Namaz-e-Shab (Night Salat)

Night salat is highly recommended. It guarantees the day’s sustenance. The Prophet said: The one who prays Night Salat will have a radiant face.

Salat-ul-Layl (The Night Salat)

عنه، عن محمد بن إسمعيل، رفعه إلى أبي عبد الله (ع) قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: أوصيك يا علي في نفسك بخصال فاحفظها، اللهم أعنه، الاولى الصدق فلا يخرج من فيك كذب أبدا، والثانية الورع فلا تجترئ على خيانة أبدا، والثالثة الخوف من الله كأنك تراه، والرابعة البكاء لله، يبنى لك بكل دمعة بيت في الجنة، والخامسة بذلك مالك و دمك دون دينك، والسادسة الاخذ بسنتى في صلوتى وصومي وصدقتي،

From him, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, raising it to

Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘I^-saww bequeath to you^-asws, O Ali^-asws, with regards to yourself^-asws, with certain qualities, therefore memorise it. Our Allah^-azwj! Help him^-asws (to memorise it)! The first is the truthfulness, so do not let a lie come out from your^-asws mouth, ever. And the second is the piety, so do not incline towards the betrayal, ever. And the third is the fear of Allah^-azwj as if you^-asws can see Him^-azwj’. The fourth is the wailing for the Sake of Allah^-azwj, there shall be Built for you^-asws a house in the Paradise for every teardrop. The fifth is spending your^-asws wealth and your^-asws blood besides for your^-asws Religion. And the sixth, is the taking to my^-saww Sunnah regarding my^-saww Prayer, and my^-saww Fasting, and my^-saww charity’.

فأما الصيام فثلاثة أيام في الشهر، الخميس في أول الشهر، والاربعاء في وسط الشهر، والخميس في آخر الشهر، والصدقة بجهدك حتى تقول: قد أسرفت ولم تسرف، وعليك بصلوة الليل (يكررها أربعا) وعليك بصلوة الزوال، وعليك برفع يديك إلى ربك وكثرة تقلبها، وعليك بتلاوة القرآن على كل حال، وعليك بالسواك لكل وضوء، وعليك بمحاسن الاخلاق فارتكبها، وعليك بمساوى الاخلاق فاجتنبها، فان لم تفعل فلا تلومن إلا نفسك.

So as for the Fasting, so there are the three days in the month – the Thursday during the beginning of the month, and the Wednesday in the middle of the month, and the Thursday at the end of the month.

And the charity by your^-asws effort until you^-asws will be saying: ‘I^-asws have been extravagant’, and you^-asws have not been extravagant.

And upon you is the night Prayer (repeated it four times), and upon you^-asws is the afternoon Prayer. And upon you^-asws is that you^-asws raise your^-asws hands to your^-asws Lord^-azwj and turn towards Him^-azwj frequently. And it is upon you^-asws to recite the Quran in every situation. And it is upon you^-asws to brush your^-asws teeth for every ablution. And it is upon you^-asws to have beautiful morals, therefore commit these. And it is upon you^-asws to keep aside from evil manners. Therefore if you^-asws were not to do these, do not blame (anyone) except yourself^-asws’.^[1]

How Many Rak’at are in Day and Night?

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ الْفَرِيضَةُ وَ النَّافِلَةُ أَحَدٌ وَ خَمْسُونَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا رَكْعَتَانِ بَعْدَ الْعَتَمَةِ جَالِساً تُعَدَّانِ بِرَكْعَةٍ وَ هُوَ قَائِمٌ الْفَرِيضَةُ مِنْهَا سَبْعَةَ عَشَرَ رَكْعَةً وَ النَّافِلَةُ أَرْبَعٌ وَ ثَلَاثُونَ رَكْعَةً .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Ibn Azina, from Fuzeyl Bin Yasaar,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘The Obligatory and the optional (Salāts) are fifty-one (51) Rak’at – from it are two Rak’at after the night (to be prayed) seated (After Isha Salat), counted as one Rak’at prayed while he is standing. The Obligatory from these are seventeen (17) Rak’at, and the optional are thirty four (34) Rak’at’.[2]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ( عليه السلام ) إِنَّ أَصْحَابَنَا يَخْتَلِفُونَ فِي صَلَاةِ التَّطَوُّعِ بَعْضُهُمْ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعاً وَ أَرْبَعِينَ وَ بَعْضُهُمْ يُصَلِّي خَمْسِينَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي بِالَّذِي تَعْمَلُ بِهِ أَنْتَ كَيْفَ هُوَ حَتَّى أَعْمَلَ بِمِثْلِهِ فَقَالَ أُصَلِّي وَاحِدَةً وَ خَمْسِينَ

