Chapter nine Evil-repelling prayers and supplicatory amulets First: It is reported that when a man complained to Imam al-Sadiq (`a) about loneliness, the Imam (`a) said: May I lead you to a prayer that if you say, you will not feel lonely neither at nights nor in daytimes? It is this prayer:
O Allah, (please) put me under Your shade and in Your vicinity
وَٱجْعَلْنِي فِي أَمَانِكَ وَفِي مَنْعِكَ
waj`alni fi amanika wa fi man`ika
and put me under Your security and in Your shield.
Second: It is reported that whoever spends a night alone in a house or in a room, should recite Ayah al-Kursi and say this supplicatory prayer:
اَللَّهُمَّ آنِسْ وَحْشَتِي
allahumma anis wahshati
O Allah, (please) entertain my loneliness,
وَآمِنْ رَوْعَتِي
wa amin raw`ati
secure my dread,
وَأَعِنِّي عَلَىٰ وَحْدَتِي
wa a`inni `ala wahdati
and help me against my being alone.
Third: The Holy Prophet (s) is reported to have used these words as
evil-repelling prayer (`udhah) for Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn (`a):
أُعِيذُكُمَا بِكَلِمَاتِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلتَّامَّةِ
u`idhukuma bikalimati allahi alttammati
I pray for Your protection the perfect Words of Allah
وَأَسْمَائِهِ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ كُلِّهَا عَامَّةً
wa asma'ihi alhusna kulliha `ammatan
and all of His excellent names totally
مِنْ شَرِّ ٱلسَّامَّةِ وَٱلْهَامَّةِ
min sharri alssammati walhammati
against the evil of poisonous things and the pestles,
وَمِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ
wa min sharri kulli `aynin lammatin
against the evil of all evil eyes,
وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
wa min sharri hasidin idha hasada
and against the evil of the envious when he envies.
Commenting, the Holy Prophet (s) added, “Thus did (Prophet) Abraham use to repel evil from Ishmael and Isaac.”
Fourth: The companions of the Holy Prophet (s) are reported, in one of the military expeditions, to have complained to him about fleas that annoyed them. Instructing them, the Holy Prophet (s) said: When you go to sleep, you may say this supplicatory prayer:
أَيُّهَا ٱلأَسْوَدُ ٱلْوَثَّابُ
ayyuha al-aswadu alwaththabu
O black, leaping fleas
ٱلَّذِي لاَ يُبَالِي غَلَقاً وَلاَ بَاباً
alladhi la yubali ghalaqan wa la baban
that care for neither a lock nor a door,
عَزَمْتُ عَلَيْكَ بِأُمِّ ٱلْكِتَابِ
`azamtu `alayka bi'ummi alkitabi
I adjure you in the name of the Mother of the Book
أَنْ لاَ تُؤْذِيَنِي وَأَصْحَابِي
an la tu'dhiyani wa ashabi
not to annoy my companions and me
إِلَىٰ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ ٱللَّيْلُ
ila an yadhhaba allaylu
until night terminates
وَيَجِيءَ ٱلصُّبْحُ بِمَا جَاءَ
wa yaji'a alssubhu bima ja'a
and morning comes carrying what it carries.
Fifth: Imam `Ali Amir al-Mu'minin (`a) is reported to have said: When you see a beast, you should say this:
أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ دَانْيَالَ وَٱلْجُبِّ
a`udhu birabbi danyala waljubbi
I pray the protection of the Lord of Daniel and the well (in which Daniel was thrown with beasts)
مِنْ كُلِّ أَسَدٍ مُسْتَأْسِدٍ
min kulli asadin musta'sidin
against all strong, ravenous lions.
Imam al-Sadiq (`a) is reported to have said: When you face a beast, you should recite in its face ªyah al-Kursi and these words:
wal-a'immati alttahirina `alayhim alssalamu min ba`dihi
and the adjuration of the immaculate Imams after him, peace be upon them.
If you do so, the beast will go away, by the will of Allah the All-exalted.
Sixth: The Holy Prophet (s) is reported to have said to Imam `Ali Amir al-Mu'minin (`a): When you fall in a trouble or an ordeal, you may say the following words. Once you do, Allah the Almighty and All-exalted will ward off from you whatever sort of misfortune He wills:
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
bismi allahi alrrahmani alrrahimi
In the Name of Allah; the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.
wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahi al`aliyyi al`azimi
There is neither might nor power save with Allah the All-high and All-great.
