LIGHTENING FAST PRAYER (FOR WORLDLY DESIRES)
Fourteenth: It is reported that a man came to Imam ‘Ali Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) and complained about the delay in response of his prayers.
“Have you tried the swift-responded prayer?” Imam ‘Ali (‘a) asked.
“What prayer do you mean?” asked the man.
Imam ‘Ali (‘a) thus taught him to say this supplicatory prayer:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّىْۤ اَسْئَلُكَ
O Allah, I beseech You
بِاسْمِكَ الْعَظِيْمِ الْاَعْظَمِ
in the name of Your Name; the great, the greatest,
الْاَجَلِّ الْاَكْرَمِ
the most majestic, the noblest,
الْمَخْزُوْنِ الْمَكْنُوْنِ
the hoarded, the hidden,
اَلنُّوْرِ الْحَقِّ
the brilliant, the true,
اَلْبُرْهَانِ الْمُبِيْنِ
the manifest demonstration,
اَلَّذِىْ هُوَ نُوْرٌ مَعَ نُوْرٍ
which is light with light,
وَ نُوْرٌ مِنْ نُوْرٌ
light out of light,
وَ نُوْرٌ فِىْ نُوْرٍ
light in light,
وَ نُوْرٌ عَلٰى كُلِّ نُوْرٍ
light on all light,
وَ نُوْرٌ فَوْقَ كُلِّ نُوْرٍ
light over all light,
وَ نُوْرٌ تُضِيْۤئُ بِهِ كُلُّ ظُلْمَةٍ
and light by which all darkness is shone
وَ يُكْسَرُ بِهِ كُلُّ شِدَّةٍ
and all hardships,
وَ كُلُّ شَيْطَانٍ مَرِيْدٍ
all rebellious devils,
وَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيْدٍ
and all obstinate transgressors are unraveled.
لَا تَقِرُّبِهِ اَرْضٌ
Neither a land can bear it
وَلَايَقُوْمُ بِهِ سَمَاۤءٌ
nor can any sky hold it.
وَ يَاْمَنُ بِهِ كُلُّ خَاۤئِفٍ
Through it, all fearful ones attain security
يَبْطُلُ بِهِ سِحْرُ كُلِّ سَاحِرٍ
and sorceries of all sorcerers,
وَ بَغْىُ كُلِّ بَاغٍ
oppressions of all oppressors,
وَ حَسَدُ كُلِّ حَاسِدٍ
and envy of all envious ones are counteracted.
وَ يَتَصَدَّعُ لِعَظَمَتِهِ الْبَرُّ وَالْبَحْرُ
Because of its greatness, all lands and oceans split
وَ يَسْتَقِلُّ بِهِ الْفُلْكُ
and all arks stand stable
حِيْنَ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِهِ الْمَلَكُ
when the angel pronounces it;
فَلَا يَكُوْنُ لِلْمَوْجِ عَلَيْهِ سَبِيْلٌ
so, waves will no more have any effect on these arks.
وَ هُوَ اسْمُكَ الْاَعْظَمُ الْاَعْظَمُ
It is Your Name; the greatest, the greatest,
اَلْاَجَلُّ الْاَجَلُّ
the most majestic, the most majestic,
اَلنُّوْرُ الْاَكْبَرُ
the grandest light,
اَلَّذِىْ سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ
which You have used for Yourself
وَاسْتَوَيْتَ بِهِ عَلٰى عَرْشِكَ
and by which You have prevailed on Your Throne.
وَ اَتَوَجَّهُ اِلَيْكَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ
I turn my face towards You in the name of Muhammad and his Household
وَاَسْئَلُكَ بِكَ وَ بِهِمْ
and beseech You in the name of You and them
اَنْ تُصَلِّىَ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَنْ تَفْعَلَ بِىْ كَذَا وَ كَذَا۔
to bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad and to...
You may now submit your requests.