Muhammad Bin Al Hassan, from Sahl, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Abu Nasr who said,

‘I said to Abu Al-Hassan^-asws, ‘Our companions are differing regarding the voluntary Salāts. Some of them are praying forty four (Rak’at), and some of them are praying fifty (Rak’at). So inform me with which are you^-asws acting upon, how it is so that I can act upon the like of it’. So he^-asws said: ‘I^-asws pray fifty-one Rak’at’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمْسِكْ وَ عَقَدَ بِيَدِهِ الزَّوَالَ ثَمَانِيَةً وَ أَرْبَعاً بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ وَ أَرْبَعاً قَبْلَ الْعَصْرِ وَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ عِشَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ وَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ مِنْ قُعُودٍ تُعَدَّانِ بِرَكْعَةٍ مِنْ قِيَامٍ وَ ثَمَانِيَ صَلَاةَ اللَّيْلِ وَ الْوَتْرَ ثَلَاثاً وَ رَكْعَتَيِ الْفَجْرِ وَ الْفَرَائِضَ سَبْعَ عَشْرَةَ فَذَلِكَ أَحَدٌ وَ خَمْسُونَ .

Then he^-asws said: ‘Hold on!’ And he^-asws counted by his^-asws hand – ‘The midday is eight (Rak’at), and four after Al-Zohr, and four before Al-Asr, and two Rak’at after Al-Maghrib, and two Rak’at before Isha the last, and two Rak’at after Al-Isha while seated, accounted as one Rak’at while standing,

And eight for the night Salāt, and Al-Witr is of three, and two Rak’at of Al-Fajr, and the Obligatory ones are seventeen. So that is fifty-one (Rak’at)’.[3]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ الْأَحْوَصُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ( عليه السلام ) كَمِ الصَّلَاةُ مِنْ رَكْعَةٍ فَقَالَ إِحْدَى وَ خَمْسُونَ رَكْعَةً .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from Muhammad Bin Isa, from Yunus who said, ‘Ismail Bin Saeed Al-Ahous narrated to me saying,

‘I said to Al-Reza^-asws, ‘How many Rak’at are in the (daily) Salāts?’ So he^-asws said: ‘Fifty-one Rak’at’.

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى مِثْلَهُ .

Muhammad Bin Ahmad Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Isa – similar to it.[4]

The Time of Night Salat:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْقَاسَانِيِّ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ حَفْصٍ الْمَرْوَزِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْعَسْكَرِيِّ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِذَا انْتَصَفَ اللَّيْلُ ظَهَرَ بَيَاضٌ فِي وَسَطِ السَّمَاءِ شِبْهُ عَمُودٍ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ تُضِي‏ءُ لَهُ الدُّنْيَا فَيَكُونُ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ يَذْهَبُ وَ يُظْلِمُ فَإِذَا بَقِيَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ ظَهَرَ بَيَاضٌ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْمَشْرِقِ فَأَضَاءَتْ لَهُ الدُّنْيَا فَيَكُونُ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ يَذْهَبُ وَ هُوَ وَقْتُ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ يُظْلِمُ قَبْلَ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ يَطْلُعُ الْفَجْرُ الصَّادِقُ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْمَشْرِقِ

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from Ali Bin Muhammad Al Qasany, from Suleyman Bin Hafs Al Marouzy,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Al-Hassan Al-Askari^-asws having said: ‘When it is midnight, a whiteness appears in the middle of the sky, resembling a pillar of iron, the world being illuminated for it. So it happens to be for a while, then it goes away, and darkens. So when a third of the night remains, a whiteness appears from the easterly direction, and the world is illuminated for it. So it happens to be for a while, then it goes away, and it is the time for the night Salāt. Then it darkens before the dawn. Then the true dawn emerges from the easterly direction’.

قَالَ وَ مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ صَلَاةَ اللَّيْلِ فِي نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَذَلِكَ لَهُ .

He^-asws said: ‘And the one who intends to pray the night Salāt during midnight, so that is for him’.[5]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) كَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ أَمَرَ بِوَضُوئِهِ وَ سِوَاكِهِ يُوضَعُ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ مُخَمَّراً فَيَرْقُدُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيَسْتَاكُ وَ يَتَوَضَّأُ وَ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Hammad, from Al Halby,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘It was so that whenever Rasool-Allah^-saww prayed Al-Isha the last, ordered for his^-saww water for the ablution and his^-saww toothbrush to be place by his^-saww head (pillow), covered. So he^-saww would lie down for as long as Allah^-azwj so Desired. Then he^-saww would stand, so he^-saww would brush his^-saww teeth, and perform ablution, and he^-saww would pray four Rak’at of Salāt.

