيْرُ هَذَا وَ لا اَحَدَ اَعْوَدُ عَلَيَّ مِنْكَ يَا كَيْنُونُ يَا مُكَوِّنُ يَا مَنْ عَرَّفَنِي نَفْسَهُ يَا مَنْ اَمَرَنِي بِطَاعَتِهِ يَا مَنْ نَهَانِي عَنْ مَعْصِيَتِهِ وَ يَا مَدْعُوُّ يَا مَسْئُولُ يَا مَطْلُوبا اِلَيْهِ رَفَضْتُ وَصِيَّتَكَ الَّتِي اَوْصَيْتَنِي وَ لَمْ اُطِعْكَ وَ لَوْ اَطَعْتُكَ فِيمَا اَمَرْتَنِي لَكَفَيْتَنِي مَا قُمْتُ اِلَيْكَ فِيهِ وَ اَنَا مَعَ مَعْصِيَتِي لَكَ رَاجٍ، فَلا تَحُلْ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَ مَا رَجَوْتُ يَا مُتَرَحِّما لِي اَعِذْنِي مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيَّ وَ مِنْ خَلْفِي وَ مِنْ فَوْقِي وَ مِنْ تَحْتِي وَ مِنْ كُلِّ جِهَاتِ الْاِحَاطَةِ بِي اللَّهُمَّ بِمُحَمَّدٍ سَيِّدِي وَ بِعَلِيٍّ وَلِيِّي وَ بِالْاَئِمَّةِ الرَّاشِدِينَ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ اجْعَلْ عَلَيْنَا صَلَوَاتِكَ وَ رَأْفَتَكَ وَ رَحْمَتَكَ وَ اَوْسِعْ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ رِزْقِكَ وَ اقْضِ عَنَّا الدَّيْنَ وَ جَمِيعَ حَوَائِجِنَا يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ اِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ

The Imam (a.s.) then added: One who offers this prayer and says this supplication will have all his sins forgiven.

Numerous are the narrations that have mentioned splendid reward for those who offer this prayer on Fridays. Similarly, one who says the following supplicatory prayer after that prayer will have all his previous and coming sins forgiven, will be given the reward of him who recites the holy Qur’an entirely twelve times, and will be saved from thirst on the Resurrection Day:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ الْعَرَبِيِّ وَ آلِهِ

RECOMMENDED RITUALS OF FRIDAY NIGHT (SHAB-E-JUMAH)

Although the recommended rites on Friday nights are too many, we will briefly mention some of them as follows:

First: Repeat very often the following litanies:

“سبحان اللّه،و اللّه اكبر،و لا اله الاّ اللّه اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ”

It has been narrated that because Friday nights are illustrious and daytimes are brilliant, you may repeat very often the litanies of subhanallah, Allahu-akbar, and la-Ilaha-illallah. You may also invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon Muhammad and his Household very frequently at this night.

According to another narration, one may repeat the invocation of blessings upon Muhammad and his Household one hundred times at least at Friday nights. Yet, the more the best.

Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported as saying, “To invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon Muhammad and his Household at Friday nights is equal to winning one thousand rewards, having one thousand evildoings erased, and having one thousand ranks raised.”

It is recommended to start these invocations immediately after the Asr Prayer on Thursday up to the end of Friday daytime. In this regard, it has been authentically narrated that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) said, “On Thursday afternoons, angels from the heavens descend to the lowest space carrying golden pens and silver papers on which they record nothing except the invocations of blessings upon Muhammad and his Household."

Shaykh al-Tusi says it recommended, on Thursdays, to repeat the invocations of blessings upon Muhammad and his Household one thousand times in the following form:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَجِّلْ فَرَجَهُمْ وَ اَهْلِكْ عَدُوَّهُمْ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَ الْاِنْسِ مِنَ الْاَوَّلِينَ وَ الْآخِرِينَ.

Great reward will be the share of him who utters this invocation from Thursday afternoons up to the last hour of Fridays.

Shaykh al-Tusi has also recorded that it is recommended to say the following prayer of forgiveness at the last hour of Thursdays:

اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لا اِلَهَ اِلا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَ اَتُوبُ اِلَيْهِ تَوْبَةَ عَبْدٍ خَاضِعٍ مِسْكِينٍ مُسْتَكِينٍ لا يَسْتَطِيعُ لِنَفْسِهِ صَرْفا وَ لا عَدْلا وَ لا نَفْعا وَ لا ضَرّا وَ لا حَيَاةً وَ لا مَوْتا وَ لا نُشُورا وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عِتْرَتِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ الطَّاهِرِينَ الْاَخْيَارِ الْاَبْرَارِ وَ سَلَّمَ تَسْلِيما .

Second: At Friday nights, it is recommended to recite the following chapters (Surah) of the Holy Qur’an:

(1) Surah al-Isra’ (Bani-Isra’il; No. 17),

(2) Surah al-Kahf (No. 18),

(3) the three Surahs beginning with Ya-Sin, i.e. Surah al-Shu’ara’ (No. 26), Surah al-Naml (No. 27), and Surah al-Qasas (No. 28),

(4) Surah al-Sajdah (No. 32),

(5) Surah Yasin (No. 36),

(6) SurahSad (No. 38),

(7) Surah al-Ahqaf (No. 46),

(8) Surah al-Waqiah (No. 56),

(9) Surah Fussilat (No. 41),

(10) Surah al-Dukhan (No. 44),

(11) Surah al-Tur (No. 52),

(12) Surah al-Qamar (No. 54), and

(13) Surah al-Jumu’ah (No. 62).

