17th Rabiul Awwal

17th RabiulAwwal-Birth of the Holy Prophet and Imam Ja'far Sadiq (peace and blessings be upon them both)

The seventeenth of Rabi` al-Awwal is the birthday of the Holy Prophet, Muhammad ibn `Abdullah— may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his Household. This is the famous opinion adopted by the Imamiyyah scholars. It is well-known that the Holy Prophet (s) was born in Makkah, in his house, at the break of the morning of Friday in the year known as “The Elephant Year” during the reign of the Anushirwan, the fair king of Persia (also called Khosrow the Just).
Also, on the seventeenth of Rabi` al-Awwal, AH 83,Imam Ja`far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) was born. This event has added further honor to this day.

Muslims are advised to honor this day; they may give alms, do righteous deeds, give pleasure to the brethren-in-faith, and visit the holy mausoleums. In Iqbal al-A`mal, Sayyid Ibn Tawus has expatiated upon the necessity of honoring this day, saying, “I noticed that Christians and some Muslims honor the birthday of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) in a matchless, remarkable way. I thus wonder how those Muslims accept to honor the birthday of their Prophet (peace be upon him and his famliy) in a way less than their honoring another Prophet!”

The devotional acts that should be practiced on this holy day are as follows:
1.It is recommended to Ghusl/bathe oneself on this day.
2.It is recommended to observe fasting on this day, since this brings about many rewards. In this respect, it is narrated that to observe fasting on this day brings about the reward of observing fasting for a whole year. It is, in fact, one of the four days the observance of fasting on which has been exclusively confirmed.
3.It is recommended to visit the tomb of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his famliy) from near or remote distance. - Ziyarah of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family)
4.It is recommended to visit the tomb and Recite Ziyarah of Imam `Ali Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) that Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) taught to Muhammad ibn Muslim.
5.Recite Ziyarat & Salawaat of Imam Ja`far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (peace be upon him)
6.It is recommended to offer, in the forenoon, a two unit prayer and to recite at each of which Surah al-Fatihah once and repeat Surah al-Qadr ten times and Surah al-Tawhid ten times. After Salat it is recommended to sit in ones place of prayer and say the beautiful duar that begins with the following statement:
O Allah, verily You are Ever-living and You never die....( as in the book of Zad al-Maad.) Pdf
“O‟ my God! You are the Living that shall not die.
You are the Creator that shall not be overcome and an Initiator that does not end!
You are the Near that shall not be distant.
You are the Powerful that shall not be opposed!
You are the Forgiver who shall not oppress!
You are the Eternal who does not eat!
You are the Self -Subsisting who shall not fall asleep;
You are the Learned whom no one has taught;
You are the Powerful who shall not be weak;
You are the Exalted who cannot be described;
You are the Loyal one who never breaks His promise;
You are the Wealthy one who shall never become poor;
You are the Wise one who shall not oppress;
You are Rebellious one no one can rebel against;
You are the Good who shall not be considered bad;
You are the Entrusted who is not hidden;
You are the Mighty that shall not be overcome;
You are the One who does not seek counsel;
You are the Bestower who does not get tired;
You are the Swift who shall not neglect;
You are the Benevolent who does not withhold;
You are the Mighty who does not get debased;
You are the Keeper who shall not neglect;
You are the Standing who shall not get destroyed;
You are the Veiled who cannot be seen;
You are the Eternal that never gets destroyed;
You are the Everlasting who shall not terminate;
You are the One who has no alike;
You are the Affluent without any one to challenge!
O‟ my God! I ask You by the Secret Knowledge that You possess and by Your Power over all creatures.
Please let me live when You know that it is good for me to live, and take away my life when death is good for me.
I ask You to grant me humbleness in private and public! O‟ my God! I ask You to let me be able to tell the truth at times of anger and pleasure!
I ask You for endless blessings that do not get exhausted!
I ask You for contentment after Your Destination!
I ask You for the provisions of life after death.
