‘Allamah al-Majlisi has quoted some considerable books to have mentioned that Muhammad ibn Baabwayh reported this supplication of Seeking Intercession (Dua al-tawassul) from the Holy Imams (a.s.). Commenting, he added, “Whenever I said this supplication for any matter, I could find the traces of response immediately.” The supplication is as follows:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّىْ اَسْئَلُكَ وَاَتَوَجَّهُ اِلَيْكَ
O Allah, I beseech You and turn my face toward You
بِنَبِيِّكَ نَبِىِّ الرَّحْمَةِ
in the name of Your Prophet; the Prophet of Mercy,
مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهِ
Muhammad—may Allah send blessings to him and his Household.
يَا اَبَاالْقَاسِمِ
O Abu’l-Qasim!
يَا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ
O Allah’s Messenger!
يَا اِمامَ الرَّحْمَةِ
O Chief of Mercy!
يَا سَيِّدَنَا وَمَوْلٰنَا
O our master and chief!
اِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا وَاسْتَشْفَعْنَا
We are turning our faces toward you, seeking your intercession
وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكَ اِلَى اللهِ
and your advocacy for us before Allah;
وَقَدَّمْنَاكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ حَاجَاتِنَا
and we are presenting you [as our intermediary] for the settlement of our needs.
يَا وَجِيْهًا عِنْدَ اللهِ
O well-esteemed with Allah,
اِشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ۔
intercede for us before Allah.
يَا اَبَا الْحَسَنِ
O Abu’l-Hasan!
يَا اَمِيْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ
O commander of the Believers!
يَا عَلِىَّ بْنَ اَبِيْ طَالِبٍ
O 'Ali, son of Abu-Talib!
يَا حُجَّةَ اللهِ عَلٰى خَلْقِهِ
O Allah’s Argument against His creatures!
يَا سَيِّدَنَا وَمَوْلٰنَا
O our master and chief!
اِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا وَاسْتَشْفَعْنَا
We are turning our faces toward you, seeking your intercession
وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكَ اِلَى اللهِ
and your advocacy for us before Allah;
وَقَدَّمْنَاكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ حَاجَاتِنَا
and we are presenting you [as our intermediary] for the settlement of our needs.
يَا وَجِيْهًا عِنْدَ اللهِ
O well-esteemed with Allah,
اِشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ۔
intercede for us before Allah.
يَا فَاطِمَةَ الزَّهْرَاۤءُ
O Fatimah, the Luminous Lady!
يَا بِنْتَ مُحَمَّدٍ
O daughter of Muhammad!
يَا قُرَّةَ عَيْنِ الرَّسُوْلِ
O delight of the Messenger’s eyes!
يَا سَيِّدَتَنَا وَمَوْلَاتَنَا
O our chief!
اِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا وَاسْتَشْفَعْنَا
We are turning our faces toward you, seeking your intercession
وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكِ اِلَى اللهِ
and your advocacy for us before Allah;
وَقَدَّمْنَاكِ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ حَاجَاتِنَا
and we are presenting you [as our intermediary] for the settlement of our needs.
يَا وَجِيْهَةً عِنْدَ اللهِ
O well-esteemed with Allah,
اِشْفَعِىْ لَنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ۔
intercede for us before Allah.
يَا اَبا مُحَمَّدٍ
O Abu-Muhammad!
يَا حَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ
O Hasan the son of 'Ail!
اَيُّهَا الْمُجْتَبٰى
O well-Chosen one!
يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ اللهِ
O son of Allah’s Messenger!
يَا حُجَّةَ اللهِ عَلٰى خَلْقِهِ
O Allah’s Argument against His creatures!
يَا سَيِّدَنَا وَمَوْلٰنَا
O our master and chief!
اِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا وَاسْتَشْفَعْنَا
we are turning our faces toward you, seeking your intercession
وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكَ اِلَى اللهِ
and your advocacy for us before Allah;
وَقَدَّمْنَاكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ حَاجَاتِنَا
and we are presenting you [as our intermediary] for the settlement of our needs.
