A’mal of 15th Night of Sha’ban — Rites, Supplications & Translation

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FIFTEENTH NIGHT OF SHABAN This night is extraordinarily honorable. Imam Ja'far al- Sadiq(a.s.) has narrated that when Imam Muhammad al- Baqir (a.s.) was asked about the merits of the fifteenth night

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of Sha'ban, he answered, "It is the most favorable night after the Qadr Night. At this night, Almighty Allah bestows upon His servants with His favors and grants them His pardon out of His conferral of benefits to them. Therefore, you should

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exert all efforts to seek nearness to Him at this night, because He - the Majestic and Honorable - has decided not to reject any asker as long as he does not ask for an act of disobedience to Him. Almighty Allah has chosen this night

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for us, the Ahl al-Bayt, just as He has chosen the Qadr Night for our Prophet - peace be upon him and his Household. You should thus pray and thank Him diligently." One of the marvelous blessings of this night is that it is the

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birth night of the Patron of the Age, Imam al-Mahdi(a.s.)- may Allah accept our souls as ransoms for him. He was born in Surra-man-ra'a (currently Samarra') at the hour before daybreak in AH 255. This incident increases the merits of

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this honorable night.

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However, narrations have carried may recommended rites to be carried out at this night.

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First: It is highly recommended to bathe oneself at this night, for this act decreases the punishment for one's sins.

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Second: It is highly recommended to imitate Imam Ali ibn al- Husayn Zayn al'Abidin (a.s.) who used to spend this whole night with acts of worship, prayers, supplications, invocations, and implorations for forgiveness. A tradition

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confirm that as for one who spends this whole night with acts of worship, his heart will not die when other hearts die.

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Third: It is highly recommended to visit the tomb of Imam al- Husayn (a.s.). In fact, this is the most favorable act at this night. It also brings about forgiveness of one's sins. If you desire that 124,000 Prophets shake hands with you, you may

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visit the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) at this night. The least act of Ziyarah is to go up an elevated place, look to the right and the left, raise the head towards the heavens, and say these statements:

اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ

Peace be upon you, Abu Abdullah.

اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ

May God’s peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.

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One who performs this form of Ziyarah is expected to win the

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reward of one Hajj and one 'Umrah. In the section of Ziyarat,

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we will mention further details about the peculiar merits of

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Ziyarah at this night.

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Fourth: It is recommended to say the following supplicatory

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prayer, which stands for a form of Ziyarah for Imam al-

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Mahdi(a.s.). This supplicatory prayer has been mentioned by

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both Sayyid Ibn Tawus and Shaykh al-Tusi:

اَللَهُمَّ بِحَقُّ لَيْلَتِنَا [هذه] وَ مَوْلُوْدِهَا

Oh God, by the right of our night [this] and its newborn.

وَ حُجَّتِكَ وَ مَوْعُوْدِهَا

And your argument and its promise

الَّتِيْ قَرَنْتَ إِلَى فَضلِهَا فَضلًا

Which has been attributed to its bounty

فَتَمَّثْ كَلِمَثُكَ صِدْقًا وَ عَدْلًا

So let your words be truthful and just.

لَا مُبَدَّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِكَ

There is nothing to change your words

وَ لَا مُعَقِّبَ لأيَاتِكَ

And there is no one to follow up on Your verses

نُوْرُكَ الْمُتَاَلَقُ

Your shining light

وَ ضِيَاؤُكَ المُشْرِقُ

And your bright light

وَ الْعَلَمُ النُّوْرُ فِيْ طَخْيَاءِ الدَّيْجُوْرِ

And knowledge is the light in the depths of the darkness.

الْغَائِبُ الْمَسْتُوْرُ

The absent, hidden one

جَلَّ مَوْلِدُهُ وَ كَرُمَ مَخْتِدُهُ

Blessed is his birth and honored is his birth

وَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ شُهَدُهُ

And the angels bore witness to him

وَ اللهُ نَاصِرُهُ وَ مُؤَيِّدُهُ

And God is his supporter and supporter

اِذَا أنَ مِيْعَادُهُ وَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ اَمْدَادُهُ

Then his appointed time and the angels are his

سَيْفُ اللهِ الَّذِيْ لَا يَنْبُوْ

The sword of God that does not spring

وَ نُوْرُهُ الَذِيْ لَا يَخْبُوْ

And his light that never fades

وَ ذُوْ الْحِلْمِ الَّذِيْ لَا يَصْبُوْ

And the dreamer who does not come true

مَدَارُ الدَّهْرِ

The course of time

وَ نَوَامِيْسُ العَصْرِ

And the laws of the era

وَ وُلَاةُ الْأَمْرِ

And the rulers

وَ الْمُنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا يَتَنَزَّلُ فِيْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ،

And what is revealed to them is what descends on the Night of Decree,

وَ اَضحَابُ الْحَشْرِ وَ النَّشْرِ

And the companions of the gathering and publishing

تَرَاحِمَةُ وَحْيِهِ

The mercy of His revelation

وَ وُلَاةُ اَمْرِهِ وَ نَهْيِهِ

And his rulers and his prohibitions

اَللَّهُمَّ فَصَلّ عَلَى خَاتِمِهِمْ وَ قَائِمِهِمُ

O God, bless their seal and their leader.

