Introduction

TheinspirationandoutlineforthisbookcomesfromtheMiftāhal-FalāhoftherenownedscholarShaykhBahāad-DinMuhammadb.al-Husaynal-Hārithīal-‘Āmilī(d.1030AH).

ItscontenthoweverdrawsfromseveralrelatedsourcesbesidestheMiftāhal-Falāh,includingtheFalāhas-Sā’ilofSayyidIbnTāwus,theMafātehal-Jinān(anditsappendixBāqiyātal-Sālihāt)ofShaykh‘Abbāsal-QummeandtheCommentary(sharh)ofMiftāhal-Falāhby‘Allāmahal-Khawājue–maytheAlmightysanctifytheirsoulsandfilltheirgraveswithdivinelight(nur).

FollowingtheoutlineoftheMiftāhal-Falāh1therefore,thisworkwillinshāAllāhbedividedintosix‘Books’:

1. ActsofDevotiontoPerformfromBedtimetoLateNight

2. ActsofDevotiontoPerformfromLateNighttoDawn

3. ActsofDevotiontoPerformfromDawntoSunrise

4. ActsofDevotiontoPerformfromSunrisetoNoon

5. ActsofDevotiontoPerformfromNoontoSunset

6. ActsofDevotiontoPerformfromSunsettoBedtime

BesidestheActsofDevotion(‘amāl),whereappropriateandnecessarytheIslamicetiquette(ādāb)relatedtowhatisusuallypracticedatcertaintimesofthedayornightisalsodescribed,suchastheetiquetteofsleeping,wakingup,usingthewashroom,eating,dressingandsoon.

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1ThesequenceinMiftāhal-Falāhstartswiththe‘ActsofDevotionfromDawntoSunrise’asitsfirstchapter.Wehavestartedwiththe‘ActsofDevotionfromBedtime’becauseinourexperience,itisaneasiersequencetofollowifoneisattemptingtoperformalltheactsofdevotionswithinonecompletedaywhilstfasting.

Eachofthesebooksismadeupofseveralchapters.Thereisoneprimarychapterthatsummarizestheactsofdevotiontobeperformedbetweenthetwospecifiedperiodsrelatedtothebook.Theotherchaptersdiscussmattersthateitherrequireindividualandmoredetailedtreatment,oractsofdevotionforspecificneedsbutnotnecessarilytobeperformedeveryday.Thisisself-explanatoryonceyoureviewthechaptersofthisbook.

Besidesattemptingtopracticewhateverisprescribedinthisworkonadailybasis,itisourpersonalrecommendationtothoseseekinghigherspiritualstatesthattheyoccasionallysetasideawholedayandfastforthepleasureoftheAlmightywhilstattemptingtoperformallthedailyactsofdevotionsinBooksOnetoSix.

Wehavechosentoprinteachofthesesixperiods(inacompletedayandnight)asaseparatebook,sothatitismorepracticaltouse.BookOneforexample,canbekeptbyone’sbedsidewhileotherbooksmaybekeptwithone’sprayermatoratwork,andsoon.Furthermore,wehaveformattedthesebooksintheA5papersizesoastomakeithandyandeasytocarryaroundanduse.

Inconclusion,weseekrefugewiththeAlmightyfromanytracesofself-worth(‘ujb),ostentation(riyā)orpride(kibr)andbegHimtooverlookanylackofsincerityinthecompilationofthiswork,sothatbytheblessingsofHisMessengerMuhammad(¥)andtheHousehold(Ahlal-Bayt)(‘a)ofMuhammad(¥),thisworkmaybecomeasourceofshadeforusontheDaywhenthereisnoshadeexceptHis.Amen.

ChapterOne-SleepinIslam

Know,mydear,thatsleepisablessingoftheAlmightyLordandagreatsignofHis(s.w.t.).ItisablessingbecauseHehassaid,‘andWemadeyoursleepameansofrest.’2Thuswhenyourbodywearies,sleepgivesitreliefandallowsittore-energize.Soimportantisthisblessing,thatonewhoisdeprivedofitistormentedandseeksmedicationtofallasleep.

InthewordsofAmeral-Mu’minen‘Aleb.AbuTalib(‘a),‘sleepisarestfrompain...’3andImamal-Sādiq(‘a)isreportedtohavesaid,‘sleepgivesresttothebodyjustasspeechgivespeacetothesoulandsilencegivesresttotheintellect.’4

Knowalso,thatsleepisagreatsignofAllāh(s.w.t.)becauseitrevealsyourweaknessbeforeHim.ForHepraisesHimselfsaying,‘neitherdrowsinessbefallsHimnorsleep...HisseatembracestheheavensandtheearthandHeisnotweariedbytheirpreservation...’5Sowhereasyoutireafterbeingconsciousfortwo-thirdsofthedayandareasleepforone-thirdofyourlifeinthisworld,HeneithertiresnordoesHesleep;andneitherdoesslumberovertakeHim;youareunderHisconstantwatch.SolearntoentrustyouraffairstoHimandbeatrest!

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2Sarahan-Nabā,78:9

3Ghuraral-Hikam,h.1461

4Al-Faqeh,4/402h.5865

5Sarahal-Baqarah,2:255

TheImportanceofPreparingforSleep

Muchasyoufeardeath,sleepisnothingbutthesame.Thereforeletyourconcernatthetimeofsleepbethesameasyourconcernforwhatyouwouldnotleaveundoneatdeath.Ifyouhavehurtanothersoul,thenseekitsforgivenessbeforeyousleepjustasyouwoulddothatbeforeyoudie.PleadyourLordfortheforgivenessofyoursinsbeforeyoufallasleepjustasyouwouldifyouknewyouweredying.

SleepisnodifferentfromdyingbecausetheAlmightyLordtakesyoursoulwhenyousleepasHehassaid,‘Allāhtakesthesoulsatthetimeofdeath,andthosewhohavenotdiedintheirsleep.ThenHeretainsthoseforwhomHehasordaineddeathandreleasestheothersuntilaspecifiedtime...’6Sleephasthereforebeencalled‘thebrotherofdeath’.

Ofyourconcernswhenyousleep,letoneofthembethatyoudonotsleepexcessivelynorsleepallnightwithoutrisingtoworshipyourLord,evenifitbejustforaprostrationofthanksgiving.ForHehaspraisedthosewhoaresuch,saying,‘Theyusedtosleeplittleduringthenight,andatdawnstheywouldpleadforforgiveness.’7AndindescribingtherewardofthosewhoabandontheirbedsatnightandforgothepleasureofsleeptoworshiptheirLord,Hesaid,‘TheirsidesvacatetheirbedstosupplicatetheirLordinfearandhope...nooneknowswhathasbeenkepthiddenforthemofcomfortasarewardforwhattheyusedtodo.’8

AndtheMessengerofAllāh(l)warnedthatonewhosleepsexcessivelywillbeleftpoorandinneedontheDayofResurrection.9Thisisbecauseonewhoisfaithful(amu’min)doesnotwastetimeinplayandfrivolitieswhenawakeandthereforethetimespentinsleepistimelostfromworshipandworkingfortheHereafter.SleepmustthereforebeameanstoregainstrengthtoworshiptheLordandworkfortheHereafter.Itsbenefitsincludethedreamsthatguideonetohigherrealmsofspirituality,thoughitmustnotbecomeanaddiction.

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6Sarahaz-Zumar,39:42

7Sarahadh-Dhāriyāt,51:17-18

8Sarahas-Sajdah,32:16-17

9Al-Ikhtilāl,218

ItisreportedfrombothImāmal-Sādiq(‘a)andImāmal-Kā¨im(‘a)thatAllāhdislikesonewhoisexcessiveinidlenessorsleep.10

Asfortherisingofthesoultotheheavensduringsleep,knowthatAm¢ral-Mu’minen‘Aleb.AbeTalib(‘a)hascautionedafaithful(mu’min)fromsleepinginthestateofritualimpurity(janābah)andhasinsistedthathemustsleepinpurity(§ahārah)evenifitbewithtayammum(whenwaterisnottobefoundforwu¤£)becausethesoulofafaithfultravelstowardsAllāh,theMostHigh,duringsleepwhereitmeetsHimandHeblessesit.Thenifitstimeofdeathhasarrived,HeretainsitinHisMercy(rahmah)andifitstimetodieisyettocome,HereturnsittothebodyescortedwithagroupofHisclosestangels.11ThesamehasalsobeenreportedfromIm¡mMuhammadal-Bāqir,peacebeonhim.12

SoifyouknowyourselftobeasincereShi’ahoftheHousehold(Ahlal-Bayt)ofAllāh’sMessenger(s)–notjustinwordsbutinpracticeaswell–thenknowalsoyourtrueworth!FortheMessengerofAllāh(s)saidtoAmeral-Mu’minen(‘a),‘O‘Ale!ThesoulsofyourSh¢’ahascendtotheheavensintheirsleepand(also)whentheydie.Thentheangelsgazeatthemlikepeoplegazeatthenewmoon(hilāl),yearningtowardsthembecauseofwhattheyseeoftheirstatusbeforeAllāh,theMighty&Glorious.’13

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10Al-Kāfe,5/84h.1-2

11‘Ilalash-Sharā’i,1/295

12Al-Kāfe,8/213/259

13Sadiq,Āmāli,2/452

TheEtiquetteofSleep

TheEtiquetteofsleeparemanybutwementionsevenhere:

Firstly,thatyousleepincleanliness.ForitisreportedfromtheMessengerofAllāh(s)thatonewhosleepswithdirtyhandswillbebotheredbythedevil(shay§ān)andthatchildrentooshouldbewashedfromdirtlestthedevilsmellsthatandseekstofrightenthechildrenintheirsleep.Aswell,thetwoangelswhoconstantlyaccompanyeachpersonasnoblescribes(recordingtheperson’sdeeds)arebotheredwhenapersonsleepsdirty.14

Secondly,thatyouemptyyourbowelsbeforegoingtobed.ForitisreportedfromAmeral-Mu’minen(‘a)thathesaidtohissonal-Hasan(‘a),‘shallIteachyoufourhabitsthatwillensureyouneverneedmedication?’‘Indeed,Ameral-Mu’minen,’repliedImāmal-Hasan(‘a).AndImām‘Ale(‘a)explained,‘donoteatexceptwhenyouarehungry.Stopeatingwhileyoustilldesiremore.Chewyourfoodproperly.Andwhenyousleep(thenusethewashroomand)emptyyourselfofallwaste.Ifyouactonthesefour,youwillneverneedmedication.’15

Thirdly,thatyousleepinthestateofritualpurityi.e.withwu¤£.ItisreportedfromtheMessengerofAllāh(s)thatonewhosleepswithwu¤£,shouldhediethatnight,willbeamartyr(shahed)beforeAllāh.16AnditisreportedfromImāmal-Sādiq(‘a)thatonewhopurifieshimselfandthensleeps,hesleepswhilehisbedislikeamasjid17i.e.hesleepsinworshipallnight.

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14Sadiq,Āmāli,1/345;‘Uy£nAkhbārar-Ri¤ā(‘a),2/69/320

15Al-Khisāl,67/229

16Bihār,76/183/7

17Thawābal-A’māl,1/35

SoimportantisthisthatitisreportedfromImāmal-Sādiq(‘a)thatifoneisalreadyinbedandrememberstheyforgottoperformwu¤£,thenletthemperformtayammumontheirblanketbeforesleepingsothattheytoowillbelikeonewhowasinprayer('alāh)andintheremembrance(dhikr)ofAllāh,theMightyandGlorious,unceasinglyallnight.18

Andourscholars(‘ulama)–mayAllāhsanctifytheirsouls-havethereforeconfirmedthatonewhoisunabletousewaterispermittedtoperformtayammumforsleep.19

TheMessengerofAllāh(s)onceaskedhiscompanions,‘whoamongstyoufastseveryday?’andSalmānreplied,‘Ido,OMessengerofAllāh.’Thenheasked,‘whoamongstyouisupallnightinworship?’andagainSalmānreplied,‘Iam,OMessengerofAllāh.’‘AndwhoamongstyourecitestheentireQur ’āneveryday?’askedRasulAllāh(')andonceagainSalmānreplied,‘IdoOMessengerofAllāh.’

WhenSalmānleft,therestofthecompanionswerefuriousandcomplainedtotheMessengerofAllāh(s)ofSalmān’sboastingwrongfullywhiletheyknewhimtoeatduringtheday,sleepduringthenightandnotrecitetheQur ’ānallday.

‘Desist,’saidtheMessengerofAllāh(s),likeningSalmāntoLuqmāntheWise.‘Goaskhimfirstandlethimexplain.’Sowhentheycametohimdemandinganexplanation,Salmān,mayAllāh’sblessingsbeonhim,replied,‘IfastthreedayseverymonthandAllāhhassaid,‘onewhocomeswithagooddeed,shallhavetentimesitsreward’20andthereforeIfastthirtydays.AndIalsojoinmyfastsinthemonthofSha’bāntothemonthofRamadānandonewhodoesthisislikeonehasfastedallhislife.’

