Twelve in number, the following supplicatory prayers are said for imploring Almighty Allah for protection against distress, grief, fear, and the like things.
First: Imam al-Baqir (`a) is reported to have said: Whenever a horrifying matter inflicts you, you may turn your face towards the kiblah direction and offer a two-unit prayer. Upon accomplishment, you may say this supplicatory prayer seventy times, and submit your requests each time you come to its end:
يَا أَبْصَرَ ٱلنَّاظِرِينَ
ya absara alnnazirina
O best seer of all those who can see,
وَيَا أَسْمَعَ ٱلسَّامِعِينَ
wa ya asma`a alssami`ina
O best hearer of all those who can hear,
وَيَا أَسْرَعَ ٱلْحَاسِبِينَ
wa ya asra`a alhasibina
O swiftest of those who settle account,
وَيَا أَرْحَمَ ٱلرَّاحِمِينَ
wa ya arhama alrrahimina
and O most merciful of all those who show mercy!
Second: The Holy Prophet (s) has said: Whoever is inflicted by a distress, a grief, angst, or a hardship, may say the following statement::
اللَّهُ رَبِّي لاَ أُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئاً
allahu rabbi la ushriku bihi shay'an
Allah is my Lord; I never associate any thing to Him.
تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَىٰ ٱلْحَيِّ ٱلَّذِي لاَ يَمُوتُ
tawakkaltu `ala alhayyi alladhi la yamutu
I put my trust in the Ever-living Who never dies.
Third: Imam al-Sadiq (`a) is reported to have said:
When his brothers threw (Prophet) Joseph in the well, Archangel Gabriel came to him and said, “O boy, what are doing here?”
Joseph answered, “My brothers have thrown me in this well.”
“Do you like to come out of it?” asked the archangel.
“This is up to Allah the Almighty and All-majestic.” answered Joseph, “If He wishes, He will do.”
“Allah the All-exalted says to you that if you pray me with this supplicatory prayer, I will take you out of this well,” taught Gabriel.
“What is this supplicatory prayer?” asked Joseph.“It is this one,” taught Archangel Gabriel:
wa an taj`ala li mimma ana fihi farajan wa makhrajan
and to prepare for me a relief and way out from what I am in.
After that, the caravan came and took Prophet Joseph out of the well, as the Holy Qur'an has related.
Fourth: Imam al-Sadiq (`a) is reported to have said: Whenever you fear something, you may say the following supplicatory prayer
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ لاَ يَكْفِي مِنْكَ أَحَدٌ
allahumma innaka la yakfi minka ahadun
O Allah, nothing can ever save from You
وَأَنْتَ تَكْفِي مِنْ كُلِّ أَحَدٍ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ
wa anta takfi min kulli ahadin min khalqika
while You alone can save from any of Your creatures;
فَٱكْفِنِي…
fakfini…
so, save me from…
(You may now mention the thing that terrifies you.)
According to another tradition, you may say the following supplicatory prayer (whenever you fear something):
يَا كَافِياً مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
ya kafiyan min kulli shay'in
O He Who saves from all things
وَلاَ يَكْفِي مِنْكَ شَيْءٌ
wa la yakfi minka shay'un
while nothing can ever save from You
فِي ٱلسَّمَاوَاتِ وَٱلأَرْضِ
fi alssamawati wal-ardi
neither in the heavens nor on the earth,
ikfini ma ahammani min amri alddunya wal-akhirati
(please) save me from what has distressed me, be it a this-worldly or a otherworldly affair,
وَصَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ
wa salli `ala muhammadin wa alihi
and send blessings upon Muhammad and his Household.
Imam al-Sadiq (`a) has also said: Whoever comes to a ruler whom he fears, may say the following supplicatory prayer (before presence before the ruler):
بِٱللَّهِ أَسْتَفْتِحُ
billahi astaftihu
With Allah do I commence,
وَبِٱللَّهِ أَسْتَنْجِحُ
wa billahi astanjihu
from Allah do I seek success,
wa bimuhammadin salla allahu `alayhi wa alihi atawajjahu
and in the name of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and his Household, do I turn my face (towards Allah).