الْمَسْتُوْرِ عَنْ عَوَالِمِهِمْ

The one who is hidden from their worlds

اَللّهُمَّ وَ اَذرِك بِنَآ آَيَّامَهُ

Oh God, and protect us from his days

وَ ظُهُوْرَهُ وَ قِيَامَهُ

And his appearance and resurrection

وَ اجْعَلَنَا مِنْ انْصَارِهِ

And make us among his supporters

وَاقْرِنْ ثَارَنَا بِثَارِهِ

And associate our rebellion with his rebellion

وَ اكْتُبْنَا فِيّ آَعْوَانِهِ وَ خُلَصَآئِهِ

And We have written among him his helpers and his sincere ones.

وَ اَخِيِنَا فِيْ دَوْلتِهِ نَاعِمِيْنَ

And our brother is happy in his state

وَ بِصُحْبَتِهِ غَانِمِيْنَ

And with him were two spoils of war

وَ بِحَقِّهِ قَائِمِيْنَ

And we stand by His truth

وَ مِنَ السُّوْءِ سَالِمِيْنَ

And safe from evil

يَآ اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ

O Most Merciful of the merciful

وَ الْحَمْدُ للهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ

All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

وَ صَلَوَاتُهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ

And his prayers be upon our master Muhammad

خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّيْنَ وَ المُرْسَلِيْنَ

The Seal of the Prophets and Messengers

وَ عَلَى اَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ الصَّادِقِيْنَ

And upon the truthful members of his household

وَ عِثْرَتِهِ النَّاطِقِيْنَ

And his stumbling block is the speakers

وَ الْعَنْ جَمِيْعَ الظَّالِمِيْنَ

And curse all the oppressors

وَ احْكُمْ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُمْ

And judge between us and them

يَآ آَحكَمَ الْحَاكِمِيْنَ

O the wisest of the wise

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Fifth: Shaykh Isma'il ibn Fadl al-Hashimi has narrated that

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Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq(a.s.) instructed him to say the following

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supplicatory prayer at the fifteenth night of Sha'ban:

اَللّهُمَّ اَنْتَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّوْمُ

Oh God, You are the Ever-Living, the Ever-Subsisting

الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ

The Most High, the Great

الْخَالِقُ الرَّاذِقُ

The Creator, the Sustainer

الْمُحِيِنْ الْمُمِيْتُ

The deadly resurrection

الْبَدِيّءُ الْبَدِيْعُ

The wonderful beginning

لَكَ الْجَلَالَ

Glory be to you

وَ لَكَ الْفَضْلُ

And thanks to you

وَ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

All praise be to You

وَ لَكَ الْمَنّ

And manna for you

وَ لَكَ الْجُوْدُ

May God bless you

وَ لَكَ الكَرَمُ

And generosity to you

وَ لَكَ الْامْرُ

The matter is up to you

وَ لَكَ الْمَجْدُ

And to you be the glory

وَ لَكَ الشَّكْرُ

Thank you

وَحْدَكَ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَكَ

One and Only Lord, having no partner,

يَا وَاحِدُ يَا آَحَدُ يَا صَمَدُ

O One, O One, O Samad

يَا مَنْ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَ لَمْ يُوْلَدْ

O you who do not give birth and are not born

وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوَا اَحَدٌ

and there is none like unto Him.

صَلَّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ الِ مُحَمَّدٍ

(please do) Bless Muhammad, the household of Muhammad,

وَ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَ ازْحَمْنِيْ

And forgive me and spare me

وَ اكْفِنِي مَا اَهَمَّنِيْ

Peace be upon you, partner of the Qur’an.

وَ اقضِ دَيْنِيْ

And pay off my debt

وَ وَسِّعْ عَلَيَّ فِيْ رِزْقِيْ

And expand my livelihood

فَانَّكَ فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ كُلَّ اَمْرٍ حَكِيْمٍ تَفْرُقُ

For on this night every wise matter will be dispersed.

وَ مَنْ تَشَآءُ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ تَرْزُقُ

And whomsoever You will of Your creation You provide

فَاززُقْنِيْ وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِيْنَ

Provide me, for You are the Best of Providers.

فَاِنَّكَ قُلْتَ وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْقَائِلِيْنَ وَالنَّاطِقِيْنَ

For you have said, and you are the best of speakers and speakers.