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18Al-Faqeh,1/64/469¦.1353;Bi¦ār,76/182/6

19TheonlyexceptionisSayyidad-D¡m¡dwhosaidthatforsleep,tayammumispreferredinsteadofwudubutthefirstopinionismorereliableaccordingtoShaykhBahāad-Dinal-‘Amile(Miftāhal-Falāh).

20Sarahal-An’ām,6:160

‘Asforworshippingallnight,’continuedSalmān,‘Ihaveheardmybeloved,theMessengerofAllāh(s),sayonewhosleepswithwuduislikeonewhohasbeenupallnightinworshipandsoIsleepafterpurifyingmyself.

AndasforrecitingtheentireQur ’āneveryday,Ihaveheardmybeloved,theMessengerofAllāh(s)sayingto‘Ale(‘a),‘OAba‘l-Hasan!YourexampleinmyUmmahislikethatof(surah)QulHuwaAllāhua¦ad.Onewhorecitesitoncehasrecitedone-thirdoftheQur ’ān;onewhorecitesittwicehasrecitedtwo-thirdsoftheQur ’ān;andonewhorecitesitthricehasrecitedtheentireQur ’ān.Likewise,onewholovesyouwithhisspeechisone-thirdcompleteinhisfaith(¢mān);onewholovesyouinhisspeechandinhisheartistwo-thirdscompleteinhisfaith(¢mān);andonewholovesyouinspeechandintheheartandalsohelpsyouwithhisactionsthenhisfaith(¢mān)iscomplete.IswearbyHimwhosentme,O‘Ale,ifthepeopleoftheearthlovedyouliketheloveofthepeopleoftheheavensforyou,noonewouldeverbechastisedwiththeFire.’

‘Andso,’concludedSalmān,‘IreciteQulHuwaAllāhuAhadthriceeveryday.’Thosewhochallengedhimstoodupandleftdumbfoundedasiftheyhad‘swallowedastone’i.e.speechless.21

Thefourthetiquettebeforesleepingistoengageinmuh¡sabahi.e.self-accounting,asisreportedfromImāmal-Sādiq(‘a)thathesaid,‘whenyoucometoyourbed,thenreflectonwhatyouputinyourbellyandwhatyouearnedthatday.Andrecallthatyouwilldieonedayandthatyoushallhavearesurrection(toaccountforallthis).’22

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21Ma’ānial-Akhbār,1/234;Sadiq,ªm¡li,37¦.5

22Bihār,76/190/21

Thefifthistorecitetherecommendedchapters(suwar)oftheQur ’ānandsupplications(ad’iyā)beforesleepasweshallinshāAllāhlistinthemainpart(ChapterTwo)ofthisbook.

Thesixthistosleeponone’sbackoronone’srightside.Thisisexplainedfurtherbelow.ItisalsoreportedfromImām‘Ali(‘a)thatnotonlyshouldonenotsleeponhisfacebutifyouseeanyonesleepingontheirface,thenwakethemupanddonotleavethemlikethat.23

Andtheseventhistorecitetheappropriatesupplications(ad’iyā)assoonasonewakesup.This,inshāAllāh,weshalldetailinthenextbookregardingtheActsofDevotiontobeperformedfromLateNighttoDawn,butwehavemadeabriefmentionofsomeoftheseinChapterTwoofthisBook.

HowtoReclineDuringSleep

Itisappropriatethatyourreclining(duringsleep)beonyourrightside,forthatisthesleep(position)ofthefaithful(mu’minīn).Inalahilhadith(verifiedtradition)fromMu¦ammadb.Muslim,hereportsfromImāmMuhammadal-Baqir(‘a)thattheImām(‘a)said,‘whenapersonsleepsonhisrightsidethenlethimrecite…’asifsleepingontherightsideisexpectedofthefaithful(mu’minin).(ThesupplicationwillbementionedlaterinChapterTwo.)ItisalsoreportedbyThiqatal-IslāmShaykhal-Kulayniinhisal-Kāfiwithasoundtransmission(sanadsahih)fromAhmadb.Ishāqwhosaid:

IsaidtoAbuMuhammad(al-Hasanal-‘Askari),peacebeonhim:‘mayIbeyourransom,Iamgrievedoversomethingthatafflictsmeandthatyourforefathers(peacebeonthem)wereaskedaboutbutitisnotfulfilledinme.’Sohe(theImām)said,‘andwhatisthatOAhmad?’‘Itisrelatedtous,’Isaid,‘fromyourforefathers(peacebeonthem)that:thesleepofprophetsisontheirbacks;thesleepofthefaithful(mu’minīn)isontheirrightside;thesleepofthehypocrites(munāfiqīn)isontheirleftsideandthesleepofdevils(shayātin)isontheirfaces.’

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23Al-Khisāl,140/613

‘Itislikethat,’theImām(‘a)confirmed.SoIsaid,‘master,IstruggletosleeponmyrightsidebutIamunabletodoso.’

He(theImām(‘a))remainedsilentforawhile.Thenhesaid,‘OAhmad,comeclosertome.’Iwentcloser.Hesaid,‘putyourhandunderyourshirt’andIdidso.Thenhetookouthishandfromunderhisshirtandherubbedwithhisrighthandonmyleftsideandwithhislefthandonmyrightside,threetimes.

Ahmadreports:Eversincehe,peacebeonhim,didthat,IamunabletosleeponmyleftsideandIsimplycannotfallasleeponit(i.e.myleftside).24

IbnTawusonEntrustingAllāhwhenyouSleep

SayyidIbnTawusinhisFalāhas-Sahil(chp.30)hascondemnedsleepingallnightasaformofpunishmentfromAllāhthatkeepsonesheedlessfromHisworship.WeshallinshaAllāhmentionhiswordsonthisinthenextbookconcerningtheActsofDevotionsfromLateNighttoDawn.

Butthereafter,SayyidIbnTawusgoesontosay:

Knowthatifyouintendtosleepbecauseofbeingovercomebyit,orbychoiceorwithaleaningtowardsit,thenknowthatsleep

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24Al-Kāfi,1/513-514,h.27

isthedeathofconsciousnessandthedemiseoflimbsfromtheestablishedlife.ForAllāhhassaidconcerningit:

ItisHewhotakesyoursoulsbynight,andHeknowswhatyoudobyday,thenHereanimatesyoutherein...

-Surahal-An’am,6:60

AndjustastheMightyandMagnificentLordhasmadesleepaformofdeath,Hehasmadeawakeningaformofresurrectionandlife.Youhaveknownthatonewhosleepsislikeonewhoisdeaf,dumb,blindandbedridden.OnewhoisasleepisalsolikeonewhohaslosttheuseofhisintellectandisnolongerusefulforwhathedoesinservicetohisMaster,theKnoweroftheUnseen.Itisasifwhenhesleepshehasforsakenhisfamily,hispropertyandwealthandallhisneeds,obliviousofwhathasbefallenthem.Henolongerhasthepowertopreservehimselforprotectanythingofimportancetohim.Evenifhehad

protectedthembehindlockeddoorsandwithguards,onceheisasleep,itispossibleforanythingtohappenagainstwhathewishedtoprotectandhewouldbepowerlesstodoanythingaboutit.

Sowhenyousleep,itisasifyouhavebeenafflictedfatallyandlostcontrolofeverythinguntilyouawakenandyouregainyourintellect,controlofyourlimbs,yoursight,hearingandspeech,toonceagainhavepower(oratleastperceivedpower)overwhatyoubelievetobeinyourcontrol.

ThereforerepentbeforeAllāh,openlyconfessingfromeveryshortcomingbeforefallingasleep.Andifyoursoul,intellectandheartisunabletorepentsincerelyduetoyourlackofrealizationofWhoyourever-watchfulMasteris,thenatleastseekofHismercy,generosityandpardon;forHe,theMightyandGlorious,isamostforbearing,compassionate,mercifulandlovingLord.Andifyoudonotevenseekpardon,asisthehabitofsinnersbeforeagreatKing,thenatleastsurrenderlikeaneedypauperandgiveupyourself,possessions,family,hopesandallyourneedstotheprotectionofthatMerciful,Compassionate,andGenerousLord,WhohaslongenduredyouraudacityandlackofmannersbeforeHim.

RealizealsoWhoyouareentrustingandbiddingfarewelltoasyoudriftintounconsciousness.Ihaveseeninareportthegistofwhichisthis:amansaid:IoncesawonthebackofafrogascorpionofastrangekindcrossingtheRiverNileinEgyptfromonesidetotheother.Whenitreachedtheotherside,thescorpiongotoffthefrog’sbackandIfolloweditsayingtomyself,“thereissomethingaboutthisscorpionthatIshouldwitness.”ThenIsawitcometothebaseofatreeandclimbituntilitcametoaboughofthetreefromwhichasnakewashangingjustabovethefaceofayoungmanwhowasasleepunderthetree.Thescorpionbitthetailofthesnakeandthesnakefelldowndead.IwasamazedatthatandIcametotheyouthandwokehimup,sayingtohim,“LookathowAllāhhassavedyou!”andIcomposedsomeversesonthissaying:

OonewhosleepswhiletheExaltedOneguardshim

fromwhatheencountersinthedarkestofnights!

HowdotheeyessleepfromaMaster

fromWhomcomestoyouthe(constant)benefitsofblessings!

KnowthatifyoushouldentrustsomethingtoAllāhandthenitistakenfromyouwhilstyouwereasleep,thenperhapsitisbecauseAllāhwishestoshowyouHissignsinhowHereturnsittoyou.ABedouinoncecametothegateofMasjidal-Haram(Makkah)andlefthiscameltheresayingsomethingwhosemeaningwas:‘OAllāh,thisisthecamelandwhatisonit,IentrustinYourcare.’ThenhewentinandwalkedaroundtheKa’bah,performingtheTawaf.Whenhecameout,thecamelwasgone.Sohestoodtherelamentingandsaidsomethingwhosegistwas:‘OLord,nothingwasstolenfromMeburratheritwasstolenfromYou.BecauseifIdidn’ttrustthatYouwillwatchformemycamelandmybaggage,Iwouldnothaveleftthem.’AndhekeptrepeatingwordslikethatwhilstthepeoplearoundwereamazedathisconversationwithAllāh,theMightyandGlorious.Justthenthecamelshowedupwithitsreinsinthehandsofamanwhoseotherhandwascut.

ThemansaidtotheBedouin:‘Takeyourcamel.Ithasbroughtmebadluck.’‘Whatisyourstory?’hewasaskedandhesaid,‘Iconcealeditbehindthemountainwhenariderdescendedfromthemountain–andIknewnotfromwherehecame–andhealarmedmeandcutmyhand,orderingmetoreturnthecamel.’

KnowthereforethatwheneveryouhaveentrustedsomethingtoAllāhthenlostit,youwill,withoutfail,finditagain.This,evenifitwasbecauseofasinthatyouhadlostitinthefirstplace.Hisprotectionwillalwaysoverwhelmthesinforwhichyouhadlostthethinginthefirstplace.

Intheyear627IwentforhajjandIhadentrustedtoAllāheverythingItookwithme.Mywhip,whichwastiedtothesaddleofmycamellitter,fellwhileweweretravellinginthenight.Whenwestoppedduringtheday,IrealizedIhadlostthewhip.SoIsaidtoan‘Alawifriendwhosenamewas‘Alib.az-Zaki,‘mywhipfelloff,helpmefindit.’Hewassurprisedatmysaying,‘helpmefindit’andsaid,‘howshallIfindawhipthatfellyesterdayintherushofourjourneytotheHajj?’

‘BecauseIhadentrustedeverythingthatwaswithmetoAllāh,theMightyandGlorious,andHewasprotectingitall,’Ireplied.Hedidnotagreewiththisandwentoffwithapitchertobeginservingwatertotheotherpilgrimsinthecaravan.Justthenhecamebackwiththewhipinhishand.‘Howdidyoufindit?’Iaskedandhesaid,‘Itwashangingbesidesaman’spossessionsandIsaidtohim,“thisisthewhipofso-and-sothathelostyesterdayduringthejourney.”“Yes,”saidtheman,“wefounditinthenightandsowecarriedit.Takeitandgiveitbacktohim.”’

TherearenumerousothersuchexamplesthatIwillrefrainfromgiving,outoffearofvexingyourpatience.

Note:HereendsthegistofthewordsofSayyidIbnTawusinhisFalahas-Sahil(chapter30).Theactsofdevotionsheprescribesatbedtimearecoveredinthenextchapter.

