Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

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Commentary On Kumayl Supplication

Author(s): Allama Husayn Ansariyan

Translator(s): Hamideh Elahinia

Publisher(s): Ansariyan Publications - Qum

www.alhassanain.org/english

Notice:

This version is published on behalf of www.alhassanain.org/english

The composing errors are not corrected.

Table of Contents

Publisher’s Foreword 10

Author’s Preface 11

Note from Translator 12

Du’a’ (supplication) in a Glance 13

Du’a’ in the Holy Qur’an 13

Du’a’ in Traditions 14

The Value of Du’a’ in a Congregation 15

Despair; the state of the disbeliever 16

Conditions of Du’a’ 17

Thursday Night 17

Notes 19

Kumayl Ibn Ziyad Nakha’i 21

Notes 21

Du’a’ Kumayl 22

Notes 22

Commentary of: “Bismillah, ar-Rahman, ar-Rahim” 23

Connotations of Bismillahi 24

Notes 26

Commentary of: “Allahumma Inni Asaluka bi rahmatika allati wa si’at kulla shay” 28

The Living World 29

Human; the Noblest Inhabitant of the World 31

Different Stages in the Creation of Man 31

The first Stage: Soil 31

The Second Stage: Water 31

The Third Stage: Alaq 32

The fourth Stage: Creation from a Despised Fluid 32

The Fifth Stage: Amshaj (the Zygote) 32

The Sixth Stage: the Shaping of the Fetus 33

The Seventh Stage: Placing the fetus in Three Veils 33

The Eighth Stage: Breathing Spirit 33

The Ninth Stage: Birth 34

A Manifestation of Allah’s Mercy 34

The Respiratory System 35

The Skin 35

The Defensive System of the Body 36

The Remarkable Uses of the Plants 36

The Role of Animals and Insects in the Living World 37

Allah’s Guidance; a Valuable Blessing 38

Allah’s Mercy 39

Traditions about Allah’s Mercy 40

Stories of Allah’s Mercy 40

Jesus Christ and the sinner 41

The Sinful Youth 41

Granted Wish 41

Meeting the Generous Allah 42

Repentance After Repentance 42

Prayer of a Lost is Answered 43

Change from the Unlucky Book to the Lucky Book 43

Notes 44

Commentary of: “Wa biquwwatika’llati qaharta biha kulla shay” 45

Commentary of: “Wa khadha’a laha kulla shay..” 46

Note 47

Commentary of: “Wa bi jabarutika’llati ghalabta biha kulla shay” 48

Allah’s Compensation of the insufficiencies 48

Compensation of sun’s exhausted energy 48

Compensation of Caspian Sea Tide 48

Allah’s Compensation of Fruit Seeds Shortage 49

Notes 50

Commentary of: “Wa bi ‘izzatika’llati la yaqawm laha shay” 51

Knowing the Actor by His Act 51

Creation of Various Worlds 51

Hanging Lanterns in the Heaven and the Solar System 52

Suns, the Countless Stars 52

Notes 53

Commentary of: “Wa bi Sultanika’alladhi ‘ala kulla shay” 55

Commentary of: “Wa bi wajhika’lbaqia ba’da fana’i kully shay” 56

Commentary of: “Wa bia’smaa’ika’llati malat Arkana kully shay” 57

Commentary of: وَبِعِلْمِكَ الَّذِى أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيٍْء 59

The Meaning of Light in Qur’anic Verses and Traditions 59

Notes 60

Commentary of: يَّا نُورُ يَا قُدُّوسُ يَآ أَوَّلَ الأَوَّلِينَ وَيَآ آخِرَ الآخِرِينَ 61

Commentary of: اللَّهُمَ اغْفِرْ لِىَ الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِى تَهتِكُ الْعِصَمَ 62