If there is not enough time to recite all these Surahs, one may choose Surah al-Waqiah and those preceding it [in the aforesaid list].

Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said that one who recites Surah al-Isra’ each Friday night will join Imam al-Mahdi(a.s.) as one of his companions.

He (a.s.) is also reported as saying that one who recites Surah al-Kahf at Friday nights will die as martyr and will be resurrected with and in the line of the martyrs (on the Resurrection Day).

He (a.s.) is also reported as saying that one who recites the three Surahs beginning with Ya-Sin at Friday nights will be included with the intimate saints of Almighty Allah, will be made in the vicinity and under the protection of Him, will never be inflicted with misery in his worldly life, and will be given beyond his pleasure on the Resurrection Day.

He (a.s.) is also reported as saying that one who recites Surah al-Sajdah at Friday nights will be given his Record of Deeds in his right hand, will not be interrogated about his evildoings, and will be included with the companions of Muhammad and his Household - peace be upon them all.

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) is authentically reported to have said that one who recites SurahSad at Friday nights will be granted the welfare of this world as well as the Next World in such an excellent way that none would deserve except Prophets and archangels and will be allowed to Paradise as well as all those whom he loves among his household including the servants.

Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said that one who recites on Fridays or at Friday nights Surah al-Ahqaf will be saved, by Almighty Allah, from terrors in the worldly life and will be secured from the horror of the Resurrection Day.

He (a.s.) is also reported as saying that one who recites Surah al-Waqiah at Friday nights will be loved by Almighty Allah, all people will be made to love him, will be saved from all miseries, poverty, neediness, and misfortunes in this worldly life, and will be joined to the companions of Imam AliAmeer al-Momineen(a.s.) because this Surah is ascribed to him.

It has been also narrated that to recite Surah al-Jumu’ah at Friday nights is decided as expiation (forgiving the sins) for the evildoings committed throughout the week. A similar merit has been narrated for reciting Surah al-Kahf at Friday nights or after the two obligatory Zohr and Asr Prayers on Fridays.

It is worth mentioning that it is highly recommended to offer many (supererogatory) prayers at Friday nights such as Imam Ali’s Prayer, known as (Salat Ameer al-Momineen) and the two-unit prayer in each of which one should recite Surah al-Faatehah once and repeat Surah al-Zalzalah (No. 99) fifteen times. It has been narrated that one who offers this prayer will be saved, by Almighty Allah, from the grave torment and the horrors on the Resurrection Day.

Third: It is recommended to recite Surah al-Jumu’ah (No. 62) in the first unit of the Maghrib (Sunset) and Isha’ (Evening) obligatory Prayers, and to recite Surah al-Tawheed (No. 112) in the second unit of the Maghrib Prayer and Surah al-A’la (No. 87) in the second unit of the Isha’ Prayer.

Fourth: It is highly recommended to avoid reciting poetry at Friday nights. Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) is authentically reported to have said that it is abominable to say poetry for one observing fasting (sawm), the Muhrim (entering into Ihram: putting the pilgrimage uniform and entering the state of being performing the obligatory rites of the ritual Hajj), and on Fridays and at Friday nights. When he was asked whether this instruction is effective on the religiously acceptable poetry too, the Imam (a.s.) answered affirmatively.

It has been also authentically narrated on the authority of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, “One who utters even one verse of poetry on Fridays and at Friday nights will have nothing of the rewards except that of uttering that poetry.”

According to another narration, the prayers of those who recite poetry on Fridays will not be accepted.

Fifth: It is highly recommended to pray Almighty Allah for the good of one’s brethren-in-faith very frequently so as to copy the deed of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra’. According to a Hadith, one who prays for ten deceased individuals will be unquestionably allowed to enter Paradise.

Sixth: It is also recommended to say the supplications dedicated to Fridays. Actually, these supplications are too numerous to be cited in this chapter; therefore, a few of them will be hereinafter mentioned:

Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) is authentically reported as saying that one who says the following supplicatory prayer in the last prostration of the Isha’ supererogatory prayer at Friday nights and repeats it seven times will have all his sins forgiven as soon as he accomplishes that prayer. Yet, it is desirable to repeat this deed each night:

اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّي اَسْاَلُكَ بِوَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيمِ وَ اسْمِكَ الْعَظِيمِ اَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِي ذَنْبِيَ الْعَظِيمَ .

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is reported to have said that one who repeats the following supplicatory prayer seven times at Friday night will be allowed Paradise if he departs life at that night; and one who repeats it seven times on Friday will be also allowed Paradise if he departs life on that day:

اللَّهُمَّ اَنْتَ رَبِّي لا اِلَهَ اِلا اَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَ اَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَ ابْنُ اَمَتِكَ وَ فِي قَبْضَتِكَ وَ نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ اَمْسَيْتُ عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَ وَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ اَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ اَبُوءُ بِنِعْمَتِكَ [بِعَمَلِي‏] وَ اَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي [بِذُنُوبِي‏] فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي اِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ اِلا اَنْتَ .

