Invocation

THE SUPERIORITY OF INVOCATIONS

The superiority of Tasbeehat or Sanctification of Allah

It is narrated from Imam Hassan (a.s) that a group of Jews came to the presence of the Prophet of Allah (a.s.) and their chief inquired about several religious matters and got satisfactory replies. The entire group embraced Islam. One of the questions asked by the Jew was about the words that were taught to Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) at the time of the construction of the Kaaba. The Prophet told him the pharse was as follows:

“Subhan Allahi walhamdu Lillahi wa la ilaha il Allaho wallaho Akbar”

The Jew asked, “What rewards one could get if he recites this phrase regularly?”

The Prophet of Allah said, “ When the sanctifier says ‘Subhan Allah’, then the angels under the Firmament too will repeat ‘Subhan Allah’. And the reciter will get ten times more reward. When the person says 'Alhamdu lillah’, then Allah rewards him with the world and the Hereafter. These are the words that will be on the mouth of the people who enter the precincts of the Heaven because they used to recite the same words while on the earth. When the person says, ‘La ilaha il Allah’, Allah orders awarding to him a place in the Heaven for uttering these words, because ‘Hal jazaal ehsan illal ehsaan’. When the Jewish scholar heard this, he said, “ O Mohammed! You tell the truth!”

w Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s.) said, “A group of beggars came to the Prophet of Islam (a.s.) and said, ‘ Ya Rasool Allah (a.s.)! The affluent have money and they can perform the Haj. We don’t have the means to fulfill this important tenet! They have slaves, whom they can free to earn Allah’s goodwill. We can’t do that. They have wealth that they can do charity. We cannot be charitable! They can go for Jehad, we cannot do that!’ The Prophet of Islam (a.s.) replied,’ One who repeats the words “ Allaho Akbar” a hundred times, he will get the reward equal to that for releasing a hundred slaves. One who repeats the words “Subhan Allah” a hundred times he will get the reward for a Haj in which a hundred camels had been offered as sacrifice by him.. One who repeats the words “Al hamdu Lillah” a hundred times, he will get the reward for a Jehad for which he had donated a hundred steeds.. When a person repeats the words ‘La ilaha il Allah” a hundred times, the reward will be the maximum.’ This news reached the affluent people and they too started reciting the words. The beggars came back to the Prophet (a.s) and said, “ O Prophet of Allah! The rich too have started doing the same as you have asked us to do!’ The Prophet (a.s) replied, ‘ This is Allah's Bounty! He can give to whoever He wishes to!’”

w Imam Reza (a.s.) has said, “ One who recites a hundred times each of the following words, 'Alhamdulillah’ ‘Subhan Allah’ ‘La ilaha il Allah’ and says the Durood ‘Allahu ma salle ala Mohammedin wa aale Mohammed’ a hundred times, and later on says ‘Alla humma zawwijni min al hoor il ain’, Allah will grant him the Hoor al Ain in the Heaven. These five hundred words will be the Mehr (alimony) for the Hoor al Ain. This is the reason why 500 Deenar is fixed as the alimony for the momina women!”

THE REWARD FOR TAHLEEL OR DECLARATION OF ALLAH’S UNITY

The Prophet of Islam (a.s.) has said, “ Allah told to Hazrat Moosa (a.s.) that if whatever is there on the earth and the sky is put in one pan of a balance and in the other the words ’La ilaha il Allah’ are put, the pan in which these words are put will tilt to its side’.. And said, ‘ Reciting these words when one takes his last breaths would be of immense advantage that the spirit would leave the body with ease.’

w Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) has said, “ The more these words are recited, the more one will earn Rewards.. This is an invocation whose superiority is immeasurable. Every prayer has an end. When the five mandatory prayers are offered, ones duty has been done! But there is no limit to the recitation of ‘La ilaha il Allah’. One can recite it, however much he wishes to do it. Then the Imam recited the following verse,’ Ya ayyuhal lazeena aamanu azkur Allaha dikran kateeraun wa sabbehuhu bukrataun wa aseela- Al Ahzab verse 41. ( O believers! Talk of Allah a lot and do His invocation day and night.’”