The Story of Gratefulness for the Hospitality of a Generous 62

Inauspicious Consequences of Committing Sins 63

Sins Tearing off Reverence 65

Drinking Intoxicants 65

Gambling 66

Useless Acts for Amusing People 66

Reference to People's Deficiencies 67

Accompanying the Alleged Sinners 67

The Sins Bringing Down the Adversities 69

Rebellion (baghy) 69

Violating People’s Rights 69

Mocking Allah’s Servants 70

Breaking Promises 70

Obvious Wrongdoing 71

Modesty of a Believing Lady 72

Scattering Lies 73

Judging in contrast to Allah’s Rules 75

Not Paying Zakat 75

Shortening the Measures 76

Sins Altering Blessings 76

Oppressing People 77

Losing the Good Habits 77

Abandoning good deeds 77

Ungratefulness 77

Abandoning Gratefulness 77

Factors that Hinder the Acceptance of Supplications 78

Bad Intention 78

Hidden Vices 79

Mistrust 79

Hatred 80

Self-Admiration 81

Hypocrisy 81

Arrogance 82

Negligence 83

Stinginess 84

Greed 86

Cupidity 87

Jealousy 87

Loving Allah’s Enemies 88

Hypocrisy with Brotherhood-in-faith 88

Doubtfulness about Acceptance of Supplications 89

Postponing the Prayers 89

Leaving Alms-giving 89

A Wonderful Story about Charity 90

Speaking Rudely 90

Sins Causing Tribulations 91

Inattention to the pleading of an afflicted 91

Avoiding Helping the Oppressed 92

Abandoning Enjoining to Good and Forbidding Evil 93

The Ruins of Remoteness 95

Remembrance 95

The Meanings of ‘Remembrance’ 95

Hearty Attention to the Almighty 96

The Holy Qur’an 96

The Prophet and His Household 97

The Meaning of Intercession 99

The Conditions for Intercession 100

The intercessors of the World and Hereafter 100

The Intercession of Belief 100

The Intercession of Good deeds 101

The Intercession of Repentance 101

The Intercession of Qur’an 101

The Nearness Position 103

Wonders of Favorite Servants 105

1. Hajj Sayyid ‘Ali Qazi 105

2. Mirza Tahir Tonekaboni 105

3. Jabir Ja’fi 105

The Gratitude Position 106

The Wonderful Account of a Grateful Servant 107

The Remembrance Position 108

Four Requests from the Almighty 109

Forbearance 109

Mercy 111

Satisfaction 113

Modesty 117

Modesty in Qur’an 117

Modesty in Traditions 117

The Modesty of the Messenger of Allah 118

The Modesty of Imam ‘Ali 118

The Modesty of Prophet Solomon 119

Allah; the True Owner 119

Allah’s Rewards for the Servant’s Deeds 122

Paradise 124

Allah’s Mercy 125

Allah’s Forgiveness 126

The Forgiver of Sins 129

The Concealer of Wicked Acts 130

Transferor of Wicked Acts to Good Acts 131

The Cost of Paradise 133

Tasbih 135

Wronging Oneself 136

Audacity in Ignorance 137

Confessing to sins 137

Confession of the Young Sinner 138

Regretful Sinner's End 138

Notes 141

The Meaning of ‘bala' (tribulation)’ 147

1. Sins 147

An Important Question-Answer 147

A Dialogue with Uways al-Qarani 147

2. Remoteness from Allah’s Closeness 148

3. Ignorance 148

Bad State 149

Inadequacy of Acts 150

The Restrictive Fetters 150

High Hopes 151

A Strange Account 153

Descriptions of the Soul 157

Amir al-Mu’minin’s Viewpoint about Reforming the Soul 158

The Description of my Dilly-Dallying 159

The Reason for the Obstruction of Supplications 159

Secret-Keeping 160

An Astonishing Story on Forgiveness 161

Dissipation 162

Ignorance 162

Passion 163

The Unlucky Prince 163

Forgetfulness 164

The Sinner and Allah’s Forgiveness 165

The Servant of ‘Abdullah al-Mubarak 166

The Tale of the Mother and the Child 168

The Healing Regard 168

The Amazing Story of Hatam al-Asamm 169

The Influential Regard 170

Duties 172

Allah’s Arguments against Man 173

The Mystical Prayer 174

Josef and Zulaykha 175

Prophet Jonah’s People 175

The Presence of the Beloved 176

The Wonderful Tale of Harun’s Death 177

The Exact Estimation 177

Oneness 178

The Divinity Manifestation 182

Moses and Korah 184

The Youth and His Mother 184

Right of Hospitality 185

Right of the Guest on His Host 185

Comprehensive Worship 186

Having Good idea about Allah 187

Tribulation of this world and that of the Hereafter 188

Purgatory and Hereafter Punishments 189

Complain to the Friend 191

Lamenting and Weeping 192

Friends’ Remoteness 194

Greed for the Noble Servants’ Position 194

Hope for Forgiveness 195

Harun and Buhlul 196

Salman and the Fearful Young Man 197

The Believer Woman 197

An Interesting Advice 198

Allah’s Bounty and mercy 198

Solomon and the Peasant 199

An Important Tradition 199

Imam Sadiq (as) and the Terrified Caravan 200

The Wonder of Allah’s favorites 201

The Kind Embrace 202

Abraham’s Impatience of Sins 202

A Strange Truth 203

Allah’s Mercy on the Youth in David’s Age 203

Features of the Freed Captive 204

The Believing Servant 204

The Fate of Witness of Josef’s Innocence 204

The Two Illustrious Angels and Body Limbs 205

Allah’s Exalted Name 207

Accepted Deeds 208

Request for Strength 211

Conditions for Allah’s Special Blessings 211

Association and the Companion 211

Unlawful food 212

Moral Vices 212

Gluttony 213

Excessive Sleep 213

Worshipping Allah 214

Serving Allah’s servants 215

Certainty 216

Khajah Nizham al-Mulk and the Pious Man 218

Ahmad Khadhrawayh and the Thief 218

The Tongue 219

Forgiveness of the Prostitute Woman 220

Guarantee of Acceptance of Prayer 221

Prayer of the Entangled 221

Prayer of the Black Slave 222

Prayer of Imam al-Sajjad’s Slave 222

Imam al-Husayn’s Prayer 223

Nightly Prayer of the Prisoner 224

Rain of Mercy 225

Hope of Mercy 225

Divine Truth and Minute Points 226

Notes 227

Complete text of Du’a’ Kumayl in Arabic with Trasliteration and English Translation 233