I ask You for the pleasure of looking at Your Noble Face. Amen, O‟ Lord of the worlds.
O‟ my God! I ask You for Your Benevolent Favors, and through Your supreme Bounties to forgive me and have mercy upon me, O‟ Knower of subtleties!
Please be kind to me regarding all that You like and are pleased with.
O‟ my God! I ask You for success in doing good deeds, abandoning abominable deeds, love for the poor, and association with the good people.
Please forgive me and have mercy upon me, and if You decide to cause great calamities for the people, to exempt me from such calamities.
I ask You for Your love and the love of what You love, and the love of all deeds that would bring me close to You. O‟ my God!
I ask You for the sake of Your loved one – Muhammad and his Progeny, for the sake of Your friend Abraham – chosen by You, and for the sake of Your interlocutor Moses, and for the sake of Your spirit – Jesus.
I ask You for the sake of the Books of Abraham, the Torah of Moses, the Bible of Jesus, the Psalms of David, and the Qur‟an of Muhammad (MGB).
I ask You for the sake of all revelations You revealed, all the destiny You destined, all the needy You bestowed upon.
I ask You for the sake of all Names which You sent down in Your Book.
And I ask You by Your Names by which Your Throne is firmly established.
I ask You by Your Names which when You placed on the fire it became ablaze.
I ask You by Your Names which when You placed on the night it became dark.
I ask You by Your Names which when You placed on the fire, it became lit.
I ask You by Your Names which when You placed on the earth, it settled down.
I ask You by Your Name – the One! The Eternal, Absolute!
Which prevails upon the pillars of all things.
I ask You by Your Name – the Pure, the Clean, the Blessed, the Living, the Self-Subsisting - There are no gods but He who is Most Compassionate, Most Merciful!
And I ask You by the juncture of Your might of Your Throne, the one who delivered Mercy from Your Book, and by Your Grand Names, Your Sublime Majesty, and Your Perfect Words to bless us with the memorization of the Qur‟an, acting on it and obeying You, doing good deeds.
Please foster this in our ears and eyes, mix it into my flesh, blood, brain, fat and bones, and employ my body and strength to practice it since no one but You can do so.
You are the Only who has no associate.
O‟ God! The Only! O‟ Powerful Lord! O‟ God - The Creator! And You are the Evolver! The Bestower of Forms!
O‟ God! The Resurrector! The Inheritor! O‟ God! The Opener! Exalted in Might! All-knowing!
O‟ God! The Sovereign! The Powerful! The Affluent! Please forgive me and have mercy on me as You are the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful!
O‟ my God! Indeed You said the following and whatever you say is right, “Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer).”
O‟ God! I ask You by the Name by which Adam (MGB) prayed and You made Paradise certain for him.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Sheeth ibn Adam prayed and then You established him as the Trustee after Adam (MGB) to fulfill our prayers.
I ask You to bless us with doing what others have advised us to do and let our will be ahead of us.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Idris (MGB) prayed then You raised his position to a high state to raise our position to the highest near You, and favor us by granting us Your Pleasure with us and to take us into Paradise out of Your Mercy.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Noah (MGB) prayed then You saved him from being drowned but destroyed the oppressive nation to save us from any calamities.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Hud (MGB) prayed then You saved him from the terrible wind to save us from the calamities of this world and the Hereafter.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Salih (MGB) prayed then You saved him from the plot to save us from any plots in this world, the Hereafter, and their punishments.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Lot prayed then You saved him from the Overthrown Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the shower of brimstone1
to save us from the humilities of this world and the Hereafter.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Shoaib prayed then You saved him from the torture of the Day of Darkness to save us torture out of Your Spirit and Mercy. And I ask You by Your Name by which Abraham prayed and then You turned the fire cool and peaceful for him to rescue as You rescued him and to turn whatever is in it cool and peaceful for us as You made for him.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Ishmael prayed when he became thirsty and then You brought forth flowing water from the Zamzam to last forever to bring us good and grant us extensive wealth by Your Mercy.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Jacob prayed then You gave back his sight and his son and improved his vision to rescue us and unite us with our relatives, children and wives.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Joseph prayed then You brought him out of prison to release us from prison and grant us Your Blessings which You have meant for us.