w Imam Reza (a.s.) has said that Allah told to Hazrat Nooh (a.s.) that when his ark was engulfed in high tide, he should recite the following words a thousand times, "La ilaha il Allah” The Imam also said that the recitation of these words will ward away penury and hardship and also relieves one from the pressures of the grave. One who regularly recites these words everyday, Allah will pardon his five thousand sins. It will be like completing the recitation of the Quran twelve times that day’

w Therefore, bearing witness to the Unity of Allah by reciting, “Ashaduan la ilaha il Allah” is a very important invocation and will be the cause of ones deliverence.

w It is authentically narrated that once Hazrat Jibrael (a.s.) came to Hazrat Yusuf (a.s.) to the upper chamber of his royal palace. He noticed a wayfarer in tatters on the street. Hazrat Jibrael said, “ O Prophet of Allah (a.s.)! Do you know who that person is?” Hazrat Yusuf (a.s.) said, “ Please tell me who he is?” Hazrat Jibrael said that the person was the one who bore witness to your innocence!’ Hearing this, Hazrat Yusuf (a.s.) asked his men to fetch the persaon to his presence. When the person was brought up, Hazrat Yusuf treated him with great deference, ordered his men to give him a nice bath, dress him in expensive raiment and provide to him a chamber in the palace to live in and get him married to a beautiful lass.. When all this was accomplished as per the wish of Hazrat Yusuf (a.s.), the person went away from there in a state of happiness. Hazrat Jibrael then said, “ O Prophet of Allah( a.s.)! How ungrateful is the human being that if he bears witness to the Unity of Allah from the depths of his heart, Allah would give him palaces in the Heaven, delicious food and Hoor al Ain to consort with! When a creature of Allah could give all this to a person for bearing witness to his innocence, then no doubt the words “ Ashaduan la ilaha il Allahu” are the key to the Heaven!”

THE SUPERIORITY OF ADHKAR OR INVOCATIONS

w Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) narrates, “ Whoever utters the words “La ilaha il Allah”, Allah will creat a rooster that will hover over his head till the Day of Judgement and keep invoking Allah and the reward for that would go to the person.

w The Prophet of Allah (a.s.) has said, “ Ask your people on the verge of death to recite “La ilaha il Allah”, one whose last utterence are these words will certainly land in the Heaven.”

w It is narrated from Imam Reza (a.s.) that when hazrat Nooh (a.s.) boarded the ark, Allah sent to him a Revelation, ‘ When you feel the fear of ship wreck, recite these words a thousand times, “La ilaha il Allah”.

w It is narrated from Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) that whoever recites a hundred times the words “La ilaha il Allahul maalikal haqqaul mubeen”, Allah would save him from penury and he will be provided safety from the pressures of the grave. In this life he will become affluent.

w It is narrated in another tradition that one who recites this invocation 32 times, will take a turn towards prosperity.. Penury and difficulties would desert him. He will be knocking at the threshold of the Heaven..

w An authentic tradition narrates that whoever recites the following words fifteen times , “ La ilaha il Allaho haqqan haqqan la ilaha il Allaho eemanan wa tasdeeqan la ilaha il Allaho uboodiyatan wa riqqan”, allah will have a Bounteous look towards him and till the person enters the precincts of the Heaven, He will have an eye of Blessing on him.

w Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) narrates that if a person recites the following invocation ten times every day, “Ashaduan la ilaha il Allahu wahdahu la sharika lahu ilahan wahedan samadan lam yattakhezu sahebatunwa la waladan”, his record of deeds will get entry of forty five thousand virtuous deeds and delete the record of forty five thousand bad deeds. To the same extent the person’s status would be elevated..

w In another narration it is said that this invocation would save him from the machinations of the Satan on the Day of Judgement. He will be pardoned for the major sins committed by him. He will get the reward for reciting the complete Quran ten times and would also get a place in the Heaven.