اَللَّهُمَّ ذَلِّلْ لِي صُعُوبَتَهُ
allahumma dhallil li su`ubatahu
O Allah, (please) make easy for me the difficulty of this matter
وَسَهِّلْ لِي حُزُونَتَهُ
wa sahhil li huzunatahu
and facilitate for me its complication,
فَإِنَّكَ تَمْحُو مَا تَشَاءُ وَتُثْبِتُ
fa'innaka tamhu ma tasha'u wa tuthbitu
for You verily efface what You will and establish (what You will)
وَعِنْدَكَ أُمُّ ٱلْكِتَابِ
wa `indaka ummu alkitabi
and with You is the source of ordinance.
حَسْبِيَ ٱللَّهُ
hasbiya allahu
Sufficient to me is Allah.
لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ
la ilaha illa huwa
There is no god but Him.
عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ
`alayhi tawakkaltu
In Him do I trust
وَهُوَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْعظِيمِ
wa huwa rabbu al`arshi al`zimi
and He is the Lord of the Great Throne.
وَأَمْتَنِعُ بِحَوْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَقُوَّتِهِ
wa amtani`u bihawli allahi wa quwwatihi
I take shelter in Allah’s might and power
مِنْ حَوْلِهِمْ وَقُوَّتِهِمْ
min hawlihim wa quwwatihim
against their might and power.
وَأَمْتَنِعُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ
wa amtani`u birabbi alfalaqi
I take shelter in the Lord of the dawn
مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
min sharri ma khalaqa
against the evil of what He has created.
وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِٱللَّهِ
wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahi
There is neither might nor power except with Allah.
.
Fifth: This supplicatory prayer is reported to have said by Imam al-Baqir (`a) whenever a distressing matter would take place::
wamnun bidhalika `alayya wa `ala kulli da`in da`aka
and endue me, as well as all suppliants that supplicate You, with all of that.
يَا أَرْحَمَ ٱلرَّاحِمِينَ
ya arhama alrrahimina
O most merciful of all those who show mercy!
وَصَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ
wa salla allahu `ala muhammadin wa alihi
May Allah bless Muhammad and his Household.
Sixth: Imam al-Sadiq (`a) is reported to have said: `Ali ibn al-Husayn (`a) used to say: After I say these words, I do not care even if all men and jinn support each other against me::
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ وَبِٱللَّهِ
bismillahi wa billahi
In the Name of Allah (I begin), in Allah (I trust),
وَمِنَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ
wa min allahi wa ila allahi
from Allah (I derive power), to Allah (I resort),
وَفِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ
wa fi sabili allahi
in the way of Allah (I proceed),
وَعَلَىٰ مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ
wa `ala millati rasuli allahi
and on the principles of Allah’s Messenger (I advance),
صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ
salla allahu `alayhi wa alihi
may Allah bless him and his Household.
اَللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي
allahumma ilayka aslamtu nafsi
O Allah, to You have I submitted myself,
وَإِلَيْكَ وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِي
wa ilayka wajjahtu wajhi
towards You have I turned my face,
وَإِلَيْكَ أَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي
wa ilayka alja'tu zahri
to You have I commended my cause,
وَإِلَيْكَ فَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي
wa ilayka fawwadtu amri
and with You have I entrusted my affairs.
اَللَّهُمَّ ٱحْفَظْنِي بِحِفْظِ ٱلإِيـمَانِ
allahumma ihfazni bihifzi al-imani
O Allah, (please) safeguard me with the safeguard of faith
مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيَّ وَمِنْ خَلْفِي
min bayni yadayya wa min khalfi
before me, behind me,
وَعَنْ يَمِينِي وَعَنْ شِمَالِي
wa `an yamini wa `an shimali
to my right side, to my left side,
وَمِنْ فَوْقِي وَمِنْ تَحْتِي وَمَا قِبَلِي
wa min fawqi wa min tahti wa ma qibali
above me, beneath me, and in front of me,
وَٱدْفَعْ عَنِّي بِحَوْ لِكَ وَقُوَّتِكَ
wadfa` `anni bihawlika wa quwwatika
and defend me with Your might and power,
فَإِنَّهُ لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِكَ
fa'innahu la hawla wa la quwwata illa bika
since there is neither might nor power except with You.