وَ اسْئَلُوا اللهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ

And ask God of His bounty

فَمِنْ فَضْلِكَ اَسْاَلُ

Oh God, I ask you that you are a king

وَ اِيَّاكَ قَصَدْتُ

And you I meant

وَ ابْنَ نَبِيِّكَ اعْتَمَدْتُ

And the son of your Prophet I relied on

وَ لكَ رَجَوْتُ

And I hope for you

فَازحَمْنِي يَآ أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ

So crowd me, O Most Merciful of the Merciful

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Sixth: It is recommended to say this supplicatory prayer,

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which the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to say at this night:

اَللَهُمَّ اقْسِمْ لَنَا مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ

Oh God, grant us your fear

مَا يَحُوْلُ بَيْتَنَا وَ بَيْنَ مَعْصِيَتِكَ

And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah

وَ مِنْ طَاعَتِكَ مَا تُبَلَّغُنَا بِهِ رِضْوَانَكَ

And of your obedience is that with which you convey your satisfaction to us.

وَ مِنَ الْيَقِيْنِ مَا يَهُوْنُ عَلَيْنَا بِهِ مُصِيْبَاتُ الدُّنْيَا

It is certain that the calamities of this world are made easy for us.

اَللَهُمَّ اَمْتِعْنَا بِاسْمَاعِنَا وَ اَبْصَارِنَا وَ قَوَّتِنَا

Oh God, grant us enjoyment of our hearing, our sight, and our strength.

مَا اَحيَيْتَنَا وَ اجْعَلَهُ الْوَارِثَ مِنَّا

As long as You give us life, and make him the heir from among us

وَ اجْعَلْ ثَارَنَا عَلَى مَنْ ظَلَمَنَا

And make our retaliation against those who wronged us

وَ انْصُرْنَا عَلَى مَنْ عَادَانَا

And grant us victory over those who oppose us

وَ لَا تَجْعَلْ مُصِيْبَتَنَا فِي دِيْنِنَا

And do not make our calamity a part of our religion.

وَ لَا تَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا اَكْبَرَ هَمَّنَا وَ لَا مَبْلَغَ عِلْمِنَا

And do not make this world our greatest concern or the extent of our knowledge.

وَ لَا تُسَلَّظ عَلَيْنَا مَنْ لَا يَرْحَمُنَا

And do not impose upon us those who do not have mercy on us.

بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَآ أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

By your mercy, O Most Merciful

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Actually, this supplicatory prayer is one of the perfect,

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comprehensive prayers that may be said at all times. In the

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word of the book of 'Awali al-La'ali, the Holy Prophet

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(s.a.w.a.) used to say this supplicatory prayer at all times.

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Seventh: It is recommended to say the prayers that are

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preferably said at midday (zohr)s.

اَللَهُمَّ صَلَّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ الِ مُحَمَّدٍ

O God, bless Muhammad and his family

شَجَرَةِ النُّبُوَّةِ

The tree of prophecy

وَ مَوْضِعِ الرِّسَالَةِ

And the subject of the message

وَ مُخْتَلَفِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ

And various angels

وَ مَعْدِنِ الْعِلْمِ

And the mineral of knowledge

وَ اَهْلِ بَيْتِ الْوَحِي

And the people of the House of Revelation

اَللَّهُمَّ صَلَّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

O God, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad

اِلْفُلْكِ الْجَارِيَةِ فِي اللَّجَجِ الْغَامِرَةِ

The ships sailing in the deep depths

يَأمَنُ مَنْ رَكِبَهَا

Whoever rides it is safe

وَ يَعْرَقُ مَنْ تَرَكَهَا

And whoever abandons it will perish

اَلْمُتَقَدَّمُ لَهُمْ مَارِقٌ

The one approaching them is a rogue

وَ الْمُتَاخَّرُ عَنْهُمْ زَاهِقٌ

And the one who stays behind them is lost

وَ اللَازِمُ لَهُمْ لَا حِقٌ

What is necessary is that they have no right

اَللَّهُمّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

O God, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad

اِلْكَهْفِ الْحَصِيْنِ

The fortified cave

وَ غِيَاتِ الْمُضْطَرُ الْمُسْتَكِيْنِ

And the desires of the oppressed and the needy

وَ مَلْجَاِ الْهَارِبِيْنَ

And a refuge for fugitives

وَ عِضْمَةِ الْمُعْتَصِمِيْنَ

And the greatness of the protesters

اَللَّهُمّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ ال مُحَمَّدٍ

O God, bless Muhammad and his family

صَلَاةً كَثِيْرَةً تَكُوْنُ لَهُمْ رِضَى

Many prayers will satisfy them.