Shaykh‘Abbāsal-QummiontheEtiquetteofSleeping25

InhisBaqiyatas-Salihatt,theappendixtohisMafatihal-Jinan,Shaykh‘Abbāsal-Qumm¢hassaidconcerningtheetiquetteofsleeping:

Whenyouintendtoliedowntosleepthenyoushouldprepareforthepossiblearrivalofdeath:youshouldpurifyyourself(physicallybywudu)andrepentfromyoursins.Thenemptyyourheartfromallpreoccupationwiththeworldanditssorrowsandrecallyourdeathandyourlyingaloneinyourgravewithoutanyintimatefriendtogiveyoucompany.

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25Shaykh‘Abbāsal-Qummi,Bāqiyātas-Sālihāt,chp.1,section3,on“TheEtiquetteofSleeping”

Youshouldalsoplaceyourwillunderyourpillowandsleepwithadeterminationtoriseforthemidnightprayer(salātal-layl).FortheprideofthefaithfulandhisadornmentintheworldandtheHereafteristheprayerinthelasthoursofthenight.

Youshouldforsakesleepduringthedayandinparticularafter‘Asr.Andwhenyouarereadytosleepthenputoutthelampandsleepfacingtheqibla.Donotsleepontherooftopsthatarenotenclosedfromallsidesanddonotdisclosewhatyouseeinyoursleep(i.e.yourdreams)toeveryoneexcepttoonewhoislearned(‘āliman),asincereadvisor(nāsihan),andkindandcompassionate(raufan).

Note:HereendsthewordsofShaykh‘Abbāsal-Qummi.Theactsofdevotionsheprescribesatbedtimearecoveredinthenextchapter.

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26IncountriesliketheMiddle-Eastwheresummernightsareverywarm,itiscommonforpeoplewithoutair-conditioningtogouptotheterraceandsleepundertheopenskyseekingcoolerbreeze.

 

ChapterTwo-DailyActsofDevotionfromBedtimetoLateNight

Thisisthemainchapterinthisbookandthepurposeofourcompilingit.

VersesofQur’¡ntoRecitebeforeSleeping

Thefollowingsuwar(chapters)andayat(verses)ofQur ’¡nshouldbereciteddailyatbedtime.Ifonedoesnotknowthembyheartorfearsfallingasleepbeforecompletingthemthenitisfinetorecitethemsittinginbedbeforelyingdownandrecliningonone’srightside:

1. Surahal-Fātiha(chp.1)

Proof:ItisreportedfromImām‘Alial-H¡di(‘a)thathesaid,‘wetheAhlal-Bayt(‘a)havetenhabitswhenwesleep:as-sahirah(i.e.wudu),recliningontherightside,tasbih33times,tamhid33times,takbir34times,wefacetowardstheqibla,wereciteSurahal-Fatiha,Ayatal-Kursi,andShahidAllāhuAnnahuLāIlāhaillaHuwa(3:18)toitsend.Sowhoeverdoesthathasdonehisshareforthenight.’27SayyidIbnTawuscommentsonthishadithinhisbookFalāhas-Sā’il:‘Thisishowthetraditionisgiven.Thereportermentionstenhabits

butthenlistsonlynine.Perhapshe(thereporter)forgottomentionthetenthorhementionedsomeofthemonlywithoutgivingeverydetail.ThelatterisquitelikelythecasebecausethepracticeoftheAhlal-Bayt(‘a)isfarmorethantheseninementioned.Thereporterforexample,hasclearlyforgottentomentiontherecitationofQulHuwaAllāhuA¦adandInnāAnzalnāhu,whoseexcellenceshavebeenmentionedfromotherImāms.’28

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27Bihār,76/210,h.23;Mustadrakal-Wasā’il,v.5,p.116,h.5468

28IbnTāwus,Falāhas-Sā’il,chp.30

Method:

IntheNameofAllāh,theAll-beneficent,theAll-merciful.AllpraisebelongstoAllāh,Lordofalltheworlds,theAll-beneficent,theAll-merciful,MasteroftheDayofRetribution.You[alone]doweworship,andtoYou[alone]doweturnforhelp.Guideusonthestraightpath,thepathofthosewhomYouhaveblessed

—suchashavenotincurredYourwrath,norareastray.

-Surahal-Fātiha

2. SurahQulHuwaAllāhuA¦ad(chp.112).

AlsoknownasSurahal-IkhlasorS£rahat-Tawhid.Thisisalsorecommendedtoreciteeleventimesorahundredtimes,dependingonone’scapacity.

Proof:ItisrelatedfromImām‘Ali(‘a)thatifonerecitesQulHuwaAllāhuAhadwhenhegoestobedthenAllāh,theMightyandGlorious,appointsfifty

thousandangelstoprotecthimthatnight.29AbuUsāmareports,‘IheardImāmas-Sādiq(‘a)saying:“onewhorecitesQulHuwaAllāhuAhadahundredtimeswhenhegoestobed,Allāhwillforgivehimthefiftyyearsbeforethat.”’30ThesamehasalsobeenreportedfromtheMessengerofAllāh(s).31

_________________________________________________________________________________

29Al-Khisāl,631

30Al-Kafi,2/49/539¦.15

31Sadiq,Amāli,3/22

Method:

IntheNameofAllāh,theAll-beneficent,theAll-merciful.Say,‘HeisAllāh,theOne.AllāhistheAll-embracing.Heneitherbegat,norwasbegotten,norhas

Heanyequal.’

-Surahal-Ikhlās

3. Surahal-Jahd(chp.109)alsocalledSurahal-Kafirun.

Proof:‘AbdAllāhb.SinānreportsfromImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)thathesaid,‘ReciteQulHuwaAllāhuAhadandQulYāAyyuhalKāfirunwhenyousleepfortheyabsolveyoufrompolytheism(shirk).’32

Method:

IntheNameofAllāh,theAll-beneficent,theAll-merciful.Say,‘Ofaithlessones!Idonotworshipwhatyouworship,nordoyouworshipwhatIworship;norwillIworshipwhatyouhaveworshippednorwillyouworshipwhatI

worship.Toyouyourreligion,andtomemyreligion.’

-Surahal-Jahd

_______________________________________________________________________

32Al-Faqih,v.1h.1356

4. Surahal-Hukumat-Takathur(chp.102)alsoknownasSurahat-Takathur.

Proof:ItisreportedfromImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)thathesaid:theMessengerofAllāh(s)said:‘onewhorecites(surah)al-Hākumat-Takāthuratbedtimewillbeshieldedfromthetrialsofthegrave.’33

Method:

IntheNameofAllāh,theAll-beneficent,theAll-merciful.Rivalry[andvainglory]distractedyouuntilyouvisited[even]thegraves.Noindeed!Soonyouwillknow!Again,noindeed!Soonyouwillknow!Noindeed!Wereyoutoknowwithcertainknowledge,youwouldsurelyseehell.Again,youwillsurelyseeitwiththeeyeofcertainty.Then,thatday,youwillsurelybequestioned

concerningtheblessing.

-Surahat-Takāthur

5. SurahInnaAnzalnāhuFiLaylatal-Qadr(chp.97)toberecited11times.

Proof:ItisreportedfromAbuBasirfromAbu‘AbdAllāhImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a),‘ifonerecitesInnaAnzalnāhuFiLaylatal-Qadreleventimesatbedtime,Allāhappointsforhim(orher)elevenangelswhoprotecthim(orher)fromeverycurseddeviluntilhe(orshe)wakesupinthemorning.’34

Method:

IntheNameofAllāh,theAll-beneficent,theAll-merciful.IndeedWesentit(theQur’ān)downontheNightofOrdainment.WhatwillshowyouwhatistheNightofOrdainment?TheNightofOrdainmentisbetterthanathousand

months.InittheangelsandtheSpiritdescend,bytheleaveoftheirLord,witheverycommand.Itispeacefuluntiltherisingofthedawn.

-Surahal-Qadr

6. Ayatal-Kursi(2:255-257)

Proof:ItisrelatedfromImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)thattheMessengerofAllāh(s)usedtoreciteAyatal-Kursibeforeheslept.35Ayatal-KursiwasalsomentionedbyImām‘Alial-Hādi(‘a)intheproofgivenunderSurahal-Fātiha

above.

_____________________________________________________________________________

34Bihār,76/210,h.23;Mustadrakal-Wasā’il,4/292¦.4719;al-Baladal-Amin,p.33

35Al-Kāfi,2/49/536h.4

Method:

Allāh—thereisnogodexceptHim—istheLivingOne,theAll-sustainer.NeitherdrowsinessbefallsHimnorsleep.ToHimbelongswhateverisintheheavensandwhateverisontheearth.WhoisitthatmayintercedewithHimexceptwithHispermission?Heknowsthatwhichisbeforethemandthatwhichisbehindthem,andtheydonotcomprehendanythingofHisknowledgeexceptwhatHewishes.Hisseatembracestheheavensandtheearth,andHeisnotweariedbytheirpreservation,andHeistheAll-exalted,theAll-supreme.Thereisnocompulsioninreligion:rectitudehasbecomedistinctfromerror.SoonewhodisavowstheRebelsandhasfaithinAllāhhasheldfasttothefirmesthandleforwhichthereisnobreaking;andAllāhisall-hearing,all-knowing.AllāhistheGuardianofthefaithful:Hebringsthemoutofdarknessintolight.Asforthefaithless,theirpatronsaretheRebels,whodrivethemoutoflightintodarkness.TheyshallbetheinmatesoftheFire,andtheyshallremaininit

[forever].

-Surahal-Baqarah,2:255-257

7. Ayat“ShahidAllāhu…(3:18)

8. Ayatas-Sukhra(7:54-56)36

9. Ayatas-Sajdah(41:53-54)

Proof:ItisreportedfromImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)that,‘onewhorecites,whenhegoestosleep,Ayatal-Kursithriceandtheversein(S£rah)Aal-i-Imrān,“ShahidAllāhuAnnahuLāIlāhaIllaHuwaWalMalāika”andtheAyatas-SukhraandAyatas-Sajdahwillhavetwoangelsprotectinghimfromtherebelliousdevils(shayātin)andwillhavefromAllāhthirtyangelswhowillpraiseAllāh(i.e.dohamd),theMightyandGlorious,whowillglorifyHim(i.e.dotasbih,testifytoHisunicity(i.e.dotahlil),laudHim,andpleadAllāhforhisforgiveness(i.e.doistighfārforhim)untilthatpersonwakesupfromhissleepandtherewardofallthatwillbeforhim.’37TheAyah‘ShahidAllāhu…’wasalsomentionedbyImām‘Alial-Hādi(‘a)intheproofgivenforS£rahal-Fātihaabove.

Method:

_______________________________________________________________________________

36SomehavesaidtheverseofSakhraisonly7:54andothershavesaiditis7:54-56,sowehaveincludedallthreeverses.

37Al-Kāfi,2/49/539-540h.16

AllāhbearswitnessthatthereisnogodexceptHim—and[sodo]theangelsandthosewhopossessknowledge—maintainerofjustice,thereisnogodbut

Him,theAlmighty,theAll-wise.

-SurahAal-IImrān,3:18

Ayatas-Sukhra

IndeedyourLordisAllāh,whocreatedtheheavensandtheearthinsixdays,andthensettledontheThrone.Hedrawsthenight’scoverovertheday,whichpursuesitswiftly,and[Hecreated]thesun,themoon,andthestars,[allofthem]disposedbyHiscommand.Look!AllcreationandcommandbelongtoHim.BlessedisAllāh,theLordofalltheworlds.SupplicateyourLord,

beseechinglyandsecretly.IndeedHedoesnotlikethetransgressors.Anddonotcausecorruptionontheearthafteritsrestoration,andsupplicateHimwith

fearandhope:indeedAllāh’smercyisclosetothevirtuous.

-Surahal-A’rāf,7:54-56

Ayatas-Sajdah

SoonWeshallshowthemOursignsinthehorizonsandintheirownsoulsuntilitbecomescleartothemthatHeistheReal.38IsitnotsufficientthatyourLordiswitnesstoallthings?Look!TheyareindeedindoubtabouttheencounterwiththeirLord!Look!Heindeedcomprehendsallthings!

-SurahHāMimSajdah,41:53-54

10. ThelastAyahofSurahal-Kahf(18:110)

Proof:ItisreportedfromtheProphet(s)thatifonerecitesthelastverseofSurahal-Kahfwhenhesleeps,alight(nur)shinesfromhimtotheSacredMosque(masjidal-harām)andtheangelsfillthemselvesinthatlight,asking

(Allāh)forhisforgiveness:39

Method:

________________________________________________________________________

38Or‘untilitbecomescleartothemthatit[i.e.theQur ’an,orIslām](orhe)[i.e.theApostle]isthetruth.’

39At-Tahdhib,2/175,¦.699;al-Faqih,v.1¦.1355;‘Uddatad-Da’ip.282;Thawābal-A’mal,p.134h.1

Say,‘Iamjustahumanbeinglikeyou.IthasbeenrevealedtomethatyourGodistheOneGod.SowhoeverexpectstomeethisLord-lethimactrighteously,

andnotassociateanyonewiththeworshipofhisLord.’