THE SUPERIORITY OF TASBEEH OR THE ROSARY

w Imam Jafare Sadiq (a.s.) says that when a momin says “Subhan Allah wa behamdehi subhan Allahil azeem wa behamdehi”, Allah will enter three thousand virtuous deeds in his account and deletes one thousand misdeeds from there. Allah will create a rooster that will repeat this tasbeeh till the Day of Judgement and the reward for this will go to the account of the person.

w Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s.) has said that when a person says “ Subhan Allah”, the angels would pray for him.

w Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) has said that one who recites “Subhan Allah wa behamdehi, Subhan Allahil azeem”, thirty times, Allah will remove penury and difficulties from him, make him affluent and allot a place for him in the Heaven.

w It is narrated from Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s.) that when Allah had created the light (Noor) of the Prophet (a.s.), He had kept it for twelve thousand years under a curtain, Hijab e Qudrat. The Noor used to recite the following Tasbeeh: “Subhana Rabbial aala wa behamdehi”, again for eleven thousand years the noor was under a curtain, Hijab e Azmath, when it recited the words, Subhana aalamissirre wal khaffiyat, for another ten thousand years the Noor was under the Hijab al Mann reciting, “Subhana man huwa qayemun laailahu”, for another nine thousand years the Noor was under the curtain, Hijab e Rehmat, when it recited, “Subhan ar rabbi al aala”, thereafter the Noor was under the curtain, Hijab al Saadaat, for eight thousand years and it recited, “Subhana man huwa dayamun la yashuwa”, for the next seven thousand years the Noor was under the curtain, Hijab al Karamat, and recited, “Subhana man huwa ghaniun la yaghfar”, for the next six thousand years the Noor was under the curtain, Hijab al Manzila, when it recited, “Subhan il aleemul kareem”, for the next five thousand years the Noor was under the curtain, Hijab al Hidayat, when it recited, "Subhana zil arshil azeem”, for the next four thousand years the Noor was under the curtain, Hijab an nabbuwa, when it recited, “Subhana rabbil izzate amma yasefoon”, for the next three thousand years the Noor was under the curtain, Hijab ar rafaa, when it recited, “Subhana zil mulke wal malakoot”, then for the next two thousand years the Noor was under the curtain, Hijab e Haibat, when it recited, "Subhan allahi wa behamde”, finally for one thousand years the Noor was under the curtain, Hijab ash Shafaat, when it recited, “Subhana Rabbil azeeme wa behamdehi”

SUPERIORITY PF TAHMEED OR PRAISING ALLAH

w Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) was asked what act was the best in the consideration of Allah? He replied, “ Praising Him!”

w Imam Ali bin Hussain (a.s) said,” One who uttered “Al hamdu lillah”, he thanked Allah for all His Bounties.

w Hazrat Imam Reza (a.s.) said that the Prophet of Islam (a.s.) has observed that Allah gives His Bounties to a person who remembers and praises Allah. One who experiences delays in getting his sustenance, he should do Asthagfar (seek Allah’s forgiveness). If a person is engrossed with difficulties, he should say, “La haula wa la quwwata illa billa”.

w Whenever the Prophet of Allah (a.s.) was pleased with anything, he used to say, “Alhamdu lillahil lazi benematehi tatam as saalehaat” and whenever there was a sad event he said “Al hamdu lillahi ala kulle haal”.

w Imam Jafare Sadiq (a.s.) has narrated from the Prophet of Allah (a.s.) that he used to praise Allah every day. He used to recite, as much as his physical condition permitted, the following words, “Al hamdu lillahi rab il aalameen kateeran ala kulle haal.”

w Imam jafar e Sadiq has said that one who says, “Alhamdu lillahi kama huwa ahlehi”, the chroniclers of deeds will tell to Allah that they were tiring recording good deeds in his Nama e Aamaal. Allah will say, “ Write whatever my creature is saying. Leave his record of deeds for Me to update!”

THE SUPERIORITY OF ASTAGHFAR-SEEKING ALLAH’S FORGIVENESS

w Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s.) has said that the smell of sins is warded off by the fragrance of repentence. Seeking Allah’s forgiveness (Astaghfar) becomes the cause of enhancement of one’s sustenance.

w Imam Zain al Abedeen (a.s.) has said that a person who has the habit of saying “Astaghfar Allah Rabbi wa atoobe alaih” will never be proud and conceited.

w Whichever group the Prophet of Allah (a.s.) visited, he used to spend more time in saying the Astaghfar.

w It is narrated that the Prophet of Allah used to say the Astaghfar a hundred times every night, although he was a Masoom ( innocent) and not susceptible to commit any sins.Therefore, saying Astaghfar in itself is a abig invocation, whether one has committed any sin or not. Astaghfar is liked by the Creator and His Prophet. (a.s.)..