وَ لِحَقُّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ الِ مُحَمَّدٍ آَدَآءً وَ قَضَاءً

And the right of Muhammad and his family is to fulfill and fulfill

بِحَوْلٍ مِنْكَ وَ قُوَّةٍ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ

With your might and strength, O Lord of the worlds

اَللَّهُمَّ صَلَّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ الِ مُحَمَّدٍ

O God, bless Muhammad and his family

اِلطَيَّبِيْنَ الْاَبْرَارِ الْاَخْيَارِ

The good, the righteous, the good

الَّذِيْنَ اَوْجَبْتَ حُقُوْقَهُمْ

Those whose rights are due

وَ فَرَضْتَ طَاعَتَهُمْ وَ وِلَا يَتَهُمْ

And you made obedience to them obligatory, and let him not be accused.

اَللَّهُمَّ صَلَّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ الِ مُحَمَّدٍ

O God, bless Muhammad and his family

وَ اعْمُزْ قَلْبِيْ بِطَاعَتِكَ

And strengthen my heart with your obedience

وَ لَا تُخْزِنِي بِمَعْصِيَتِكَ

And do not disgrace me with your disobedience

وَ اززُقْنِي مُوَاسَاةَ مَنْ قَتَرْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ،

And grant me consolation to whomever You have deprived of your provision.

بِمَا وَسَّعْتَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ

With what you have extended to me of your grace

وَ نَشَرْتَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ عَذْلِكَ

And you spread your wrath upon me

وَ اَخيَيْتَنِي تَختَ ظِلَّكَ

And you made me stay under your shade

وَ هَذَا شَهْرُ نَبِيِّكَ سَيِّدِ رُسُلِكَ

And this is the month of your Prophet, the Master of your messengers.

شَعْبَانُ الَّذِيْ حَفَفْتَهُ مِنْكَ بِالرَّحْمَةِ وَ الرِّضْوَانِ

Sha`ban whom You have showered with mercy and contentment.

الَّذِيْ كَانَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ ألِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ

who was the Messenger of God, may God bless him and his family and grant them peace

يَدْاَبُ فِيْ صِيَامِهِ وَ قِيَامِهِ

He practices his fasting and prayers

فِيْ لَيَالِيْهِ وَ آَيَّامِهِ

In its nights and days

بُخُوْعًا لَكَ فِيْ اِكْرَامِهِ وَ إِعْظَامِهِ

Out of humility towards you in his honor and veneration.

اِلى مَحَلّ حِمَامِهِ

To his bathroom

اَللَّهُمّ فَاعِنَّا عَلَى الْإِستِئَانِ بِسُنَّتِهِ فِيْهِ

Oh God, help us to rely on his Sunnah regarding it.

وَ نَيْل الشَّفَاعَةِ لَدَيْهِ

And obtain intercession with Him

اَللَّهُمّ وَ اجْعَلْهُ لِيْ شَفِيْعًا مُشَفَّعًا

Oh God, make him an intercessor for me.

وَ طَرِيْقًا اِلَيْكَ مَهْيَعًا

And a noble path to you

وَ اجْعَلْنِي لَهُ مُتَّبِعًا

And make me his follower

حَثُّى اَلْقَاكَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَنَّيْ رَاضِيَا

I will meet you on the Day of Resurrection, satisfied with me.

وَ عَنْ ذَنَوْبِيْ غَاضِيًا

And turning away from my sins

قَدْ اَوْجَبْتَ لِيْ مِنْكَ الرَّحْمَةَ وَ الرِّضْوَانَ

You have required for me mercy and contentment from You.

وَ ٱَنْزَلْتَنِي دَارَ الْقَرَارِ وَ مَحَلَّ الْأَخْيَارِ.

And You have placed me in the abode of stability and the place of good people.

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Eighth: It is recommended to say the famous supplicatory

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prayer known as Dua Kumayl, which has been cited in the

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previous section of this book. Narrations have mentioned

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that it is highly advisable to say this famous supplicatory

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prayer at this night.

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Ninth: It is recommended to mention Almighty Allah by the

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following litany one hundred times so that one's past acts of

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disobedience to Him will be forgiven and one's worldly and

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religious needs will be granted:

سُبْحَانَ اللهِ

All glory be to Allah,

وَ الحَمْدُ للّهُ

And praise be to God

وَ اللهُ اَكْبَرُ

Allah is the Greatest,

وَ لَا اِلْهَ اِلَّاّ اللَهُ

There is no god but Allah

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Tenth: Shaykh al-Tusi, in Misbah al-Mutahajjid, has narrated a

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tradition about the merits of the night of mid-Sha'ban

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entailing that Abu-Yahya asked Imam Ja'far al-Sadig(a.s.)