-Surahal-Kahf,18:110

11. Surahal-Falaq(chp.113)andSurahan-Nās(chp.114)

12. ThefirsttenandthelasttenversesofSurahas-Sāffāt(37:1-10and37:173-182)

Proof:InhisadvicetoHishāmb.Sālim,ImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)askedhimtorecitetheTasbihaz-Zahrā(‘a)beforesleepingaswellastheAyatal-Kursi,

theMaw’udhatayn(Surahal-FalaqandSurahal-Nās)andthefirsttenandlasttenversesofSurahas-Sāffāt.40

Method:

IntheNameofAllāh,theAll-beneficent,theAll-merciful.Say,‘IseektheprotectionoftheLordofthedaybreakfromtheevilofwhatHehascreated,andfromtheevilofthedarknightwhenitsettles,andfromtheevilofthewitcheswhoblowonknots,andfromtheeviloftheenviousonewhenheenvies.’

-Surahal-Falaq

____________________________________________________________________

40Al-Kāfi,2/49/536h.6

IntheNameofAllāh,theAll-beneficent,theAll-merciful.Say,‘IseektheprotectionoftheLordofhumans,Sovereignofhumans,Godofhumans,fromtheevilofthesneakytempterwhoputstemptationsintothebreastsofhumans,

fromamongthejinnandhumans.’

-Surahan-Nās

FirstTenVersesofS£rah37

Bythe[angels]rangedinranks,bytheoneswhodrive[theclouds]vigorously,41bytheoneswhorecitethereminder:indeedyourGodiscertainlyOne,theLordoftheheavensandtheearthandwhateverisbetweenthem,andtheLordoftheeasts.IndeedWehaveadornedthelowestheavenwiththefineryofthestars,andtoguardfromanyfrowarddevil.TheydonoteavesdropontheSupernalElitebutareshotatfromeveryside,todrivethemaway,andforthemthereisaconstantmortification,excepthimwhosnatchesasnatch,whereat

therepursueshimapiercingflame.

-Surahas-Sāffāt,37:1-10

LastTenVersesofSurah37

AndindeedOurhostswillbethevictors.Soleavethemaloneforawhile,andwatchthem;soontheywillsee[thetruthofthematter].DotheyseektohastenOurpunishment?Butwhenitdescendsintheircourtyarditwillbeadismaldawnforthosewhohadbeenwarned.Soleavethemaloneforawhile,andwatch;soontheywillsee.ClearisyourLord,theLordofMight,ofwhatevertheyallege[concerningHim].Peacebetotheapostles!Allpraisebelongsto

Allāh,Lordofalltheworlds.

-Surahas-Sāffāt,37:173-182

____________________________________________________________________________

41Or‘bythosewhorestrainpreventively,’thatis,deterpeoplefromcommittingsins.

13. ThelastfourversesofSurahal-Hashr(59:21-24)

14. Áyah42ofSurahal-Anbiya(21:42)

15. ThelasttwoversesofSurahal-Baqarah(2:285-286)

Proof:TheesteemedscholarSayyidIbnTāwusinhisbookFalāhas-Sā’il(chapter30)writes:Foreverythingthatwehaveprescribedabove,thereisareliablereport(riwaya)onitsexcellence.Andtherearegreatbenefitsforrecitingallthesebutitwouldmakethebooktoolengthytoenumerateallthat.

Method:

LastFourVersesofS£rahal-Hashr

HadWesentdownthisQur’¡nuponamountain,youwouldhavesurelyseenithumbled[and]gotopieceswiththefearofAllāh.Wedrawsuchcomparisonsformankind,sothattheymayreflect.HeisAllāh—thereisnogodexceptHim—

KnowerofthesensibleandtheUnseen,HeistheAll-beneficent,theAll-merciful.HeisAllāh—thereisnogodexceptHim—theSovereign,theAll-holy,theAll-benign,theSecurer,theAll-conserver,theAll-mighty,theAll-compeller,theAll-magnanimous.ClearisAllāhofanypartnersthattheymayascribe[toHim]!HeisAllāh,theCreator,theMaker,theFormer.ToHimbelongtheBestNames.WhateverthereisintheheavensglorifiesHimand[whateverthereis

in]theearth,andHeistheAll-mighty,theAll-wise.

-Surahal-Hashr,59:21-24

Say,‘Whocanguardyou,dayandnight,from[thepunishmentof]theAll-beneficent?’Rather,theyaredisregardfuloftheirLord’sremembrance.

-Surahal-Anbiya,21:42

LastTwoVersesofSurahal-Baqarah

TheApostlehasfaithinwhathasbeensentdowntohimfromhisLord,andallthefaithful.Each[ofthem]hasfaithinAllāh,Hisangels,HisscripturesandHisapostles.[Theydeclare,]‘WemakenodistinctionbetweenanyofHisapostles.’Andtheysay,‘Wehearandobey.OurLord,forgiveus,andtowardYouisthereturn.’Allāhdoesnottaskanysoulbeyonditscapacity.Whatever[good]itearnsistoitsbenefit,andwhatever[evil]itincursistoitsharm.‘OurLord!Takeusnottotaskifweforgetormakemistakes!OurLord!PlacenotuponusaburdenasYouplacedonthosewhowerebeforeus!OurLord!Laynotuponuswhatwehavenostrengthtobear!Excuseusandforgiveus,andbe

mercifultous!YouareourMaster,sohelpusagainstthefaithlesslot!’

-Surahal-Baqarah,2:285-286

Supplications(Ad’iyā)ToReciteatBedtime

AfterhavingrecitedthesuwarandāyātofQur ’ānmentionedabove,thenrecite

thefollowingsupplications(ad’iyā),endingwiththeTasbihofaz-Zahrā(‘a)beforefallingasleep.

1. ItisreportedfromImāmJa’faras-Sadiq(‘a)thatwhentheMessengerofAllāh(s)wouldretiretobed,hewouldsay:

ByYourName,OAllāh,IliveandbyYourNameIdie.

Andwhenhewouldwakeup,hewouldsay:42

AllpraiseisforAllāhwhobroughtmetolifeafterHecausedmetodieandtoHimistheResurrection.

2. ItisreportedfromtheMessengerofAllāh(¥)thatwhenyouretiretobedthensay:43

OAllāh!Ifyouholdbackmysoul(andcausemetodie)thenhavemercyonitandifyousendit(back)thenprotectitasYouprotectYourrighteousservants.

_______________________________________________________________

42Al-Kāfi,2/49/539-540h.16;al-Faqih,1/480

43Al-Kāfi,2/49/539h.14;‘Ilalash-Sharā’i,2/589

3. ItisreportedfromImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)thatonewhorecitesthefollowingthricewhenhegoestobed,willemergefromhissinslikethedayhismothergavebirthtohim:44

AllpraiseisAllāh’sWhoexalted,thusdominated.AndallpraiseisAllāh’sWhohasbeenimmanent,thusknownallthings.AndallpraiseisAllāh’sWhohasownedallthings,thushadpoweroverthemall.AndallpraiseisAllāh’swhowasdisobeyedbutforgave.AndallpraiseisAllāh’swhowhenworshipped,appreciatedit(byrewarding).AndallpraiseisAllāh’sWhogiveslifetothe

dead,causesthelivingtodie,andHehaspoweroverallthings.

4. Mufaddalb.‘UmarreportsfromImāmAbu‘AbdAllāhJa’faras-Sadiq(‘a)whosaid,‘recitewhenyouliedowninbed:

_______________________________________________________________

44Al-Kāfi,2/49/535,¦.1;al-Faqihv.1,h.1357;al-Kaf’ami,al-Misbih,p.45

IseekrefugewiththemightofAllāh;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’somnipotence;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’sperfection;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’sauthority;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’smight;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’ssovereignty;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’sguard;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’swholeness;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’scontrol;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’smercy;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’sMessenger(s)againsttheevilofwhateverHehascreated,originatedandmadeandfromtheevilofverminandvenomouscreaturesandfromtheevilofsinfuljinnandmenandfromtheevilofviciousArabsandnon-Arabs,andfromtheevilofeverycreatureinthenightanddaywhomYouareholdingbyitsforlock.IndeedmyMyLordisonaright

path.46

Andthenseekrefugeforwhomeveryoupleaseaswell.’46

Inanothertradition(hadith)thathasasimilardu’ābutwithsomevariationtothewords(thedifferencesbetween

___________________________________________________________________________45Thelastpartofthissupplication:‘...whomYouareholdingbyitsforlock....onarightpath’isdrawnfromtheQur ’an,SarahHud,11:56.46IbnTāwus,Falāhas-Sā’il,chp.30quotingfromMisbihal-Mutahajjid,p.120

thetwoarehighlightedinred),Mufa¤¤alb.‘Umarsays:ImāmJa’fara¥-¯ādiq(‘a)saidtome,‘ifyoucan,donotspendanightuntilyouhavesoughtrefugewithAllāhwithelevenstatements.’‘Informme(ofthese),’Isaidandhesaid,‘say(thefollowing)andseekrefugewithitwheneveryouwish:’47

IseekrefugewiththemightofAllāh;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’somnipotence;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’smajesty;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’sauthority;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’sbeauty;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’sdefence;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’sguard;andIseekrefugewith

Allāh’swholeness;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’scontrol;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’scountenance;andIseekrefugewithAllāh’sMessenger(s)againstthe

evilofwhateverHehascreated,originatedandmade.

5. ItisalsoreportedfromImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)that,‘ifanyonerecitesthefollowingwhenheliesdowninbed:

______________________________________________________________________47Al-Kāfi,2/49/537-8¦.9

OAllāh!ImakeYouawitnessthatYouhavemadeobligatoryonmetheobedienceto‘Alib.AbiTālibandtheImāmsfromhisprogeny.

...andthenmentionsthenamesofalltheImāmsindividuallyuntilhestopsattheImāmofhistime,andthenpassesawaythatnight,heentersParadise.’48One

canthereforecontinuefromthedu’āaboveasfollows:

Al-Hasanandal-Husayn,and‘Al¢thesonofal-Husayn,andMuhammadthesonof‘Ali,andJa’farthesonofMuhammad,andMusathesonofJa’far,and‘AlithesonofMusa,andMuhammadthesonof‘Ali,and‘Alithesonof

Muhammad,andal-Hasanthesonof‘Aliandal-Hujjahal-Qāim,blessingsofAllāhbeonthemall.

6. FromImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)hesaid,‘whenanyofyouretirestobedthenlethimrecite:’49

_________________________________________________________________________________48Ibntāwus,Falāhas-Sā’il,chp.30;Mustadrakal-Wasail,5/44h.532649Al-Kāfi,2/49/536h.2

OAllāh!IresignmysoultoYousosettleitinaplaceofYourpleasureandforgiveness;andifYoureturntomybodythenreturnitasonewhoisfaithful,knowingtherightofYourfriends(awliyā)untilYoucauseittodieonthat

(faith).

7. ItisreportedthatImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)usedtorecitethefollowingwhenheslept50andinanothertradition,hementionedtheMessengerofAllāh(s)usedtorecitethisbeforesleep:51

IntheNameofAllāh;IbelieveinAllāhanddisavowthefalsedeity.OAllāh,protectmeinmysleepandinmywaking.

8. FromKhālidb.NajifthatImāmas-Sādiq(‘a)usedtosay,‘whenyouliedowninbedthenrecite:’52IntheNameofAllāh,Iplacemyrightside(sleeping)forthesakeofAllāh,onthecreedofAbraham(‘a),thehanif,forthesakeofAllāhinsubmissionandI

amnotofthepolytheists.

___________________________________________________________________________50Al-Kāfi,2/49/536h.3

51Al-Kāfi,2/49/536h.452Al-Kāfi2/49/538h.10

9. Muhammadb.MuslimreportsfromImāmal-Bāqir(‘a)orImāmas-Sādiq(‘a)thatoneofthemsaid,‘apersonshouldnotforsakerecitingthefollowingwhenhesleepsforthatiswhat(thearchangel)Jibrāil(‘a)recited(i.e.taught)fortheprotectionofal-Hasanandal-Husayn,peacebeonthem:’53

Iprotectmyself,myprogeny,myhousehold,andmypossessionswiththeperfectwordsofAllāh,fromeverydevilandverminandeveryevileye.

