Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

[An Invocation] For A Pebble in the Ear

It was narrated from Bakr from his uncle Sudayr, who said: ‘I took a pebble and scratched my ear with it. It became embedded in my ear. I made every effort to remove it, but neither I nor the medical practitioners could do it. When I performed the Hajj and met al-Baqir, peace be upon him, I complained to him of the pain I had experienced. He said to al-Sadiq, peace be upon him: “O Ja’far, take him by the hand out into the light and have a look.” Al-Sadiq looked into the ear and said: “I do not see anything.” Al-Baqir said: “Approach me.” I approached him and he said: “O Allah, remove it as You caused it to enter, without trouble or difficulty.” Then he said: “Recite that three times.” I recited it. He said: “Put your finger in.” I put my finger in and brought out the pebble. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.’

Hannan b Jabir al-Filistini narrated from Muhammad b. ‘Ali from Ibn Sinan from ‘Ammar b. Marwan from al-Munkhal from Jabir from Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. ‘Ali, peace be upon him, who said that a man complained to him of deafness (al-samam). Abu Ja’far said: ‘Pass your hand over him and recite:

If We had sent down this Qur’an upon a mountain thou wouldst have seen it humbled, split asunder out of the fear of God. And We make these examples for men; haply they will reflect He is God; there in god but He. He is the knower of the Unseen and the Visible. He is the All-merciful, the All-compassionate. He is God. There is no god but He. He is the King, the All-holy, the All-peaceable, the All-faithful, the All-preserver, the All-mighty, the All-compeller, the All-sublime. Glory be to God, above that they associate! He is God, the Creator, the Maker, the Shaper. To Him belong the Names Most Beautiful. All that is in the heavens and the earth magnifies Him; He is the All-mighty, the All-wise. (59:21-4).’

An Invocation for Pain Afflicting the Mouth

Hariz b. Ayyub al-Jurjani narrated from Abu Samina from ‘Ali b. Asbat from Abu Hamza from Abu Basir from Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, that Abu Basir said: One of his [Abu ‘Abd Allah's] followers complained to him of pain in his mouth (al-fam). Abu ‘Abd Allah said: ‘When that afflicts you, place your hand over it and say: “In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate, In the Name of Allah, with Whose Name illness causes no harm; I take refuge in the Words of Allah, with Which nothing harms, Most Holy. Most Holy, Most Holy. By Your Name, O Lord, the Pure, the Holy, the Blessed, whoever asks You by it, You grant it to him, and whoever calls on You by it, You answer him. I ask You, O Allah, O Allah, O Allah, to bless Muhammad, the Prophet, and his Ahl al-Bayt, and to heal the suffering in my mouth, my head, my hearing, my sight, my belly, my back, my hand, my foot, and in all my limbs.”

Your pain will be relieved. Allah, the Exalted, willing.’

An Invocation for Pain in the Teeth

Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Husayn b. [Ahmad] Muhammad al-Khawatimi narrated from al-Husayn b. 'Ali b. Yaqtin from Hannan al-Sayqal from Abu Basir from Abu Ja’far al-Baqir, peace be upon him, that Abu Basir said: I complained to him of pain in my teeth, and that it kept me awake at nights. Abu Ja'far said: “O Abu Basir, when you experience that, place your hand over it, and recite the sura al-Hamd (1) and the sura al-Ikhlas (112), then recite:

And thou shalt see the mountains, that thou supposest fixed, passing by like clouds - God's handiwork, who has created everything very well. He is aware of the things you do. (27:88)

The pain will subside, and will not recur.”

Hamdan b. A’yan al-Razi narrated from Abu Talib from Yunus from Abu Hamza from Sama’a b. Mihran from Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, that he [Abu ‘Abd Allah] instructed a man to recite the above invocation and added to it, saying: ‘Recite the sura al-Qadr (97) once. The pain will subside, and will not recur.’

[Also for pain in the teeth,] from Amir al-Mu’minin, peace he upon him, that he said: ‘Whoever complains of pain in the teeth, let him take the object on which he performs his prostration, and rub it on the painful area, and say: “In the Name of Allah, and the Healer, Allah; there is no Might nor Power except in Allah, the Most High, the Mighty.”’

It is reported from Abu al-Hasan, peace be upon him, that he said: ‘My teeth (al-asnan) were hurting me and I applied Cyperus rotundus (al-su’d) to them.’ He said: ‘Wine vinegar (khall al-khumr) strengthens the gums (al-litha).’ He also said: ‘'Take wheat (al-hinta), husk it, and extract the oil. If the tooth is decayed and rotten, put two drops of the oil in it. Put some oil on a piece of cotton and place it in the ear near the tooth for three nights. It will stop [the decay], Allah, the Exalted, willing.'

The Charm for the Tooth

Ibrahim b. Khalid narrated from Ibrahim b. ‘Abd Rabbihi from Tha’laba from Abu Basir from Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, who said: ‘This is a charm for the teeth. It is beneficial and will never fail, Allah, the Exalted, willing. Praise .,. [sic] three leaves of the olive tree (al-zaytun), and write on the face of the leaf: “In the Name of Allah. There is no sovereign mightier than Allah, the King, and you are his Khalifa. Ya Haya Sharahiyya, remove the illness and send the cure, and may Allah bless Muhammad and his family.”’

Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, said: ‘“Ya Haya, Sharahiyya", are two of the Names of Allah, the Exalted, in Hebrew. Write that on the back of the leaf, and tie it in a clean piece of cloth with a thread spun by a maid servant who has not… [sic] and tie seven knots in it and name each knot with the name of one of the prophets- Adam. Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, Shuayb - and pray for Muhammad and his family, peace be on him and on them, and attach it to it [the tooth]. It will be cured. Allah, the Exalted, willing.’

Jibra’il al-Husayn b. Ali, peace be upon him [sic]: ‘How amazing it is that a creature eats the bone (al-'azm) and leaves the flesh (al-lahm). I make an invocation by Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, the Healer, the All-sufficient. There is no god but Allah, and praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

And when you killed a living soul, and disputed thereon - and God disclosed what you were hiding - so We said: Smite him with part of it (2:72-3).

Place your finger on the tooth, then recite this invocation seven times, on both its sides. It will be cured, Allah, the Exalted, willing.’

A Proven Invocation For The Teeth

Recite the sura al-Hamd (1) the two Suras of taking refuge (al-Falaq (113) and al-Nas (114)), and the sura al-Ikhlas (112). Say ‘In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate' with each sura. After the sura al-lkhlas (112), say:

‘In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate,

And to Him belongs whatsoever inhabits the night and the day, and He is the All-hearing All-knowing (6:13).

We said: O fire, be cooled and safe for Ibrahim! They desired to outwit him, so We made them the worse losers (21:69-70).

He was called: Blessed is He who is in the fire, and he who is about it. Glory be to God, the Lord of all Being’ (27:8).

Then say after that: ‘O Allah, O One Who protects from every thing, and nothing protects You. Protect Your servant and the son of your bondmaid (al-ima’), from the evil of what he fears and is wary of in this pain of which he complains to You.’

An Invocation for Coughing

‘Abd Allah b. Muhammad b. Mihran al-Kufi narrated from Ayyub from ‘Amr b. Shimr from Jabir from Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. ‘Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be upon him, from al-Husayn [sic], who said: Amir al-Mu’minin, peace he upon him, said: ‘Whosoever has a complaint of the throat (al-halq) and excessive coughing (al-su’al) and the desperation of his body increases, let him take refuge with these words, which are called ‘the comprehensive’ (al-jami’a), for all things:

“O Allah, You are my hope, and You are my Trust, my Support, my Succour, my Exalter, my beauty.

You are the Refuge of those who are afraid.

There is no sanctuary for those who flee except in You.

There is no one on whom human beings can rely except You.

There is no wish for those who desire except before You.

There is no helper for the oppressed but You.

There is no object for the needy except You.

There is nothing to be given for the seekers except from You.

There is no place to turn for the repentant except You,

Sustenance and good and deliverance are only in Your Hand.

Oppressive matters have grieved me, difficult straits have wearied me,

and painful ailments have encompassed me.

I do not find the opening of the door of deliverance open except by Your Hand.

Thus I stand before You and seek help from You, with prayer, against its closing.

Open, O Lord, to the one who asks for help, and answer the one who calls out.

Dispel the grief, remove the harm, fulfil the need, remove the sorrow, banish the anxieties, and save me from destruction, for I am on the brink of it.

I do not find my salvation from it other than in You.

O Allah, O He who answers the constrained, when he calls

unto Him, and removes the evil (27:62),

have mercy on me and remove what is in me of sorrow and grief and pain and illness.

Lord, if You do not, I do not expect my deliverance from other than You.

Have mercy on me, O Most Merciful of the Merciful.

This is the position of the wretched, the poor.

This is the position of one who is afraid, one seeking refuge.

This is the position of one calling for help.

This is the position of the sorrowful, the hurt.

This is the troubled, the one seeking protection.

This is the position of the servant, apprehensive, dying,

drowning, frightened, fearful.

This is the position of one who has awakened from his sleep,

been aroused from his forgetfulness,

recovered from his illness and the severity of

his pain, and is afraid because of his offences.

He acknowledges his sins, is humble before his Lord,

and weeps in fear of Him.

He asks forgiveness, sheds tears, and seeks pardon,

by Allah, from his Lord.

He dreads His Power, sheds his tears, and hopes,

weeps, and prays and calls:

Lord, affliction has visited me (21:83) so set me right.

You see my position. You hear my words. Yon know my secret thoughts and my public affairs.

You know my need and You know me thoroughly.

Nothing in my affairs, whether open or secret, apparent or concealed in my breast, is hidden from You.

So I ask You, since You have authority over regulating [affairs], accepting pleas, and fixing destinies, with the request of one who has done wrong and confessed, wronged his soul, and committed crimes.

He has repented for what is past and turned to his Lord.

He has regretted and taken refuge in His courtyard, held back and restrained his desire, and devoted himself to the Rcvoker of his lapses, the Acceptor of his repentance, the Forgiver of his sins, the One Who has mercy on his state of exile, the Remover of his distress and the Healer of his illness.