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about the best of supplicatory prayers to be said at this

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night. The Imam (a.s.) instructed him, saying:

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After you accomplish the obligatory Isha' Prayer, you may

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offer a two unit prayer in the first unit of which you should

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recite Surah al-Faatehah and Surah al-Kafirun and in the

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second Surah al-Faatehah and Surah al-Tawheed. When you

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accomplish the prayer, you may repeat (the phrase of)

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subhanallah thirty-three times, (the phrase of) alhamdulillah

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thirty-three times, and (the phrase of) Allahu-akbar thirty-four

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times. You may then say the following supplicatory prayer:

يَا مَنْ اِلَيْهِ مَلْجَأُ الْعِبَادِ فِي الْمُهِمَّاتِ

O to Him is the refuge of servants in difficult times.

وَ إِلَيْهِ يَفْزَعُ الْخَلْقُ فِي الْمُلِمَاتِ

And to Him the creation flees in calamities.

يَا عَالِمَ الْجَهْرِ وَ الْخَفِيَّاتِ

O Knower of the obvious and the hidden

يَا مَنْ لَا تَخْفِى عَلَيْهِ خَوَاطِرُ الْاَوْهَامِ وَ تَصَرُّفُ الْخَطَرَاتِ

O He from whom the thoughts of illusions and the thoughts of dangerous things are not hidden.

يَا رَبَّ الْخَلَائِقِ وَ الْبَرِيَّاتِ

O Lord of creatures and creatures

يَا مَنْ بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوْتُ الاَرَضِيْنَ وَ السَّمَاوَاتِ

O He in whose hand is the kingdom of the earth and the heavens

اَنْتَ اللهُ لَا اله ل اَنت

You are God, there is no god but You

اَمْتُ اِلَيْكَ بِلَا اِلْهَ اِلَّا آَنْتَ

With which You have pardoned [their sins] on behalf of the sinners [the sinners]

فَيَا لَا اِلْهَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ

There is no god but You

اجْعَلْنِن فِيْ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ مِمَّنْ نَظَرْتَ اِلَيْهِ فَرَجِمْتَهُ

Make us of those whom you looked at and stoned on this night.

وَ سَمِعْتَ دُعَاءَهُ فَاجَبْتَهُ

And you heard his prayer and answered it

وَ عَلِمْتَ اسْتِقَالَتَهُ فَاَقَلْتَهُ

And you learned of his resignation, so you dismissed him

وَ تَجَاوَزْتَ عَنْ سَالِفِ خَطِيْئَتِهِ وَ عَظِيْمِ جَرِيْرَتِهِ

And you forgave his previous sin and his great crime.

فَقَدِ اسْتَجَزْتُ بِكَ مِنْ ذُنُوْبِيْ

I have sought refuge in you from my sins.

وَلَجَأْتُ اِلَيْكَ فِيْ سَثْرِ عُيُوْبِيَّ

I turn to you in covering my faults

اَللَّهُمَّ فَجُدْ عَلَيَّ بِكَرَمِكَ وَ فَضْلِكَ

Oh God, bestow upon me your generosity and grace.

وَ اخطُظ خَطَايَايَ بِحِلْمِكَ وَ عَفْوِكَ

And forgive my sins with your forbearance and forgiveness

وَ تَفَمَّدْنِي فِيْ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ بِسَابِغِ كَرَامَتِكَ

And honor me this night out of your generosity.

وَ اجْعَلْنِي فِيْهَا مِنْ آَوْلِيَآئِكَ الَّذِيْنَ اجْتَبَيْتَهُمْ لِطَاعَتِكَ

And make me among your friends whom you have chosen to obey you.

وَ اخْتَرْتَهُمْ لِعِبَادَتِكَ

And you chose them to worship you

وَ جَعَلْتَهُمْ خَالِصَتَكَ وَ صَفْوَتَكَ.

And you made them your purest and best.

اَللّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِمَّنْ سَعَدَ جَدُّهُ

Oh God, make me among those whose grandfather is happy

وَ تَوَفَّرَ مِنَ الْخَيْرَاتِ حَظَّهُ

And his share of good deeds was plentiful

وَ اجْعَلْنِي مِمَّنْ سَلِمَ فَنَعِمَ

And make me among those who are safe, so yes

وَ فَازَ فَغَنِمَ

And he won and took spoils

وَ اكْفِنِي شَرَّ مَا اَسْلَفْتُ

And protect me from the evil of what I have done

وَ اغْصِمْنِي مِنَ الْإِزْدِيَادِ فِيْ مَعْصِيَتِكَ

And protect me from further disobedience to you.

وَ حَبَّبْ إِلَيَّ طَاعَتَكَ وَ مَا يُقَرِّبُنِيْ مِنْكَ وَ يُزْلِفُنِيْ عِنْدَكَ

And make obedience to you dear to me and what brings me closer to you and brings me closer to you.