Publisher’s Foreword

Supplication (du’a') is man’s dialogue with his Lord and the connecting rope between the creature and his Creator. Intellectual scholars consider du’a’ to be practical compliance with monotheism. This can be particularly evidenced through the Prophets and the Ahl al-Bayt (as) who have given considerable importance to du’a’. The Supplication of Kumayl (or Du’a’ Kumayl) establishes itself as one of the most significant supplications and is regarded as a resource of Divine salvation, since it interweaves paramount mystical contents. Thus, it has been referred to as the ‘source of all supplications’.

According to reliable narratives, Du’a’ Kumayl’s origin is divine; it was the words of al-Khadhir spoken by our master and the commander of the believers, Imam ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib (as). Owing to this fact, Du’a’ Kumayl has occupied a salient rank in the view of the Household of the Prophet (SAWW) who have shown it considerable importance.

In view of that, the Du’a’ Kumayl is looked at as a reflective school that contains significant spiritual and humanitarian issues of man’s everyday activities. The well-versed professor, Shaykh Husayn Ansariyan, has undertaken the mission of annotating and commenting on this magnificent supplication, and he has actually excelled in this field since he has interpreted it using reliable Muslim references in addition to including a thoughtful attachment to this noble supplication.

His one and only aim has been to increase awareness of the words and significances of this supplication in the conscience and perception of man. As a result, the commentaries of this scholar have been based upon fundamentals derived from the Holy Qur'an, reliable narrations, and mystical knowledge.

Based on the commentator’s spiritual and sentimental connection with this noble supplication, his commentaries are full of knowledge, perception, and enlightened insight.

Presenting this wonderful book to the dear readers, the Ansariyan Publications hopes that the seekers of knowledge and Islamic education will find it to be a window of detecting the features of this noble supplication.

Ansariyan Publications

Holy Qum - Iran

Author’s Preface

At age eleven, I would attend a religious session during holy nights of Ramadhan, along with my father. In that session, the late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Lali Zari, who was a reverend scholar, would enlighten people with an eloquent speech. He would also recite the holy supplication of Kumayl in the darkness of Thursday nights, with eyes filled with tears, heart pierced and a tone so divine. No one attended that session except those who were greatly impressed by the supplication of Kumayl combined with the effective tenor of the late Ayatollah.

Like other aspirants, I, too, was attracted to this great supplication through his warm tone; a supplication which has come from the heart of the Commander of the Believers in order to purify people’s souls and urge the sinners for repentance.

I managed to memorize this supplication three days after I had heard it for the first time. And then, I recited it on Thursday nights for my family members or friends.

Sometime after my coming to Qom Seminary for studying theology, I began preaching, by Allah’s Mercy. I felt it necessary to recite Kumayl supplication in my Thursday night sessions which after some time got very popular throughout Iran as well as abroad and people attended them eagerly. Some people obtained spiritual benefits from the sessions too. On the auspicious night of Imam ‘Ali’s (as) birthday, Hujjat Al-Islam Rahimian prompted me to write a commentary on the supplication, so that people could engage in it more profoundly and take part in the Kumayl sessions with more insight.

I finally managed to write a commentary on the holy Kumayl supplication and now it is up to the readers to benefit from it.

Finally I should appreciate the assistance of my friends in the research section of Dar Al-‘Irfan Publications, who have edited and prepared the work for being published.

Husayn Ansariyan

Note from Translator

All Praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds, Who destined me to translate this sacred du’a’ into English. Kumayl’s Supplication is one of the most glorious Islamic du’a’s which is resorted to, by the believers, for the forgiveness of sins, increase in sustenance, and protection against enemies. It contains numerous rich meanings and heavenly themes that requires to be explained in order to be understood thoroughly.

I sincerely dedicate this miniscule attempt of introducing Islamic teachings throughout the world to the holy presence of Prophet Muhammad (S), peace be upon him and his pure progeny, who endured numerous hardships for the growth of Islam.

The challenges of translating texts in general and the demanding translation of Islamic works in particular are quite obvious. It requires a deep native-like knowledge of the English language combined with a moderate understanding of Islamic themes. I hope my effort in trying to convey the message has not been in vain. Thus, I greatly need the sincere comments from the readers, both natives and non-natives of English, on the quality of the work.

It will be very kind of you to send me messages either to Ansariyan Publication’s mailing address or my own email address at haminia@gmail.com.

Hamideh Elahinia