Have mercy on my transgressions and my entreaties to You.

Forgive me all my deviations from Your Book which have been counted in Your record.

Your past knowledge of my sins, faults, and offences in privacy, my immorality, my evil deeds, my lapses, and all that Your recording angels witness and have written down during childhood and after puberty, in old age and youth, by night and day, early morning and evening, late evening and daybreak, forenoon and dawn, and at home and in travels, in solitude and in public. Overlook my evil deeds among the inhabitants of Paradise the promise of the very truth, which they were promised (46:16).

O Allah, by the right of Muhammad and his family, remove from mc the overwhelming illnesses in my body (jismi), my hair (sha'ri), my skin (bashari), my blood vessels (‘uruqi), my nerves ('asabi), and my limbs, for no one will remove that other than You, O Most Merciful of the Merciful, O Answerer of the call of the distressed.”’

An Invocation for Anxieties in the Breast

Abu al-Qasim al-Taflisi narrated from Hammad b. ‘Isa from Hariz b. ‘Abd Allah al-Sijistani from Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, that Hariz said: I said “O son of the Messenger of Allah, I experience anxieties (al-balabil) in my breast and temptations (al-wasawis) in my heart (al-fu’ad) so that I sometimes break off my prayer and become confused in my recitation.” Abu ‘Abd Allah said: "And what about the invocation of Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him?” I replied: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, teach [it to] me.”

He said: “When you experience something of this, place your hand on it and say:

‘In the Name of Allah and by Allah. O Allah, You have blessed me with faith, and entrusted me with the Qur'an, and bestowed on me fasting in the month of Ramadan.

Grant me mercy and acceptance and compassion and forgiveness and all that You have conferred on me of blessings and beneficence.

O Compassionate. O Benefactor, O Everlasting, O Merciful, Glory be to You. I have no one but You, Glory be to You. I take refuge in You, after these expressions of esteem, from abasement. I ask You to remove the sorrows from my heart.’

Repeat this three times and you will be cured of it, with the help of Allah, the Exalted. Then bless the Prophet, blessings of Allah upon him, and mercy and blessings upon his family.”

An Invocation for a Pain in the Belly

Al-Husayn b. Bistam narrated from Muhammad b. Khalaf from al-Washsha’ from ‘Abd Allah b. Sinan from Ja’far b. Muhammad, peace be upon him, from his grandfather, peace be upon him, who said: A man complained to the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him and his family, and said: “O Messenger of Allah, I have a brother who has a complaint of the belly.” The Prophet replied: “Tell your brother to take a drink of honey with hot water.” The man returned to him the next day and said: “O Messenger of Allah, I gave him the drink but he did not benefit from it.” The Messenger of Allah said: “Allah has said the truth, and the belly of your brother has lied. Go, and give your brother the drink of honey and invoke for him the sura al-Fatiha (1) seven times.” When the man left, the Prophet said: “O ‘Ali, the brother of this man is a hypocrite. Whosoever is such, the drink will not benefit him.”

A man complained to Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, of pain in the belly. He instructed him to drink hot water and say:

“O Allah, O Allah, O Allah, O Merciful, O Compassionate, O Lord of the lords. O God of the gods, O King of the kings, O Master of the masters. Heal me with Your cures from every disease and illness, for I am Your servant and the son of Your servant; I turn about in Your grasp.”

Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Khawatimi narrated from Ibn Yaqtin from Hassan al-Sayqal from Abu Basir, who said: A man complained to Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, of pain of the navel (al-surra). Al-Sadiq told him: “Go, and put your hand on the painful area and say three times:

Surely it is a Book Sublime. Falsehood comes not to it from before it nor from behind it. A revelation from One All-wise, All-laudable (41:41-2).

You will be cured, Allah willing.”

Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, said: “There is not one among the believers who complains of any illness and recites with sincere intention, while passing his hand over the area of the illness:

We send down of the Qu’ran that which is a cure and a mercy to the believers. The unbelievers it increases not except in loss (17:82),

but that he is cured of that illness, whatever it may be. The truth of that is confirmed in the verse, where it says, a cure and a mercy to the believers.”

An Invocation and Medication for Pain of the Waist

Hariz b. Ayyub narrated from Abu Samina from ‘Ali b. Asbat from Abu Hamza from Hamran b. A’yan, who said: A man questioned Muhammad b. ‘Ali al-Baqir, peace be upon him, saying: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, I suffer from severe pain in the waist (al-khasira) and have treated it with many remedies, but it has not been cured.”

Al-Baqir said: “What about the invocation of Amir al-Mu’minin?” The man replied: “And what is that, O son of the Messenger of Allah?” He said: “When you complete your prayers, put your hand on the place of prostration, stroke it, and say:

What, did you think that We created you only for sport, and that you would not be returned to Us? Then high exalted be God, the King, the True! There is no god but He, the Lord of the noble Throne. Whosoever calls upon another god with God, whereof he has no proof, his reckoning is with his Lord. Surely the unbelievers shall not prosper. And say: My Lord, forgive and have mercy, for Thou art the best of the merciful (23:115-18).”