10. FromAbuBasirfromImāmas-Sādiq(‘a)whosaid,‘whenyoucometobedtosleep,liedownonyourrightsideandsay:’54

______________________________________________________________________________53Al-Faqih,v.1h.135254IbnTāwus,Falāhas-Sā’ilfromAl-Baladal-Amin,p.33;Mustadrakal-Wasa’il,5/44h.5325

IntheNameofAllāhandwithAllāhandthewayofAllāhandonthecreedoftheMessengerofAllāh,blessingsofAllāhonhimandhisfamily.OAllāh,I

surrendermyselftoYouandIturnmyfacetowardsYouandIentrustmyaffairstoYouandseekrefugewithYou,inhopeandwithtranquility.ThereisnorefugenorsafetyexceptwithYou.OAllāh,IhavefaithinalloftheBookYouhave

revealedandwitheverymessengerYouhavesent.

Thensay:

ThereisnogodbutAllāh.Hehasnopartner.ToHimbelongallsovereigntyandallpraise.HegiveslifeanddeathandHecausesdeathandlifeandHeisever-

livingandneverdies.InHisHandisallgoodandHehaspowerovereverything.

Thensay:

IseekrefugewithAllāh,Hethatholdstheheavensfromfallingontotheearth(andthatsubsists)onlywithHispermission,fromtheevilofwhatHecreated,originated,made,gavegrowthtoandform;andfromtheevilofSatanandhisassociatesandminions;andfromtheevilofthedevilsfrommenandjinn;andI

seekrefugewiththeperfectwordsofAllāhfromtheevilofverminsandpoisonouscreatures,frombeingtouchedbyevilandfromdeath(thatissuddenandunfortunate);andfromevilthatdescendsfromtheheavensandascendstoit;andfromtheevilthatcomesforthfromtheearthanddescendstoit;andfromtheevilofvisitorsinthenightandduringtheday,exceptforthevisitorwhocomesbringgood.ByAllāhandbytheMercifulIseekhelpandonHimIplacemytrust.Allāhsufficesforme,thebestTrustee,thebestMasterandthe

bestHelper.

11. ItisreportedfromImāmal-Bāqir(‘a)thathesaid,‘whenapersonliesdown(tosleep)onhisrightside,thenlethimsaythefollowing(whichisverysimilartowhatisgivenfromImāmas-Sādiq(‘a)justbeforethis)andthenrecitetheTasbihas-Zahrā(‘a):’55

IntheNameofAllāh;OAllāh,IsurrendermyselftoYouandIturnmyfacetowardsYouandIentrustmyaffairstoYouandseekrefugewithYou,andplacemytrustinYou,inhopeandwithtranquility.Thereisnorefugenorsafety

exceptwithYou.IhavefaithintheBookYouhaverevealedandtheMessengerYouhavesent.

_______________________________________________________________________55Al-Faqih,v.1h.1351;At-Tahdhibv.2h.435;Mustadrakal-Wasa’il,v.5h.5324

12. ThefinalactofdevotionistorecitetheTasbihaz-Zahrā(‘a)asrecommendedbyImāmal-Bāqir(‘a)inthehadithabove.Also,inhisadvicetoHishāmb.Sālim,Imāmas-Sādiq(‘a)askedhimtorecitetheTasbihaz-Zahrā(‘a)whenhegoestobedandtheImāmdetailedthemethodsaying,‘recitethetakbir(AllāhuAkbar)34times,thetamhid(al-HamduLillāh)33timesandthetasbih(SubhānAllāh)33times.’56

WhattoReciteWhenTurningSidesinBed

1. FromAbuBasirfromImāmAbuJa’farMuhammadal-Baqir(‘a)concerningtheverseofQur ’ān:

Theyusedtosleepalittleduringthenight.-Surahad-Dhariyat,51:17

Hesaid,‘theseshallbepeoplewhoslept,buteverytimeoneofthemturned(inbed)hesaid:’57

AllpraiseisforAllāhandAllāhisgreater(thananyonecaneverdescribe)!

Andinanotherversionofthistradition,theImām(‘a)said,‘theyrecite:’58

2. FromImām‘Alial-Hādian-Naqi(‘a),hesaid,‘whenyouwakeupfromsleepandyouturnsidesinbed,thenrecite:’59

______________________________________________________________________________________56Al-Kāfi,2/49/536¦.657Bihar,76/217,h.2458At-Tahdhib,2/335h.138459Misbāhal-Mutahajjidp.127

ThereisnogodbyAllāh,theEver-living,theAll-subsistingandHehaspoweroverallthings.GlorybetoAllāh,theLordoftheworldsandtheGodoftheapostles;andglorybetoAllāh,LordofthesevenheavensandwhatisinthemandLordofthesevenearthsandwhatisinthemandLordofthemightyThrone.

AndpeacebeontheapostlesandpraiseisforAllāh,Lordoftheworlds.

3. Andifonegetsoutofbedinthenightthenbeforereturningtobed,heshouldlookuptotheheavensandrecite:

Indeedinthecreationoftheheavensandtheearthandthealternationofnightandday,therearesignsforthosewhopossessintellects.ThosewhorememberAllāhstanding,sitting,andlyingontheirsides,andreflectonthecreationoftheheavensandtheearth[andsay],‘OurLord,Youhavenotcreatedthisinvain!ImmaculateareYou!SaveusfromthepunishmentoftheFire.OurLord,whoeverthatYoumakeentertheFirewillsurelyhavebeendisgracedbyYou,andthewrongdoerswillhavenohelpers.OurLord,wehaveindeedheardasummonercallingtofaith,declaring,‘‘HavefaithinyourLord!’’Sowe

believed.OurLord,forgiveusoursinsandabsolveusofourmisdeeds,andmakeusdiewiththepious.OurLord,giveuswhatYouhavepromisedusthroughYourapostles,anddonotdisgraceusontheDayofResurrection.

IndeedYoudonotbreakYourpromise.’-Surahal-iImrān,3:190-194

ThiswasthepracticeoftheMessengerofAllāh(s)anditisrecommendedinatraditionfromAmiral-Mu’minin(‘a).60

___________________________________________________________________________________60TheentireprescriptionfromImām‘Al¢(‘a)isreportedinal-Khi¥āl,140/625

4. FromImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a),hesaid,‘whenanyoneofyourisesinthenightthenlethimrecite(thefollowingandwhenhedoesso)Allāh(theExalted)says,“MyservanthasspokenthetruthandthankedMe”:’61

GlorybetotheLordoftheprophetsandtheGodoftheapostlesandtheLordoftheoppressed.AndallpraiseisforAllāhwhogiveslifetothedeadandHehas

poweroverallthings.

_______________________________________________________________________61Al-Kāfi2/49/538h.11

ToWakeUpataParticularTime

ThismatterrightfullybelongsinthelastchapterconcerningActsofDevotiontoPerformatBedtimeforSpecificNeeds.Butwehaveplaceditherebecauseoftheassumptionthatafaithful(mu’min)willhaveneedforthiseverynightbecauseofhisorherdesiretorisebeforedawnforsalātal-layl,topleadAllāh’sforgiveness(istighfār)andtosupplicateHim.

SomeoftheInfallibles(Ma’sumin),peacebeonthem,haveprescribedthelastverseofSurahal-Kahfwhileothershavetaughtsupplicationstohelponewakeupataparticulartime.Andaccordingtoonetradition,justone’sintentionsuffices:

1. Inaverifiedtradition(hadithsahih),AbuHamzaath-Thumāl¢reportsfromImāmAbuJa’farMu¦ammadal-Bāqir(‘a)whosaid,‘anyonewhomakesanintentiontowakeupataparticulartimeandAllāhknowsthatfromhim(asafirmintention),Heappointsforhimtwoangelswhostirhimatthattime.’62

2. Itisreportedfromal-ImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a),‘anyonewhorecitestheend(i.e.lastverse)of(Surah)al-Kahfwhenhesleepswillwakeupatthetimehewishes.’63Theverseisasfollows:

Say,‘Iamjustahumanbeinglikeyou.IthasbeenrevealedtomethatyourGodistheOneGod.SowhoeverexpectstomeethisLord-lethimactrighteously,

andnotassociateanyonewiththeworshipofhisLord.’-Surahal-Kahf,18:110

3. ItisalsorelatedfromImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)thattheMessengerofAllāh(s)said,‘onewhowishes[asharein]nightvigilshouldrecitewhengoingtobed:

____________________________________________________________________________62Al-Faqih1/479h.138463Al-Kāfi,2/540,h.17;2/632h.21;al-Faqihv.1h.1359‘Uddatad-Da’i,p.280

OAllāh,letmenotfeelsafefromYourPlananddonotmakeforgetfulofYourremembrancenormakemeoftheheedless.Ishallrise,Allāh-willingatthetime

of(such-and-such)

[Replacethewords(such-and-such)inparenthesiswiththetimeyouwishtorise.]

ThenAllāhwillappointforhimanangeltowakehimupatthattime.’64

4. AnditisreportedfromAbual-Hasanal-AwwalImāmMusaal-Kāzim(‘a),‘onewhowishestowakeupinthenightforsupplicationandforbeseechingAllāh’sforgivenessatanytimethatAllāhdesireshimtodoso,shouldrecitebeforesleeping:’

___________________________________________________________________________64Al-Kafi,2/49/540h.18

OAllāh!DonotmakemeforgetfulofYourremembrancenormakemefeelsafefromYourPlan,normakemefromthosewhoareheedless.AndcausemetowakeupatthetimemostlovedbyYouthatImaycallouttoYouinitandYou

mayanswerme;andImayaskYouandYoumaygrantme;andImaypleadYourforgivenessandYoumayforgiveme.NoneforgivessinsexceptYou,OMost

Mercifulofall.

Thenhesaid,‘Allāhwillsendtohimtwoangelstowakehimup.Andifhefailstowakeup,Hecommandsthemtoseekforgivenessforhim.Andifheshoulddiethatnight,hediesamartyr.Andifhedoeswakeup,anythingheasksAllāhforatthattime,Allāhwillgranthim.’65

5. Andfinally,inaslightlydifferentversionofthesupplicationabove,itisrelatedfromImāmMusab.Ja’faral-Kazim(‘a),‘onewhowishestoawakeinthenightforprayerandnottobetakenoverbysleepshouldrecitewhenheliesinbed:’66

OAllāh!DonotmakemefeelsecurefromYourPlannormakemeforgetYour

remembranceanddonotturnYourcountenanceawayfrommenorstripfrommeYourveil(thatconcealsmysins),anddonottakemetotaskformyrebellionnormakemeoftheheedless.Andwakemefrommysleep,makingiteasyformetoriseinthisnightinthemomentsmostlovedbyYouandblessmeinitprayersandthanksgivingandsupplication,sothatIaskYouandYougrantmeandI

callouttoYouandYoureplymeandIseekyourforgivenessandYouforgiveme.IndeedYouaretheAll-forgiving,theMerciful.

___________________________________________________________________________65Bihar,76/216,h.23;Misbāhal-Mutahajjid,p.133;Kanzal-’Ummāl,15/348h.4132666Misbahal-Mutahajjid,p.123;Bihar,76/217h.24

Itisourunderstandingthatanyoneoftheseprescriptionswillworkandonedoesnotneedtorecitealloftheminordertowakeupataparticulartime.WehavefoundtherecitationofthelastverseofSurahal-Kahftohavealwaysworkedwithoutfailandmanyscholarshavealsotestifiedtothisasamiraculousnever-failingformula.

AFinalWordontheEtiquetteofSleepingandSomeofActsofDevotionfromIbnTāwus’sFalāhas-Sā’il(chp.30):

Beforeyouliedown,recallthatyouareahumbleslavethatwantstosleepandwhostretcheshisorherlegsbeforeaMightyandMagnificentKing.ThereforebewaryofyouretiquetteandmannersinyourspeechandactionsthattheyareappropriatebeforeyourMaster.Witharealizationofhowsmallandinsignificantyouare,liedownonyourrightsidewithsurrender,insubmissionandentrustingalltoAllāhasisappropriateinthatstate.

Andifyouareable,thenbelikeaslavewhosleepsonlyafterseekingpermissionfromhisMaster.Facetheqibla,sleepingonyourright,likeone

whohaslostalovedone,oraparentwhohaslostachild,andplaceshisorherpalmonhisorhercheek.