And I ask You by Your Name by which the Tribes called on You and You turned to them and established them as Prophets to turn to us, provide us with Your Obedience and Servitude and freedom from what we are entrapped in.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Job prayed when he suffered from calamities, and said, “Truly distress has seized me, but You are the Most Merciful of those that are merciful.”2
Then You accepted his prayer and removed adversities from him, gave him his Progeny and the like thereof along with them as a Mercy from You and remembrance for the worshippers.3
O‟ my God . Now I will say as he said, “Truly distress has seized me, but You are the Most Merciful of those that are merciful.”4 Al-Anbiya 21:83
Please accept it from me, have mercy on us, release us, give back our household, wealth, and the like thereof due to Your Mercy and establish us amongst those who worship You.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Moses (MGB) and Aaron (MGB) prayed as You the Exalted said, “Accepted is your prayer…”5 Yunus 10:89
Please fulfill our prayers and save us as You saved them. And I ask You by Your Name by which David prayed then You forgave his sin and turned to him to forgive my sins and turn to me as You are the Ever-Relenting, the Merciful!
I ask You by Your Name by which Solomon prayed then You returned the Queen of Sheeba to him, rescued him from his enemies, granted him dominion over the genies, the men and the birds1
to rescue us from our enemies, return Your Blessings to us, get what is rightfully ours from them and relieve us from them as You have power over all things.
And I ask You by Your Name by which he who possessed knowledge of the Book on the Throne of Queen of Sheeba has prayed and You delivered it to him and it was firmly placed before him to deliver us this very year from here to Your Holy House al-Haram Mosque and let us visit the shrine of Your Holy Prophet (MGB).
And I ask You by Your Name by which Jonah (Yunus ibn Matta) prayed in the dark and said, “…There is no God but You: glory to You: I was indeed wrong!”2 The Holy Qur‟an: Al-Anbiya 21:87.
Then You accepted his prayer and saved him from the belly of the whale, and from his sorrows as You the Exalted said, “… and thus do We deliver those who have faith.”3 Al-Anbiya 21:88.
Bear witness that I am of the believers and say as he said, “…There is no God but You: glory to You: I was indeed wrong!”4 Al-Anbiya 21:87
So please accept my prayer and save me from the sorrows of this world and the Hereafter since You have guaranteed to save the believers.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Zakariya (MGB) prayed when he said, “O‟ my Lord! Leave me not without offspring, Though You are the best of inheritors.”5 Al-Anbiya 21:89
And You accepted it from him, granted him John (MGB), cured his wife‟s barrenness, established them as those who rush in doing good deeds, and call on You with love and reverence and humble themselves before You.
Then I say as he said, “O‟ my Lord! Leave me not without offspring, Though You are the best of inheritors.”6 Al-Anbiya 21:89
Please accept it from me and improve my status and all that You have bestowed upon me and release me from all that has tied me down, grant me honor in this world and the Hereafter, good children as my heirs and establish us amongst those who call on You with love and reverence and humble themselves before You and obey You.
And I ask You by Your Name by which John (MGB) called upon You and You made him enter Paradise without having committed any sins or even having thought of it. I ask You to protect me from doing acts of disobedience until I see the Immaculate Ones without having committed any sins.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Mary called upon You and then You made her baby speak in her support to grant us success, relieve us by our Proof that is near You1 and You clearly show our reasoning to those who oppose us.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Jesus the son of Mary prayed then You revived the dead by him, treated the blind and those with leprosy by him to relieve us, protect us from all evil, sedition and grief, give us a good life in this world and the Hereafter and bless us with well-being of our body.
And I ask You by Your Name by which the disciples of Jesus (MGB) prayed then You helped them until they delivered what they were ordered to by Jesus and relieved them from the plots of the oppressors, and took care of them.