The man said: “I did that and the pain subsided, praise be to Allah, the Exalted.”

Muhammad b. Ja’ far al-Bursi narrated from Muhammad b. Yahya al-Armani from Muhammad b. Sinan from Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, who said: ‘The Messenger of Allah, blessings on him and his family, said: “Drink lovage (al-kashim), for it is good for pain of the waist.”’

Also from him from Muhammad b. Yahya from Yunus b. Zabyan from Jabir from Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, who said Amir al-Mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: “Whoever wishes that food may not harm him, let him not eat until he is hungry and his abdomen (al-ma’ida) is cleansed. When he eats, let him take the Name of Allah and chew well and let him stop eating while he still has an appetite for it [food] and wants it.”

‘Abd Allah b. Bistam narrated from Muhammad b. Razin from Hammad b. ‘Isa from Hariz from Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, from Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, who said: “Whoever wishes for the eternal life in the next world, and not for permanence in this world, let him wear light clothes, eat early, and have intercourse (al-mujami’a) with women less frequently.”

An Invocation for Pain of the Spleen

Muhammad b. ‘Abd Allah b. Mihran al-Kufi narrated from Ayyub from Umar b. Shimr from Jabir from Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, who said: A man from Khurasan came to ‘Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be upon him, and said: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, I performed the Hajj and resolved to call on you upon my departure, for I have a pain in the spleen (al-tihal). Pray for me to be relieved of it.”

‘Ali b. al-Husayn replied: “Allah has protected you from that, praise be to Him. When you experience the pain, write this verse with saffron (al-za’faran) mixed with the water of [the] Zamzam [spring in Mecca], and drink it. Allah, the Exalted, will drive away that pain from you:

Say: Call upon God, or call upon the Merciful whichsoever you call upon, to Him belong the Names Most Beautiful. And be thou not loud in thy prayer, nor hushed therein, but seek thou for a way between that. And say: Praise belongs to God, who has not taken to Him a son, and who has not any associate in the Kingdom, nor any protector out of humbleness. And magnify Him with repeated magnificats (17:110-11).

Write the following on the parchment of a gazelle (ghazal) and attach it to your left arm (al-'adud) for seven days and the pain will abate: . .”

لا س س س ح ح دم كرم ل له ومحي حح لله صر ه

ر ححب سي حجحت عشره به هك ان عنها ح حل

يصر س هو بوا اميوا مسعوف

Ahmad b. Yazid narrated from al-Sahhaf al-Kufi from Musa b. Ja’far, peace be upon him, from al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, from al-Baqir, peace be upon him, that he said: ‘One of his followers complained to al-Baqir of pain in the spleen. He had treated it with every remedy but its evil increased every day until he was on the threshold of death. Al-Baqir said to him: “Buy a piece of leek (al-kurrath) and fry it well in Arab clarified butter (saman ‘arabi). Give it for three days to the one who has this pain. If that is done, he will be cured, Allah, the Exalted, willing.”’

An Invocation for Pain in the Bladder

Muhammad b. Ja’far al-Bursi narrated from Muhammad b. Yahya al-Armani from Muhammad b. Sinan al-Sinani from al-Mufaddal b. ‘Umar from Muhammad b. Isma’il from Abu Zaynab, who said: One of our brothers complained to Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, of pain in the bladder (al-mathana). Al-Sadiq said: “Seek protection for it with these verses three times before you sleep, and once when you awaken, and you will not experience the pain after that:

Knowest thou not that God is powerful over everything? Knowest thou not that to God belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and that you have none, apart from God, neither protector nor helper?” (2:106-7).

The man said: “I did that and did not experience the pain again.”

An Invocation for Pain in the Back

Al-Khidr b Muhammad narrated from al-Hawarini from Faddala from Aban b. ’Uthman from lbn Abu Hamza al-Thumali from Abu Ja’far Muhammad al-Baqir, peace be upon him, who said: ‘A man from Hamdan complained to Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, of a pain in the back and that he had sleepless nights [because of it]. He said: “Put your hand on the area that pains you and recite three times:

It is not given to any soul to die save by the leave of God, at an appointed time. Whoever desires the reward of this world, We will give him of this. Whosoever desires the reward of the other world, We will give him of that. We will recompense the thankful (3:145).

Then recite the sura al-Qadr (97) seven times and you will be cured of it, if Allah, the Exalted, wills.”’

An Invocation for Pain of the Thighs

Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Katib narrated from Muhammad b. ‘Abd Allah al-Za’farani from Hammad b. ‘Isa from Amir a-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, who said: ‘When one of you suffers from pain of the thighs (al-fakhdhan), let him sit in a large vessel or basin of heated water and place his hand there [on his thighs] and recite:

Have not the unbelievers then beheld that the heavens and earth were a mass all sewn up, and then We unstitched them and of water fashioned every living thing? Will they not believe? (21:30)’

An Invocation for Pain of the Genitals

With this chain of transmitters (al-isnad) from Hariz al-Sijistani, who said: I performed the Hajj and called on Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, in Medina, and al-Mu’alla b. Khunays, may Allah have mercy on him, was complaining to him of pain in the genitals (al-farj). Al-Sadiq said to him: “You exposed your privy parts (al- ‘aura) on some occasion and Allah has punished you with this pain. But seek protection for it with the invocation which Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, gave Abu Wa’ila, after which it [the pain] did not recur.” Al-Mu’alla asked; “O son of the Messenger of Allah, what is the invocation?” He replied: “Put your left hand on them and say three times:

‘In the name of Allah, and by Allah,

Nay, but whosoever submits his will to God, being a good-doer, his wage is with his Lord, and no fear shall be on them, neither shall they sorrow (2:112).