Insleeping,onelosesalotofopportunitiestogainproximitytoAllāhandthereforeoneshouldintendbythatsleeptogainstrengthtoobeyAllāhafterawakening.Whenonesleepsunrepentantthenitisasifallthesinsofone’shearthasrisenoverone’sheadlikeamountainhoveringabovereadytocrushaperson,justasthecaseoftheBanuIsrā¢lforwhomAllāhsays:

WhenWepluckedthemountain[andheldit]abovethemasifitwereacanopy(andtheythoughtitwasabouttofallonthem)

-Surahal-A’raf,7:171

WenowrelateanothertraditionfromImāmAbu‘AbdAllāhJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)thathesaid,‘whenoneofyougoestobed,anobleangelandarebelliousdevilrushtohim.Theangelsaystohim:“endyourdaywithgoodandstartyournightwithgood”andthedevilsaystohim,“endyourdaywithsinandstartyournightwithsin.”’ThentheImāmsaid,‘soifheobeysthenobleangelandendshisdaywiththeremembranceofAllāhandstartshisnightwiththeremembranceofAllāhwhenhegoestobed,byrecitingthetakbir34timesandtasbih33timesandtamhid33times,theangeldrivesbackthedevilfromthemanandheisprotectedbythetrusteesoftheangeluntilhewakesup.Whenhewakesup,thedevilhastenstohimandsaystohimsimilartowhathesaidtohimbeforehesleptandtheangeltoodoesthesame.SoifheremembersAllāh,theMightyandGlorious,likehedidbefore,theangelrepelsthedevilfromhimandAllāhrecordsforhimdevotionforthewholenight.’67

__________________________________________________________________________67Bihār,76/210h.23;Mustadrakal-Wasā’il,1/146,¦.221and5/40h.5314

ApplyingKohlbeforeSleep&ItsSupplication

Andfromwhatisalsorecommendedatbedtimeisapplyingkohl.ItisrelatedthattheProphet(s)usedtoapplykohlwithantimony(ithmid)whenheintendedtoretiretobed.InonereporttheProphet(s)advisedtheuseofantimony

perfumedwithmusk.69

AnditisreportedfromImāmar-Ridā(‘a)whosaid,‘onewhosuffersfromweakeyesight,thenlethimapplysevendabsofkohlwhenhesleeps,usingantimony(ithmid),fourintheright(eye)andthreeintheleft.

Andfromhim,peacebeonhim,aswellisreportedthat,‘kohlatthetimeofsleepisaprotectionfromthewaterthatdescendsintheeye.’

Anditisreportedthathe,peacebeonhim,usedtorecitethefollowingwhenapplyingkohl:

_____________________________________________________________________________68Al-Kāfi,6/493,h.169Ibnal-Athir,Nihaya,2/275

OAllāh,IaskYouforthesakeofMu¦ammadandtheprogenyofMu¦ammadthatYoublessMu¦ammadandtheprogenyofMu¦ammadandthatyouplacelightinmyeyes,insightinmyreligion,convictioninmyheart,sincerityinmyaction,safetyinmyself,increaseinmysustenance,andgratitudetoYouforas

longasYoukeepmealive;indeedYouhavepoweroverallthings.

Asforthe‘insight(basirah)inmyreligion’(mentionedinthisdu’ā),itcomesfromknowledgeoftheQur ’ānandSunnah,whichinturnmakeone’sconvictionfirmerthanthemountains.ForitisrelatedfromtheImāms,peacebeonthem,thatonewhotakeshisreligion(din)fromtheQur ’ānandtheSunnahoftheProphet(s),mountainswillfallawaybeforehedoesandonewhotakeshisreligionfromthemouthsofpeoplewillberefuted(easily)byothers.Andinanotherreport:Onewhoentersfaith(imān)withknowledge(‘ilm)willbefirmlyestablishedandhisfaithwillbenefithimwhereasonewhoentersitwithoutknowledgewillexititasheenteredit.

___________________________________________________________________________70Khawanjui’sCommentaryofMiftāhal-Falāh,p.611

ChapterThree-ADiscussionontheMethodoftheTasbihofSayyidaFātimaaz-Zahrā(‘a)

KnowthatwhatispopularlyacknowledgedfromtraditionsisthattheTasbihaz-Zahrā(‘a)isrecommendedontwooccasions:afterthedailycanonicalprayer(salāh)andatbedtime.

Someofthetraditionsaboutrecitingitatbedtimementionthetasbih(sayingSubhān-Allāh)beforethetamhīd(sayingal-Hamdu-lillāh);however,verified(sahih)traditionsconcerningtheTasbihaz-Zahrā(‘a)ingeneralsaythatthetamhidcomesbeforethetasbih.

Thepurposeofthischapteristofurtherexplainthedifferencesbetweenthesetraditions.

Itshouldbenotedthateventhoughourscholars(‘ulamā)–mayAllāh,themostHigh,sanctifytheirsouls–havedifferedonthesequencebetweenthetamhidandthetasbihwhenrecitedatbedtime,theyareunanimousthatthestartoftheTasbihaz-Zahrā(‘a)isalwaysthetakbir(sayingAllāhuAkbar).AndthisisbecauseofasahihtraditionontheauthorityofIbnSinānfromImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)concerningthestart.71

TheAhadiththatTamhidPrecedesTasbih

Shaykhat-Tāifaat-Tusihasrelatedinhisat-Tahdhīb–withasoundchainoftransmission(sanadsahih)–fromMuhammadb.‘Adhāfirwhosaid:

_______________________________________________________________________71At-Tahdhib,3/66

‘IwentwithmyfathertoAbu‘AbdAllāh(as-Sādiq),peacebeonhim,andhe(myfather)askedhimabouttheTasbihaz-Zahrā(‘a).Sohesaid,‘AllāhuAkbar’untilhecountedthirty-fourtimes;thenhesaid,‘al-Hamdu-lillāh’untilhereachedsixty-seven;thenhesaid,‘Subhān-Allāh’untilhegottoahundred,countingthemwithhishandinonestatement.’72

Andinal-Kāfi,itisrelatedthatImāmJa’faras-Sadiq(‘a)saidtoHishamb.Salim,‘recitetheTasbihofFatimaaz-Zahrā(‘a)whenyougotobed:LaudAllāh(takbir)thirty-fourtimes,praiseHim(tamhid)thirty-threetimesandglorifyHim(tasbih)thirty-threetimes.’73

TheAhādiththatTasbihPrecedesTamhid

Thereportswhoseapparentwordssuggestthetasbihprecedesthetamhidarespecifictobedtimeonly.Forexample,Raisal-MuhaddithinShaykhas-Saduqhasrelatedinhisal-FaqihfromAmiral-Mu’minin(‘a)thatherelatedtoamanfromtheBanuAsadaneventconcerninghimselfandhiswifeFātimaaz-Zahrā(‘a),thedaughteroftheProphet(s).ThegistofthelengthynarrationisthatAmiral-Mu’minin(‘a)sawthataz-Zahrā(‘a)hadfilledwaterskinsanddrawnwaterfromwellsuntilitaffectedherhealth;shehadgroundmillusingthehandmillstoneuntilherhandshadblistered;herclotheswerecoveredwithdustduetosweepingandcleaningthehouseandtheyhadbecomeblackwithkindlingfireunderthecookingpot.Seeingallthishardshipbefallingher,headvisedhertoaskherfather,theMessengerofAllāh(s)toprovideforheramaidwhowouldhelpher.Fātima(‘a)wenttoseeherfatherbutseeinghimoccupiedwithothersfeltashamedtoaskandreturnedhome.

_________________________________________________________________________72At-Tahdhib,2/105-106

73Al-Kafi,2/536h.6

LatertheMessengerofAllāh(s)cametoseethemandtoaskhisdaughterwhatshehadcomeforandAmiral-Mu’minin(‘a)explainedtotheMessengerofAllāh(s)sayingitwashethathadsenthertoask.

SotheMessengerofAllāh,blessingsandpeacebeonhimandhishousehold,said,‘shallInotteachbothofyouwhatisbetterforyouthanamaid?74Whenyouretiretosleep,thenexaltAllāh(i.e.recitethetakbir)thirtyfourtimes;andglorifyHim(i.e.recitethetasbih)thirtythreetimes;andpraiseHim(i.e.recitethetamhid)thirtythreetimes.’

Hearingthis,Fātima(‘a)said,‘Iampleased(withthis)fromAllāhandHisMessenger.Iampleased(withthis)fromAllāhandHisMessenger.’75

Similarlyitisreportedinal-K¡fifromDawudb.Farqadfromhisbrotherthat,‘Shahabb.‘AbdRabbihaskedustoinformAbuAbdAllāh(Imāmas-Sadiq)(‘a)thatawomanwasfrighteninghiminhissleep(i.e.asarecurringnightmare).Sohe(theImām)said,“tellhim:takearosary,dothetakbirthirty-fourtimes,andtasbihthirty-threetimesandtamhidthirty-threetimes.”’

Conclusion

Whatwehaveseenisthatthetraditionsthatsuggesttasbihbeforetamhidareallrelatedtosleeptimeonlywhereasthetraditionsthatmentiontamhidbeforetasbihareforboth,sleepandafterprayersi.e.atalltimesingeneral._______________________________________________________________________________74ThewordkhādiminArabiccanrepresentamaleservant(ghulām)orafemaleservanti.e.maid(jāriya)andisapplicableforboth–Miftāhal-Falāh,p.592.75Al-Faqih,1/320-32176Al-Kafi,2/536-7,h.7

ShaykhBahāad-Dinal-‘ĀmiliinhisMiftāhal-FalāhhasanalyzedthetraditionsontheTasbihaz-Zahrā(‘a)ingreatdetailandcomparedtheusageofconjunctionparticlesinArabicandtheirsubtledifferencesinthescienceofhadith(suchaswhenwaisusedinsteadoffaorthumma).Hefoundthatthetraditionsmentioningthetasbihbeforethetamhidusedtheparticle‘wa’(‘and’)whichonlyactsasaconjunctionbutdoesnotrestricttheorder77whereasthetraditionsmentioningtamhidbeforetasbihusetheparticle‘thumma’(‘then’)andthereforesuggestasequence.Forexample,areportfromAbuBaserstatesthatImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)saidconcerningtheTasbihaz-Zahrā(‘a),‘commencewiththetakbirthirty-fourtimes78,then(thumma)thetam¦¢dthirty-threetimes,then(thumma)thetasbihthirty-threetimes.’Shaykhal-‘Amilialsodrawsfromotherexamplesinjurisprudence(fiqh)anditsprinciples(usul)beforeconcludingasfollows:

ThemorereliablesequenceoftheTasbihaz-Zahrā(‘a)iswhatispopularlyknownandpracticedi.e.firstAllāhuAkbarthirty-fourtimes;thereafteral-Hamdu-lillāhthirty-threetimes;andfinallySubhān-Allāhthirty-threetimes.

________________________________________________________________________________77SomehaveopposedthisnotionthattheArabicconjunctionparticlewadoesnotenforcetheorderinwhichactsaredone.Theyhavearguedthattheverse“irka’uwa‘sjudu”(‘bowandprostrate’)inQur ’ān22:77provesthatwadoesinfactrestrictorderotherwiseitwouldbepermissibletodosuj£dbeforeruku’.Butsuchanargumentisflawedbecausetherestrictiontoperformruku’beforesujuddoesnotcomefromthewaparticleinthisQur ’ānverse–itcomesfromotherprimarysourcessuchasthehadithoftheProphet(s),‘prayasyouseemepray’sallukamira’aytumuniusalli)(Awalial-La¡li,1/198h.8)orforexample,whentheverse‘IndeedSafaandMarwaareamongAllāh’ssacraments’(Qur ’ān,2:158)wasrevealed,theProphet(s)said,‘startwiththatwhichAllāhhasstartedwith’(ibda’ubimabada’Allahubihi)(Kanzal-‘Ummal,h.26137)meaningstarttheSa’ifromSafabecauseitismentionedfirst.ItwouldnothavebeennecessaryfortheProphet(s)topointthisoutifitwasobviousfromtheconjunctionparticle‘wa’intheverse.78Al-Kafi,3/342h.9

ShaykhBahāad-Dinal-‘Āmilihasalsoaddressedthepracticeofsomescholarswhodecidedtofollowbothbyrecitingthetamhidbeforethetasbihafterthedailysalāhbutthereversebeforesleep.Hehasstronglycriticizedthemandcautionedagainstthis,sayingithasnotbeensuggestedbyanypreviousreputedscholarofeitherSchooldespitethefactthatthematterhasnotescapedtheirattention.(Forthoseinterestedinthediscussion,seep.592-597oftheMiftāhal-Falāh.)

Shaykh‘Abbāsal-QummiontheTasbihazZahrā(‘a)

RegardingtheTasbihaz-Zahrā(‘a),Shaykh‘Abbāsal-Qummiwritesinhisal-Bāqiyātas-Sālihāt:79

Theauthentictraditions(ahādith)regardingtheexcellenceofthistasbihareinnumerable.ItisreportedfromImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)thathesaid,‘wecommandourchildrenwiththeTasbihofFātima,peacebeonher,aswecommandthemtothecanonicalprayer(salāh).Persistinit,foronewhopersistedin(performing)itneverbecamewretched(shaqī).’

