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Fifteenth Night of Shaban

This is the first of the White Nights. In the previous chapter about the recommended rites in Rajab, I have mentioned the prayers that are advisably offered at this night as well as the two nights after it. It is thus recommended to refer to these prayers.

FIFTEENTH NIGHT OF SHABAN

This night is extraordinarily honorable. Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) has narrated that when Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) was asked about the merits of the fifteenth night of Sha’ban, he answered, “It is the most favorable night after the Qadr Night. At this night, Almighty Allah bestows upon His servants with His favors and grants them His pardon out of His conferral of benefits to them. Therefore, you should exert all efforts to seek nearness to Him at this night, because He - the Majestic and Honorable - has decided not to reject any asker as long as he does not ask for an act of disobedience to Him. Almighty Allah has chosen this night for us, the Ahl al-Bayt, just as He has chosen the Qadr Night for our Prophet - peace be upon him and his Household. You should thus pray and thank Him diligently.”

One of the marvelous blessings of this night is that it is the birth night of the Patron of the Age, Imam al-Mahdi(a.s.) - may Allah accept our souls as ransoms for him. He was born in Surra-man-ra’a (currently Samarra’) at the hour before daybreak in AH 255. This incident increases the merits of this honorable night.

However, narrations have carried may recommended rites to be carried out at this night:

First: It is highly recommended to bathe oneself at this night, for this act decreases the punishment for one’s sins.

Second: It is highly recommended to imitate Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-’Abidin (a.s.) who used to spend this whole night with acts of worship, prayers, supplications, invocations, and implorations for forgiveness. A tradition confirm that as for one who spends this whole night with acts of worship, his heart will not die when other hearts die.

Third: It is highly recommended to visit the tomb of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.). In fact, this is the most favorable act at this night. It also brings about forgiveness of one’s sins. If you desire that 124,000 Prophets shake hands with you, you may visit the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) at this night. The least act of Ziyarah is to go up an elevated place, look to the right and the left, raise the head towards the heavens, and say these statements:

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا اَبَا عَبْدِ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ

One who performs this form of Ziyarah is expected to win the reward of one Hajj and one ‘Umrah. In the section of Ziyarat, we will mention further details about the peculiar merits of Ziyarah at this night.

Fourth: It is recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer, which stands for a form of Ziyarah for Imam al-Mahdi(a.s.). This supplicatory prayer has been mentioned by both Sayyid Ibn Tawus and Shaykh al-Tusi:

اللّٰهُمَّ بِحَقِّ لَيْلَتِنَا [هَذِهِ‏] وَ مَوْلُودِهَا وَ حُجَّتِكَ وَ مَوْعُودِهَا الَّتِي قَرَنْتَ اِلَى فَضْلِهَا فَضْلا فَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُكَ صِدْقا وَ عَدْلا لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِكَ وَ لا مُعَقِّبَ لِآيَاتِكَ نُورُكَ الْمُتَاَلِّقُ وَ ضِيَاؤُكَ الْمُشْرِقُ وَ الْعَلَمُ النُّورُ فِي طَخْيَاءِ الدَّيْجُورِ الْغَائِبُ الْمَسْتُورُ جَلَّ مَوْلِدُهُ وَ كَرُمَ مَحْتِدُهُ وَ الْمَلائِكَةُ شُهَّدُهُ وَ اللّٰهُ نَاصِرُهُ وَ مُؤَيِّدُهُ اِذَا آنَ مِيعَادُهُ وَ الْمَلائِكَةُ [فَالْمَلائِكَةُ] اَمْدَادُهُ سَيْفُ اللّٰهِ الَّذِي لا يَنْبُو وَ نُورُهُ الَّذِي لا يَخْبُو وَ ذُو الْحِلْمِ الَّذِي لا يَصْبُو مَدَارُ الدَّهْرِ وَ نَوَامِيسُ الْعَصْرِ وَ وُلاةُ الْاَمْرِ وَ الْمُنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا يَتَنَزَّلُ [يَنْزِلُ‏] فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ ، وَ اَصْحَابُ الْحَشْرِ وَ النَّشْرِ تَرَاجِمَةُ وَحْيِهِ وَ وُلاةُ اَمْرِهِ وَ نَهْيِهِ اللّٰهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلَى خَاتِمِهِمْ وَ قَائِمِهِمْ الْمَسْتُورِ عَنْ عَوَالِمِهِمْ اللّٰهُمَّ وَ اَدْرِكْ بِنَا اَيَّامَهُ وَ ظُهُورَهُ وَ قِيَامَهُ وَ اجْعَلْنَا مِنْ اَنْصَارِهِ وَ اقْرِنْ ثَارَنَا بِثَارِهِ وَ اكْتُبْنَا فِي اَعْوَانِهِ وَ خُلَصَائِهِ وَ اَحْيِنَا فِي دَوْلَتِهِ نَاعِمِينَ وَ بِصُحْبَتِهِ غَانِمِينَ وَ بِحَقِّهِ قَائِمِينَ وَ مِنَ السُّوءِ سَالِمِينَ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَ صَلَوَاتُهُ عَلَى [وَ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَى‏] سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَ عَلَى اَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ الصَّادِقِينَ وَ عِتْرَتِهِ النَّاطِقِينَ وَ الْعَنْ جَمِيعَ الظَّالِمِينَ وَ احْكُمْ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُمْ يَا اَحْكَمَ الْحَاكِمِينَ