O Allah, I have submitted myself to You and entrusted my affairs to You. There is no refuge or security from You except in You.’

You will be cured, Allah, the Exalted, willing.”

An Invocation for Pain of the Legs

Khaddash b. Sabra narrated from Muhammad b. Jamhur from Safwan Bayya’ al-Sabiri from Salim b. Muhammad, who said: I complained to al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, of pain in my legs (al-saqayn) and that it had prevented me from pursuing my affairs and earning my living. He said: “Recite an invocation of protection over them.” I asked: “With what, O son of the Messenger of Allah?” He said: “With this verse. Recite it seven times and you will be cured, Allah, the Exalted, willing:

Recite what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord; no man can change His words. Apart from Him, thou wilt find no refuge. (18:27).”

He said: I recited the invocation over them seven times, as he had instructed me, and I never experienced the pain again.

An Invocation and Medications for Hemorrhoids

Al-Hawarini al-Razi narrated from Safwan b. Yahya al-Sabiri - and he is not Safwan al-Jammal - from Ya’qub b. Shu’ayb from Aban b. Taghlab from ‘Abd al-‘Ala’ from Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami from Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, who said: ‘Whosoever seeks protection from haemorrhoids with this invocation will be protected from its evil, Allah, the Exalted willing. It is:

“O Magnanimous, O Exalted, O Compassionate, O Near, O Responder, O Creator, O Merciful, bless Muhammad and his family, and bestow on me Your blessing, and protect me from my pain.”

He will be cured of it, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, willing.’

Muhammad b. ‘Abd Allah b. Mihran al-Kufi narrated from Isma’il b. Yazid from ‘Amr b. Yazid al-Sayqal, who said: I called on Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, and asked him about a man who had severe haemorrhoids. He had been prescribed a bowl of strong wine (al-nabidh) and he did not want to take it for the enjoyment of it but as a medication.

Abu ‘Abd Allah said: “No, not a mouthful.” I asked: “Why?” He replied: “It is forbidden. Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, does not create a medication or cure in anything He has forbidden.

“Take a white leek and cut off its white head. Do not wash it or cut it up into small pieces Take fat from the hump of the camel (al-sinam), melt it, and pour it over the leek. Take ten walnuts (jawzat) shell them, and grind them with the weight of ten dirhams of Persian cheese (jibn farsi). Put the leek on the fire. When it is well cooked, add the walnuts and cheese to it and remove it from the fire. Eat it on an empty stomach with bread, for three days or seven days, and abstain from other food. After it, take a little roasted savin (abhal) with bread and shelled walnuts. After the fat of the camel’s hump and the leek, take, in the Name of Allah, half an awqiya of sesame oil (shiraj) on an empty stomach, and an awqiya of [the resin of the] male storax [tree] (kundur dhakar). Grind and drink it. After that take another half awqiya of sesame oil. Take it for three days and delay your eating until after noon. You will be cured, Allah, the Exalted, willing.”

An Invocation For Pain Of The Feet

Hannan b. Jabir narrated from Muhammad b ‘Ali al-Sayrafi from at-Husayn al-Ashqar from 'Amr b. Abu al-Miqdam from Muhammad al-Baqir, peace be upon him, who said: ‘I was with al-Husayn b. 'Ali, peace be upon him, when one of our Shi’a from the Bani Umayya came to him and said: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, I was hardly able to walk to you because of the pain in my feet.” He said: “What about the invocation of al-Husayn b. ‘Ali?” The man said: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, and what is that?” He replied: “The verses are:

Surely We have given thee a manifest victory, that God may forgive thee thy former and thy latter sins, and complete His blessing upon thee, and guide thee on a straight path, and that God may help thee with mighty help.

It is He who sent down the Shechina into the hearts of the believers, that, they might add faith to their faith - to God belong the hosts of the heavens and the earth; God is All-knowing, All-wise - and that He may admit the believers, men and women and women alike, into gardens underneath which rivers flow, therein to dwell forever, and acquit them of their evil deeds.

That is in God's sight a mighty triumph, that He may chastise the hypocrites, men and women alike, and the idolaters, men and women alike, and those who think evil thoughts of God. Against them shall be the evil turn of fortune. God is wroth with them, and has cursed them, and has prepared for them Hell - -an evil homecoming! To God belong the hosts of the heavens and the earth; God is All-mighty, All-wise (48:1-7).”

The man said: “I did as he instructed and did not experience any of the pain after that, with the help of Allah, the Exalted.”’