سَيِّدِيّ اِلَيْكَ يَلْجَاَ الْهَارِبُ

My lord, to you may the fugitive seek refuge

وَ مِثْكَ يَلْتَمِسُ الطَّالِبُ

Or he asks you about his matter,

وَ عَلَى كَرَمِكَ يُعَوَّلُ الْمُسْتَقِيْلُ التَّائِبُ

And on your generosity the oppressed and repentant rely.

اَدَّبْتَ عِبَادَكَ بِالتَّكرُّمِ وَ أَنْتَ اَكْرَمُ الاكْرَمِيْنَ

You disciplined your servants with generosity, and you are the most generous of the generous.

وَ اَمَرْتَ بِالْعَفْوِ عِبَادَكَ وَ آَنْتَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ

And You commanded Your servants to pardon, and You are the Forgiving, the Merciful

اَللَهُمَّ فَلَا تَحْرِمْنِيْ مَا رَجَوْتُ مِنْ كَرَمِكَ

Oh God, do not deprive me of what I have hoped for from your generosity.

وَ لَا تُؤْيِسْنِنْ مِنْ سَابِغِ نِعَمِكَ

And do not let us forget those who have received Your blessings.

وَ لَا تُخَيِّنْنِي مِنْ جَزِيْلِ قِسَمِكَ فِيْ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ لِاَهْلِ طَاعَتِكَ

And do not betray me because of your oath this night to those who obey you.

وَ اجْعَلْنِي فِيْ جُنَّةٍ مِنْ شِرَارٍ بَرِيَّتِكَ

And place me in a garden from the evils of your land.

رَبِّ اِنْ لَمْ اَكُنْ مِنْ اَهْلِ ذَلِكَ

My Lord, if I were not of the people of that

فَاَنْتَ اَهْلُ الْكَرَمِ وَ الْعَفْوِ وَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ،

You are the people of generosity, pardon and forgiveness.

وَ جُذْ عَلَيَّ بِمَآ آَنْتَ اَهْلُهُ لَا بِمَآ اَسْتَجِقُهُ

And punish me for what you deserve, not for what I deserve.

فَقَدْ حَسُنَ ظَنِّيْ بِكَ

I have a good opinion of you

وَ تَحَقَّقَ رَجَآئِنْ لَكَ

And two hopes for you will be fulfilled

وَ عَلِقَتْ نَفْسِيْ بِكَرَمِكَ

In a seat of truth in the presence of a powerful angel

فَاَنْتَ اَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ

And my dependence on you

وَ أكْرَمُ الاكْرَمِيْنَ

And the most generous of the generous

اَللّهُمَّ وَ اخْصُضنِي مِنْ كَرَمِكَ بِجَزِيْلٍ قِسَمِكَ

O God, and single me out of Your generosity according to the abundance of Your oath.

وَ آَعُوْذُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِنْ عُقُوْبَتِكَ

O Lord, just as you have guided them to your religion

وَ اغْفِرْ لِيَ الذَّنْبَ الَّذِيْ يَخِبِسُ عَلَيَّ الْخلُقَ

And forgive me the sin that oppresses people.

وَ يُضَيِّقُ عَليَّ الرَّزْقَ

And livelihood becomes difficult for me

حَثَّى اَقْوْمَ بِصَالِحِ رِضَاكَ

Just as You created me, You have done well with my creation

وَ انْعَمَ بِجَزِيْل عَطَائِكَ

And be blessed with your abundant giving

وَ اَسْعَدَ بِسَابِغ نَعْمَآئِكَ

And be happy with your blessings

فَقَدْ لُذْتُ بِحَرَمِكَ

I took pleasure in your sanctuary

وَ تَعَرَّضْتُ لِكَرَمِكَ

And I was exposed to your generosity

وَ اسْتَعَذْتُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِنْ عُقُوْبَتِكَ

How much grief, my lord, have you caused?

وَ بِحِلْمِكَ مِنْ غَضَبِكَ

And with your forbearance from your anger

فَجُدْ بِمَا سَاَلْتُكَ

Find out what I asked you

وَ اَنِلْ مَا الْتَمَسْتُ مِنْكَ

And obtain what I sought from you

آَسْاَلَكَ بِكَ لَا بِشَيْءِ هُوَ اَعْظَمُ مِنْكَ.

I ask you by you, not by anything greater than you.

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You may prostrate yourself and repeat the following

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supplicatory phrase twenty times:

يَا رَبِّ

Oh, Lord

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And then repeat the following phrase seven times:

يَا اَللهُ

O Allah!

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And then repeat the following phrase seven times:

لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللهِ

There is neither might nor power except with Allah.