I ask You to relieve us and include us among those who invite the people to Your Obedience.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Jerjees (MGB) prayed then You removed the pain of punishment from him to remove the pain of punishment from us in this world and the Hereafter, not make us suffer from any calamities, or grant us patience and well-being if You do so.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Khizr (MGB) prayed then You gave him everlasting life to help us, help us against those who oppress us and return us to Your Safe Place.
And I ask You by Your Name by which Your beloved Muhammad (MGB) prayed then You made him the Master of the Messengers and assisted him by Ali – the Master of the Trustees to bestow Your Blessings upon them and their Progeny – the pure ones.
I ask You to overlook my transgressions on this day, forgive all my past mistakes and sins, and not take me back from this place without my forgiven sins, accepted deeds, mercy and forgiveness, with blessings perfected with the blessings for the Hereafter by Your Mercy –
O‟ Giver! O‟ Lord of Majesty, Bounty and Honor!
You have power over all things. There is no change nor any strength except by God the Sublime, the Supreme.”
ARABIC
اللهم أنت حي لا تموت،
وخالق لا تغلب وبدئ لا تنفد،
وقريب لا تبعد،
وقادر لا تضاد،
وغافر لا تظلم،
وصمد لا تطعم،
وقيوم لا تنام،
وعالم لا تعلم،
وقري لا تضعف،
وعظيم لا توصف ووفي لا تخلف،
وغني لا تفتقر. وحكيم لا تجور،
ومنيع لا تقهر،
ومعروف لا تنكر،
ووكيل لا تخفى،
وغالب لا تغلب وفرد لا تستشير،
ووهاب لا تمل،
وسريع لا تذهل،
وجواد لا تبخل وعزيز لا تذل،
وحافظ لا تغفل،
وقائم لا تزول،
ومحتجب لا ترى،
ودائم لا تفنى،
وباق لا تبلى،
وواحد لا تشتبه،
ومقتدر لا تنازع.
اللهم إني أسألك بعلم ألغيت عندك،
وقدرتك على الخلق أجمعين،
أن تحييني ما علمت الحياة خيرا لي،
وأن تتوفاني إذا كانت الوفاة خيرا لي،
وأسألك الخشية في الغيب والشهادة،
وأسألك اللهم كلمة الحق في الغضب والرضا،
وأسألك نعيما لا تنفد،
وأسألك الرضا بعد القضاء. وأسألك برد العيش بعد الموت،
وأسألك لذة النظر إلى وجهك الكريم آمين رب العالمين،
اللهم إني أسألك بمنك الكريم وفضلك العظيم أن تغفر لي وترحمني يا لطيف،
الطف لي في كل ما تحب وترضى. اللهم إني أسألك فعل الخيرات،
وترك المنكرات،
وحب المساكين،
ومخالطة الصالحين،
وأن تغفر لي وترحمني،
وإذا أردت بقوم فتنة فتقيني غير مفتون،
وأسألك حبك وحب من يحبك،
وحب كل عمل يقربني إلى حبك.