Fifth: Shaykh Isma’il ibn Fadl al-Hashimi has narrated that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) instructed him to say the following supplicatory prayer at the fifteenth night of Sha’ban:

اللّٰهُمَّ اَنْتَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ الْخَالِقُ الرَّازِقُ الْمُحْيِي الْمُمِيتُ الْبَدِي‏ءُ الْبَدِيعُ لَكَ الْجَلالُ وَ لَكَ الْفَضْلُ وَ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَ لَكَ الْمَنُّ وَ لَكَ الْجُودُ وَ لَكَ الْكَرَمُ وَ لَكَ الْاَمْرُ وَ لَكَ الْمَجْدُ وَ لَكَ الشُّكْرُ وَحْدَكَ لا شَرِيكَ لَكَ يَا وَاحِدُ يَا اَحَدُ يَا صَمَدُ يَا مَنْ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَ لَمْ يُولَدْ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوا اَحَدٌ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اغْفِرْ لِي وَ ارْحَمْنِي وَ اكْفِنِي مَا اَهَمَّنِي وَ اقْضِ دَيْنِي وَ وَسِّعْ عَلَيَّ فِي رِزْقِي فَاِنَّكَ فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ كُلَّ اَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ تَفْرُقُ وَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ تَرْزُقُ فَارْزُقْنِي وَ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ فَاِنَّكَ قُلْتَ وَ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْقَائِلِينَ النَّاطِقِينَ وَ اسْئَلُوا اللّٰهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ فَمِنْ فَضْلِكَ اَسْاَلُ وَ اِيَّاكَ قَصَدْتُ وَ ابْنَ نَبِيِّكَ اعْتَمَدْتُ وَ لَكَ رَجَوْتُ فَارْحَمْنِي يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

Sixth: It is recommended to say this supplicatory prayer, which the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to say at this night:

اللّٰهُمَّ اقْسِمْ لَنَا مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ مَا يَحُولُ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ مَعْصِيَتِكَ وَ مِنْ طَاعَتِكَ مَا تُبَلِّغُنَا بِهِ رِضْوَانَكَ وَ مِنَ الْيَقِينِ مَا يَهُونُ عَلَيْنَا بِهِ مُصِيبَاتُ الدُّنْيَا اللّٰهُمَّ اَمْتِعْنَا بِاَسْمَاعِنَا وَ اَبْصَارِنَا وَ قُوَّتِنَا مَا اَحْيَيْتَنَا وَ اجْعَلْهُ الْوَارِثَ مِنَّا وَ اجْعَلْ ثَارَنَا عَلَى مَنْ ظَلَمَنَا وَ انْصُرْنَا عَلَى مَنْ عَادَانَا وَ لا تَجْعَلْ مُصِيبَتَنَا فِي دِينِنَا وَ لا تَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا اَكْبَرَ هَمِّنَا وَ لا مَبْلَغَ عِلْمِنَا وَ لا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْنَا مَنْ لا يَرْحَمُنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

Actually, this supplicatory prayer is one of the perfect, comprehensive prayers that may be said at all times. In the word of the book of ‘Awali al-La’ali, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to say this supplicatory prayer at all times.

Seventh: It is recommended to say the prayers that are preferably said at middays. These prayers, previously mentioned, begin with the following statement:

اللّهم صلّ على محمّد و ال محمّد شجرة النّبوّة و موضع الرّسالة...

Eighth: It is recommended to say the famous supplicatory prayer known as Dua Kumayl, which has been cited in the previous section of this book. Narrations have mentioned that it is highly advisable to say this famous supplicatory prayer at this night.

Ninth: It is recommended to mention Almighty Allah by the following litany one hundred times so that one’s past acts of disobedience to Him will be forgiven and one’s worldly and religious needs will be granted:

سبحان اللّه و الحمد للّه و اللّه اكبر و لا اله الاّ اللّه

Tenth: Shaykh al-Tusi, in Misbah al-Mutahajjid, has narrated a tradition about the merits of the night of mid-Sha’ban entailing that Abu-Yahya asked Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) about the best of supplicatory prayers to be said at this night. The Imam (a.s.) instructed him, saying:

After you accomplish the obligatory Isha’ Prayer, you may offer a two unit prayer in the first unit of which you should recite Surah al-Faatehah and Surah al-Kafirun and in the second Surah al-Faatehah and Surah al-Tawheed. When you accomplish the prayer, you may repeat (the phrase of) subhanallah thirty-three times, (the phrase of) alhamdulillah thirty-three times, and (the phrase of) Allahu-akbar thirty-four times. You may then say the following supplicatory prayer:

يَا مَنْ اِلَيْهِ مَلْجَاُ الْعِبَادِ [يَلْجَاُ الْعِبَادُ] فِي الْمُهِمَّاتِ وَ اِلَيْهِ يَفْزَعُ الْخَلْقُ فِي الْمُلِمَّاتِ يَا عَالِمَ الْجَهْرِ وَ الْخَفِيَّاتِ [وَ] يَا مَنْ لا تَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ خَوَاطِرُ الْاَوْهَامِ وَ تَصَرُّفُ الْخَطَرَاتِ يَا رَبَّ الْخَلائِقِ وَ الْبَرِيَّاتِ يَا مَنْ بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ الْاَرَضِينَ وَ السَّمَاوَاتِ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لا اِلَهَ اِلا اَنْتَ اَمُتُّ اِلَيْكَ بِلا اِلَهَ اِلا اَنْتَ فَيَا لا اِلَهَ اِلا اَنْتَ اجْعَلْنِي فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ مِمَّنْ نَظَرْتَ اِلَيْهِ فَرَحِمْتَهُ وَ سَمِعْتَ دُعَاءَهُ فَاَجَبْتَهُ وَ عَلِمْتَ اسْتِقَالَتَهُ فَاَقَلْتَهُ وَ تَجَاوَزْتَ عَنْ سَالِفِ خَطِيئَتِهِ وَ عَظِيمِ جَرِيرَتِهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَجَرْتُ بِكَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِي وَ لَجَأْتُ اِلَيْكَ فِي سَتْرِ عُيُوبِي اللّٰهُمَّ فَجُدْ عَلَيَّ بِكَرَمِكَ وَ احْطُطْ خَطَايَايَ بِحِلْمِكَ وَ عَفْوِكَ وَ تَغَمَّدْنِي فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ بِسَابِغِ كَرَامَتِكَ وَ اجْعَلْنِي فِيهَا مِنْ اَوْلِيَائِكَ الَّذِينَ اجْتَبَيْتَهُمْ لِطَاعَتِكَ وَ اخْتَرْتَهُمْ لِعِبَادَتِكَ وَ جَعَلْتَهُمْ خَالِصَتَكَ وَ صَفْوَتَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِمَّنْ سَعَدَ جَدُّهُ وَ تَوَفَّرَ مِنَ الْخَيْرَاتِ حَظُّهُ وَ اجْعَلْنِي مِمَّنْ سَلِمَ فَنَعِمَ وَ فَازَ فَغَنِمَ وَ اكْفِنِي شَرَّ مَا اَسْلَفْتُ وَ اعْصِمْنِي مِنَ الازْدِيَادِ فِي مَعْصِيَتِكَ وَ حَبِّبْ اِلَيَّ طَاعَتَكَ وَ مَا يُقَرِّبُنِي مِنْكَ وَ يُزْلِفُنِي عِنْدَكَ سَيِّدِي اِلَيْكَ يَلْجَاُ الْهَارِبُ وَ مِنْكَ يَلْتَمِسُ الطَّالِبُ وَ عَلَى كَرَمِكَ يُعَوِّلُ الْمُسْتَقِيلُ التَّائِبُ اَدَّبْتَ عِبَادَكَ بِالتَّكَرُّمِ وَ اَنْتَ اَكْرَمُ الْاَكْرَمِينَ وَ اَمَرْتَ بِالْعَفْوِ عِبَادَكَ وَ اَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ اللّٰهُمَّ فَلا تَحْرِمْنِي مَا رَجَوْتُ مِنْ كَرَمِكَ وَ لا تُؤْيِسْنِي مِنْ سَابِغِ نِعَمِكَ وَ لا تُخَيِّبْنِي مِنْ جَزِيلِ قِسَمِكَ فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ لِاَهْلِ طَاعَتِكَ وَ اجْعَلْنِي فِي جُنَّةٍ مِنْ شِرَارِ بَرِيَّتِكَ رَبِّ اِنْ لَمْ اَكُنْ مِنْ اَهْلِ ذَلِكَ فَاَنْتَ اَهْلُ الْكَرَمِ وَ الْعَفْوِ وَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ، وَ جُدْ عَلَيَّ بِمَا اَنْتَ اَهْلُهُ لا بِمَا اَسْتَحِقُّهُ فَقَدْ حَسُنَ ظَنِّي بِكَ وَ تَحَقَّقَ رَجَائِي لَكَ وَ عَلِقَتْ نَفْسِي بِكَرَمِكَ فَاَنْتَ اَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ وَ اَكْرَمُ الْاَكْرَمِينَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَ اخْصُصْنِي مِنْ كَرَمِكَ بِجَزِيلِ قِسَمِكَ وَ اَعُوذُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ وَ اغْفِرْ لِيَ الذَّنْبَ الَّذِي يَحْبِسُ عَلَيَّ [عَنِّي‏] الْخُلُقَ وَ يُضَيِّقُ عَلَيَّ الرِّزْقَ حَتَّى اَقُومَ بِصَالِحِ رِضَاكَ وَ اَنْعَمَ بِجَزِيلِ عَطَائِكَ وَ اَسْعَدَ بِسَابِغِ نَعْمَائِكَ فَقَدْ لُذْتُ بِحَرَمِكَ وَ تَعَرَّضْتُ لِكَرَمِكَ وَ اسْتَعَذْتُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ وَ بِحِلْمِكَ مِنْ غَضَبِكَ فَجُدْ بِمَا سَاَلْتُكَ وَ اَنِلْ مَا الْتَمَسْتُ مِنْكَ اَسْاَلُكَ بِكَ لا بِشَيْ‏ءٍ هُوَ اَعْظَمُ مِنْكَ .