يَا وَجِيْهًا عِنْدَ اللهِ
O well-esteemed with Allah,
اِشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ
intercede for us before Allah.
يَا اَبا عَبْدِاللهِ
O Abu-'Abdullah!
يَا حُسَيْنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ
O Husayn the son of 'Ail!
اَيُّهَا الشَّهِيْدُ
O Martyr!
يَا بْنَ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ
O son of Allah’s Messenger!
يَا حُجَّةَ اللهِ عَلٰى خَلْقِهِ
O Allah’s Argument against His creatures!
يَا سَيِّدَنَا وَمَوْلٰنَا
O our master and chief!
اِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا وَاسْتَشْفَعْنَا
we are turning our faces toward you, seeking your intercession
وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكَ اِلَى اللهِ
and your advocacy for us before Allah;
وَقَدَّمْنَاكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ حَاجَاتِنَا
and we are presenting you [as our intermediary] for the settlement of our needs.
يَا وَجِيْهًا عِنْدَ اللهِ
O well-esteemed with Allah,
اِشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ۔
intercede for us before Allah.
يَاۤ اَبَا الْحَسَنِ
O Abu’l-Hasan!
يَا عَلِىَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ
O 'Ali the son of al-Husayn!
يَا زَيْنَ الْعَابِدِيْنَ
O Ornament of the Worshippers!
يَا بْنَ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ
O son of Allah’s Messenger!
يَا حُجَّةَ اللهِ عَلٰى خَلْقِهِ
O Allah’s Argument against His creatures!
يَا سَيِّدَنَا وَمَوْلٰنَا
O our master and chief!
اِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا وَاسْتَشْفَعْنَا
we are turning our faces toward you, seeking your intercession
وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكَ اِلَى اللهِ
and your advocacy for us before Allah;
وَقَدَّمْنَاكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ حَاجَاتِنَا
and we are presenting you [as our intermediary] for the settlement of our needs.
يَا وَجِيْهًا عِنْدَ اللهِ
O well-esteemed with Allah,
اِشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ۔
intercede for us before Allah.
يَا اَبا جَعْفَرٍ
0 Abu-Ja'far!
يَا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ
O Muhammad the son of 'Ali!
اَيُّهَا الْبَاقِرُ
O Cleaver [of knowledge]!
يَا بْنَ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ
O son of Allah’s Messenger!
يَا حُجَّةَ اللهِ عَلٰى خَلْقِهِ
O Allah’s Argument against His creatures!
يَا سَيِّدَنَا وَمَوْلٰنَا
O our master and chief!
اِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا وَاسْتَشْفَعْنَا
we are turning our faces toward you, seeking your intercession
وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكَ اِلَى اللهِ
and your advocacy for us before Allah;
وَقَدَّمْنَاكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ حَاجَاتِنَا
and we are presenting you [as our intermediary] for the settlement of our needs.
يَا وَجِيْهًا عِنْدَ اللهِ
O well-esteemed with Allah,
اِشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ۔
intercede for us before Allah.
يَا اَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ
O Abu-'Abdullah!
يَا جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ
O Ja'far the son of Muhammad!
اَيُّهَا الصَّادِقُ
O Veracious!
يَا بْنَ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ
O son of Allah’s Messenger!
يَا حُجَّةَ اللهِ عَلٰى خَلْقِهِ
O Allah’s Argument against His creatures!
يَا سَيِّدَنَا وَمَوْلٰنَا
O our master and chief!
اِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا وَاسْتَشْفَعْنَا
we are turning our faces toward you, seeking your intercession
وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكَ اِلَى اللهِ
and your advocacy for us before Allah;
وَقَدَّمْنَاكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ حَاجَاتِنَا
and we are presenting you [as our intermediary] for the settlement of our needs.
يَا وَجِيْهًا عِنْدَ اللهِ
O well-esteemed with Allah,
اِشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ،
intercede for us before Allah.