An Invocation for the Hamstring and the Sole of the Foot

Abu ‘Atab ‘Abd Allah b. Bistam narrated from Ibrahim b. Muhammad al-Awdi from Safwan al-Jammal from Ja’far b. Muhammad from his father from ‘Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be upon him, who said: A man complained to Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Husayn b. ‘Ali, peace he upon him, and said: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, I suffer from pain in my hamstring (al-urqub) which prevents me from standing up for prayer.” He said: “What prevents you from [reciting] the invocation?” He replied: “I do not know it.”

He said: “When you experience the pain, place your hand there and say: ‘In the Name of Allah, and by Allah, and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, blessings of Allah on him and his family.’ Then recite over it:

They measure not God with His true measure. The earth altogether shall be His handful on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens shall he rolled up in His right hand. Glory be to Him! High be He exalted above that they associate! (39:67)”

The man did that and Allah, the Exalted, healed him.

An Invocation for Swelling in all the Joints

Al-Hasan b. Salih al-Mahmudi narrated from Abu ‘Amr b. Shimr from Jabir b. Yazid al-Ju’fi from Muhammad b. ‘Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be upon him, who said: “O Jabir.” I [Jabir] replied: “At your service, O son of the Messenger of Allah.” He said: “Recite over every swelling (al-waram) the end of the sura al-Hashr:

If We had sent down this Qur’an upon a mountain, thou wouldst have seen it humbled, split asunder out of the fear of God. And those similitudes - We strike them for men; haply they will reflect. He is God, there is no god but He. He is the knowcr of the Unseen and the Visible; He is the All-merciful, the All-compassionate.

He is God; there is no god but He. He is the King, the All-holy, the All-peaceable, the All-faithful, the All-preserver, the All-mighty, the All-compeller, the All-sublime. Glory be to God, above, that they associate!

He is God, the Creator, the Maker, the Shaper. To Him belong the Names Most Beautiful All that is in the heavens and the earth magnifies Him. He is the All-mighty, the All-wise (59:21-4).

“Recite it three times over the swelling, and it will subside, Allah, the Exalted, willing.

“Take a knife and pass it over the swelling and say: ‘In the Name of Allah, I charm you from affliction and iron and an affair of recurring grief and from the matted stone and from the root of a barren tree (‘irq al-‘aqir), and from another swelling, and from food and its ganglia (al-‘aqd), and from drink and its coldness. Pass, with the will of Allah, for a time to humans and cattle, In the Name of Allah I begin, and in the Name of Allah I end.’

Then drive the knife into the earth.”

An Invocation to Neutralize Spells

‘Abd Allah b. al-‘Ala al-Qazwini narrated from Ibrahim b. Muhammad from Hammad b. ‘Isa b. Ya’qub from Imran b.Maytham from Ubaya b Rab’i al-Asadi, that he heard Amir al-Mu’minin, blessings of Allah be on him, instruct one of his companions, when the latter complained of spells (al-sihr). He said: ‘Write [the following] on the parchment of a gazelle and fasten it to yourself. The spell will not harm you and its strategems will not affect you.

“In the Name of Allah, and by Allah; in the Name of Allah, and what Allah wills. In the Name of Allah, there is neither might nor power except with Allah.

Musa said, What you have brought is spells. God will assuredly bring it to naught. God sets not right the work of those who do corruption (10:81-2).

So the truth came to pass, and false was proved what they were doing. So they were vanquished there, and they turned about, humbled (7:118-19).”’

Muhammad b. Musa al-Rab’i narrated from Muhammad b. Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah b. Ghalib from Sa’d b. Zarif from al-Asbagh b. Nubata from Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, that al-Asbagh said: I took this invocation from him. He said to me: ‘O Asbagh, this is an invocation for spells and fear (al-khauf) of the ruler (al-sultan). Recite it seven times:

“In the Name of Allah, and by Allah. We will strengthen thy arm by means of thy brother, and We shall appoint to you an authority, so that they shall not reach you because of Our signs; you and whoso follows you, shall be the victors (28:35).”

Recite it seven times over water when you have completed the night prayer (salat al-layl) and before you begin the morning prayer (salat al-nahar). It [spells] will not harm you, Allah, the Exalted, willing.

An Invocation for a Woman Experiencing Difficulty in Childbirth

Al-Khawatimi narrated from Muhammad b. ‘Ali al-Sayrafi from Muhammad b. Aslam from al-Hasan b. Muhammad al-Hashimi from Aban b. Abu al-‘Ayyash from Salim b. Qays al-Hilali from Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, who said: ‘I know of two verses in the revealed Book of Allah, prescribed for a woman experiencing difficulty (al-'usr) in childbirth (al-wilada). Write them on the parchment of a gazelle and fasten it to her groin (al-haqw). Write seven times:

“In the Name of Allah, and by Allah, Truly with hardship comes ease, truly with hardship comes ease (94.5-6).”

‘Write once: O men, fear your Lord! Surely the earthquake of the Hour is a mighty thing. On the day when you behold it, every suckling woman shall neglect the child she has suckled, and every pregnant woman shall deposit her burden, and thou shalt see mankind drunk, yet they are not drunk, but God's chastisement is terrible (22:1-2).