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And then repeat the following phrase ten times:

مَا شَااَللهُ

God willing

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And then repeat the following phrase ten times:

لَاقُوَةَ اِلَّا بِاللهِ

There is no power except in God

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You may then invoke Almighty Allah's blessings upon the

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Holy Prophet and beseech Him to grant your requests.

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By Allah I swear, even if you pray for things that are as many

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as raindrops, Almighty Allah, out of His generosity and

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favors, will grant them all.

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Eleventh: Shaykh al-Tusi and Shaykh al-Kaf'ami say: It is

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suitable to say the following supplicatory prayer at this night:

اِلْهِيْ تَعَرَّضَ لَكَ فِي هَذَا اللّيْلِ الْمُتَعَرِّضُوْنَ

My God, the transgressors have attacked you this night.

وَ قَصَدَكَ الْقَاصِدُوْنَ

And those who targeted you targeted you

وَ آَمَّلَ فَضْلَكَ وَ مَعْرُوُفَكَ الطَّالِبُوْنَ

And I hope for your grace and kindness to those who seek

وَ لَكَ فِيْ هَذَا اللَّيْلِ نَفَحَاتٌ وَ جَوَائِزُ

And for you on this night are blessings and rewards.

وَ عَطَايَا وَ مَوَاهِبُ

And gifts and talents

تَمُنُّ بِهَا عَلَى مَنْ تَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ

bestow it upon whomsoever you will of your servants

وَ تَمْنَعُهَا مَنْ لَمْ تَسْبِقُ لَهُ الْعِنَايَةُ مِثكَ

And those who have not previously taken care of it should avoid it.

وَ هَا أَنَا ذَا عُبَيْدُكَ الْفَقِيْرُ اِلَيْكَ

And here I am, your servant, who is in need of you.

الْمُؤَمَّلُ فَضْلَكَ وَ مَعْرُوْفَكَ

What is hoped for is your grace and kindness

فَاِنْ كُنْتَ يَا مَؤْلَايَ

If you are, my friend

تَفَضَّلْتَ فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ

You were so kind tonight

عَلَى اَحَدٍ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ

On any of your creation

وَ عُدْتَ عَلِيْهِ بِعَائِدَةٍ مِنْ عَطْفِكَ

And you returned to him with a return of your kindness.

فَصَلّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ ألِ مُحَمَّدٍ

So bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad

اِلطَيِّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْنَ

The good and pure

الْخَيِّرِيْنَ الْفَاضِلِيْنَ

The good and virtuous

وَ جُدْ عَلَيَّ بِطَوْلِكَ وَ مَعْرُوْفِكَ

Show me your kindness and kindness

يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ

O Lord of the worlds!

وَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيَّيْنَ

May God’s blessings be upon Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets

وَ الهِ الطَّاهِرِيْنَ

And the God of the pure

وَ سَلَّمَ تَسْلِيْمًا

He said hello

اِنَّ اللهَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ

Indeed, God is Praiseworthy and Glorious

اَللّهُمَّ إِنَّيَّ اَدْعُوْكَ كَمَا اَمَرتَ

Oh God, I pray to you as you commanded

فَاسْتَجِبْ لِيْ كَمَا وَعَدْتَ

So answer me as you promised

اِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيْعَادَ.

Verily, You never fail to fulfill Your promise.

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It is worth mentioning that this supplicatory prayer is

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advisably said immediately after the accomplishment of the

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Shaf' Prayer at the last hours of night.

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Twelfth: It is recommended to say the supplicatory prayer

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narrated by Shaykh al-Tusi and Sayyid Ibn Tawus after each

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two units of the Night Prayer (Salat al-Layl), the Shaf' Prayer,

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and the Witr Prayer.

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Thirteenth: It is recommended to do the prostrations and say

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the supplicatory prayers that are reported from the Holy

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Prophet (s.a.w.a.). One of these is that Shaykh al-Tusi has

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narrated on the authority of Hammad ibn 'Isa on the authority

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of Aban ibn Taghlib on the authority of Imam Ja'far al-

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Sadiq(a.s.) recounted the following:

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It was the fifteenth night of Sha'ban when the Holy Prophet

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(s.a.w.a.) Was with 'A'ishah, his wife. At midnight, the Holy

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Prophet (s.a.w.a.) left the bed. When 'A'ishah woke up and

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could not find him, she felt jealous and thought that he had

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joined one of his other wives. She therefore left her bed and

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put on her cloak, which was made of neither silk, nor linen,

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nor cotton, rather, it was made of camel hair. In any event,

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'A'ishah searched for the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in all of the

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rooms of his other wives but she found him prostrating

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himself on the ground like a thrown dress. As she

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approached, she heard him saying:

سَجَدَ لَكَ سَوَادِيْ وَ خَيَالِيْ

My darkness and my imagination prostrated themselves before you

وَ أمَنَ بِكَ فُؤَادِيْ

And my heart believed in you

هَذِهِ يَدَايَ وَ مَا جَنَيْتُهُ عَلَى نَفْسِيْ

These are my hands and what I have done to myself

يَا عَظِيمُ تُرْجَى لِكُلِّ عَظِيْمِ

O Great One, hope is given to every great one

اِغْفِزْ لِيَ العَظِيمَ

Forgive me, the Almighty

فَاِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذَّتْبَ الْعَظِيْمَ اِلَّا الرَّبُّ الْعَظِيْمُ.