يَا اَبَا الْحَسَنِ
O Abu’l-Hasan!
يَا مُوْسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ
O Musa the son of Ja'far!
اَيُّهَا الْكَاظِمُ
O Suppressor [of rage]!
يَا بْنَ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ
O son of Allah’s Messenger!
يَا حُجَّةَ اللهِ عَلٰى خَلْقِهِ
O Allah’s Argument against His creatures!
يَا سَيِّدَنَا وَمَوْلٰنَا
O our master and chief!
اِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا وَاسْتَشْفَعْنَا
we are turning our faces toward you, seeking your intercession
وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكَ اِلَى اللهِ
and your advocacy for us before Allah;
وَقَدَّمْنَاكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ حَاجَاتِنَا
and we are presenting you [as our intermediary] for the settlement of our needs.
يَا وَجِيْهًا عِنْدَ اللهِ
O well-esteemed with Allah,
اِشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ،
intercede for us before Allah.
يَا اَبَا الْحَسَنِ
O Abu’l-Hasan!
يَا عَلِىَّ بْنَ مُوْسٰى
O 'Ali the son of Musa!
اَيُّهَا الرِّضَا
O Amicable!
يَا بْنَ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ
O son of Allah’s Messenger!
يَا حُجَّةَ اللهِ عَلٰى خَلْقِهِ
O Allah’s Argument against His creatures!
يَا سَيِّدَنَا وَمَوْلٰنَا
O our master and chief!
اِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا وَاسْتشْفَعْنَا
we are turning our faces toward you, seeking your intercession
وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكَ اِلَى اللهِ
and your advocacy for us before Allah;
وَقَدَّمْنَاكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ حَاجَاتِنَا
and we are presenting you [as our intermediary] for the settlement of our needs.
يَا وَجِيْهًا عِنْدَ اللهِ
O well-esteemed with Allah,
اِشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ
intercede for us before Allah.
يَا اَبَا جَعْفَرٍ
O Abu-Ja'far!
يَا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ
O Muhammad the son of 'Ali!
اَيُّهَا التَّقِىُّ الْجَوَادُ
O pious and magnanimous!
يَا بْنَ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ
O son of Allah’s Messenger!
يَا حُجَّةَ اللهِ عَلٰى خَلْقِهِ
O Allah’s Argument against His creatures!
يَا سَيِّدَنَا وَمَوْلٰنَا
O our master and chief!
اِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا وَاسْتَشْفَعْنَا
we are turning our faces toward you, seeking your intercession
وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكَ اِلَى اللهِ
and your advocacy for us before Allah;
وَقَدَّمْنَاكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ حَاجَاتِنَا
and we are presenting you [as our intermediary] for the settlement of our needs.
يَا وَجِيْهًا عِنْدَ اللهِ
O well-esteemed with Allah,
اِشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ
intercede for us before Allah.
يَا اَبَا الْحَسَنِ
O Abu’l-Hasan!
يَا عَلِىَّ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ
O 'Ali the son of Muhammad!
اَيُّهَا الْهَادِى النَّقِىُّ
O guide and pure!
يَا بْنَ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ
O son of Allah’s Messenger!
يَا حُجَّةَ اللهِ عَلٰى خَلْقِهِ
O Allah’s Argument against His creatures!
يَا سَيِّدَنَا وَمَوْلٰنَا
O our master and chief!
اِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا وَاسْتَشْفَعْنَا
we are turning our faces toward you, seeking your intercession
وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكَ اِلَى اللهِ
and your advocacy for us before Allah;
وَقَدَّمْنَاكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ حَاجَاتِنَا
and we are presenting you [as our intermediary] for the settlement of our needs.
يَا وَجِيْهًا عِنْدَ اللهِ
O well-esteemed with Allah,
اِشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ
intercede for us before Allah.
يَا اَبا مُحَمَّدٍ
O Abu-Muhammad!
يَا حَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ
O Hasan the son of 'Ali!
اَيُّهَا الزَّكِىُّ الْعَسْكَرِىُّ
O immaculate resident of 'Askar [city]!