You may prostrate yourself and repeat the following supplicatory phrase twenty times:

يا ربّ

And then repeat the following phrase seven times:

يا اللّه

And then repeat the following phrase seven times:

لاحول ولا قوة إلا بالله

And then repeat the following phrase ten times:

ماشااللهُ

And then repeat the following phrase ten times:

لاقوة إلا باللهِ

You may then invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon the Holy Prophet and beseech Him to grant your requests.

By Allah I swear, even if you pray for things that are as many as raindrops, Almighty Allah, out of His generosity and favors, will grant them all.

Eleventh: Shaykh al-Tusi and Shaykh al-Kaf’ami say: It is suitable to say the following supplicatory prayer at this night:

اِلَهِي تَعَرَّضَ لَكَ فِي هٰذَا اللَّيْلِ الْمُتَعَرِّضُونَ وَ قَصَدَكَ الْقَاصِدُونَ وَ اَمَّلَ فَضْلَكَ وَ مَعْرُوفَكَ الطَّالِبُونَ وَ لَكَ فِي هٰذَا اللَّيْلِ نَفَحَاتٌ وَ جَوَائِزُ وَ عَطَايَا وَ مَوَاهِبُ تَمُنُّ بِهَا عَلَى مَنْ تَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ وَ تَمْنَعُهَا مَنْ لَمْ تَسْبِقْ لَهُ الْعِنَايَةُ مِنْكَ وَ هَا اَنَا ذَا عُبَيْدُكَ الْفَقِيرُ اِلَيْكَ الْمُؤَمِّلُ فَضْلَكَ وَ مَعْرُوفَكَ فَاِنْ كُنْتَ يَا مَوْلايَ تَفَضَّلْتَ فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ عَلَى اَحَدٍ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ وَ عُدْتَ عَلَيْهِ بِعَائِدَةٍ مِنْ عَطْفِكَ فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ الطَّيِّبِينَ الطَّاهِرِينَ الْخَيِّرِينَ الْفَاضِلِينَ وَ جُدْ عَلَيَّ بِطَوْلِكَ وَ مَعْرُوفِكَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ آلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ وَ سَلَّمَ تَسْلِيما اِنَّ اللّٰهَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ اللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَدْعُوكَ كَمَا اَمَرْتَ فَاسْتَجِبْ لِي كَمَا وَعَدْتَ اِنَّكَ لا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ.

It is worth mentioning that this supplicatory prayer is advisably said immediately after the accomplishment of the Shaf’ Prayer at the last hours of night.

Twelfth: It is recommended to say the supplicatory prayer narrated by Shaykh al-Tusi and Sayyid Ibn Tawus after each two units of the Night Prayer (Salat al-Layl), the Shaf’ Prayer, and the Witr Prayer.

Thirteenth: It is recommended to do the prostrations and say the supplicatory prayers that are reported from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). One of these is that Shaykh al-Tusi has narrated on the authority of Hammad ibn ‘Isa on the authority of Aban ibn Taghlib on the authority of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) recounted the following:

It was the fifteenth night of Sha’ban when the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was with ‘A’ishah, his wife. At midnight, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) left the bed. When ‘A’ishah woke up and could not find him, she felt jealous and thought that he had joined one of his other wives. She therefore left her bed and put on her cloak, which was made of neither silk, nor linen, nor cotton; rather, it was made of camel hair. In any event, ‘A’ishah searched for the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in all of the rooms of his other wives but she found him prostrating himself on the ground like a thrown dress. As she approached, she heard him saying:

سَجَدَ لَكَ سَوَادِي وَ خَيَالِي وَ آمَنَ بِكَ فُؤَادِي هَذِهِ يَدَايَ وَ مَا جَنَيْتُهُ عَلَى نَفْسِي يَا عَظِيمُ [عَظِيما] تُرْجَى [يُرْجَى‏] لِكُلِّ عَظِيمٍ اغْفِرْ لِيَ الْعَظِيمَ فَاِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ الْعَظِيمَ اِلا الرَّبُّ الْعَظِيمُ.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) then raised his head and then prostrated himself again, saying:

اَعُوذُ بِنُورِ وَجْهِكَ الَّذِي اَضَاءَتْ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَ الْاَرَضُونَ وَ انْكَشَفَتْ لَهُ الظُّلُمَاتُ وَ صَلَحَ عَلَيْهِ اَمْرُ الْاَوَّلِينَ وَ الْآخِرِينَ مِنْ فُجْاَةِ نَقِمَتِكَ وَ مِنْ تَحْوِيلِ عَافِيَتِكَ وَ مِنْ زَوَالِ نِعْمَتِكَ اللّٰهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي قَلْبا تَقِيّا نَقِيّا وَ مِنَ الشِّرْكِ بَرِيئا لا كَافِرا وَ لا شَقِيّا

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) then attached his face to the ground and said:

عَفَّرْتُ وَجْهِي فِي التُّرَابِ وَ حُقَّ لِي اَنْ اَسْجُدَ لَكَ.