Itisalsogiveninreliablereportsthatthe‘excessiveremembrance’(adh-dhikral-kathir)thatisprescribedintheQur ’ān(33:41)referstothisTasbihandthereforeonewhomakesahabitofrecitingitafterthecanonicalprayer(salāh)hasrememberedAllāhwithan‘excessiveremembrance’andactedontheverse:

_____________________________________________________________________________79Shaykh‘Abbāsal-Qummi,Bāqiyātas-Sālihāt,chp.1,section1,on“TasbihFātimaaz-Zahrā(‘a)”

Oyouwhohavefaith!RememberAllāhwithfrequentremembrance.-Surahal-Ahzāb,33:41

Andwithareliablechainoftransmission(sanadmu’tabar),itisreportedfromImāmMuhammadal-Bāqir,peacebeonhim,thathesaid,‘onewhoglorifies(Allāh)withtheTasbihofFātima,Allāh’speacebeonher,thenseeksforgivenessfromAllāh,Allāhforgiveshim.Andwhileitisahundred(chants)onthetongue,itisathousandinthescales(mīzān);anditrepelsthedevil(shaytān)andpleasestheLord(Rabb).’

Andwithasoundtransmission(sanadsahih)itisreportedfromImāmas-Sādiq(‘a)thathesaid,‘onewhoglorifies(Allāh)withtheTasbihofFātima,peacebeonher,beforehisfeetturnawayfromtheobligatoryprayer(salātal-farīda),AllāhforgiveshimandmakesParadisemandatoryforhim.’

Andinanotherreliablechainfromhim(Imāmas-Sādiq),peacebeonhim,aswellhesaid:‘theTasbihofFātimaaz-Zahrā(‘a)aftereveryobligatoryprayerismorelovedbymethanprayingathousandunits(rak’ah)ofprayereveryday.’

AndinareliablereportfromImāmal-Bāqir,peacebeonhim,hesaid,‘neverwasAllāhworshippedwithanyglorificationorextolling,moreexcellentthantheTasbihofFātimaaz-Zahrā(‘a);foriftherewasanythingmoreexcellentthatit,theProphet(s)wouldhaveprescribedthattoFātima(‘a).’

Thetraditionsregardingitsexcellencearethereforemorethancanbecontainedwithinthescopeofthiswork.

Shaykh‘Abbāsal-QummiontheMethodofPerformingtheTasbihaz-Zahrā(‘a)80

Shaykh‘Abbāsal-Qummihasalsomentionedthetwovariationsintheorderofthetamhidandtasbihandsaid,‘somescholarshavetriedtojointhesetwotraditionsbysayingthatthefirstmethod(oftamhidbeforetasbih)beacteduponafterthedailycanonicalprayers(salāh)andthesecondmethodat

bedtime.Butactingonthefirstmethodismorepopularandfavouredfromwhatisapparent.’

Shaykh‘Abbāsal-Qumm¢hasalsomentionedthatitisrecommendedtorecitetheTahlīl(i.e.‘lāilāhailallāh’)once,aftertheTasbihaz-Zahrā(‘a),quotingatraditionfromImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)whosaid,‘onewhoglorifies(Allāh)aftereveryobligatoryprayerwiththeTasbihofFātima,peacebeonher,andendsitwith“lāilāhailallāh”,Allāhwillforgivehim.’

Shaykh‘Abbāsal-QummiontheRosaryusedforTasbih81

AsfortherosaryusedduringtheglorificationofAllāh(s.w.t.),Shaykh‘Abbāsal-Qummihassaiditismoreexcellent(afdal)touseonethatismadewiththeclayfromthegraveofImāmal-Husayn,peacebeonhim.Anditisalsorecommended(mustahab)forapersontocarrywithhimarosary(sabha)madefromtheclayofal-Husayn,peacebeonhim,atalltimesforitactsasaprotectionfromafflictions(balāya)andisasourceofendlessreward.

Thatsaid,onemustbecautiouswhencarrytheTasbihmadefromtheclay(turbah)ofal-Husayn(‘a)nottotakeitwithhimorherintothewashroomoranyplaceofimpurity(najāsah),justasonemustbecautiousnottokeepitononeselfwhenoneisrituallyimpure(i.e.injanābah).Itisalsoimportantnottoletchildrendisrespect,playwithorstepontherosarymadefromtheclayoftheplaceswherethepureInfallibles(‘a)areburied.

____________________________________________________________________________80Ibid.81Ibid.

ItisreportedthattherosarythatSayyidaFātimaaz-Zahrā(‘a)originallyusedwasmadewithawoolen(suf)threadonly,each‘bead’markedbyaknotinthe

thread.ShewouldrotateitwithherhandassheexaltedandglorifiedAllāh.ThiswasuntilHamzab.‘Abdal-Muttalib(‘a)(theuncleofRasulAllāh(s))wasmartyredatU¦ud,whenshebeganusingtheclayfromhisgravetomakeherrosaryandpeoplewouldimitateher.AndthiscontinueduntilImāmal-Husayn(‘a),themasterofallmartyrs(sayyidash-shuhadā),wasmartyredinKarbalawhenpeoplegaveupusingtheclayfrom°amza’sgraveandbeganusingal-Husayn’s,peacebeonhim.

AnditisreportedfromtheAwaitedImām(al-Muntazar)(‘a)-mayAllāhhastenhisreturnandmayoursoulsbesacrificedforhim!-thathesaid,‘onewhoforgetstheremembrance(dhikrofAllāh)buthasarosaryfromtheturbahofal-Husayn(‘a)inhishand(then)thereward(ofperformingthedhikr)iswrittenforhim.’

AnditisrelatedfromImāmas-Sādiq,peacebeonhim,thattherosaryfromthegraveofal-Husayn,peacebeonhim,glorifiesAllāhinthehandsofamanevenwhenheisnotglorifyingHim(withhistongue).Andhe(as-Sādiq),peacebeonhim,alsosaid,‘onewhorotatesthebeads(made)fromthegraveofal-Husayn,peacebeonhim,andasksforforgivenessjustonce,Allāhwritesitforhimseventytimes.AndiftherosarystopsinhishandandhedoesnotglorifyAllāhwithit,thenseventimes(iswrittenforhim)foreachbeadinit.’

Andaccordingtoanotherreport:ifherotatesitwithremembrance(dhikr)thenforeverybead,fortygooddeedsarewrittenforhim.AnditisrelatedthattheHural-‘Ayn(beautifulmaidensofParadise),whentheyseeanyangeldescendingtotheearthforanymatter,theyaskthemtobringthembackasgifts,beadsandclayfromthegraveofal-°usayn,peacebeonhim.

Andinasound(sahih)traditionfromal-ImāmMusaal-Kāzim,peacebeonhim,hesaid,‘afaithful(mu’min)shouldneverbewithoutfivethings:siwāk82,acomb,aprayerrug,arosarywith(atleast)thirty-fourbeads,andanaqiqring.’

Itappearsthatarosaryfromporcelainisalsoexcellentbutitisbetterifitsearthhasnotbeensubjectedtofire.AndfromImāmJa’faras-Sādiq,peacebeonhim,itisalsoreported,‘onewhorecitesone(roundof)tasbihwitharosarymadefromtheearthofal-Husayn(‘a)’sgrave,Allāhwritesforhimfourhundredgooddeedsanderasesfromhimfourhundredsins;fourhundredofhiswishesaregrantedandheiselevatedfourhundreddegrees(beforeAllāh).’

Itisalsoreportedthatitisrecommended(mustahab)forthethreadoftherosarytobegreenincolour.

_________________________________________________________________________________82Alsocalledmiswāk;ateeth-cleaningtwigmadefrombranchesoftheSalvadorapersicatree(knownasarakinArabicandpeeluinUrdu).Itsbristlesaresometimessoftenedinrosewater.Ithasalongwell-documentedhistoryandisreputedforitsmedicinalbenefits.ItalsofeaturesprominentlyinIslamichygienicaljurisprudence.

ChapterFour-ActsofDevotionatBedtimeforSpecificNeeds

ForProtectionfromNightmares

1. FromMu’awiyab.‘Amm¡rfromAbu‘AbdAllāhImāmas-Sadiq(‘a)whosaid,‘whenapersonseesinhisdreamswhatisunpleasantthenlethimturntotheothersideandrecite:

Indeed[malicious]secrettalksarefromSatan,thathemayupsetthefaithful,buthecannotharmtheminanywayexceptbyAllāh’spermission...

-Surahal-Mujādilah,58:10

Thenheshouldrecite:83

Iseekrefuge(withAllāh)fromwhattheangelsnearesttoAllāhseekrefugefrom,asdotheprophetsofAllāhandmessengersandtherighteousservantsofAllāh,fromtheevilofwhatIsawandfromtheeviloftheaccursedSatan.

2. Inaslightlydifferentversionofthedu’ā,itisreportedfromImāmal-B¡qir(‘a)andImāmas-Sādiq(‘a),theysaid,‘F¡§ima(‘a)complainedtotheMessengerofAllāh(s)ofwhat(unpleasantness)shesawinhersleepandtheMessengerofAllāh(s)saidtoher,‘wheneveryouseeanythinglikethatthensay:

IseekrefugewithwhattheclosestangelstoAllāhseekrefugefrom,and(what)theapostlesfromtheprophetsofAllāh(do)andtherighteousservantsofAllāh,fromtheevilofmynightmarethatIsaw,thatitshouldharmme(inanyway)inmyreligionormy(affairsofthe)world.

_____________________________________________________________________83Al-Kafi,8/142,p.107;Mustadrakal-Wasā’il,5/111p.5457

TheunpleasantdreamthatshehadisgiveninKhawanju¢’scommentaryofMiftāhal-Falah(p.612-3).ThegistofitisthatSayyidaFatima(‘a)dreamtthattheProphet(¥)setoutofMadinawith‘Ali,herself,al-Hasanandal-Husayn(‘a).TheycametoaplacewheretheProphets)purchasedasheepandorderedforittobeslaughtered.Whentheyateitsmeat,theyalldied.Thiswaswhatshedreamt.Thenextday,theProphet(s)summonedtheAhlal-Bayt(‘a)andtookthemoutofMad¢naexactlyasshehadseeninherdreamandtheeventsunfoldedexactlythesameuntilthesheepwasslaughtered.SoFatima(‘a)weptandtoldtheProphet(s)ofherdream.HeprayedtoAllāhandJibrail(‘a)cametohimandinformedhimthiswasadevilwhoseekstobothertherighteouswithunpleasantdreams.SotheProphet(s)thentaughtF¡§ima(‘a)thissupplication.85

3. Andathirdhadithalsomentionsaverysimilardu’ā.FromAbuBasirfromImāmas-Sādiq(‘a)whosaid,‘ifyouseeinyoursleepwhatyoudislikethensaywhenyouwakeup:’86

IseekrefugefromwhatthenearangelsofAllāhseekrefuge,andtheprophetsofAllāh,theapostles,andtherighteousservantsofAllāhandtherightly-guidedImāms,guidedbyAllāh,fromtheevilofwhatIsawandtheevilofmydream,thatitshouldharmme,and(IseekAllāh’srefuge)fromthecursedSatan.

4. Al-Walidb.SabihreportsthatShih¡bb.‘AbdRabbihsaidtohim,‘conveymysal¡mtoAb¡‘AbdAllāh(as-Sadiq(‘a))andinformhimthatIamtroubledwithnightmaresinmysleep.’Al-Wahidsays,‘soIconveyedthistohimandhe(as-Sādiq(‘a))said,‘saytohimwhenhegoestobed,heshouldrecitethemaw’udhatayn(Surahal-FalaqandSurahan-Nās)andAyatal-Kursi.AndtheAyatal-Kursiismoreexcellentthaneverythingelse.’

___________________________________________________________________85Tafsiral-Qummi,2/355-686Misbāhal-Mutahajjid,p.127;Mustadrakal-Wasā’il5/112p.5458;Tafsir

al-Qummi,2/356

5. Inanothertradition,Imāmas-Sadiq(‘a)prescribedforonewhohasnightmaresthatheshouldreciteatbedtimethefollowingtentimes:

ThereisnogodbyAllāh,theonlyOne,Hehasnopartner.HegiveslifeanddeathandcausesdeathandlifeandHeisever-livinganddoesnotdie.

ThenheshouldrecitetheTasb¢¦az-Zahrā(‘a)andhewillovercomeit.87

6. Inalongervariationofthistradition,Dāwudb.FarqadreportsfromhisbrotherthatShihābb.‘AbdRabbihaskedhimtoaskImāmas-Sādiq(‘a)aboutawomanthatkepttormentinghim(innightmares).Sohe(theImām(‘a))said,‘tellhim:taketherosary(misbāh)andrecitethetakbir34times,thetasbih33timesandthetamhid33times.Andrecitethefollowingtentimes:’89

ThereisnogodexceptAllāh,theOneandOnly,Whohasnoassociate.HisistheKingdomandforHimisallthepraise.HegiveslifeandbringsdeathandHebringsdeathandgiveslife.InHisHandisallgoodandforHimisthe

alterationofthenightandday;andHehaspoweroverallthings.