يَا بْنَ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ
O son of Allah’s Messenger!
يَا حُجَّةَ اللهِ عَلٰى خَلْقِهِ
O Allah’s Argument against His creatures!
يَا سَيِّدَنَا وَمَوْلٰنَا
O our master and chief!
اِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا وَاسْتَشْفَعْنَا
we are turning our faces toward you, seeking your intercession
وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكَ اِلَى اللهِ
and your advocacy for us before Allah;
وَقَدَّمْنَاكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ حَاجَاتِنَا
and we are presenting you [as our intermediary] for the settlement of our needs.
يَا وَجِيْهًا عِنْدَ اللهِ
O well-esteemed with Allah,
اِشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ
intercede for us before Allah.
يَا وَصِىَّ الْحَسَنِ
O successor of al-Hasan!
وَالْخَلَفَ الْحُجَّةَ
O descendant [of the Infallibles] and Argument [of Allah]!
اَيُّهَا الْقَاۤئِمُ الْمُنْتَظَرُ الْمَهْدِىُّ
O Riser, Awaited, and Well-guided!
يَا بْنَ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ
O son of Allah’s Messenger!
يَا حُجَّةَ اللهِ عَلٰى خَلْقِهِ
O Allah’s Argument against His creatures!
يَا سَيِّدَنَا وَمَوْلٰنَا
O our master and chief!
اِنَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا وَاسْتَشْفَعْنَا
we are turning our faces toward you, seeking your intercession
وَتَوَسَّلْنَا بِكَ اِلَى اللهِ
and your advocacy for us before Allah;
وَقَدَّمْنَاكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ حَاجَاتِنَا
and we are presenting you [as our intermediary] for the settlement of our needs.
يَا وَجِيْهًا عِنْدَ اللهِ
O well-esteemed with Allah,
اِشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ
intercede for us before Allah.
You may now beseech Almighty Allah to grant your needs, and they will be settled, if Allah permits. According to another narration, you may say the following words thereafter:
يَا سَادَتِىْ وَمَوَالِىَّ
O my chiefs and masters!
اِنِّىْ تَوَجَّهْتُ بِكُمْ
I am turning my face toward Allah in the names of you [all],
اَئِمَّتِىْ وَعُدَّتِىْ
for you are my leaders and my supporters
لِيَوْمِ فَقْرِىْ وَحَاجَتِىْ
on the day of my destitution and neediness
وَتَوَسَّلْتُ بِكُمْ اِلَى اللهِ
I am seeking your advocacy for me before Allah
وَاسْتَشْفَعْتُ بِكُمْ اِلَى اللهِ
and seeking your intercession for me before Allah;
فَاشْفَعُوْا لِىْ عِنْدَ اللهِ
so, (please) intercede for me before Allah
وَاسْتَنْقِذُوْنِىْ مِنْ ذُنُوْبِىْ عِنْدَ اللهِ
and save me from my sins before Allah,
فَاِنَّكُمْ وَسِيْلَتِىْ اِلَى اللهِ
for you are my means to Allah
وَبِحُبِّكُمْ وَبِقُرْبِكُمْ اَرْجُوْ نَجَاةً مِنَ اللهِ
and through my love for you and my seeking nearness to you do I hope for salvation from Allah.
فَكُوْنُوْا عِنْدَ اللهِ رَجَاۤئِىْ
So, be my hope before Allah.
يَا سَادَتِىْ يَا اَوْلِيَاۤءَ اللهِ
O my masters! O Allah’s intimate servants!
صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِمْ اَجْمَعِيْنَ
May Allah bless you all
وَلَعَنَ اللهُ اَعْدَاۤءَ اللهِ ظَالِمِيْهِمْ
and may Allah curse the enemies of Allah; those who wronged you,
مِنَ الْاَوَّلِيْنَ وَالْاٰخِرِيْنَ
from the past and the last generations.
اٰمِيْنَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ۔
Respond to us, O Lord of the Worlds!