اللهم بحق محمد صلى الله عليه وآله حبيبك،
وبحق إبراهيم خليلك وصفيك،
وبحق موسى كليمك،
وبحق عيسى روحك،
وأسألك بصحف إبراهيم وتوراة موسى وإنجيل عيسى وزبور داود وفرقان محمد صلى الله عليه وآله،
وأسألك بكل وحي أوحيته،
وبحق كل قضاء قضيته،
وبكل سائل أعطيته،
وأسألك بكل اسم أنزلته في كتابك،
وأسألك بأسمائك التي استقر بها عرشك. فأسألك بأسمائك التي وضعتها على النار فاستنارت،
وأسألك بأسمائك التي وضعتها على الليل فأظلم،
وأسألك بأسمائك التي وضعتها على النار فأضاء،
وأسألك بأسمائك التي وضعتها على الأرض فاستقرت. وأسألك باسمك الأحد الصمد الذي ملأ أركان كل شئ،
وأسألك باسمك الطهر الطاهر المبارك الحي القيوم،
لا إله الا هو الرحمان الرحيم،
وأسألك بمعاقد العز من عرشك،
ومبلغ الرحمة من كتابك،
وبأسمائك العظام،
وجدك الأعلى،
وكلماتك التامات،
أن ترزقنا حفظ القرآن،
والعمل به والطاعة لك،
والعمل الصالح،
وأن تثبت ذلك في أسماعنا وأبصارنا،
وأن تخلط ذلك بلحمي ودمي ومخي وشحمي وعظامي،
وأن تستعمل بذلك بدني وقوتي،
فإنه لا يقوى على ذلك ألا أنت وحدك لا شريك لك. يا الله الواحد الرب القدير ،
يا الله الخالق البارئ المصور،
يا الله الباعث الوارث،
يا الله الفتاح العزيز العليم يا الله الملك القادر المقتدر،
اغفر لي وارحمني انك أنت أرحم الراحمين. اللهم إنك قلت وقولك الحق: (ادعوني أستجب لكم) (١)،
فأسألك يا الله باسمك الذي دعاك به آدم صلى الله عليه فأوجبت له الجنة،
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به شيث بن آدم فجعلته وصي أبيه بعده،
أن تستجيب دعاءنا وأن ترزقنا إنفاذ كل وصية لأحد عندنا،
وأن تقدم وصيتنا أمامنا وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به إدريس فرفعته مكانا عليا،
أن ترفعنا إلى أحب البقاع إليك،
وتمن علينا بمرضاتك،
وتدخلنا الجنة برحمتك.
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به نوح فنجيته من الغرق،
وأهلكت القوم الظالمين ان تنجينا مما نحن فيه من البلاء،
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به هود فنجيته من الريح العقيم أن تنجينا من بلاء الدنيا والآخرة وعذابهما.
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به صالح فنجيته من خزي يومئذ أن تنجينا من خزي الدنيا والآخرة وعذابهما،
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به لوط فنجيته من المؤتفكة والمطر السوء أن تنجينا من مخازي الدنيا والآخرة،
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به شعيب فنجيته من عذاب يوم الظلة أن تنجينا من العذاب إلى روحك ورحمتك. وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به إبراهيم فجعلت النار عليه بردا وسلاما أن تخلصنا كما
(٢) خلصته،
وأن تجعل ما نحن فيه بردا وسلاما كما جعلتها عليه،
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به إسماعيل عند العطش،
وأخرجت من زمزم الماء الروي أن تجعل مخرجنا إلى خير،
وأن ترزقنا المال الواسع برحمتك،
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به يعقوب فرددت عليه بصره وولده وقرة عينه أن تخلصنا وتجمع بيننا وبين أولادنا وأهالينا
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به يوسف فأخرجته من السجن أن تخرجنا من السجن وتملكنا نعمتك التي أنعمت بها علينا،
وأسألك باسمك،
الذي دعاك به الأسباط فتبت عليهم،
وجعلتهم أنبياء أن تتوب علينا،
وترزقنا طاعتك وعبادتك والخلاص مما نحن فيه. وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به أيوب إذ حل به البلاء فقال: (رب إني مسني الضر وأنت أرحم الراحمين) (١)،
فاستجبت له وكشفت عنه ضره،
(٢) ورددت أهله ومثلهم معهم رحمة منك وذكرى للعابدين،
اللهم أني أقول كما قال: (رب إني مسني الضر وأنت أرحم الراحمين)،
فاستجب لنا وارحمنا وخلصنا ورد علينا أهلنا وما لنا ومثلهم معهم رحمة منك واجعلنا من العابدين لك. وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به موسى وهارون فقلت عززت من قائل: (قد أجيب دعوتكما) (٣)،
أن تستجيب دعاءنا وتنجينا كما نجيتهما،
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به داود فغفرت ذنبه وتبت عليه أن تغفر ذنبي وتتوب علي إنك أنت التواب الرحيم.