Chapter 5 Each Infalliable dua 1-10
BRIEF SUPPLICATORY AND EVIL-REPELLING PRAYERS
This section comprises a number of brief supplicatory and evil-repelling prayers that are selected from the two books entitled Muhaj al-Da`awat and al-Mujtana compiled by Sayyid Radi al-Din Ibn Tawus.
First: Imam Musa ibn Ja`far (`a) is reported to have quoted the Holy Prophet (s) as instructing Imam `Ali (`a) to say this supplicatory prayer whenever a hardship would bother him:
for You are the worthiest to be feared and the worthiest to forgive.
Imam Musa al-Kazim’s Evil-Repelling Prayer
Fifth: `Ali ibn Yaqtin has reported that when Imam Musa ibn Ja`far (`a) was with some of his relatives, he was informed about the decisions that Musa ibn al-Mahdi, the brother of Harun the `Abbasid ruler, had made about him. He asked his relatives, “What do you think?” They said, “We think that it is better for you to avoid him and hide yourself since no one can be immune from his wickedness.” Imam al-Kazim (`a) smiled and quoted this poetic verse as example:
زَعَمَتْ سَخِينَةُ أَنْ سَتَغْلِبُ رَبَّهَا
The eaters of the hot, mean meals (i.e. Quraysh) have claimed that they will overcome their Lord.
فَلَيَغْلِبَنَّ مَغَالِبَ ٱلْغُلاَّبِ
Verily, the overcomer of all combatants shall most surely win.
He (`a) then raised his hands towards the sky and said this supplicatory prayer:
and show me very soon and practically how You respond to the distressed ones.
إِنَّكَ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
innaka dhulfadli al`azimi
Verily, You are the Lord of great favor
وَٱلْمَنِّ ٱلْكَرِيمِ
walmanni alkarimi
and generous conferral.
The attendants then separated. Their next meeting was to discuss the news of the death of Musa ibn al-Mahdi.
The Pocket Patch; Imam al-Rida’s Supplicatory Amulet
Sixth: Yasir, the servant of al-Ma'mun the `Abbasid ruler, has reported that when Imam Abu’l-Hasan `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (`a) arrived in the palace of Hamid ibn Qahtabah to live in, he took off his shirt and handed it over to Hamid, who took it and gave it to one of his she-servants to wash it. Soon after that, the she-servant returned carrying a patch. She gave it to Hamid and said, “I have found this in the pocket of Abu’l-Hasan.”
Asking about it, Hamid said to Imam al-Rida (`a), “May Allah accept me as ransom for you! The she-servant has found a patch in your pocket. What is it?”
Answering him, the Imam (`a) said, “Hamid, this is a supplicatory amulet that I never put aside.”
Hamid said, “Will you kindly honor us with it?”
Imam al-Rida (`a) further explained, “Whoever carries this supplicatory amulet in his pocket, will be saved from tribulations and it will protect him from Satan the accursed.”
Then, Imam al-Rida (`a) dictated its form to Hamid. It is thus the following:
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
bismillahi alrrahman alrrahimi
In the Name of Allah; the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.
Muhammad, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Household, to my front side,
وَٱللَّهُ مُطَّلِعٌ عَلَيَّ
wallahu muttali`un `alayya
and Allah is overseeing me
يَمْنَعُكَ مِنِّي
yamna`uka minni
to prevent you from me
وَيَمْنَعُ ٱلشَّيْطَانَ مِنِّي
wa yamna`u alshshaytana minni
and prevent Satan from me.
اَللَّهُمَّ لاَ يَغْلِبُ جَهْلُهُ أَنَاتَكَ
allahumma la yaghlibu jahluhu anataka
O Allah, let not his intolerance overcome Your forbearance
أَنْ يَسْتَفِزَّنِي وَيَسْتَخِفَّنِي
an yastafizzani wa yastakhiffani
lest he may provoke and belittle me.
اَللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْتَجَأْتُ
allahumma ilayka altaja'tu
O Allah, to You do I resort.
اَللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْتَجَأْتُ
allahumma ilayka altaja'tu
O Allah, to You do I resort.
اَللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْتَجَأْتُ
allahumma ilayka altaja'tu
O Allah, to You do I resort.