w It is narrated from Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) that when a person commits a sin, he gets a respite of seven hours to repent and seek Allah’s forgiveness by saying the Astaghfar three times. If he does this, then the sin will not be entered in his Nama e Aamaal. The Astaghfar is “Astaghfarullah allazi la ilaha illa huwal hai al qayyumo wa atoobu ilaihi.”

w Then the Imam (a.s.) said, “ Whoever repeats Astaghfar Allah a hundred times in a day, Allah will forgive seven hundred sins of his. Remember, there is no virtue in a person who can commit seven hundred sins in a day!”

w It is narrated from Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) When a momin commits forty sins ina day and night, and in repentence recites the following invocation: “Astaghfarullah allazi la ilaha illa huwal haiulqayyumo badeeus samawate walarz zul jalale wal ikrame waasaalahu an yusalli ala muhammadin wa aale muhammadin wa atoobo alayya”, then Allah will pardon his sins.

MISCELLANEOUS INVOCATIONS

Imam Jafar e Sadiq ( a.s.) has said that he was surprised why a person who is scared of an enemy doesn’t recite the following:

Hasbanallaha wa naimal wakeel

Because Allah has said that those who utter these words have acquired a great Bounty.

The Imam (a.s.) was surprised that why people don’t recite the following words that Hazrat Yunus (a.s.) recited while he was in the belly of the fish:

La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kunto min azzaalemeen

Because Allah says that He heard the prayer of Yunus and gave him relief from his trouble.

The Imam (a.s.) wondered that when a person’s enemies are deceitful against him, he doesn’trecite these words

Ufawwazo amri ilallahi innallaha baseerum bilibaad

Because Allah says, thereafter, that when the momins of the Tribe of Pharo recited these words, He protected them from the deceit of their enemies.

The Imam (a.s.) wondered that when a person aspires for wealth and property, why doesn’t he recite the following words

Maasha Allaha lahaula wala quwwata illa billahi

Because thereafter, Allah has promised to answer the momin’s prayers.

One person complained to the Prophet (a.s.) about fears and the burden of debts. The Prophet (a.s.) advised him to recite the following words

Tawakkalto alalhai al lazi la yamooto wal hamdu lillahil lazi lam yattakhizo sahebatan wa la waladan wa lam yakunlahu shareekun filmulke wa lam yakunlahu waliun min azzulle wakabirrehu takbeera

The prophet of Islam (a.s) narrated that Hazrat Adam (a.s.) complained to Allah about fears and uneasiness. Jibrael (a.s.) came and said that if he recited the following words, his fears would vanish

La haula wa la quwwata illa billahi

Also the Prophet of Allah (a.s.) said that Allah will shower His Bounties on a person who recited the words

Al hamdu lillahi rabbil aalameen

The person who is engulfed in sorrow and difficulties should recite

La haula wala quwwata illa billahil alil azeem

The Prophet ( a.s..) also said that one Night of Meraj Allah has sent the following words through a Revelation

La haula wala quwwata illa billahi wala maljaam minka illa ilaika

Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) has said that when a person recites the following words , while offering supplications, his prayers will definitely be answered:

Maasha allaho lahaula wala quwwata illa billahi

The Imam (a.s.) also said when a person recites the following words seven times

Ya arham ar rahemeen

The angels say,’ your voice has been heard by the Arham ar Rahemeen and whatever you have wished for will be granted by Him!’

And when a person repeats ten times the words

Ya Allaho

Then Allah says, ‘ Ask for whatever is required by you!’

Imam Reza (a.s.) said, “ When a person is afflicted with difficulties he should continuously recite

Ya Raoofo ya Raheemo

It is narrated from Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) when one recites the verses of

Qul hu walla, Inna anzalna and Ayat al Kursi

Facing the Kaaba, Allah will definitely answer his wishes because these contain the Ism e Azam (the ineffable words).