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به سليمان فرددت عليه ملكه وأمكنته من عدوه وسخرت له الجن والإنس والطير،
أن تخلصنا من عدونا،
وترد علينا نعمتك،
وتستخرج لنا من أيديهم حقنا،
وتخلصنا منهم إنك على كل شئ قدير.
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به الذي عنده علم من الكتاب على عرش ملكة سبا أن تحمل إليه،
فإذ هو مستقر عنده،
أن تحملنا من عامنا هذا إلى بيتك الحرام حجاجا وزوارا لقبر نبيك صلى الله عليه وآله. وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به يونس بن متى في الظلمات: (أن لا إله الا أنت سبحانك اني كنت من الظالمين) (١)،
فاستجبت له ونجيته من بطن الحوت ومن الغم،
وقلت عززت من قائل: (وكذلك ننجي المؤمنين)،
فنشهد أنا مؤمنون،
ونقول كما قال: (لا إله إلا أنت سبحانك إني كنت من الظالمين)،
فاستجب لي ونجني من غم الدنيا والآخرة كما ضمنت أن تنجي المؤمنين. وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به زكريا وقال: (رب لا تذرني فردا وأنت خير الوارثين) (٢) فاستجب له ووهبت له يحيى وأصلحت له زوجه،
وجعلتهم يسارعون في الخيرات ويدعونك رغبا ورهبا وكانوا لك خاشعين،
فاني أقول كما قال: (رب لا تذرني فردا وأنت خير الوارثين)،
فاستجب لي وأصلح،
لي شأني،
وجميع ما أنعمت به علي وخلصني مما أنا فيه وهب لي كرامة الدنيا والآخرة وأولادا صالحين يرثوني واجعلنا ممن يدعوك رغبا ورهبا ومن الخاشعين المطيعين
(٣) وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به يحيى فجعلته يرد القيامة ولم يعمل معصية ولم يهم بها،
أن تعصمني به اقتراف المعاصي،
حتى نلقاك طاهرين ليس لك قبلنا معصية،
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعتك به مريم فنطق ولدها بحجتها أن توفقنا وتخلصنا بحجتنا عندك وعلى كل مسلم
(٤) حتى تظهر حجتنا على ظالمينا. وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به عيسى بن مريم فأحيى به الموتى وأبرأ الأكمه والأبرص،
أن تخلصنا وتبرئنا من كل سوء وآفة وألم،
وتحيينا حياة طيبة في الدنيا والآخرة،
وأن ترزقنا العافية في أبداننا،
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به الحواريون فأعنتهم حتى بلغوا عن عيسى ما أمرهم به،
وصرفت عنهم كيد الجبارين،
وتوليتهم أن تخلصنا وتجعلنا من الدعاة إلى طاعتك.
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به جرجيس فرفعت عنه ألم العذاب،
أن ترفع عنا ألم العذاب في الدنيا والآخرة،
وأن لا تبتلينا،
وإن ابتليتنا فصبرنا والعافية أحب إلينا. وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به الخضر حتى أبقيته،
أن تفرج عنا،
وتنصرنا على من ظلمنا،
وتردنا إلى مأمنك.
وأسألك باسمك الذي دعاك به حبيبك محمد صلى الله عليه وآله فجعلته سيد المرسلين وأيدته بعلي سيد الوصيين،
أن تصلي عليهما وعلى ذريتهما الطاهرين،
وأن تقيلني في هذا اليوم عثرتي،
وتغفر لي ما سلف من ذنوبي وخطاياي،
ولا تصرفني من مقامي،
هذا إلا بسعي مشكور،
وذنب مغفور،
وعمل مقبول،
ورحمة ومغفرة،
ونعيم موصول بنعيم الآخرة،
برحمتك يا حنان،
يا ذا الجلال والاكرام إنك على كل شئ قدير،
ولا حول
ولا قوة إلا بالله العلي العظيم
اقبال الاعمال ج٣ ص١٣٧ الى ١٤٣