This supplicatory amulet is connected to a miraculous story that was reported by Abu’l-Salt who, reporting this story, has said: One day, my master `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (`a) was sitting in his house when a messenger of the ruler, al-Ma'mun, came to him and informed that the ruler had summoned him to present himself before him. `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (`a) stood up and said to me, “Abu’l-Salt, it is not usual that the ruler summons me at such time unless there will be a catastrophic matter. No, by Allah! He will not be able to inflict any misfortunate thing upon me, because I carry with me a few words that came to my hand from my grandfather, the Holy Prophet (s).”
I, Abu’l-Salt, then came out with the Imam (`a) to respond to al-Ma'mun’s summon. The moment Imam al-Rida’s eyes fell on al-Ma'mun, he said this supplicatory amulet entirely. When he was present there, the ruler looked at the Imam (`a) and said, “Abu’l-Hasan, I have ordered one hundred thousand dirhams to be given to you. You may also write to me whatever you need.”
When the Imam (`a) left, al-Ma'mun looked at his back and said, “I wanted something, but Allah wanted another. However, what Allah wants must be better.”
Imam al-Jawad’s Evil-Repelling Prayer
Seventh: This evil-repelling prayer is ascribed to Imam Muhammad ibn `Ali al-Jawad (`a):
May Allah’s blessings be upon him and all of the members of his Household.
Prayer 11- 21 Imam al-Husayn’s Supplication in Prayers
Eleventh: Imam al-Husayn (`a) is reported to have used to said this supplicatory prayer in the second units of the ritual prayers:
wa la yalummu biha farahun hatta taqlibani ilayka bi'iradatika
and is not charmed by a joyful situation, until You decide to take me to You by Your will
غَيْرَ ظَنِينٍ وَلاَ مَظْنُونٍ
ghayra zaninin wa lamaznunin
while I am neither accused, suspect,
وَلاَ مُرَابٍ وَلاَ مُرْتَابٍ
wa la murabin wa la murtabin
suspicious, nor doubtful.
إِنَّكَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّاحِمِينَ
innaka arhamu alrrahimina
Verily, You are the most merciful of all those who show mercy.
In his book entitled Muhaj al-Da`awat, Sayyid Ibn Tawus has compiled the Holy Imams’ supplications in the ritual prayers (i.e. qunut). However, to avoid lengthiness, I have mentioned the previous supplication only.
The Holy Prophet’s Supplicatory Prayer for Security
Twelfth: This supplicatory prayer is ascribed to the Holy Prophet (s) who used to say it for security against jinn and human beings:
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
bismillahi alrrahman alrrahimi
In the Name of Allah; the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.
لاَ إِلٰهَ إلاَّ ٱللَّهُ
la ilaha illa allahu
There is no god but Allah.
عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلتُ
`alayhi tawakkaltu
In Him do I put my trust
وَهُوَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
wa huwa rabbu al`arshi al`azimi
and He is the Lord of the Great Throne.
مَا شَاءَ ٱللَّهُ كَانَ
ma sha'a allahu kana
What Allah wills shall come to pass,
وَمَا لَمْ يَشَأْ لَمْ يَكُنْ
wa ma lam yasha' lam yakun
but what He does not will shall never come to pass.
wa min sharri kulli dabbatin anta akhidhun binasiyatiha
and against the evil of every living creature that You hold by its forelock.
إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
inna rabbi `ala siratin mustaqimin
Surely, my Lord is on the right path.
A Proved Supplicatory Prayer
Thirteenth: Anas is reported to have quoted the Holy Prophet (s) as saying: Whoever says this supplicatory prayer every morning and every evening, Allah the All-exalted will order four angels to defend him from the front side, the backside, the right side, and the left side, he will be kept under the security of Allah the Almighty and All-majestic, and no harm can ever affect him even if all jinn and all human beings try to cause him harm:
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
bismillahi alrrahman alrrahimi
In the Name of Allah; the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرِ ٱلأَسْمَاءِ
bismillahi khayri al-asma'i
In the Name of Allah; the best of all names.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلأَرْضِ وَٱلسَّمَاءِ
bismillahi rabbi al-ardi walssama'i
In the Name of Allah; the Lord of the earth and the heavens.
“Surely, my guardian is Allah Who revealed the Book
وَهُوَ يَتَوَلَّىٰ ٱلصَّالِحِينَ.»
wa huwa yatawalla alssalihina
and He keeps the righteous people under His custody.”
«فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوَْٱ فَقُلْ حَسْبِيَ ٱللَّهُ
fa'in tawallaw faqul hasbiya allahu
“But if they turn back, then say, ‘Allah is sufficient for me.
لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ
la ilaha illa huwa
There is no god but He.
عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ
`alayhi tawakkaltu
On Him do I rely
وَهُوَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ.»
wa huwa rabbu al`arshi al`azimi
and He is the Lord of mighty power.’”
The Holy Prophet’s Supplicatory Prayer
Fourteenth: This supplicatory prayer is ascribed to the Holy Prophet (s):
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ
allahumma inni a`udhu bika
O Allah, I pray Your protection
أَنْ أَفْتَقِرَ فِي غِنَاكَ
an aftaqira fi ghinaka
lest that I may be needy while Your riches are there for me,
أَوْ أَضِلَّ فِي هُدَاكَ
aw adilla fi hudaka
I may be led astray while Your guidance is there for me,
أَوْ أَذِلَّ فِي عِزِّكَ
aw adhilla fi `izzika
I may be humiliated while Your honoring is there for me,
أَوْ أُضَامَ فِي سُلْطَانِكَ
aw udama fi sultanika
I may be subjugated while Your absolute authority is there for me,
أَوْ أُضْطَهَدَ وَٱلأَمْرُ إِلَيْكَ
aw udtahada wal-amru ilayka
or I may be persecuted while the entire affair is Yours.
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ
allahumma inni a`udhu bika
O Allah, I pray Your protection
أَنْ أَقُولَ زُوراً
an aqula zuran
lest I may say false things,
أَوْ أَغْشَىٰ فُجُوراً
aw aghsha fujuran
commit wickedness,
أَوْ أَكُونَ بِكَ مَغْرُوراً
aw akuna bika maghruran
or be seduced to exceed Your limits.
Imam al-Baqir’s Supplicatory Prayer
Fifteenth: Abu-Hamzah al-Thumali has reported that he, once, stopped at the door of Imam al-Baqir’s house, waiting for permission to enter. The Imam (`a) then came out while he was uttering something. “Have you heard these words of mine?” the Imam (`a) asked.
“Yes, I have. May Allah accept me as ransom for You!” answered Abu-Hamzah.
The Imam (`a) said, “I have been uttering some words that none says them but that Allah the All-exalted will save him from whatever distresses him, including the affairs of this world and the Next World.”
“May Allah accept me as ransom for you.” said Abu-Hamzah, “Will you please teach me these words?”
“Yes, I will,” responded the Imam (`a), “Whoever says these words before leaving his house, all his matters that concern him will be made easy:”
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
bismillahi alrrahman alrrahimi
In the Name of Allah; the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.
So, O Allah, (please) withhold the hands of the transgressors against me,
مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلإِنْسِ أَجْمَعِينَ
min aljinni wal-insi ajma`ina
including all jinn and all human beings,
وَٱشْفِنِي وَعَافِنِي
washfini wa `afini
heal me, and grant me wellbeing,
يَا أَرْحَمَ ٱلرَّاحِمِينَ
ya arhama alrrahimina
O most merciful of all those who show mercy!
Imam Muhammad al-Taqi’s evil-averting prayer
Nineteenth: This is the evil-averting prayer (Hijab) of Imam Muhammad ibn `Ali al-Taqi (`a):
الْخَالِقُ أَعْظَمُ مِنَ ٱلْمَخْلُوقِينَ
alkhaliqu a`zamu min almakhluqina
The Creator is greater than the creatures.
وَٱلرَّازِقُ أَبْسَطُ يَداً مِنَ ٱلْمَرْزُوقِينَ
walrraziqu absatu yadan min almarzuqina
The Sustaining Lord is more liberal than the sustained beings.
وَنَارُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمُوصَدَةُ
wa naru allahi almusadatu
The awning over fire of Allah
فِي عَمَدٍ مُمَدَّدَةٍ
fi `amadin mumaddadatin
in outstretched columns
تَكِيدُ أَفْئِدَةَ ٱلْمَرَدَةِ
takidu af'idata almaradati
will frustrate the plots of the hearts of the rebellious
وَتَرُدُّ كَيْدَ ٱلْحَسَدَةِ
wa taruddu kayda alhasadati
and will thwart the trickeries of the envious
بِٱلأَقْسَامِ بِٱلأَحْكَامِ
bil-aqsami bil-ahkami
in the name of the Oaths, the Decrees,
بِٱللَّوْحِ ٱلْمَحْفُوظِ
billawhi almahfuzi
the Preserved Tablet,
وَٱلْحِجَابِ ٱلْمَضْرُوبِ
walhijabi almadrubi
the Hanged Down Screen,
بِعَرْشِ رَبِّنَا ٱلْعَظِيمِ
bi`arshi rabbina al`azimi
and the Throne of our Great Lord.