Seventh: The following supplicatory prayer of the Ahl al-Bayt (i.e. the Holy Prophet’s Household) may be said to fend off agonies, horrifying matters, and sways of ruling authorities:
يَا كَائِناً قَبْلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
ya ka'inan qabla kulli shay'in
O He Who existed before all things!
وَيَا مُكَوِّنَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
wa ya mukawwina kulli shay'in
O He Who composed all things!
وَيَا بَاقِياً بَعْدَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
wa ya baqiyan ba`da kulli shay'in
O He Who shall survive after all things!
صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ…
salli `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin…
(Please) bless Muhammad and Muhammad’s Household and…
You may now submit your requests.
Eighth: Imam Muhammad al-Taqi (`a) is reported to have said: In order to reach at relief (from a trouble), it is recommended to say this supplicatory prayer regularly::
يَا مَنْ يَكْفِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
ya man yakfi min kulli shay'in
O He Who saves from all things
وَلاَ يَكْفِي مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ
wa la yakfi minhu shay'un
but nothing can ever save from Him,
ٱكْفِنِي مَا أَهَمَّنِي
ikfini ma ahammani
(please) save me from what has distressed me.
Ninth: Imam Zayn al-`ªbidin (`a) is reported to have said to his sons: Whenever one of you is inflicted by a misfortune or troubled by a crisis, he should perform the ritual ablution (wudu') as perfectly as possible, offer a two-unit or four-unit prayer, and say the following supplicatory prayer thereafter:
يَا مَوْضِعَ كُلِّ شَكْوَىٰ
ya mawdi`a kulli shakwa
O target of all complaints!
وَيَا سَامِعَ كُلِّ نَجْوَىٰ
wa ya sami`a kulli najwa
O hearer of all confidential talks!
وَيَا شَاهِدَ كُلِّ مََلإٍ
wa ya shahida kulli mala'in
O witness of all gatherings!
وَيَا عَالِمَ كُلِّ خَفِيَّةٍ
wa ya `alima kulli khafiyyatin
O knower of all hidden things!
وَيَا دَافِعَ مَا يَشَاءُ مِنْ بَلِيَّةٍ
wa ya dafi`a ma yasha'u min baliyyatin
O repelling of whatever tribulation You will to repel!
يَا خَلِيلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
ya khalila ibrahima
O friend of Abraham!
وَيَا نَجِيَّ مُوسَىٰ
wa ya najiyya musa
O talker to Moses!
وَيَا مُصْطَفِيَ مُحَمَّدٍ
wa ya mustafiya muhammadin
O chooser of Muhammad,
صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ
salla allahu `alayhi wa alihi
may Allah bless him and his Household!
أَدْعُوكَ دُعَاءَ مَنِ ٱشْتَدَّتْ فَاقَتُهُ
ad`uka du`a'a man ishtaddat faqatuhu
I supplicate You with the supplication of one whose indigence is extreme,
وَقَلَّتْ حِيلَتُهُ
wa qallat hilatuhu
whose stratagem has failed,
وَضَعُفَتْ قُوَّتُهُ
wa da`ufat quwwatuhu
and whose ability has fallen short;
دُعَاءَ ٱلْغَرِيبِ ٱلْغَرِيقِ ٱلْمُضْطَرِّ
du`a'a algharibi alghariqi almudtarri
the supplication of one who is stranger, drowned, distressed;
alladhi la yajidu likashfi ma huwa fihi illa anta
one who has no one at all to relieve him from what he is suffering save You,
يَا أَرْحَمَ ٱلرَّاحِمِينَ
ya arhama alrrahimina
O most merciful of all those who show mercy!
No one uses this supplicatory prayer but that Almighty Allah, if He wills, shall relieve him from what he is suffering.