Imam Reza (a.s.) has said the following are Ineffable Words

Ya haiyo ya Qayyum

It is narrated from Imam Ali bin al Hussain (a.s.) that the following supplication is based on Ism e Azam and reciting it will get the prayers answered:

Ya allaho ya Allaho ya Allaho wahdaka wahdaka la shareeka laka antal mannan badius samawaate wal arza zul jalale wal ikraame wazussamail izaame wazul izzallazi la yuramo wa ilahukum ilahun wahedun la ilaha illa huwar Rahman urraheeme wa salallaho ala muhammadin wa aalehi ajmaeen

It is narrated from Sakeen bin Ammar that one night he was asleep in the city of Mecca. He saw a person in the dream asking him to awaken and see that a person was reciting Invocations to Allah. He awoke from the sleep, but fell asleep again. He saw the same dream a second time. He awoke and fell asleep again. When he saw the dream again , he heard a loud voice saying that Imam Moosa bin Jafar (a.s) reciting the Ism e Azam. . He took a bath, wore fresh clothes and went near the Hajr e Aswad. He found a revered person prostrating toward the Kaaba. He went and stood near him. When he heard intently, the following words were audible to him:

Yanooro ya quddooso (three times)

 

 

Ya haiyo ya Qayyumo (three times)

 

 

Ya haiyo la yamooto (three times)

 

 

Ya haiyo heena la haiyo (three times)

 

 

Ya haiyo la ilaha illa anta (three times)

 

 

Asaloka be-an la ilaha illa anta (three times)

Sikeen says that the Imam (a.s) repeated the words so many times that he could memorise them.

Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s) says that one who recites the following words will certainly get his prayers answered:

Ya asma as saame eena wa ya absaran naazereena wa ya asraul haasebeena ya arham ar raahemeena wa ya ahkamul haakemeena

 THE TIMINGS FOR SPECIAL INVOCATIONS

THE INVOCATIONS AFTER THE MANDATORY PRAYERS OF THE MORNINGS AND EVENINGS

Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s) narrates that when you have finished the evening ( Maghrib) prayer, then without talking to anyone, say the following a hundred times:

Bismillahir Rahmaan ir Raheem la haula wa la quwwata illa billahil ali il azeem

Do the same after the morning (Fajr) prayers. Allah will ward away a hundred evils from you because there is Ism e Azam in these words.

Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) has said, “ when a person recites the following ten times before the sunrise and before the sunset every day, all his sins committed on that day will be pardoned:

La ilaha il Allaho wahdahu la shareeka lahu lahul mulko wa lahul hamdo yohi wa yumeeto wa yohi wa huwa hayyun la yamooto be yadahil khaire wa huwa ala kulle shaiyin qadeer

Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s.) has said, “ One who recites the Salawat on Mohammed and his progeny ten times at dawn and repeats the following words

Subhan Allah ( 35 times)

La ilaha il Allah (35 times)

Alhamdu lillah (35 times)

And repeats the same at dusk, then he will be counted as those who are busy supplicating to Allah throughout the day. And one who says allaho Akbar a hundred times at dawn and at dusk, he will get Reward equal to releasing a hundred slaves.

It is narrated that the Prophet of Allah (a.s.) used to revite three hundred and sixty times every dawn and dusk the following

Alhamdu lillahi rabbilaalimeen kateeran ala kulle haalin

He (a.s.) said that there are 360 veins in the human body. Of them 180 are mobile and the other 180 are static. If, even one mobile vein becomes static, or any of the static veins becomes mobile, then the person doesn’t get the sleep and remains restless the whole night. He should therefore regularly recite the invocation mentioned above.

It is narrated from Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s.) that one should recite the following invocation in the mornings:

Asbahto billahi moomenan ala deene Muhammadin wa sunnatehi wa deenil ausiae wa sunnatehim aamanto besirrehim wa alniyatehim wa shahedehim wa ghayebehim wa aaoozu billahi mimma asta aaza minhu rasoolillahi sal allaho alaihi wa aalehi wa alal ausiyae salawaat ullahi alaihim wa arghub ilallahi feeha raghebu ilaihi wa la haula wa la quwwata illa billahi.

It is also narrated from the Prophet of Allah (a.s.) that one who recites the following supplication before the sunrise, an angel will take it on its wings and go to the Firmament . When it arrives there, the other angels ask him what it was carrying. It says that it was carrying the supplication of a momin. The angels then pray to Allah for the acceptance of the momin’s supplication. Similarly all the angels and the people of the Firmament will pray on his behalf. This supplication is treasured with the record of the good deeds of the Momin.

Allaho akbar Allaho akbar kabeeran wa subhan allahi bukratan wa aseela walhamdulillahi rabbil aalameena kateeran la shareeka lahu wa salallaho ala Mohammedin wa aalehi.

Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) used to recite the following supplication thrice every morning. Allah used to keep him safe from all calamities the whole day:

Asbahto wa rabbi mahmoodan asbahto la shareeka billahi shaiyan wa la adau maallahi ilahan wa la attakhaza min doonehi waliyyan

It is narrated from Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s) that before talking to anyone in the morning, one should recite the Sura e Qadr and blow on the Aqeeq stone (cornelian) and then recite the following supplication:

Aamanto billahi wahdahu la shareeka lahu wa kafarto biljibte wat taghoote wa aamanto besirre aale Mohammedin wa alaniyatehim wa zaherehim wa batinehim wa awwalehim wa aakhirehim

Then Allah will save him from all calamities that day.

It is narrated from Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s.) that anyone who recites the following verse three times at the time of Maghrib prayer, till the next morning he will not suffer any loss and he will be safe from natural calamities:

Fa subhan allahi heena tumsoona wa heena tusbehoona wa lahul hamdo fis samawaate wal arze wa ashi an wa heena tuzheroona – 30.18

Hazrat Ameer al Momineen has said that anyone who recited three times the following words every morning and evening, then Allah will certainly enter him into the Heaven:

Razaito billahi rabban wa bilislame deenan wa Muhammadin sal allaho alaihi wa aalehi nabian wa bil qurane balaghan wa be aliyin imaman wa bil ausiayo min wuldehe aayimatan

Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) has said that one who recites the following words 25 times every day, then Allah will write one virtue in the names of all the momins from Adam (a.s.) till the Day of Reckoning and to that individual he will Reward equal to that of all the momins:

Allahumma aghfiru lilmomineena wal mominaate wal muslimeena wal muslimaate

Halqam asked Imam Jafare Sadiq (a.s.) , ‘ Ya Ibne Rasool Allah (a.s)! Teach me a supplication that will be beneficial for me now and also in the Hereafter.” The Imam said, “ After the Fajr prayer, till the dawn, recite the following:

Subhan allahil azeeme wa behamdehe astaghfirallaha wa asalahu min fazlehi

SUPPLICATIONS AFTER EVERY MANDATORY PRAYER

In the supplications to be recited after eyery mandatory prayer, the best is the Tasbeeh e Fatima (a.s.). It requires reciting:

Allaho Akbar (34 times)

Alhamdu lillah (33 times)

Subhan Allah (33 times)

Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s.) has said that after every mandatory prayer, there is no better invocation than the Tasbeeh e Fatima (a.s.). If there was any other, more effective, way of Praising Allah, the Prophet (a.s.) would most certainly have instructed his daughter about that.

Imam Jafar e Sadiq has said that reciting the Tasbeeh e Fatima (a.s.) after every compulsory prayer is better than performing a thousand genuflections. One should say once after reciting the Tasbeeh the following words:

La ilaha il Allah

Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s.) has said, One who sits quietly after each mandatory prayer and recites thrice the following words, Allah will pardon all his sins:

Astaghfarallah allazi la ilaha illa huwal hayyal qayyumo zuljalal e wal ikraame wa aatube ilaihi

Imam Jafar e Sadiq has said that if a person recites thirty times the following words after each compulsory prayer, all his sins will be pardoned:

Subhan Allah

It is narrated from Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s.) if one desires to depart from this world as innocent as he was at his birth, then he should recite the Sura e Iqlaas twelve times after every compulsory prayer and then raise his hands towards the sky and recite the following invocation:

Allahumma inni asaloka beismekal maknoone wal makhzoonil tahiril tuhharil mubarake wa asaloka beismekal azeeme wa sultanekal qadeeme ya waheb al ataya wa ya mutleqal usaara wa ya fakkakar riqaabe min an naare asaloka anto salle ala Mohammedin wa alle Mohammadin wa an tuteqa raqbati minan naare wa an tuqrijani min ad duniya aamenan wa an tudqilunil jannata salemun wa an tajal duaee awwalahu falahan wa awsatahu najahan wa aakhirahu salahan innaka anta allamul ghayoobo

Imam Reza (a.s.) was asked about the method of offering salutations to the Prophet (a.s.) and his Ahl al Bayt (a.s.) after the mandatory prayers. The Imam (a.s) asked one to say the following:

As salaam alaika ya rasool allah wa rahmat ullahi wa barakatahu ya Mohammed bin Abdallah as salaamu alaika ya khairatillahe as salaamualaika ya Habeeb Allah as salaamualaika ya sifwat allahi as salaamualaika ya ameenallahi ashadu annaka Rasool allahi wa ashaduannaka Muhammad ibne Abdallahi wa ashaduannaka qad nashata leummeka wa jahadta fi sabeele rabbaka wa abdutahu hatta ataakal yaqeena fajazaakallaha ya rasool Allahi afzala ma jazaee nabiyan ummehi alla humma salle ala Muhammadin wa aale muhammedin afzale ma sallaita ala Ibraheema innaka hameedun majeed

It is narrated from Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) that after every mandatory prayer he continued sitting at the place of the prayer till he cursed four accursed men andfour accursed women of the ummat.:

INVOCATIONS AFTER ZUHR PRAYER

It is narrated from Hazrat Ali (a.s.) that the Prophet of Allah (a.s.) used to recite the following supplication after the Zuhr prayer.

La ilaha il allahul azeemul haleemo la ilaha il allaho rabil arsh il kareeme wal hamdu lillahi rabbil aalameen allahumma inni asalaka mujebaate rahmateka wa aza ame maghfirateka wal ghanimata min kulle khairin was salamata min kulle ismin allahumma la tad aa li zunban illa ghafartahu wa la hamman illa farjataha wa la suqaman illa shafatahu wa la aiban illa satartahu wa la rizqan illa bastatahu wa la khaufan illa aminatahu wa la sau an illa saraftahu wa la hajjatan hiya laka rizzan waliya fiha salahun illa qazaitaha ya arham ar raahemeen

THE SUPPLICATION AFTER ASR PRAYER

Imam jafar e Sadiq has said that a person who says Asthgfar seventy time after the Asr prayer, Allah will pardon his seven hundred sins. If he doesn’t have so many sins in his account, Allah will pardon the sins of his parents or other relatives.

The Prophet of Allah (a.s.) has said that the person who recites Astaghfar once after the Asr prayer, Allah will forgive all his sins. The Astaghfar is as follows

Astaghfirallahallazi la ilaha illa huwal haiul qayyumur Rehmanur Raheemu zuljalale wal ikrame wa asaalahu an yatooba alaiyya taubata abdin zaleelin khazein faqeerin baessin miskeenin mustajeerin la yamleku lenafsehi nafan wa la zarran wa la mautan wa la hayatan wa la nushura

THE INVOCATIONS AFTER THE LATE NIGHT PRAYERS

Imam Mohammed Taqi (a.s.) has said that one who recites the verse Inna anzalna after the mandatory maghribain prayers, he will remain in the care of Allah till the morning.

Sheik Toosi has said that after the late night prayer ( namaz e Shab) one should recite ten times Surat al Fateha, Sura Qul huwalla, Sura Qul auzu berabbil naas, Sura Qul auzu Berabbil falaq. Also recite ten times Tasbeehaat e Arba and the Salawat.

SAJDA E SHUKR- THE PROSTRATION OF THANKSGIVING

Prostration of thanksgiving after every mandatory prayer was the practice ( Sunnat e Muwakkida) of the Prophet ( a.s.).

Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) has hinted at it’s being mandatory and said that when a person makes a prostration of thanksgiving, Allah addresses the angels and tells them that a sincere creature is doing the Sajda e Shukr. He asks the angels to suggest what Reward must be given to the person. The angels would suggest that Allah keep His Blessings with the person for his act. Allah will again ask them what else should be the Reward for the person? The angels say,’ O Sustainer! Give him a place in the Heaven!’ Allah will again ask the angels,’ What else?’ The angels reply, ‘ O Allah! Give a place in the Heaven for the person’s parents and children, as well!’ Allah will again ask the angels to suggest some more Reward for the person. The angels would reply,’ We have made suggestions to the best of our knowledge! We have nothing else to suggest! You know everything!’ Then Allah would say,’ The person has thanked Me in all sincerity and humility, therefore, in return, I too shall thank him!’

Imam Reza (a.s.) has said that while making the prostration of thanksgiving, a person should say Shukran lillah atleast three times. Also he should say a hundred times Afwan or Shukran. Either in prostration he should first say a hundred times Afwan or Al-afu Al-afu. Then he should keep the right cheek at the place of prostration and s make any supplication as, for example, Ya Allaho, Ya Rabbaho, Ya Syedaho. Similarly he should keep his left cheek at the place of prostration and say the same words. In the end he should place his forehead at the same spot and repeat Shukran Shukran ya Shukran Allah a hundred times.