ٱحْتَجَبْتُ وَٱسْتَتَرْتُ
ihtajabtu wastatartu
I seek the screen, the covering,
وَٱسْتَجَرْتُ وَٱعْتَصَمْتُ
wastajartu wa`tasamtu
the shelter, the safeguard,
وَتَحَصَّنْتُ بِـ: أَلٰم وَبِـ:كٰهٰيٰعص
wa tahassantu bi-alif lam mim wa bikaf ha' ya' `ayn sad
and the haven of ‘ail-lam-mim,’ ‘kaf-ha'-ya'-`ayn-sad,’
وَبِـ:طٰهٰ وَبِـ:طٰسم
wa bita ha wa bita' sin mim
‘ta-ha,’ ‘ta'-sin-mim,’
وَبِـ:حٰم وَبِـ:حٰمعسقٰ وَنُونْ
wa biha' mim wa biha' mim `ayn sin qaf wa nun
‘ha'-mim,’ ‘ha'-mim-`ayn-sin-qaf,’ ‘nun,’
وَبِـ:طٰس وَبِـ:قٰ وَٱلْقُرْآنِ ٱلْمَجِيدِ
wa bita sin wa biqaf walqur'ani almajidi
‘ta-sin,’ ‘qaf,’ ‘the Glorious Qur'an,’
«وَإِنَّهُ لَقَسَمٌ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ.»
wa innahu laqasamun law ta`lamuna `azimun
and ‘And most surely, it is a very great oath if you only knew.’
وَٱللَّهُ وَلِيِّي وَنِعْمَ ٱلْوَكِيلُ
wallahu waliyyi wa ni`ma alwakilu
Allah is my guardian, and the most excellent protector is He.
Twentieth: Shaykh al-Kulayni, in his book entitled Ta`bir al-Ru'ya, has reported on the authority of al-Washsha' who reported Imam al-Rida (`a) as saying: In my sleep, I saw my father saying to me: Son, whenever you are in a trouble, repeat this saying as many times as possible:
يَا رَؤُوفُ يَا رَحِيمُ
ya ra'ufu ya rahimu
O All-compassionate! O All-merciful!
Imam al-Rida (`a) then commented, “There is not any difference between what we (i.e. the Holy Infallibles) see in waking and what we see in sleep.”
Supplicatory Prayer for Sustenance
Twenty-first: In addition to sustenance, this supplicatory prayer, which is quoted from Sayyid Ibn Tawus’s book of al-Mujtana, may be used for other purposes:
O Allah, if my sustenance in the sky, then (please) send it down to me,
وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي ٱلأَرْضِ فَأَظْهِرْهُ
wa in kana fi al-ardi fa'azhirhu
if it is in the earth, then (please) show it to me,
وَإِنْ كَانَ بَعِيداً فَقَرِّبْهُ
wa in kana ba`idan faqarribhu
if it is far off, then (please) draw it near me,
وَإِنْ كَانَ قَرِيباً فَيَسِّرْهُ
wa in kana qariban fayassirhu
if it is near, then (please) make it easy for me to reach it,
وَإِنْ كَانَ قَلِيلاًَ فَكَثِّرْهُ
wa in kana qalilan fakaththirhu
and if it is little, then (please) multiply it for me
وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ
wa barik li fihi
and grant me its blessings.
Supplicatory Prayer for repelling the evil of Iblis
Twenty-second: This supplicatory prayer for repelling the evil of Iblis (i.e. Satan) is also quoted from the book of al-Mujtana:
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ إِبْلِيسَ عَبْدٌ مِنْ عَبِيدِكَ
allahumma inna iblisa `abdun min `abidika
O Allah, Iblis is not but one of Your servants;
يَرَانِي مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ أَرَاهُ
yarani min haythu la arahu
he can see me from whence I cannot see him,
وَأَنْتَ تَرَاهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَرَاكَ
wa anta tarahu min haythu la yaraka
but You can see him from whence he cannot see You.