Shaykh al-Tusi, Sayyid Ibn Tawus, al-Kaf’ami, and Sayyid Ibn Baqi have recorded that it is recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer on Fridays and at Friday nights and on the day and night of ‘Arafat (the ninth of Dhu’l-Hijjah). However, the supplication will be hereinafter cited as quoted from Shaykh al-Tusi’s book of al-Misbah:

اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ تَعَبَّاَ وَ تَهَيَّاَ وَ اَعَدَّ وَ اسْتَعَدَّ لِوِفَادَةٍ اِلَى مَخْلُوقٍ رَجَاءَ رِفْدِهِ وَ طَلَبَ نَائِلِهِ وَ جَائِزَتِهِ فَاِلَيْكَ يَا رَبِّ تَعْبِيَتِي وَ اسْتِعْدَادِي رَجَاءَ عَفْوِكَ وَ طَلَبَ نَائِلِكَ وَ جَائِزَتِكَ فَلا تُخَيِّبْ دُعَائِي يَا مَنْ لا يَخِيبُ عَلَيْهِ سَائِلٌ [السَّائِلُ‏] وَ لا يَنْقُصُهُ نَائِلٌ فَاِنِّي لَمْ آتِكَ ثِقَةً بِعَمَلٍ صَالِحٍ عَمِلْتُهُ وَ لا لِوِفَادَةِ مَخْلُوقٍ رَجَوْتُهُ اَتَيْتُكَ مُقِرّا عَلَى نَفْسِي بِالْاِسَاءَةِ وَ الظُّلْمِ، مُعْتَرِفا بِاَنْ لا حُجَّةَ لِي وَ لا عُذْرَ اَتَيْتُكَ اَرْجُو عَظِيمَ عَفْوِكَ الَّذِي عَفَوْتَ [عَلَوْتَ‏] بِهِ [عَلَى‏] عَنِ الْخَاطِئِينَ [الْخَطَّائِينَ‏] فَلَمْ يَمْنَعْكَ طُولُ عُكُوفِهِمْ عَلَى عَظِيمِ الْجُرْمِ اَنْ عُدْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِالرَّحْمَةِ فَيَا مَنْ رَحْمَتُهُ وَاسِعَةٌ وَ عَفْوُهُ عَظِيمٌ يَا عَظِيمُ يَا عَظِيمُ يَا عَظِيمُ لا يَرُدُّ غَضَبَكَ اِلا حِلْمُكَ وَ لا يُنْجِي مِنْ سَخَطِكَ اِلا التَّضَرُّعُ اِلَيْكَ فَهَبْ لِي يَا اِلَهِي فَرَجا بِالْقُدْرَةِ الَّتِي تُحْيِي بِهَا مَيْتَ الْبِلادِ ، وَ لا تُهْلِكْنِي غَمّا حَتَّى تَسْتَجِيبَ لِي وَ تُعَرِّفَنِي الْاِجَابَةَ فِي دُعَائِي وَ اَذِقْنِي طَعْمَ الْعَافِيَةِ اِلَى مُنْتَهَى اَجَلِي وَ لا تُشْمِتْ بِي عَدُوِّي وَ لا تُسَلِّطْهُ عَلَيَّ وَ لا تُمَكِّنْهُ مِنْ عُنُقِي اللَّهُمَّ [اِلَهِي‏] اِنْ وَضَعْتَنِي فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَرْفَعُنِي وَ اِنْ رَفَعْتَنِي فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَضَعُنِي وَ اِنْ اَهْلَكْتَنِي فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَعْرِضُ لَكَ فِي عَبْدِكَ اَوْ يَسْاَلُكَ عَنْ اَمْرِهِ، وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُ اَنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِي حُكْمِكَ ظُلْمٌ وَ لا فِي نَقِمَتِكَ عَجَلَةٌ وَ اِنَّمَا يَعْجَلُ مَنْ يَخَافُ الْفَوْتَ وَ اِنَّمَا يَحْتَاجُ اِلَى الظُّلْمِ الضَّعِيفُ وَ قَدْ تَعَالَيْتَ يَا اِلَهِي عَنْ ذَلِكَ عُلُوّا كَبِيرا اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّي اَعُوذُ بِكَ فَاَعِذْنِي وَ اَسْتَجِيرُ بِكَ فَاَجِرْنِي وَ اَسْتَرْزِقُكَ فَارْزُقْنِي وَ اَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ فَاكْفِنِي وَ اَسْتَنْصِرُكَ عَلَى عَدُوِّي [عَدُوِّكَ‏] فَانْصُرْنِي وَ اَسْتَعِينُ بِكَ فَاَعِنِّي وَ اَسْتَغْفِرُكَ يَا اِلَهِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي آمِينَ آمِينَ آمِينَ .

Seventh: It is highly recommended to say the famous supplicatory prayer known as Dua Kumayl, which will be cited in the coming section of this book, at Friday nights.

Eighth: It is also recommended to say the supplication that begins with the following statements. This supplication is also recommended to be said at the ‘Arafat Night, and will be cited later on in this book:

“اللّهمّ يا شاهد كلّ نجوى”

Ninth: It is recommended to repeat the following supplicatory prayer ten times:

يَا دَائِمَ الْفَضْلِ عَلَى الْبَرِيَّةِ يَا بَاسِطَ الْيَدَيْنِ بِالْعَطِيَّةِ يَا صَاحِبَ الْمَوَاهِبِ السَّنِيَّةِ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ خَيْرِ الْوَرَى سَجِيَّةً وَ اغْفِرْ لَنَا يَا ذَا الْعُلَى فِي هَذِهِ الْعَشِيَّةِ.