‘Write [the following] on a paper and tie it with an untwisted fibre of flax (kattan) and fasten it on to her left thigh. When she has given birth, cut it off at once and do not delay in doing it. Write:

“At the time when Maryam gave birth, Maryam brought forth a living [being]. O living [being], come down to the earth immediately, by the will of Allah, the Exalted.”’

An Invocation for a Child Who Cries Often, for One Afraid of the Night, And for a Woman Sleepless From Pain

Then We smote their ears many years in the Cave. Afterwards We raised them up again, that We might know which of the two parties would better calculate the while they had tarried (18:11-12).

Abu al-Mu’izz al-Wasiti narrated from Muhammad b. Sulayman from Marwan b. al-Jahm from Muhammad b. Muslim from Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, from Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, that he said that.

An Invocation for a Stubborn Beast

Hatim b. ‘Abd Allah al-Azdi narrated from Abu Ja’far al-Maqri, the Imam of the mosque of al-Kufa, from Jabir b. Rashid from Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, that he [Jabir] said: While we were on a journey, al-Sadiq noticed a man looking gloomy and dejected. He asked him: "What is wrong with you?” He replied: "My beast (al-dabba) is stubborn (harun).” He [al-Sadiq] said: “Woe be to you, recite this verse in her ear:

Have they not seen how that We have created for them of that Our hands wrought of cattle that they own? We have subdued them to them, and some of them they ride, and some they eat (36:71-2)”

An Invocation for a Journey

‘Ali b. ‘Urwa al-Ahwazi narrated from al-Daylami from Dawud al-Raqqi, from Musa b. Ja’far, peace he upon him, who said: “Whoever is on a journey (al-safar) and fears thieves (al-lusus) and predatory animals (al-sab') let him write on the mane (al-'urf) of his beast:

Fearing not overtaking, neither afraid (20:77).

He will be safe, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, willing.”

Dawud al-Raqqi said: I performed the Hajj, and when we were in the desert, a group of Bedouins waylaid the caravan in which I was. I wrote on the mane of my camel (al-jamal):

Fearing not overtaking, neither afraid (20:77).

By Him Who sent Muhammad, blessings of Allah on him and his family, with the Prophethood, bestowed on him the Message, and honoured Amir al-Mu’minin with the Imamate, not one of them challenged me and Allah made them blind (a'ma) to me.

An Invocation for all Illnesses

‘Ali b. Ishaq al-Basri narrated from Zakariya b. Adam al-Maqri, who used to serve Al-Ridha’, peace be upon him, in Khurasan. He said: One day Al-Ridha’ said to me: ‘O Zakariya.’ I answered: ‘At your service, O son of the Messenger of Allah.’ He said: ‘Recite for all illnesses: “O Bestower of healing and Remover of illness, send down healing for my ailment.”

You will be restored to health, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, willing.’

An Invocation for Sciatica

Mu’alla b. Ibrahim al-Wasiti narrated from Ibn Mahbub from Muhriz b. Sulayman al-Azraq, from Abu al-Jarud from Abu Ishaq from al-Harith al-A’war al-Hamdani from Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, that one of his companions had complained to him of sciatica (‘irq al-nisa'). He [Amir al-Mu’minin] replied: ‘When yon experience it place your hand on it and say:

“In the Name of the Merciful, the Compassionate. In the Name of Allah, and by Allah, I take refuge in the Name of Allah, the Great, and I take refuge in the Name of Allah, the Mighty, from the evil of every throbbing blood vessel (‘irq nuqqar), and from the evil of the heat of the fire.”

You will be cured, Allah, the Exalted, willing.’ The man said: ‘I recited that only three times, and Allah removed my suffering and I was cured of it.’

An Invocation for Consumption

Muhammad b. Kathir al-Dimashqi narrated from al-Hasan b. ‘Ali b. Yaqtin from Al-Ridha’ ‘Ali b. Musa, peace be upon him, who said: ‘This is an invocation for our Shi'a for consumption (al-sill):

“O Allah, O Lord of the lords, O Master of the masters, O God of the gods, O King of the kings, O Omnipotent of the heavens and the earth. Heal me and cure me of this disease of mine, for I am Your servant and the son of Your servant. I turn about in Your grasp and my forelock is in Your Hand.”

Say it three times; and Allah, the Mighty and Sublime will protect you with His Might and Power, If He, the Exalted, wills.’

An Invocation for Pustules

‘Ali b. al-‘Abbas narrated from Muhammad b. Ibrahim al-'Alawi from ‘Ali b Musa from his father from Ja’far b. Muhammad al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, who said: ‘When you feel a pustule (al-bathr) [appearing] put your index finger (al-sabbaba) on it and circle it and say seven times:

“There is no god but Allah, the Clement, the Noble.”

The seventh time, strike it and press on it with your finger.’