Tenth: Imam al-Sadiq (`a) is reported to have said: To remove any distress and grief, you may bathe yourself, offer a two-unit prayer, and say the following supplicatory prayer:.
ya rahmana alddunya wal-akhirati wa rahimahuma
O Beneficent and Merciful of this world and the Hereafter,
فَرِّجْ هَمِّي
farrij hammi
(please) relieve my distress
وَٱكْشِفْ غَمِّي
wakshif ghammi
and remove my agony.
يَا اللَّهُ ٱلْوَاحِدُ
ya allahu alwahidu
O Allah Who is the One,
ٱلأَحَدُ ٱلصَّمَدُ
al-ahadu alssamadu
the One and Only, and the eternally besought of all;
ٱلَّذِي لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
alladhi lam yalid wa lam yulad
Who begets not nor was begotten
وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ
wa lam yakun lahu kufwan ahadun
and there is none comparable unto Him,
ٱعْصِمْنِي وَطَهِّرْنِي
i`simni wa tahhirni
(please) protect me, purify me,
وَٱذْهَبْ بِبَلِيَّتِي
wadhhab bibaliyyati
and eliminate my tribulation.
You may then recite ªyah al-Kursi, Surah al-Falaq, and Surah al-Nas.
Eleventh: Yazid al-Sa'igh is reported to have said: I asked Imam al-Sadiq (`a) to pray Almighty Allah for our good. He therefore said:
Eleventh: To pray for removing agony, it is reported that one may repeat the following supplicatory prayer one hundred times in a position of prostration:
يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ
ya hayyu ya qayyumu
O He Who is ever-living! O He Who is self-subsisting!
يَا لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ
ya la ilaha illa anta
O He save Whom there is no god!
بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ
birahmatika astaghithu
In the name of Your mercy do I seek aid;
فَٱكْفِنِي مَا أَهَمَّنِي
fakfini ma ahammani
so, (please) save me from what has distressed me
وَلاَ تَكِلْنِي إِلَىٰ نَفْسِي
wa la takilni ila nafsi
and do not refer me to myself.
Twelfth: Imam Musa ibn Ja`far (`a) is reported to have said to Suma`ah: If you have an urgent need to be granted by Almighty Allah, you should say this supplicatory prayer::
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ
allahumma inni as'aluka
O Allah, I beseech You
بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلِيٍّ
bihaqqi muhammadin wa `aliyyin
in the name of Muhammad and `Ali,
فَإِنَّ لَهُمَا عِنْدَكَ شَأْناً مِنَ ٱلشَّأْنِ
fa'inna lahuma `indaka sha'nan min alshsha'ni
for they both enjoy a remarkable standing with You
وَقَدْراً مِنَ ٱلْقَدْرِ
wa qadran min alqadri
and a significant status;
فَبِحَقِّ ذٰلِكَ ٱلشَّأْنِ
fabihaqqi dhalika alshsha'ni
so, (I beseech You) in the name of this standing
وَبِحَقِّ ذٰلِكَ ٱلْقَدْرِ
wa bihaqqi dhalika alqadri
and in the name of this status
an tusalliya `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin wa an…
(please) bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad, and…
You may now submit your request.
Indeed, on the Resurrection Day, all archangels, missioned prophets, and tested faithful believers will be in need for Muhammad and `Ali, Allah’s peace be upon them and their Household.
[The author of the book] Let me, the poor, refer to this tradition on this occasion:
Ibn Abi’l-Hadid has reported the following incident from Imam `Ali Amir al-Mu'minin (`a): One day, I asked the Holy Prophet (s) to implore God to forgive me. Responding to me, the Holy Prophet (s) stood up, offered a prayer, and raised his hands for supplicating. Listening carefully to him, I heard him saying:
O Allah, (I beseech You) in the name of `Ali’s standing with You, (please) forgive `Ali.
Surprisingly, I said to him, “O Allah’s Messenger, what kind of supplication is this?” He (s) answered, “Can I find any other person who is dearer to Allah than you are so that I can beseech Him in his name?”