Remember that this prostration is not a part of the mandatory prayer. This is only a sunnat. While doing this, the person should place his chest and the tummy on the ground, spread his arms and keep his kness flat on the ground. He should pray for the welfare of himself and all the momineen with tearful eyes. Allah likes his creatures imploring Him for help in this manner.

Our Imams (a.s.) used to make long prostrations of thanksgiving. Specially Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s.) used to do the sajda after completing his fajr prayer which stretched well into the sun up. When he was asked about his Sajda e Shukr, the Imam (a.s.) said, one should recite the following supplication while doing the Sajda:

Allahumma inni ashaduka wa ashadu malaekateka wa ambiyaeka wa rusuleka wa jamieh qalkeka annaka allaho rabbi wal islamo deeni wa Muhammadan nabiee wa Aliyan wal Hassane wal Hussaine wa Ali ibnal Hussaine wa Mohammed ibne aliyyin wa Jafar ibne Mohammedin wa Moosa ibne Jafar wa Ali ibne Moosa wa Mohammed ibne Aliyyin wa Ali ibne Mohammedin wal Hassan ibne Aliyyin wal Hujjata ibnal Hassane ayyimmati behim atwallah wa min aadayehim atabbara

Then the person should recite Shukran a hundred times and also say the Salawat.

Afterwards he should say thrice:

Allahumma inni unshudaka dam al mazloom

Then repeat the following thrice as well:

Allahumma inni unsheduka bayuaayeka ala nafseka leaadayeka letuhlaknahum beaidiana wa aidial momineena allahumma inni ansheduka beyuaieka ala nafseka leauliyaeka letuzfera behim beaduweka wa aduwwehim antusalle ala Mohammedin wa alal mustahfezeena min aale Mohammedin

Then he should recite the following thrice:

Allahumma inni asalukal yusra baadal usre

Then he should keep his right cheek at the place of prostration and repeat thrice the following:

Ya kahufi heena tuainil mazahiba wa tuzeeqa alalarze bema rahubato wa ya berabbia khalqi rahmata bee wa kunto min qalqi ghaniyan salle ala Mohammedin wa alal mustahfezeena min aale Mohammedin

Then the left cheek is kept at the place of prostration and the following words recited thrice:

Ya muzillo kullo jabbarin ya muizzo kulle zaleelin qad izzateka balagh bee majuhoori.

In one narration it is said that the Prophet of Allah (a.s.) used to recite the following while doing the prostration of thanksgiving:

Aauzubeka min naarin harreha la yutfa wa aaoozubeka min naarin jadeeduha la yubla wa aauzubeka min naarin utusanuha la yuruwayee wa aaoozubeka min naarin masukubaha la yuksa

It is narrated that Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s.) used to recite the following supplication while doing the Sajda e Shukr:

Irhamo zulli baina yadaika wa tazurrai ilaika wa wahshati minan naase wa unsa beka ya kareem

THE SUPPLICATIONS BEFORE GOING TO BED

Before sleeping it is advisable to do the ablution. . One should sleep on the right arm. And keep the face towards the Kaaba. It is better to recite the Tasbeeh e Fatima before going to bed that he doesn’t get disturbing dreams.

Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) has said that before going to bed one should recite the sura Inna anzalna eleven times and also sura Iqlas eleven times. One who does this, will be pardoned his sins during the next fifty years. If someone sees disturbing dreams, he should recite the maoozatain, that is, Qul aaoozo berabbil falaq & Qul aaoozo Berabbil Naas before going to bed.

Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s.) says that when one turns in the bed, he should say:

Alhamdu lillah wallaho akbar

Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) has said that when a person wishes to wake up at a particular time in the night, he should recite the following before going to bed:

Allahumma la tunsenee zikraka wa la tauamminnee makruka wa la tajalni min al ghafeleena wa anabbehuni leuhibbul saa aate ilaika adooka fiha fatastajeebo li wa asaluka fatuhtaini wa astaghferuka fataghfirli innahu la egferul zunooba illa anta ya arham ar rahemeen