This honorable supplicatory prayer is also recommended to be said at the night of ‘Id al-Fitr (fast-break Feast; the first of Shawwal).

Tenth: Following Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) it is recommended to have pomegranate at Friday nights. Yet, it is preferable to have it before going to sleep. In this respect, it has been narrated that to eat pomegranate before going to sleep procures security until morning. It is also instructive to extend a handkerchief on the ground so as to save all the seeds of a pomegranate from loss and then eat them all. It is also recommended not to share anyone with it.

Eleventh: In his book of al-’Arus, Shaykh Ja’far ibn Ahmad al-Qummi has recorded that Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said that one who repeats the following litany one hundred times between the Dawn supererogatory and obligatory prayers will be owned, by Almighty Allah, a house in Paradise:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَ اَتُوبُ اِلَيْهِ

Twelfth: Shaykh al-Tusi, Sayyid Ibn Tawus, and others have mentioned the following supplicatory prayer confirming that it is recommended to say it at Friday nights just before dawn:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ وَ هَبْ لِيَ الْغَدَاةَ رِضَاكَ وَ اَسْكِنْ قَلْبِي خَوْفَكَ وَ اقْطَعْهُ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ حَتَّى لا اَرْجُوَ وَ لا اَخَافَ اِلا اِيَّاكَ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ وَ هَبْ لِي ثَبَاتَ الْيَقِينِ وَ مَحْضَ الْاِخْلاصِ وَ شَرَفَ التَّوْحِيدِ وَ دَوَامَ الاسْتِقَامَةِ وَ مَعْدِنَ الصَّبْرِ وَ الرِّضَا بِالْقَضَاءِ وَ الْقَدَرِ يَا قَاضِيَ حَوَائِجِ السَّائِلِينَ يَا مَنْ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي ضَمِيرِ الصَّامِتِينَ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ، وَ اسْتَجِبْ دُعَائِي وَ اغْفِرْ ذَنْبِي وَ اَوْسِعْ رِزْقِي وَ اقْضِ حَوَائِجِي فِي نَفْسِي وَ اِخْوَانِي فِي دِينِي وَ اَهْلِي اِلَهِي طُمُوحُ الْآمَالِ قَدْ خَابَتْ اِلا لَدَيْكَ وَ مَعَاكِفُ الْهِمَمِ قَدْ تَعَطَّلَتْ اِلا عَلَيْكَ وَ مَذَاهِبُ الْعُقُولِ قَدْ سَمَتْ اِلا اِلَيْكَ فَاَنْتَ الرَّجَاءُ وَ اِلَيْكَ الْمُلْتَجَاُ يَا اَكْرَمَ مَقْصُودٍ وَ اَجْوَدَ مَسْئُولٍ هَرَبْتُ اِلَيْكَ بِنَفْسِي يَا مَلْجَاَ الْهَارِبِينَ، بِاَثْقَالِ الذُّنُوبِ اَحْمِلُهَا عَلَى ظَهْرِي لا اَجِدُ لِي اِلَيْكَ شَافِعا سِوَى مَعْرِفَتِي بِاَنَّكَ اَقْرَبُ مَنْ رَجَاهُ الطَّالِبُونَ وَ اَمَّلَ مَا لَدَيْهِ الرَّاغِبُونَ يَا مَنْ فَتَقَ الْعُقُولَ بِمَعْرِفَتِهِ وَ اَطْلَقَ الْاَلْسُنَ بِحَمْدِهِ وَ جَعَلَ مَا امْتَنَّ بِهِ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ فِي كِفَاءٍ لِتَأْدِيَةِ حَقِّهِ [اَنَالَ بِهِ حَقَّهُ‏] صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ وَ لا تَجْعَلْ لِلشَّيْطَانِ عَلَى عَقْلِي سَبِيلا وَ لا لِلْبَاطِلِ عَلَى عَمَلِي دَلِيلا.

When Friday dawns, it is recommended to say the following:

اَصْبَحْتُ فِي ذِمَّةِ اللّٰهِ وَ ذِمَّةِ مَلائِكَتِهِ وَ ذِمَمِ اَنْبِيَائِهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ وَ ذِمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ ذِمَمِ الْاَوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ آمَنْتُ بِسِرِّ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ وَ عَلانِيَتِهِمْ وَ ظَاهِرِهِمْ وَ بَاطِنِهِمْ وَ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّهُمْ فِي عِلْمِ اللّٰهِ وَ طَاعَتِهِ كَمُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ.

It has been also narrated that one who says the following litany three times before the Dawn (Fajr) Prayer on Fridays will have all his sins forgiven even if they are as innumerable as swelling foams:

اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لا اِلَهَ اِلا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَ اَتُوبُ اِلَيْهِ.

RECOMMENDED RITES OF FRIDAY

Too many are the recommended rites on Fridays; yet, we will briefly mention the following:

First: In the first unit of the Dawn Prayer, it is recommended to recite Surah al-Jumu’ah (No. 62) and, in the second unit, Surah al-Tawheed (No. 112).