When the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) accomplished these acts of worship and directed towards his bed, ‘A’ishah ran before him until she reached the bed before he did. When he heard her speedy breathes, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) wondered. He then said, “Do you know what this night is? This is the mid-Sha’ban night. At this night, shares of provisions are distributed, lifetimes are decided, and the pilgrims are appointed. Verily, Almighty Allah, at this night, forgives as many of His creatures as the hairs of the horses of Kalb Tribe. Almighty Allah also orders angels to descend to the earth, to Makkah, at this night.

Fourteenth: It is recommended to offer the famous Ja’far al-Tayyar’s Prayer (Salat Ja’far) as is narrated by Shaykh al-Tusi from Imam al-Rida(a.s.).

Fifteenth: It is recommended to offer the prayers that are dedicated to this night. In fact, these prayers are many. One of them is what is reported by Abu-Yahya al-San’ani, as well as other thirty trustworthy reporters, from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) and Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) as follows:

At the mid-Sha’ban night, you may offer a four unit prayer in each unit of which you may recite Surah al-Faatehah once and Surah al-Tawheed one hundred times. After accomplishment, you may say the following supplicatory prayer:

اللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اِلَيْكَ فَقِيرٌ وَ مِنْ عَذَابِكَ خَائِفٌ مُسْتَجِيرٌ اللّٰهُمَّ لا تُبَدِّلْ اسْمِي وَ لا تُغَيِّرْ جِسْمِي وَ لا تَجْهَدْ بَلائِي وَ لا تُشْمِتْ بِي اَعْدَائِي اَعُوذُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِنْ عِقَابِكَ وَ اَعُوذُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِكَ وَ اَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَ اَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُكَ اَنْتَ كَمَا اَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ وَ فَوْقَ مَا يَقُولُ الْقَائِلُونَ.

It is worth mentioning that traditions have decided a great reward for one who offers a one hundred unit prayer at this night; in each unit, Surah al-Faatehah is recited once and Surah al-Tawheed ten times.

It has been previously mentioned, within the rites of Rajab, that it is recommended to offer a prayer composing of six units in each of which Surahs al-Faatehah, Yasin, al-Mulk, and al-Tawheed are recited.

THIRD CHAPTER: IMPORTANCE AND AMAAL OF THE MONTH OF RAMADHAN

HOLY PROPHET'S SERMON IN THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADHAN

Shaykh al-Saduq has narrated on the authority of Imam al-Rida(a.s.) on the authority of his immaculate fathers on the authority of Imam AliAmeer al-Momineen(a.s.) who said that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), once, delivered a speech to the community, saying,

O people, the month of Allah has come upon you with blessings, mercy, and forgiveness. This month is the most favorable month in the view of Almighty Allah. Its days are the best days. Its nights are the best nights. Its hours are the best hours. In this month, you have been invited to the hospitality of Almighty Allah and you have been chosen to be within the people of Almighty Allah’s honoring. Your breaths in this month are (considered) glorification (of Almighty Allah). Your sleep in this month is (considered) an act of worship. Your deeds are accepted in this month. Your prayers are responded in this month. You may thus pray Almighty Allah with sincere intentions and pure hearts that He will guide you to observing fasting (properly) and to reciting His Book in this month. Verily, the true miserable is he whom is deprived of Almighty Allah’s forgiveness in this magnificent month.

As you feel hunger and thirst in this month, you should remember the hunger and thirst of the Resurrection Day. Give alms to the poor and the needy among you. Respect those who are older than you are. Have mercy upon those who are younger than you are. Esteem your ties with your relatives. Keep your tongues from obscenity. Cast down your looks from all that which is unlawful for you to gaze and close your hearings against all that which is unlawful for you to hear. Treat kindly the orphans among you so that your orphans will be treated kindly. Repent from your sins. Raise your hands towards Him (i.e. Almighty Allah) with supplications at the times of your prayers, for these times are the best hours at which Almighty Allah looks at His servants with mercy - He will respond to their prayers, answer their calls, and receive their supplications.

O people, truly, your souls are dependent upon your deeds; therefore, try to free them by means of imploring for forgiveness. Likewise, your backs are heavily burdened by your sins; therefore, try to lighten the burdens on your backs by means of long prostration (before your Lord). Let it be known to you that Almighty Allah has sworn by His Mighty that He shall not chastise the performers of prayers and those who prostrate before Him and that He shall not frighten them with Hellfire on that day when all humankind will stand before the Lord of the Worlds.

O people, if anyone of you gives food to a faster (i.e. an observer of fasting) to break his fastin this month, he shall be awarded by Almighty Allah the reward of manumitting a bond Muslim as well as a forgiveness of all his past sins.”

The attendants asked, “O Allah’s Messenger, not all of us can do this!”

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) answered, “Show fearfulness of Almighty Allah even by a half of a date. Show fearfulness of Almighty Allah even by a single drink of water. Verily, Almighty Allah shall give this great reward to those who do the least of their capability if they cannot do the much.