Fifteenth: ‘Amr ibn Abi’l-Miqdam has reported the following: Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) dictated this supplicatory prayer, which achieves benefits for this world and the other world: After praising and thanking Almighty Allah, you may say this:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْحَلِيْمُ الْكَرِيْمُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ الْجَبَّارُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الرَّحِيْمُ الْغَفَّارُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الشَّدِيْدُ الْمِحَالِ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْكَبِيْرُ الْمُتَعَالُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ السَّمِيْعُ الْبَصِيْرُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْمَنِيْعُ الْقَدِيْرُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْغَفُوْرُ الشَّكُوْرُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْحَمِيْدُ الْمَجِيْدُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْغَنِىُّ الْحَمِيْدُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَۤا اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْغَفُوْرُ الْوَدُوْدُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْحَنَّانُ الْمَنَّانُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ
اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْحَلِيْمُ الدَّيَّانُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْجَوَادُ الْمَاجِدُ، وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ الْوَاحِدُ الْاَحَدُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْغَاۤئِبُ الشَّاهِدُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ الْبَاطِنُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ بِكُلِّشَيْئٍ عَلِيْمٌ تَمَّ نُوْرُكَ فَهَدَيْتَ وَ بَسَطْتَ يَدَكَ فَاَعْطَيْتَ رَبَّنَا وَجْهُكَ اَكْرَمُ الْوُجُوْهِ وَجَهَتُكَ خَيْرُ الْجِهَاتِ وَ عَطِيَّتُكَ اَفْضَلُ الْعَطَايَا وَ اَهْنَاُهَا تُطَاعُ رَبَّنَا فَتَشْكُرُ وَ تُعْصٰى رَبَّنَا فَتَغْفِرُ لِمَنْ شِئْتَ تُجِيْبُ الْمُضْطَرِّيْنَ وَ تَكْشِفُ السُّوْۤءَ وَ تَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ وَ تَعْفُوْ عَنِ الذُّنُوْبِ لَا تُجَازِىْ اَيَادِيْكَ وَلَاتُحْصٰى نِعَمُكَ وَلَايَبْلُغُ مِدْحَتَكَ قَوْلُ قَاۤئِلٍ۔ اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَجِّلْ فَرَجَهُمْ وَ رَوْحَهُمْ وَ رَاحَتَهُمْ وَ سُرُوْرَهُمْ وَاَذِقْنِىْ طَعْمَ فَرَجِهِمْ وَ اَهْلِكْ
اَعْدَاۤئَهُمْ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْاِنْسِ وَ اٰتِنَا فِىْ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَ فِى الْاٰخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَ قِنَا عَذَابَ النّارِ وَاجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الَّذِيْنَ لَاخَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَاهُمْ يَحْزَنُوْنَ وَاجْعَلْنِىْ مِنَ الَّذِيْنَ صَبَرُوْا وَ عَلٰى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُوْنَ وَ ثَبِّتْنِىْ بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِى الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَ فِى الْاٰخِرَةِ وَ بَارِكْ لِىْ فِى الْمَحْيَا وَ الْمَمَاتِ وَالْمَوْقِفِ وَالنُّشُوْرِ وَ الْحِسَابِ وَالْمِيْزَانِ وَ اَهْوَالِ يَوْمِ الْقِيٰمَةِ وَ سَلِّمْنِىْ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ وَ اَجِزْنِىْ عَلَيْهِ وَارْزُقْنِىْ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَ يَقِيْنًا صَادِقًا وَ تُقًى وَ بِرًّا وَ وَرَعًا وَ خَوْفًا مِنْكَ وَ فَرَقًا يُبَلِّغُنِىْ مِنْكَ زُلْفٰى وَلَايُبَاعِدُنِىْ عَنْكَ وَاَحْبِبْنِىْ وَلَاتُبْغِضْنِىْ وَ تَوَلَّنِىْ وَلَاتَخْذُلْنِىْ وَ اَعْطِنِىْ مِنْ جَمِيْعِ خَيْرِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْاٰخِرَةِ مَا عَلِمْتُ مِنْهُ وَ مَالَمْ اَعْلَمْ وَ اَجِرْنِىْ مِنَ السُّوْۤءِ كُلِّهِ بِحَذَا فِيْرِهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ مِنْهُ وَ مَالَمْ اَعْلَمْ
Sixteenth: Mu’awiyah ibn ‘Ammar has reported that he once asked Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) to teach him exclusively a special supplicatory prayer. The Imam (‘a) therefore taught him to say this:
يَا وَاحِدُ يَا مَاجِدُ
O One! O Glorious!
يَاۤ اَحَدُ يَا صَمَدُ
O One and Only! O Eternally besought of all!
يَا مَنْ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَ لَمْ يُوْلَدْ
O He Who begets not nor is He begotten
وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا اَحَدٌ
and none is like Him!
يَا عَزِيْزُ يَا كَرِيْمُ يَا حَنَّانُ
O Almighty! O All-generous! O Alltender!
يَا سَامِعَ الدَّعَوَاتِ
O Hearer of prayers!
يَاۤ اَجْوَدَ مَنْ سُئِلَ
O most magnanimous of all those who may donate
وَ يَا خَيْرَ مَنْ اَعْطٰى
and best of all those who may give!
يَاۤ اَللهُ يَاۤ اَللهُ يَاۤ اَللهُ
O Allah! O Allah! O Allah!
