Twenty-first: Sayyid Ibn Tawus, through a valid chain of authority, has reported the following incident from Jamil ibn Darraj:
A man visited Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) and said, “My master, I have become old aged, my relatives have all died, and I fear lest death will come upon me while I have no one to entertain me and to whom I may refer.”
The Imam (a.s.) answered, “Some of your brothers-in-faith are closer to you than relatives and you can find with them entertainment more pleasant that that which you may find with your relatives. However, if you wish that you and your relatives will live longer, you must say the following supplicatory prayer after each ritual prayer:
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَاٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
O Allah, (please) send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنَّ رَسُوْلَكَ الصَّادِقَ الْمُصَدَّقَ
O Allah, Your veracious and most-believed Messenger,
صَلَوَاتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ
Your blessings be upon him and his Household,
قَالَ اِنَّكَ قُلْتَ
has said that You say,
مَا تَرَدَّدْتُ فِىْ شَىْءٍ اَ نَا فَاعِلُهُ
“I have never hesitated about any thing I intend to do
كَتَرَدُّدِىْ فِى قَبْضِ رُوْحِ عَبْدِىَ الْمُؤْمِنِ
more than My hesitation in grasping the soul of My faithful servant;
يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَاَكْرَهُ مَسَاۤئَتَهُ
he hates death and I hate to upset him.”
اَللّٰهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَاٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
So, O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,
وَعَجِّلْ لِوَلِيِّكَ الْفَرَجَ
hasten relief,
وَالْعَافِيَةَ وَالنَّصْرَ
wellbeing, and victory for Your Representative,
وَلَا تَسُؤْنِىْ فِىْ نَفْسِىْ
and never upset me in myself
وَلَا فِىْ اَحَدٍ مِنْ اَحِبَّتِىْ۔
or in anyone I love.
If you wish, you may mention the persons you love by names.”
The old man thereafter said, “By Allah I take the oath, I lived for such a long time until I became bored of life.”
This ultimately considerable supplicatory prayer is mentioned in all books of supplications.