O people, as to those among you who behave politely in this month, they shall be permitted to pass the Discriminating Bridge (sirat) on the day when many feet will slip (i.e. the Resurrection Day). As to those among you who relieve their servants from a part of their jobs, Almighty Allah shall make easy for them the interrogation on the Resurrection Day. As to those who stop bothering the others, Almighty Allah shall save them from His ire on the day when they shall meet Him. As to those who honor an orphan in this month, Almighty Allah shall honor them on the day when they will meet Him. As to those who keep good ties with their relatives in this month, Almighty Allah will keep good ties with them through His mercy on the day when they will meet Him. On the other hand, as to those who rupture their relations with their relatives in this month, Almighty Allah will prevent them from receiving His mercy on the day when they will meet Him. As to those who voluntarily offer a prayer in this month, Almighty Allah will release them from Hellfire. As to those who perform a religious rite in this month, they shall be given the reward of performing seventy religious rites in other months. As to those who very frequently invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon me in this month, Almighty Allah shall make their scales heavy (i.e. full of good deeds) when the others’ scales will be light (i.e. lacking good deeds). As to those who recite a single verse of the Qur’an in this month, they shall have the reward of one who has recited the whole Qur’an in other months.

O people, certainly, the gates of Paradise are open wide in this month; therefore, pray your Lord not to close them before you. Similarly, the gates of Hellfire are close in this month; therefore, pray your Lord not to open them for you. Devils are tied up in this month; therefore, pray your Lord not to set them up over you...”

Shaykh al-Saduq has also narrated that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to release all prisoners and give all beggars when the month of Ramadan comes upon him.

To sum it up, the month of Ramadan is the month of Allah. It is the most honorable of all months. In this month, the doors of heavens, gardens of Paradise, and mercy are opened while the doors of Hellfire are closed. In this month too, there is a night at which the acts of worship are more favorable than the worship of one thousand months. In view of that, you are advised to take notice of this and consider how to spend the nights and days of this month and how to keep your organs and senses against committing any act of disobedience to Almighty Allah.

Beware of being one of those who spend the nights of Ramadan with sleeping and its days with negligence of mentioning your Lord. In this respect, a Hadith reads, “Verily, Almighty Allah releases one million persons from Hellfire at the last of each day in Ramadan and, more specifically, at the hour of breaking the fasting. At the last night and on the last day of Ramadan, He releases from Hellfire as same as the number of all those whom He has released all over the month of Ramadan.”

Dear reader: Beware lest the holy month of Ramadan comes upon you and ends while you have still had some sins owing to which you will be punished. Beware lest you are included with the sinners whom are deprived of imploring for the forgiveness of their sins and praying Almighty Allah for granting your desires.

Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said, “Verily, one whom is not forgiven in Ramadan will not be forgiven up to the next Ramadan unless (he participates in the season of the Hajj and thus) he witnesses the ritual of the Halting at Mount ‘Arafat (al-wuquf ‘ala‘arafah).”

Moreover, try to keep yourself against all that which is deemed forbidden by Almighty Allah and try your best not to break your fasting with a forbidden thing. Finally, you should act upon the following recommendation of our master, Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.):

“When you begin your day observing fasting, you should make sure that your hearing, your sight, your hair, your sink, and all your organs are also observing fasting, that is abstaining from not only the forbidden acts but also the discommended ones.”

Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) has also said, “Do not allow the day on which you observe fasting to be like your other days.”

He has also said, “Verily, fasting is not the abstinence from food and drink; rather, when you observe fasting, you should keep your tongues from uttering falsehood, keep your sights from seeing forbidden views, do not engage yourselves in disputes, do not envy each other, do not backbite each other, do not quarrel with each other, do not swear, whether falsely or truly, do not insult each other, do not revile at each other, do not wrong each other, do not engage yourselves in shameless disputes, do not be bored, do not be careless of mentioning Almighty Allah or of prayers, abide by silence, quietness, patience, truthfulness, and avoidance of the evildoers, avoid perjury, lie, slander, contention, evil thinking, backbiting, and talebearing, ready yourselves for the Next World and for your happy days; that is the Advent of the Rising Imam from the Household of Muhammad - peace be upon them all - expecting that which Almighty Allah has promised you, preparing yourselves for meeting Almighty Allah with tranquility, solemnity, piety, submission, and humiliation of the slaves who fear and hope for their masters. O observer of fasting, purify your heart from defects, clean your inner self from filth, wash your body from dirt, disavow the enemies of Almighty Allah, act sincerely in His presence, abstain from all that which He has deemed unlawful for you to do in secret and in public, fear Almighty Allah as exactly as He deserves in secret and in public, dedicate yourself to Almighty Allah during the days of your fasting, empty your heart from all things save Him, and ready yourself to do whatever is commanded by Him and to do whatever He has ordered you to do. After you do all these, only then you are considered fasting for the sake of Almighty Allah as truly as it should be. Carry out all that which He has ordered you to do. But if you violate any of these matters, this will decline the degree of your fasting. My father - peace be upon him - narrated that when the Holy Messenger of Allah - peace be upon him and his Household - heard a woman, who claimed observing fasting, insulting one of her bondwomen, he summoned her, brought her some food, and ordered her to eat. ‘I am observing fasting!’ she stated. But the Holy Prophet - peace be upon him and his Household - answered, ‘How can you be fasting while you have insulted your bondwoman?’ Verily, fasting is not to abstain from eating and drinking; rather, Almighty Allah has decided fasting to be screen from all spoken and done evildoings. Too little is the fasting and too much is the feeling of hunger!’”