Second: Before opening the mouth with any word, it is recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer after the Dawn Prayer so that all sins committed throughout the week will be forgiven:

اللَّهُمَّ مَا قُلْتُ فِي جُمُعَتِي هَذِهِ مِنْ قَوْلٍ اَوْ حَلَفْتُ فِيهَا مِنْ حَلْفٍ اَوْ نَذَرْتُ فِيهَا مِنْ نَذْرٍ فَمَشِيَّتُكَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ فَمَا شِئْتَ مِنْهُ اَنْ يَكُونَ كَانَ وَ مَا لَمْ تَشَأْ مِنْهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَ تَجَاوَزْ عَنِّي اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ صَلَّيْتَ عَلَيْهِ فَصَلَوَاتِي عَلَيْهِ وَ مَنْ لَعَنْتَ فَلَعْنَتِي عَلَيْهِ.

This act should be done once a month at least.

It has been also narrated that one who, after the accomplishment of the Dawn Prayer on Fridays, does devotional acts and says supplications and invocations until sunrise will be raised seventy ranks to the Supreme Paradise.

Shaykh al-Tusi has recorded that it is highly recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer after the Dawn Prayer on Fridays:

اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّي تَعَمَّدْتُ اِلَيْكَ بِحَاجَتِي وَ اَنْزَلْتُ اِلَيْكَ الْيَوْمَ فَقْرِي وَ فَاقَتِي وَ مَسْكَنَتِي فَاَنَا لِمَغْفِرَتِكَ اَرْجَى مِنِّي لِعَمَلِي وَ لَمَغْفِرَتُكَ وَ رَحْمَتُكَ اَوْسَعُ مِنْ ذُنُوبِي فَتَوَلَّ قَضَاءَ كُلِّ حَاجَةٍ لِي بِقُدْرَتِكَ عَلَيْهَا وَ تَيْسِيرِ [تَيَسُّرِ] ذَلِكَ عَلَيْكَ وَ لِفَقْرِي اِلَيْكَ فَاِنِّي لَمْ اُصِبْ خَيْرا قَطُّ اِلا مِنْكَ وَ لَمْ يَصْرِفْ عَنِّي سُوءا قَطُّ اَحَدٌ سِوَاكَ وَ لَسْتُ [لَيْسَ‏] اَرْجُو لِآخِرَتِي وَ دُنْيَايَ وَ لا لِيَوْمِ فَقْرِي يَوْمَ يُفْرِدُنِي النَّاسُ فِي حُفْرَتِي وَ اُفْضِي اِلَيْكَ بِذَنْبِي سِوَاكَ

Third: It has been narrated that one who says the following invocation after the Zohr and Fajr Prayers on Fridays, as well as other days, will catch Imam al-Mahdi(a.s.) before he dies:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَجِّلْ فَرَجَهُمْ

In addition, it has been narrated that one who repeats the aforesaid invocation one hundred times will have sixty of his requests granted for him - thirty in this worldly life and thirty on the Resurrection Day.

Fourth: It is recommended to recite Surah al-Rahman (No. 55) after the Fajr Prayer on Fridays and to say, “None of Your favors do I deny,”wherever the verses, “Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?” are recited.

Fifth: Shaykh al-Tusi has recorded that it is highly recommended to recite Surah al-Tawheed, to invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon Muhammad and his Household, and to pray Him for forgiveness each one hundred times after the Fajr Prayer on Fridays. It is also highly recommended to recite Surahs al-Nisa’ (No. 4), Hud (No. 11), al-Kahf (No. 18), al-Saaffaat (No. 37), and al-Rahman (No. 55) during that time.

Sixth: It is recommended to recite Surah al-Ahqaf (No. 46) and Surah al-Mu’minun (No. 23).

Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported as saying that anyone who recites Surah al-Ahqaf at Friday nights or on Fridays will not be inflicted by dismays in his worldly life and will be saved from the horrors on the Resurrection Day. The Imam (a.s.) is also reported as saying that anyone who recites Surah al-Mu’minun regularly each Friday will come upon a happy end and will be granted an abode in the Supreme Paradise with the Prophets and Messengers of Almighty Allah.

Seventh: It is recommended to repeat Surah al-Kafirun (No. 109) ten times before sunrise and then pray Almighty Allah so that all prayers will be answered.

It has been narrated that Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-’Abidin (a.s.) used to repeat reciting Ayah al-Kursi (verse No. 255 of Surah al-Baqarah No. 2) from early morning up to midday on Fridays. When he accomplished the obligatory prayers, he would recite Surah al-Qadr (No. 97) frequently.

It is worth mentioning that to recite Ayah al-Kursi in the form of revelationon Fridays achieves a great reward.

Eighth: It is highly recommended to bathe oneself. In fact, this is one of the most confirmed rituals of Fridays. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is reported to have instructed Imam Ali(a.s.) by saying, “O Ali; wash yourself every Friday even if you have to purchase water with your Daily provisions and have nothing to eat. Verily, no voluntary act is better than this.”

Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is also reported to have said: Whoever washes himself on Fridays and, meanwhile, says the following supplicatory prayer will be pure all through that week:

اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لا اِلَهَ اِلا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدا عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ وَ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ.

“Pure” in the aforesaid Hadith stands for purification from sins or acceptance of the deeds, which is thus moral purification.

In any case, it is important not to neglect bathing oneself on Fridays when possible. The recommended time of this bathing is between sunrise and midday. In addition, the nearer to midday the better.