An Invocation for Colic

Al-Darari narrated from Musa b. ‘Umar b. Yazid from Abu ‘Umar b. Yazid al-Sayqal from al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, that he [al-Sayqal] said that one of his followers had complained of colic (al-qawlanj). He [al-Sadiq] told him:

‘Write for him the the sura al-Fatiha (1), the sura al-Ikhlas (112), and the two suras of seeking protection (al-Falaq (113) and al-Nas (114)). Then write under that:

“I take refuge in the Face of Allah, the Mighty, and in His Might, which is unceasing, and in His Power, which nothing can resist, from the evil of this pain, and the evil within it”.

Then drink it [sic] with rainwater (ma' al-matar) on an empty stomach. You will be cured of it, Allah, the Exalted, willing.’

An Invocation for Fever and For the Fever of the Messenger of Allah

Ahmad b. Muhammad Abu Ja’far narrated from Abu Muhammad b. Khalid from Bakr b. Khalid from Muhammad b. Sinan from ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Ammar al-Duhni from his father from ‘Amr Dhi Far and Taghlaba al-Jammali who both said: We heard Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, say: ‘The Messenger of Allah, blessings of Allah on him, had a severe fever (al-humma). Jibra’il, blessings of Allah on him, came to him and recited an invocation of protection over him. He said:

“In the Name of Allah, I invoke you. In the Name of Allah, I cure you of every illness that troubles, you. In the Name of Allah, and Allah is your Healer. In the Name of Allah, take it and may it be good for you. In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate,

No! I swear by the fallings of the stars, and that is indeed a mighty oath, did you but know it! (56:75-6).

You will surely be restored to health, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, willing.”

The Prophet, blessings be on him, undid his headband and said: “O Jibra’il, this is an eloquent invocation.” Jibra’il replied: “It is from the treasury of the seventh heaven.”’

Ahmad b. Salama narrated from Muhammad b. ‘Isa from Hariz b. ‘Abd Allah al-Sijistani from Ahmad b. Hamza from Aban b. ‘Uthman from al-Fudayl b. Yasar from Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, who said: ‘When a man falls ill and you wish to invoke protection for him say:

“Out with you, O blood vessel, or O eye of jinn, or O eye of man, or O pain, from so-and-so, son of so-and-so. Out with you, by Allah, Who addressed Musa and spoke to him, and took Ibrahim, blessings of Allah on him, as a friend, the Lord of ‘Isa b. Maryam, the spirit of Allah and His Word, the Lord of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, the guides. I put you out as the fire of Ibrahim, the friend, peace be upon him, was put out.”’

Ahmad b. Abu Ziyad narrated from Faddala b. Ayyub from lsma’il b. Ziyad from Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, who said: ‘When the Messenger of Allah, blessings be on him, felt sluggish (al-kasal), or when the evil eye (al-‘ayn) fell on him, or when he had a headache, he would stretch out his hands and recite the opening of the Book (the sura al-Fatiha {1}) and the two suras of taking refuge (al-Falaq (113) and al-Nas (114)). Then he would pass his hands over his face (al-wajh) and whatever he would be suffering would be removed from him.’

Muhammad b. Ja’far al-Bursi narrated from Muhammad b. Yahya al-Armani from Muhammad b. Sinan from Salama b. Muhriz, who said: 1 heard Abu Ja’far al-Baqir, peace be upon him, say: “Whosoever is not cured by the sura al-Hamd (1) and the sura al-lkhlas (112) will not be cured by anything. All illnesses are cured by these two Suras.”

Muhammad b. Yazid narrated from Ziyad b. Muhammad from his father from Hisham b. Ahmar from Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, who said: ‘Whoever says: “There is no might nor power except with Allah, the Mighty”, Allah will drive away from him seventy-three kinds of affliction, the least of which is madness (al-junun).’

‘Ali b. Abu Talib, peace be upon him, said: The Messenger of Allah, blessings be on him, said: “O ‘Ali, shall I show you one of the treasures of Paradise?” I replied: “Yes indeed, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “There is no power or might except with Allah.”

Muhammad b. Ibrahim al-Sarraj narrated from Faddala and al-Qasim both from Aban b. ‘Uthman from Abu Hamza al-Thumali from Abu Ja’far al-Baqir, peace be upon him, who said: ‘When one of you suffers from something, let him recite:

“In the Name of Allah, and blessings of Allah on the Messenger of Allah and his Ahl al-Bayt, I take refuge in the Might of Allah and His Power over what He wills, from the evil of what I suffer.”’

Ahmad b. Salih al-Nisaburi narrated from Jamil b. Salih from Dharih, who said: I heard Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, invoke protection from wind for one of his followers and say:

“I adjure you, O ailment, with the invocation by which ‘Ali b. Abu Talib, peace be upon him, and the Messenger of Allah, blessings on him and his family, called on the jinn of the valley of al-Sabra and they obeyed and answered, that you obey and answer and get out of so-and-so, son of so-and-so, at once, at once, by the will of Allah, the Exalted, by the command of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, by the Power of Allah, by the Sovereignty of Allah, by the Majesty of Allah, by the Grandeur of Allah, by the Greatness of Allah, by the Face of Allah, by the Beauty of Allah, by the Magnificence of Allah, by the Light of Allah.”

It was not long before it was expelled.