Imam AliAmeer al-Momineen(a.s.) has said, “Too many are the fasting ones who suffer nothing but thirst. Likewise, too many are the worshippers who suffer nothing but fatigue. How wonderful the sleeping and eating of the courteous ones are!”

It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir ibn Yazid that Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) narrated that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said to Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah al-Ansari, “Listen, Jabir! This is the month of Ramadan. If one observes fasting on the days of this month, spends a part of its nights with acts of worship, wards off his stomach and private parts, and suppresses his tongue - if one does all these things, he will dispose of all his sins in the same way as the month ends.” Jabir commented, “O Allah’s Messenger, what wonderful these words

are!” The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) answered, “But how difficult these terms are!”

The recommended rites of the month of Ramadan will be presented in two parts and an epilogue.

GENERAL AAMAL FOR THE DAYS & NIGHTS OF RAMADHAN

Sayyid Ibn Tawus has narrated that Imam al-Sadiq and Imam al-Kazim (a.s.) instructed to say the following supplicatory prayer after each and every obligatory prayer all over the month of Ramadan:

اللّٰهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي حَجَّ بَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامِ فِي عَامِي هٰذَا وَ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ مَا اَبْقَيْتَنِي فِي يُسْرٍ مِنْكَ وَ عَافِيَةٍ وَ سَعَةِ رِزْقٍ وَ لا تُخْلِنِي مِنْ تِلْكَ الْمَوَاقِفِ الْكَرِيمَةِ وَ الْمَشَاهِدِ الشَّرِيفَةِ وَ زِيَارَةِ قَبْرِ نَبِيِّكَ صَلَوَاتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ فِي جَمِيعِ حَوَائِجِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ فَكُنْ لِي اللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَسْاَلُكَ فِيمَا تَقْضِي وَ تُقَدِّرُ مِنَ الْاَمْرِ الْمَحْتُومِ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ مِنَ الْقَضَاءِ الَّذِي لا يُرَدُّ وَ لا يُبَدَّلُ اَنْ تَكْتُبَنِي مِنْ حُجَّاجِ بَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامِ الْمَبْرُورِ حَجُّهُمْ الْمَشْكُورِ سَعْيُهُمْ الْمَغْفُورِ ذُنُوبُهُمْ الْمُكَفَّرِ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُهُمْ وَ اجْعَلْ فِيمَا تَقْضِي وَ تُقَدِّرُ اَنْ تُطِيلَ عُمُرِي [فِي طَاعَتِكَ‏] وَ تُوَسِّعَ عَلَيَّ رِزْقِي وَ تُؤَدِّيَ عَنِّي اَمَانَتِي وَ دَيْنِي آمِينَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ .

You may also say the following supplicatory prayer after all obligatory prayers in Ramadan:

يَا عَلِيُّ يَا عَظِيمُ يَا غَفُورُ يَا رَحِيمُ اَنْتَ الرَّبُّ الْعَظِيمُ الَّذِي لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ وَ هٰذَا شَهْرٌ عَظَّمْتَهُ وَ كَرَّمْتَهُ وَ شَرَّفْتَهُ وَ فَضَّلْتَهُ عَلَى الشُّهُورِ وَ هُوَ الشَّهْرُ الَّذِي فَرَضْتَ صِيَامَهُ عَلَيَّ وَ هُوَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي اَنْزَلْتَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنَ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَ بَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَ الْفُرْقَانِ وَ جَعَلْتَ فِيهِ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ وَ جَعَلْتَهَا خَيْرا مِنْ اَلْفِ شَهْرٍ فَيَا ذَا الْمَنِّ وَ لا يُمَنُّ عَلَيْكَ مُنَّ عَلَيَّ بِفَكَاكِ رَقَبَتِي مِنَ النَّارِ فِيمَنْ تَمُنُّ عَلَيْهِ وَ اَدْخِلْنِي الْجَنَّةَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

In al-Misbah and in al-Balad al-Amin, Shaykh al-Kaf’ami, as well as Shaykh al-Shahid in al-Majmu’ah, have narrated that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said that one who says the following supplicatory prayer after each obligatory prayer in Ramadan will have all his sins forgiven up to the Resurrection Day:

اللّٰهُمَّ اَدْخِلْ عَلَى اَهْلِ الْقُبُورِ السُّرُورَ اللّٰهُمَّ اَغْنِ كُلَّ فَقِيرٍ اللّٰهُمَّ اَشْبِعْ كُلَّ جَائِعٍ اللّٰهُمَّ اكْسُ كُلَّ عُرْيَانٍ اللّٰهُمَّ اقْضِ دَيْنَ كُلِّ مَدِينٍ اللّٰهُمَّ فَرِّجْ عَنْ كُلِّ مَكْرُوبٍ اللّٰهُمَّ رُدَّ كُلَّ غَرِيبٍ اللّٰهُمَّ فُكَّ كُلَّ اَسِيرٍ اللّٰهُمَّ اَصْلِحْ كُلَّ فَاسِدٍ مِنْ اُمُورِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ اللّٰهُمَّ اشْفِ كُلَّ مَرِيضٍ اللّٰهُمَّ سُدَّ فَقْرَنَا بِغِنَاكَ اللّٰهُمَّ غَيِّرْ سُوءَ حَالِنَا بِحُسْنِ حَالِكَ اللّٰهُمَّ اقْضِ عَنَّا الدَّيْنَ وَ اَغْنِنَا مِنَ الْفَقْرِ اِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ .

DUA AL HAJJ

In al-Kafi, al-Kulayni has narrated on the authority of Abu-Basir that Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) used to say the following supplicatory prayer in Ramadan:

اللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي بِكَ وَ مِنْكَ اَطْلُبُ حَاجَتِي وَ مَنْ طَلَبَ حَاجَةً اِلَى النَّاسِ فَاِنِّي لا اَطْلُبُ حَاجَتِي اِلا مِنْكَ وَحْدَكَ لا شَرِيكَ لَكَ وَ اَسْاَلُكَ بِفَضْلِكَ وَ رِضْوَانِكَ اَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ اَنْ تَجْعَلَ لِي فِي عَامِي هٰذَا اِلَى بَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامِ سَبِيلا حِجَّةً مَبْرُورَةً مُتَقَبَّلَةً زَاكِيَةً خَالِصَةً لَكَ تَقَرُّ بِهَا عَيْنِي وَ تَرْفَعُ بِهَا دَرَجَتِي وَ تَرْزُقَنِي اَنْ اَغُضَّ بَصَرِي وَ اَنْ اَحْفَظَ فَرْجِي وَ اَنْ اَكُفَّ بِهَا عَنْ جَمِيعِ مَحَارِمِكَ حَتَّى لا يَكُونَ شَيْ‏ءٌ آثَرَ عِنْدِي مِنْ طَاعَتِكَ وَ خَشْيَتِكَ وَ الْعَمَلِ بِمَا اَحْبَبْتَ وَ التَّرْكِ لِمَا كَرِهْتَ وَ نَهَيْتَ عَنْهُ وَ اجْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فِي يُسْرٍ وَ يَسَارٍ وَ عَافِيَةٍ وَ مَا اَنْعَمْتَ بِهِ عَلَيَّ وَ اَسْاَلُكَ اَنْ تَجْعَلَ وَفَاتِي قَتْلا فِي سَبِيلِكَ تَحْتَ رَايَةِ نَبِيِّكَ مَعَ اَوْلِيَائِكَ وَ اَسْاَلُكَ اَنْ تَقْتُلَ بِي اَعْدَاءَكَ وَ اَعْدَاءَ رَسُولِكَ وَ اَسْاَلُكَ اَنْ تُكْرِمَنِي بِهَوَانِ مَنْ شِئْتَ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ وَ لا تُهِنِّي بِكَرَامَةِ اَحَدٍ مِنْ اَوْلِيَائِكَ اللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْ لِي مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلا حَسْبِيَ اللّٰهُ مَا شَاءَ اللّٰهُ

This supplication is called Dua al-Hajj. It has been narrated by Sayyid Ibn Tawus in al-Iqbal who said that Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) used to say this supplicatory prayer after the Maghrib (sunset) Prayers in Ramadan. Moreover, Shaykh al-Kaf’ami, in al-Balad al-Amin, has narrated that it is recommended to say this supplicatory prayer every day in Ramadan and especially at the first night of it. As to Shaykh al-Mufid, he, in his book of al-Muqni’ah, has mentioned that this supplicatory prayer is exclusively said at the first night of Ramadan after the Maghrib Prayer.

RECITATION OF THE HOLY QUR’AN IN RAMADAN

In fact, the best of deeds at the nights and on the days of Ramadan is the recitation of the Holy Qur’an. It is thus highly advisable to recite it in this month in a way different from reciting it in the other months, since its revelation was in Ramadan. A Hadith reads that everything has a springtime; and the springtime of the Holy Qur’an is the month of Ramadan. It is recommended to recite the whole Qur’an once a month or once each six days in the other months, according to some narrations. As to the month of Ramadan, it is required to recite it wholly once every three days. If possible, it will be better if it is recited wholly every day. ‘Allamah al-Majlisi has narrated that some of the Holy Imams (a.s.) used to recite the whole Qur’an forty times, or even more, in Ramadan. The reward of reciting the whole Qur’an is doubled when its recitation is dedicated to the souls of the holy fourteen Infallibles (a.s.) by dedicating each recitation to each one of them respectively. According to some narrations, the reward of one who dedicates the recitation of the Holy Qur’an to the Holy Infallibles (a.s.) is that one shall be included with them on the Resurrection Day.

It is also advisable to say supplications, offer prayers, implore for Almighty Allah’s forgiveness, and confess His Oneness (by repeating the phrase of la-ilaha illal-lahu –there is no god save Allah-) as much as possible in Ramadan. In this regard, Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-’Abidin (a.s.) used to stop talking in Ramadan except with phrases of prayers, glorification of Almighty Allah, implorations of His forgiveness, and phrases of confessing of His magnificence (i.e. Takbir –saying: Allahu-akbar).

It is finally recommended to pay a great interest to the reported acts of worship as well as the supererogatory prayers at nights and days.