Ninth: It is recommended to dye with hibiscus, for it saves from leprosy and insanity.

Tenth: It is also recommended to cut the mustache neatly and trim the nails so as not to miss the great merits of doing these acts. As has been mentioned in narrations, these acts bring about expansion in sustenance, cancellation of sins up to the next Friday, and security from insanity and leprosy. On doing that, it is recommended to say the following litany:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَ بِاللّٰهِ وَ عَلَى سُنَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ [رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ ‏] وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

It is also recommended, on cutting the nails, to start with the little finger of the left hand and end with that of the right hand. The same thing is applicable to the nails of the feet. Then, the cut nails should be buried.

Eleventh: It is recommended to apply perfume and put on the best of one’s clothes.

Twelfth: It is recommended to give alms, for the rewards are doubled up on Fridays and at Friday nights, as is confirmed by narrations, as one thousand folds as giving alms on other days.

Thirteenth: It is recommended to arrange fruits and wholesome meals to the family members so that Fridays will be their days of pleasure.

Fourteenth: It is recommended to eat pomegranate before breakfast and to eat seven leaves of endive before midday. In this connection, Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.) is reported to have said, “The heart of him who eats a pomegranate before breakfast on Fridays will be enlightened for forty days. To eat two pomegranates increases the period of enlightenment to eighty days, and so on. It also dismisses the evil suggestions. Of course, to get rid of Satan’s suggestions is to stop acting disobediently to Almighty Allah; and to stop acting disobediently to Him allows entrance to Paradise.”

In al-Misbah, the author has said that to eat pomegranates on Fridays and at Friday nights achieves great merits.

Fifteenth: It is recommended to dedicate Fridays to learning the religious laws and instructions, not to wandering in others’ gardens, accompanying the vicious and the licentious, speaking about the others’ defects, laughing and guffawing, reciting poetry, and discussing useless subjects as well as similar matters. Disadvantages arisen from such matters are too many to be mentioned.

Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported as saying, “Woe to a Muslim who does not dedicate Fridays to learning the affairs of his religion.”

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is also reported to have said, “If you, on Fridays, see old men telling the tales of infidelity and of the pre-Islamic era, you should then make their heads the targets of stones.”

Sixteenth: It is recommended to repeat one thousand times at least the invocation of blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) is reported to have said, “For me, no act of worship is more favorable than invoking blessings upon the Prophet and his immaculate Household - may Allah bless them all - on Fridays.”

If there is not enough time to repeat this invocation one thousand times, it must be repeated one hundred times at least so that faces will be brightened on the Judgment Day.

It has been also narrated that all sins will be totally forgiven for those who repeat invocations of blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household one hundred times, repeat the following supplicatory prayer one hundred times, and recite Surah al-Tawheed (No. 112) one hundred times on Fridays:

اَستَغفِرُاللهَ رَبَّی وَ اَتُوبُ اِلَیهِ

It has been also narrated that to invoke blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his household is equal (in reward) to seventy times of going on Hajj.

Seventeenth: It is recommended to say the ritual Ziyarahs of the Holy Prophet and Imams, peace be upon them all. A section of this book is dedicated to the etiquettes and methods of Ziyarahs.

Eighteenth: It is recommended to visit the tombs of one’s relatives in general and parents in particular. Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) is reported as saying, “Visit the graves of your relatives on Fridays, for they know about those who visit their graves and will be happy for that.”

Nineteenth: It is recommended to say Dua al-Nudbah Supplication, which is one of the rites to be done on the Four Feast Days (i.e. ‘Id al-Fitr - the first of Shawwal, ‘Id al-Adha - the tenth of Dhu’l-Hijjah, ‘Id al-Ghadir - the eighteenth of Dhu’l-Hijjah, and Fridays).

NAMAZ E KAMILAH

Twentieth: Excluding the Friday Supererogatory Prayer (Nafilat al-Jumu’ah), many other optional prayers are reported to be offered on Fridays. Although the majority of these prayers are not dedicated to Fridays, it is highly recommended to offer them on Fridays.

One of these prayers is al-Salat al-Kamilah (The Perfect Prayer) that has been mentioned by many master scholars through numerous authentic series of reporters from Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq on the authority of his honorable fathers on the authority of the Holy Prophet - Allah’s peace and blessings be upon them all. In this connection, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is reported to have said: As for anyone who, before midday on Fridays, offers a four-unit prayer and recites the following in each unit: (1) Surah al-Faatehah ten times, (2) Surah al-Nas (No. 114) ten times, (3) Surah al-Falaq (No. 113) ten times, (4) Surah al-Tawheed (No. 112) ten times, (5) Surah al-Kafirun (No. 109) ten times, (6) Ayah al-Kursi (2:155) ten times, [And, according to another narration, (7) Surah al-Qadr (No. 97) ten times, (8) Ayat Shahidallah (3:18-19) ten times,] and, after the accomplishment of the prayer,

(1) repeats the following statement one hundred times:

ASTAGFIRU ALLAH

(2) repeats the following litany one hundred times:

سُبحانَ اللهِ وَالحَمدُلِلّهِ وَ لا اِلهَ اِلّا اللهُ اَکبَرُ وَ لا حَولَ وَلا قُوَّة الّا بِاللهِ العَلِیِّ العَظیمِ .