__________________________________________________________________________87Bihār,76/211p.23;Mustadrakal-Wasā’il,4/292p.4718;Mi¥b¡¦al-Mutahajjid,p.12188Bihār,76/211p.23;Mustadrakal-Wasā’il,5/45p.532889Al-Kāfi,2/49/536-7p.7

ForSafetyfromThieves

Fromal-Asbaghb.Nub¡tafromAmiral-Mu’minin(‘a)whosaid,‘IswearbyHimWhosentMu¦ammadwiththetruthandhonouredhishousehold(ahlal-bayt),anythingyouseekprotectionfrom:fireordrowningorchokingortheft

orthereturnofaridinganimaltoitsowneroralostfugitive,itssolutionisintheBookofAllāh,theExalted.Whoeverwantsknowledgeofthatthenlethimaskme.’Soamanstoodupandsaid,‘CommanderoftheFaithful,tellmeabouttheftforIamconstantlybeingrobbedinthenight,onethingafteranother.’He(‘a)said,‘whenyougotobed,recite:’90

______________________________________________________________________________90Al-Kafi,2/624p.21;Bi¦ār,76/212p.23

Say,‘Invoke‘‘Allāh’’orinvoke‘‘theAll-beneficent.’’Whichever[ofHisNames]youmayinvoke,toHimbelongtheBestNames.’Beneitherloudinyourprayer,normurmurit,butfollowamiddlecoursebetweenthese,andsay,‘AllpraisebelongstoAllāh,whohasneithertakenanyson,norhasHeanypartnerinsovereignty,norhasHe[taken]anyallyoutofweakness,’andmagnifyHim

withamagnification[worthyofHim].-Surahal-Isra,17:110-111

ThesameisalsoconfirmedinahadithfromImāmal-Husayn(‘a)fromtheProphet(s)whosaid,‘aprotectionformynationfromtheftis(Surahal-Isra,verse110-111).’91

ForProtectionfromVermin&OtherHarmfulCreatures

ItisreportedfromImāmMuhammadal-Bāqir,peacebeonhim,thathesaid,‘Iamtheguarantorforonewhorecitesthefollowing,thatneitherscorpionswillharmhimnoranyverminuntilhewakesup:’92

IseekrefugewiththeperfectwordsofAllāhthatcannotbesurpassedbyonewhoisrighteousoratransgressor,fromtheevilofwhatHemadeandfromtheevilofwhatHeoriginatedandfromtheevilofeverycreaturewhomHeholdsby

itsforlock.IndeedmyLordisonarightpath.

__________________________________________________________________________91Al-Aman,p.131;ad-Da’aw¡t,p.160p.443.Inothertraditions,theword‘sword’occursinsteadof‘theft’.92Al-Faqīh,v.1p.1360

ForProtectionfromBeasts

FromAbuHamzaath-ThumalifromImām‘Alib.al-HusaynZaynal-‘Abidin(‘a)hesaid,‘onewhorecitesthefollowingwhenhegoestobed,Allāhwillprotecthimandkeepawayfromhimtheevilofeverybeast:’93

OAllāh!YouaretheFirstandthereisnothingbeforeYou;andYouaretheManifest,thereisnothingaboveYou;AndYouareHidden,thereisnothingbeneathYou;andYouaretheLast,thereisnothingafterYou.OAllāh,LordofthesevenheavensandLordofthesevenearthsandLordoftheTawrātandInj¢landtheWiseFurqān(i.e.Qur’ān),IseekrefugewithYoufromtheevilofeverylivingcreatureWhomYouhavegrabbedbyitsforlock(i.e.whoisinYour

completecontrol).IndeedYouareonastraightpath.94

__________________________________________________________________________93Bih¡r,76/214,¦.23;Mustadrakal-Wasa’il,5/45,¦.532794Cf.Qur ’ān,11:56

ForProtectionfromNocturnalEmission(Ihtilām)

FromImāmJa’faras-Sadiq(‘a)–withasahihtransmission–hesaid,‘onewhofearsexperiencingawet-dreamshouldreciteatbedtime:’95

OAllāh,IseekrefugewithYoufromnocturnalemissionandtheevilofdreams

andthatSatanshouldfoolaroundwithmewhilstawakeorinsleep.

Thewords‘whilstawake’(inthesupplication)couldbeareferencetoformsofsinsuchasmasturbation,fornication,pornographyandsoforth(andweseekrefugefromAllāhfromsuchbaseactsofsins!)thatwouldleadonetobecomerituallyimpure(junub).

ForProtectionfromCollapseoftheRoof

Whenoneissleepingataplacewhosestructureisdoubtfulanditappearstobedilapidatedoroneissleepinginanareathatispronetotremorsandearthquakes,thefollowingsupplicationisuseful.

ItisreportedfromImām‘Aliar-Ridā(‘a)fromhisfatherImāmMusaal-Kāzim(‘a)thathesaid,‘ahousewillnevercollapseonanyonewhorecitesthefollowing(verseofQur ’ān)whenheintendstosleep:’96

____________________________________________________________________________95Al-Kafi,2/49/536,p.5;al-Faqīh,v.1p.1361;Misbāhal-Mutahajjid,p.122;Misbā¦al-Kaf’ampi,p.4796At-Tahdhib,2/117p240;al-Faqihv.1,p.1362;Thawābal-‘Am¡l,p.183,p.1

IndeedAllāhsustainstheheavensandtheearthlesttheyshouldfallapart,andiftheyweretofallapartthereisnonewhocansustainthemexceptHim.Indeed

Heisall-forbearing,all-forgiving.-Surahal-Fātir,35:41

ForProtectionfromDrowningorBurning

ItisreportedfromAmiral-Mu’mininImām‘Ali(‘a)thatonewhorecitesthefollowingtwoversesoftheQur ’ānbeforegoingtosleep,willbesafefromdrowningorburning:97

MyguardianisindeedAllāhwhosentdowntheBook,andHetakescareoftherighteous.

-Surahal-A’rāf,7:196

TheydonotregardAllāhwiththeregardduetoHim,yettheentireearthwillbeinHisfistontheDayofResurrection,andtheheavens,scrolled,inHisrighthand.ImmaculateisHeandexaltedabove[having]anypartnersthatthey

ascribe[toHim].-Surahaz-Zumar,39:67

___________________________________________________________________________97SayyidMus§afaal-Musawi,Fawāidal-Qur ’ān

ACureforInsomnia

1. TheMessengerofAllāh(s)taughtthefollowingsupplicationtocureinsomnia:98

OAllāh,Lordoftheheavensandwhattheyshade;andLordoftheearthsandwhattheycarry;andLordofthedevilsandwhattheymisguide;bemy

protectorfromallYourcreation,lestanyofthemshouldcrossboundarieswithmeorrebel;MightyisYourprotectionandthereisnogodbesidesYou.

2. ItisrelatedfromImāmJa’faras-Sadiq(‘a)that,‘whenyousufferfrominsomniathenrecite:’99

GlorybytoAllāh,Masteroftheaffairs;theEver-subsistingKing;themightyProof,everydayHeisengagedinsomework!

3. Inanotherreport,M£sab.Isma’ilb.Musa(‘a)b.Ja’far(‘a)reportedthathisfathernarratedfromhisfatherfromImām‘Ali(‘a)thatFatima(‘a)complainedtotheMessengerofAllāh(s)ofsleeplessnessandhesaid,‘recite,mydeardaughter:’

_____________________________________________________________________________98Bihar,76/213¦.23;Mustadrakal-Was¡’il,5/126p.548899Misbahal-Mutahajjid,p.121;Mustadrakal-Wasa’il,5/26,p.5487

OSatiatorofhungrystomachs,OClotherofnakedbodies;OCalmerofrestlessveins;OSleeperofwakefuleyes;calmmyrestlessveinsandpermitmyeyeto

sleepswiftly.

Sosherecitedthisandit(thesleeplessness)wentaway.100

4. FromMu’āwiyab.WahbfromImāmJa’faras-Sādiq(‘a)thatoneofhissonscametohimonenightandsaid,‘father,Iwishtosleep(butcannot).’Sohe(theImām(‘a))said,‘myson,recite:’101

_____________________________________________________________________100Al-Ash’ithiyat,p.248;Bihār,76/213p.23101Al-Kāfi2/49/537p.8

IbearwitnessthatthereisnogodbutAllāhandthatMu¦ammad(s)isHisservantandmessenger.IseekrefugewiththegreatnessofAllāhandIseekrefugewiththemightofAllāhandIseekrefugewiththepowerofAllāhandIseekrefugewiththemajestyofAllāh,andIseekrefugewiththeauthorityofAllāh;Allāhhaspoweroverallthings;andIseekrefugewiththepardonofAllāhandIseekrefugewithAllāh’sforgiveness,andIseekrefugewithAllāh’smercyfromtheeviloftheverminandthevenomouscreatureandfromtheevilofeverycreature,smallorbig,bynightorday,andfromtheevilofsinfuljinnandmenandfromtheevilofthesinfulArabandnon-Arabandfromtheeviloflightningandhail.OAllāhblessMu¦ammad,Yourservantandmessenger.

ToSeeRasulAllāh(s)inOne’sSleep

1. FromImāmJa’faras-S¡diq(‘a),‘onewhowishestoseeourmastertheMessengerofAllāh(s)inhissleepshould,afterprayingthelast‘Ishaprayer,performabath(ghusl)tocleanhimself.Thenprayfourrak’ahswithfourhundredAyatal-Kursi(100ineachrak’ah).Thensendblessings(recitesalawāt)onMu¦ammadandAl-iMuhammadathousandtimes.Thensleep(withcleanclothesand)oncleansheetsthathaveneverbeenusedforevenlawfulsexualrelations.Andheshouldplacehisrightpalmunderhisrightcheekandreciteahundredtimes:

GlorybetoAllāhandAll-praiseisforAllāh.AndthereisnogodbutAllāhandAllāhisthegreatestandthereisnopowerorstrengthexceptAllāh’s

Thenheshouldreciteahundredtimes:

WhateverAllāhwishes!

AndheshallseetheProphet(s)inhisdream.’102

2. AndifyouwishtosendgreetingstotheProphet(s)asifyoudiditinpersonandherepliedyou,thenitisreportedfromtheProphet(s)thathesaid,‘onewhogoestobedandthenrecitesSurahTabarakal-ladhibiyadihilmulk(i.e.Surahal-Mulk–chapter67)andthenrecitesthefollowingfourtimes:

________________________________________________________________________________102Bihār,76/214,p.23

OAllāh,LordoftheSacredMosqueandtheareaarounditandtheSacredTown(i.e.Makkah),conveytothesoulofMu¦ammad,onmybehalf,salutationsand

greetings.

ThenAllāhappointsforhimtwoangelswhocometotheProphet(s)andsaytohim,‘OMu¦ammad!So-and-sosendsonyoupeaceandmercyandblessingsofAllāh(‘alaykassal¡mwarahmatullāhiwabarakātuhu).’103

3. AndifyouwishtoseeAm¢ral-Mu’min¢n‘Alib.AbiTālib(‘a)inyourdreamthenrecitewhenyousleep:104

OAllāh,IaskYou,OOneWhosegraceisdelicateandsubtleandHissupportiswidespreadandneverending;IaskYoubyYoursubtleanddelicategrace,whichnoservantisgracedwithexceptitsufficeshim,thatYoushowmemy

master,Am¢ral-Mu’minin,‘Alib.AbiTālib,inmysleep.

________________________________________________________________________________103Kanzal-’Ummāl,15/346,p.41320104BiHār,76/215,p.23and53/330

ToseeaDeceasedduringSleep

Whenyouwishtoseeadeceasedrelativethensleepwithpurity(Taharah)(i.e.wudu)andlieonyourrightsideandrecitetheTasbihofFatimaaz-Zahrā(‘a).Thensay:

OAllāh,YouaretheEver-livingwhocannotbedescribed;andfaithisonlyknownfromit.FromYoucommencedallthingsandtoYoutheyreturn.Whateveradvancedfromit,Youwereitsrefugeandsafetyandwhatever

retreatedfromithadnorefuge;andthereisnosafetyexceptwithYou.SoIaskyouforthesakeof‘thereisnogodbyYou’andIaskYouforthesakeof‘IntheNameofAllāh,theBeneficent,theMerciful’;forthesakeofMu¦ammad(¥),themasteroftheprophetsandforthesakeof‘Ali(‘a),thebestoftrustees(totheProphet(s))andforthesakeofFātima(‘a),theleaderofthewomenofthe

world,andforthesakeofal-Hasan(‘a)andal-Husayn(‘a),whomYouhavemadethemastersoftheyouthoftheinhabitantsofParadise,onthemallbepeace;thatYoublessMu¦ammad(s)andhishousehold(‘a)andthatyoushow

memydeceasedintheconditionthatheorsheis.

Andyouwill,Allāhwilling,seehim.105

-EndofBookOne-

walhamdulillāh

_________________________________________________________________________105Misbahal-Mutahajjid,p.22;Bihar,76/215,p.23