For no one forgives a great sin except the Almighty Lord.

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The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) then raised his head and then

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prostrated himself again, saying:

اَعُوْذُ بِنُوْرِ وَجْهِكَ

I seek refuge in the light of your face

الَّذِيَّ اَضَآءَتْ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَ الْاَرَضُوْنَ

The one for whom the heavens and the earth are illuminated

وَ اتْكَشَفَتْ لَهُ الظُّلُمَاتُ

And the darkness was revealed to him

وَ صَلَحَ عَلَيْهِ آَمْرُ الْاَوَّلِيْنَ وَ الْأَخِرِيْنَ

And the command of the ancients and the last was upon him.

مِنْ فُجَاَةٍ نَقِمَتِكَ

Suddenly I cursed you

وَ مِنْ تَخْوِيْلِ عَافِيَتِكَ

And from the hope of your well-being

وَ مِنْ زَوَالِ نِعْمَتِكَ

And from the disappearance of your grace

اَللَّهُمَّ اززُقْنِي قَلْبًا تَقِيَّا نَقِيَّا

Oh God, grant me a pure, pious heart

وَ مِنَ الشَّرْكِ بَرِيْئًا

And he is innocent of polytheism

لَا كَافِرًا وَ لَا شَقِيَّا

Neither an infidel nor a wretched person

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The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) then attached his face to the

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ground and said:

عَفَّرْتُ وَجْهِيْ فِيْ التُّرَابِ

I scrubbed my face in the dirt

وَ حُقَّ لِيَّ اَنْ أَسْجُدَ لَكَ.

And I have the right to prostrate to you.

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When the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) accomplished these acts of

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worship and directed towards his bed, 'A'ishah ran before

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him until she reached the bed before he did. When he heard

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her speedy breathes, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) wondered.

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He then said, "Do you know what this night is? This is the

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mid-Sha'ban night. At this night, shares of provisions are

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distributed, lifetimes are decided, and the pilgrims are

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appointed. Verily, Almighty Allah, at this night, forgives as

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many of His creatures as the hairs of the horses of Kalb

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Tribe. Almighty Allah also orders angels to descend to the

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earth, to Makkah, at this night.

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Fourteenth: It is recommended to offer the famous Ja'far al-

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Tayyar's Prayer (Salat Ja'far) as is narrated by Shaykh al-Tusi

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from Imam al-Rida(a.s.).

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Fifteenth: It is recommended to offer the prayers that are

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dedicated to this night. In fact, these prayers are many. One

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of them is what is reported by Abu-Yahya al-San'ani, as well

Instructions

as other thirty trustworthy reporters, from Imam Muhammad

Instructions

al-Baqir (a.s.) and Imam Ja'far al-Sadig(a.s.) as follows:

Instructions

At the mid-Sha'ban night, you may offer a four unit prayer in

Instructions

each unit of which you may recite Surah al-Faatehah once

Instructions

and Surah al-Tawheed one hundred times. After

Instructions

accomplishment, you may say the following supplicatory

اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّيَّ اِلَيْكَ فَقِيْرٌ

Oh God, I am in need of you

وَ مِنْ عَذَابِكَ خَائِفٌ مُسْتَجِيْرٌ

And I am afraid and seeking refuge from Your torment.

اَللَّهُمَّ لَا تُبَدَّلْ اِسمِيْ

Oh God, do not change my name

وَ لَا تُغَيِّزْ جِسْمِيْ

And do not disgrace my body

وَ لَا تَجْهَدْ بَلَآئِيْ

And do not be distressed by my affliction

وَ لَا تُشمِثْ بِيّ اَعْدَآئِيّ

And do not let my enemies gloat over me

آَعُوْذُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِنْ عِقَابِكَ

I seek refuge in Your forgiveness from Your punishment

وَ اَعْوْذُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِكَ

And I seek refuge in Your mercy from Your torment

وَ آَعْوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ

I seek refuge in Your satisfaction from Your anger

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ

And I seek refuge in You from you

جَلَّ تَنَاؤُكَ

Glory be to you

اَنْتَ كَمَا اَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ

You are as you praised yourself

وَ فَوْقَ مَا يَقُوْلُ الْقَآئِلُونَ.

And above what those who say.