(3) repeats the following invocation one hundred times:

ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALA MUHAMMADIN WA ALI MUHAMMADIN

As for him who offers this prayer, Almighty Allah will save him from the evils of the inhabitants of the heavens, the inhabitants of the earth, the devil, and all unjust rulers.

ANOTHER PRAYER

It has been narrated on the authority of al-Harith al-Hamadani that Imam AliAmeer al-Momineen(a.s.) said: If possible, offer on Fridays ten units of prayer with perfect genuflection (ruku’) and prostration (sujud) repeating the following litany one hundred times between each couple (i.e. two) of units:

سبحانَ اللهِ وَ بِحَمدِهِ

To offer this prayer brings about a great reward.

A THIRD PRAYER

It has been authentically narrated that Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) said, “One who recites Surahs Ibrahim (No. 14) and al-Hijr (No. 15) altogether in a two-unit prayer on Fridays will be saved from poverty, insanity, and misfortunes forever.”

NAMAZ OF HOLY PROPHET(S)

Sayyid Ibn Tawus, may Allah have mercy on him, has narrated, through an authenticated chain of authority, that when he was asked about Ja’far al-Tayyar’s Prayer, Imam al-Rida(a.s.) said, “Have you known about the Holy Prophet’s Prayer? Perhaps, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had never offered Ja’far al-Tayyar’s Prayer and Ja’far al-Tayyar had never offered the Holy Prophet’s Prayer.” When the asker asked him to teach him that prayer, Imam al-Rida(a.s.) said,

Offer a two-unit prayer reciting in each unit Surah al-Faatehah (No. 1) once and Surah al-Qadr (No. 97) fifteen times. When you come to the Ruku’ (genuflection), repeat it (i.e. Surah al-Qadr) fifteen times; when you raise your body after the Ruku’, recite it fifteen times; when you do the Sujud (prostration), repeat it fifteen times; when you raise your head from the Sujud, repeat it fifteen times; when you do the second prostration, repeat it fifteen times; and when you raise your head from the second prostration, repeat it fifteen times. When you finish your prayer, you will have all your sins forgiven by Almighty Allah and you will have all your requests granted for you. The supplication that should be said thereafter is as follows:

لا اِلَهَ اِلا اللَّهُ رَبُّنَا وَ رَبُّ آبَائِنَا الْاَوَّلِينَ لا اِلَهَ اِلا اللَّهُ اِلَها وَاحِدا وَ نَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ لا اِلَهَ اِلا اللَّهُ لا نَعْبُدُ اِلا اِيَّاهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ لا اِلَهَ اِلا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ وَحْدَهُ وَحْدَهُ اَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ وَ نَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَ اَعَزَّ جُنْدَهُ وَ هَزَمَ الْاَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ فَلَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ اللَّهُمَّ اَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ وَ مَنْ فِيهِنَّ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ [وَ لِلَّهِ الْمُلْكُ وَ الْحَمْدُ] وَ اَنْتَ قَيَّامُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ وَ مَنْ فِيهِنَّ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَ اَنْتَ الْحَقُّ وَ وَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ [حَقٌ‏]، وَ قَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ وَ اِنْجَازُك حَقٌّ وَ الْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ وَ النَّارُ حَقٌّ [وَ اَنْتَ الْحَقُ‏] اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ اَسْلَمْتُ وَ بِكَ آمَنْتُ وَ عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَ بِكَ خَاصَمْتُ وَ اِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَ اَخَّرْتُ وَ اَسْرَرْتُ وَ اَعْلَنْتُ اَنْتَ اِلَهِي لا اِلَهَ اِلا اَنْتَ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اغْفِرْ لِي وَ ارْحَمْنِي وَ تُبْ عَلَيَّ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ .

NAMAZ OF IMAM ALI (A.S.)

Shaykh al-Tusi and Sayyid Ibn Tawus have recorded that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) said: One who offers the four-unit prayer of Imam AliAmeer al-Momineen(a.s.) will be as free of sins as newborns and will have all his requests granted. In the first unit, recite Surah al-Faatehah (No. 1) once and repeat Surah al-Tawheed (No. 112) fifty times. On accomplishment, say the following litany of Imam Ali, peace be upon him:

سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا تَبِيدُ مَعَالِمُهُ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا تَنْقُصُ خَزَائِنُهُ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا اضْمِحْلالَ لِفَخْرِهِ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا يَنْفَدُ مَا عِنْدَهُ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا انْقِطَاعَ لِمُدَّتِهِ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا يُشَارِكُ اَحَدا فِي اَمْرِهِ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا اِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ

Thereafter, say the following supplicatory prayer:

يَا مَنْ عَفَا عَنِ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَ لَمْ يُجَازِ بِهَا ارْحَمْ عَبْدَكَ يَا اللَّهُ نَفْسِي نَفْسِي اَنَا عَبْدُكَ يَا سَيِّدَاهْ اَنَا عَبْدُكَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ اَيَا رَبَّاهْ، اِلَهِي بِكَيْنُونَتِكَ يَا اَمَلاهْ يَا رَحْمَانَاهْ يَا غِيَاثَاهْ عَبْدُكَ عَبْدُكَ لا حِيلَةَ لَهُ يَا مُنْتَهَى رَغْبَتَاهْ يَا مُجْرِيَ الدَّمِ فِي عُرُوقِي [عَبْدُكَ‏] يَا سَيِّدَاهْ يَا مَالِكَاهْ اَيَا هُوَ اَيَا هُوَ يَا رَبَّاهْ عَبْدُكَ عَبْدُكَ لا حِيلَةَ لِي وَ لا غِنَى بِي عَنْ نَفْسِي وَ لا اَسْتَطِيعُ لَهَا ضَرّا وَ لا نَفْعا وَ لا اَجِدُ مَنْ اُصَانِعُهُ تَقَطَّعَتْ اَسْبَابُ الْخَدَائِعِ عَنِّي وَ اضْمَحَلَّ كُلُّ مَظْنُونٍ عَنِّي اَفْرَدَنِي الدَّهْرُ اِلَيْكَ فَقُمْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ هَذَا الْمَقَامَ يَا اِلَهِي بِعِلْمِكَ كَانَ هَذَا كُلُّهُ فَكَيْفَ اَنْتَ صَانِعٌ بِي وَ لَيْتَ شِعْرِي كَيْفَ تَقُولُ لِدُعَائِي اَ تَقُولُ نَعَمْ اَمْ تَقُولُ لا، فَاِنْ قُلْتَ لا فَيَا وَيْلِي يَا وَيْلِي يَا وَيْلِي يَا عَوْلِي يَا عَوْلِي يَا عَوْلِي يَا شِقْوَتِي يَا شِقْوَتِي يَا شِقْوَتِي يَا ذُلِّي يَا ذُلِّي يَا ذُلِّي اِلَى مَنْ وَ مِمَّنْ اَوْ عِنْدَ مَنْ اَوْ كَيْفَ اَوْ مَا ذَا اَوْ اِلَى اَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ اَلْجَاُ وَ مَنْ اَرْجُو وَ مَنْ يَجُودُ عَلَيَّ بِفَضْلِهِ حِينَ تَرْفُضُنِي يَا وَاسِعَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ وَ اِنْ قُلْتَ نَعَمْ كَمَا هُوَ الظَّنُّ بِكَ وَ الرَّجَاءُ لَكَ فَطُوبَى لِي اَنَا السَّعِيدُ وَ اَنَا الْمَسْعُودُ فَطُوبَى لِي وَ اَنَا الْمَرْحُومُ، يَا مُتَرَحِّمُ يَا مُتَرَئِّفُ يَا مُتَعَطِّفُ يَا مُتَجَبِّرُ [مُتَحَنِّنُ‏] يَا مُتَمَلِّكُ يَا مُقْسِطُ لا عَمَلَ لِي اَبْلُغُ بِهِ نَجَاحَ حَاجَتِي اَسْاَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الَّذِي جَعَلْتَهُ فِي مَكْنُونِ غَيْبِكَ وَ اسْتَقَرَّ عِنْدَكَ فَلا يَخْرُجُ مِنْكَ اِلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ سِوَاكَ اَسْاَلُكَ بِهِ وَ بِكَ وَ بِهِ فَاِنَّهُ اَجَلُّ وَ اَشْرَفُ اَسْمَائِكَ لا شَيْ‏ءَ لِي غَيْرُ هَذَا وَ لا اَحَدَ اَعْوَدُ عَلَيَّ مِنْكَ يَا كَيْنُونُ يَا مُكَوِّنُ يَا مَنْ عَرَّفَنِي نَفْسَهُ يَا مَنْ اَمَرَنِي بِطَاعَتِهِ يَا مَنْ نَهَانِي عَنْ مَعْصِيَتِهِ وَ يَا مَدْعُوُّ يَا مَسْئُولُ يَا مَطْلُوبا اِلَيْهِ رَفَضْتُ وَصِيَّتَكَ الَّتِي اَوْصَيْتَنِي وَ لَمْ اُطِعْكَ وَ لَوْ اَطَعْتُكَ فِيمَا اَمَرْتَنِي لَكَفَيْتَنِي مَا قُمْتُ اِلَيْكَ فِيهِ وَ اَنَا مَعَ مَعْصِيَتِي لَكَ رَاجٍ، فَلا تَحُلْ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَ مَا رَجَوْتُ يَا مُتَرَحِّما لِي اَعِذْنِي مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيَّ وَ مِنْ خَلْفِي وَ مِنْ فَوْقِي وَ مِنْ تَحْتِي وَ مِنْ كُلِّ جِهَاتِ الْاِحَاطَةِ بِي اللَّهُمَّ بِمُحَمَّدٍ سَيِّدِي وَ بِعَلِيٍّ وَلِيِّي وَ بِالْاَئِمَّةِ الرَّاشِدِينَ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ اجْعَلْ عَلَيْنَا صَلَوَاتِكَ وَ رَأْفَتَكَ وَ رَحْمَتَكَ وَ اَوْسِعْ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ رِزْقِكَ وَ اقْضِ عَنَّا الدَّيْنَ وَ جَمِيعَ حَوَائِجِنَا يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ اِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ

The Imam (a.s.) then added: One who offers this prayer and says this supplication will have all his sins forgiven.

Numerous are the narrations that have mentioned splendid reward for those who offer this prayer on Fridays. Similarly, one who says the following supplicatory prayer after that prayer will have all his previous and coming sins forgiven, will be given the reward of him who recites the holy Qur’an entirely twelve times, and will be saved from thirst on the Resurrection Day:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ الْعَرَبِيِّ وَ آلِهِ