قُلْتَ وَ لَقَدْنَا دَانَا نُوْحٌ فَلَنِعْمَ الْمُجِيْبُوْنَ
You have said, “And Noah did certainly call upon Us, and most excellent answerer of prayer We are.”
Commenting on this sentence, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) said, “Upon hearing this verse, the Holy Prophet (s) used to say:
نَعَمْ لَنِعْمَ الْمُجِيْبُ اَنْتَ
Yes indeed! Most excellent answerer of prayer You are.
وَ نِعْمَ الْمَدْعُوُّ
Most excellent besought One You are!
وَ نِعْمَ الْمَسْؤُلُ
Most excellent prayed One You are!
اَسْئَلُكَ بِنُوْرِ وَجْهِكَ
I beseech You in the name of the brilliance of Your Face,
وَ اَسْئَلُكَ بِعِزَّتِكَ وَ قُدْرَتِكَ وَ جَبَرُوْتِكَ
I beseech You in the name of Your almightiness, omnipotence, and grandeur,
وَ اَسْئَلُكَ بِمَلَكُوْتِكَ وَ دِرْعِكَ الْحَصِيْنَةِ
and I beseech You in the name of Your sovereign power, Your invulnerable armor,
وَ بِجَمْعِكَ وَ اَرْكَانِكَ كُلِّهَا وَ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ
Your wholeness, all of Your supports, in the name of Muhammad,
وَ بِحَقِّ الْاَوْصِيَاۤءِ بَعْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ
and in the name of the successors after Muhammad
اَنْ تُصَلِّىَ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَنْ تَفْعَلَ بِىْ كَذَا وَ كَذَا۔
to bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad and to...
You may now submit your requests.
Seventeenth: A man from al-Kufah city, named Abu-Ja’far, is reported to have asked Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) to teach him a supplicatory prayer to say. The Imam (‘a) thus taught him to say this:
يَا مَنْ اَرْجُوْهُ لِكُلِّ خَيْرٍ
O He Whom alone I hope for all good things!
وَ يَا مَنْ اٰمَنُ سَخَطَهُ عِنْدَ كُلِّ عُسْرَةٍ
O He Whose wrath I do not expect whenever I commit a slip!
وَ يَا مَنْ يُعْطِىْ بِالْقَلِيْلِ الْكَثِيْرَ
O He Who recompenses the little deed with very much reward!
يَا مَنْ اَعْطٰى مَنْ سَئَلَهُ
O He Who has answered one who begged Him
تَحَنُّنًا مِنْهُ وَ رَحْمَةً
out of His kindness and mercifulness!
يَا مَنْ اَعْطٰى مَنْ لَمْ يَسْئَلْهُ وَ لَمْ يَعْرِفْهُ
O He Who has given those who do not ask Him and do not even recognize Him!
صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
(Please) bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,
وَ اَعْطِنِىْ بِمَسْئَلَتِىْ مِنْ جَمِيْعِ خَيْرِ الدُّنْيَا
give me, for I pray You, the whole welfare of this world
وَ جَمِيْعِ خَيْرِ الْاٰخِرَةِ
and the whole welfare of the Hereafter.
فَاِنَّهُ غَيْرُ مَنْقُوْصٍ مَاۤ اَعْطَيْتَنِىْ
Verily, all that which You give is unblemished.
وَ زِدْنِىْ مِنْ سَعَةِ فَضْلِكَ يَا كَرِيْمُ۔
(Please do) increase Your favors upon me, O All-generous!
Eighteenth: Imam al-Baqir (‘a) is reported to have instructed his brother, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ali, to say this supplicatory prayer:
اَللّٰهُمَّ ارْفَعْ ظَنِّىْ صَاعِدًا
O Allah, (please) certify my expectation (of Your mercy) without disappointment,
وَلَاتُطْمِعْ فِىَّ عَدُوًّا وَ لَاحَاسِدًا
do not entice any enemy or envious one against me,
وَاحْفَظْنِىْ قَاۤئِمًا وَ قَاعِدًا
and safeguard me in my standing up, sitting,
وَ يَقْظَانَ وَ رَاقِدًا
waking, and sleeping.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْلِىْ وَارْحَمْنِىْ
O Allah, (please) forgive me, have mercy on me,
وَاهْدِنِىْ سَبِيْلَكَ الْاَقْوَمَ
guide me to Your straightest path,
وَ قِنِىْ حَرَّ جَهَنَّمَ
guard me against the heat of Hellfire,
وَاحْطُطْ عَنِّى الْمَغْرَمَ وَ الْمَاْثَمَ
release me from debts and sinning,
وَاجْعَلْنِىْ مِنْ خِيَارِ الْعَالَمِ۔
and make me of the best creatures.