ثُمَّ يَرْقُدُ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيَسْتَاكُ وَ يَتَوَضَّأُ وَ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ ثُمَّ يَرْقُدُ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ فِي وَجْهِ الصُّبْحِ قَامَ فَأَوْتَرَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ

The he^-saww would lie down. Then he^-saww would stand, so he^-saww would brush his^-saww teeth and perform ablution, and he^-saww would pray four Rak’at of Salāt. Then he^-saww would lie down until when it was during the face of the morning, he^-saww would stand, so he^-saww would perform (Salāt) Al-Witr, then pray the two Rak’at of Salāt’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ لَقَدْ كانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ قُلْتُ مَتَى كَانَ يَقُومُ قَالَ بَعْدَ ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ وَ قَالَ فِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ بَعْدَ نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ.

Then he^-asws said: ‘[33:21] Certainly you have in Rasool-Allah an excellent exemplar’. I said, ‘When was he^-saww standing (for the night Salāt)?’ He^-asws said ‘After a third of the night’. And he^-asws said in another Hadeeth: ‘After half the night’.

وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى يَكُونُ قِيَامُهُ وَ رُكُوعُهُ وَ سُجُودُهُ سَوَاءً وَ يَسْتَاكُ فِي كُلِّ مَرَّةٍ قَامَ مِنْ نَوْمِهِ وَ يَقْرَأُ الْآيَاتِ مِنْ آلِ عِمْرَانَ إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ إِنَّكَ لا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعادَ .

And in another report: ‘It should so happen that his standing, and his Rukū, and his Sajdah should be equal, and he should brush teeth every time he stands from his sleep, and he should recite the Verses from (Surah) Aal-e-Imran (Chapter 3) [3:190] Most surely in the Creation of the skies and the earth up to His^-azwj Words [3:194] surely You do not fail to Fulfil the Promise’.[6]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا الْوَتْرُ وَ رَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ فِي السَّفَرِ وَ الْحَضَرِ.

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ibn Fazzal, from Ibn Bukeyr, from Zurara,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww used to pray, from the night (Salāts), thirteen (13) Rak’at, from it being Al-Witr (3 Rak’at), and two (2) Rak’at of Al-Fajr, during the travel and the staying’ (8 Rak’at of Night Salat, hence total of 13 Rak’at).[7]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ يُوقَظُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَقُمْ أَتَاهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَبَالَ فِي أُذُنِهِ

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Umeyr, from Abu Ayoub Al-Khazaz, from Muhammad Bin Muslim who said,

‘I heard Abu Abdullah^-asws saying: ‘The servant wakes up three times at night, so if he does not stand (for Salāt), the Satan^-la comes to him and urinates in his ear’.

قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كانُوا قَلِيلًا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ما يَهْجَعُونَ قَالَ كَانُوا أَقَلَّ اللَّيَالِي تَفُوتُهُمْ لَا يَقُومُونَ فِيهَا .

He (the narrator) said, ‘And I asked him^-asws about the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic [51:17] They used to sleep but little in the night. He^-asws said: ‘There were very few nights which they missed out on, not standing (for the Salāt) in them’.[8]

عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ إِنَّ فِي اللَّيْلِ لَسَاعَةً مَا يُوَافِقُهَا عَبْدٌ مُسْلِمٌ يُصَلِّي وَ يَدْعُو اللَّهَ فِيهَا إِلَّا اسْتُجِيبَ لَهُ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ قُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ فَأَيُّ سَاعَةٍ هِيَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ قَالَ إِذَا مَضَى نِصْفُ اللَّيْلِ فِي السُّدُسِ الْأَوَّلِ مِنَ النِّصْفِ الْبَاقِي .

From him, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Umar Bin Azina,

(It has been narrated) from Umar Bin Yazeed having heard Abu Abdullah^-asws saying: ‘During the night there is a time what is compatible for a submissive servant to pray Salāt and supplicate to Allah^-azwj during it, except that it would be Answered to him during every night’. I said, ‘May Allah^-azwj Keep you^-asws well! So which time from the night is it?’ He^-asws said: ‘When half the night passes by, during the first sixth of the remaining half’.[9]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الْجُعْفِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) أَفْضَلُ قَضَاءِ النَّوَافِلِ قَضَاءُ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ صَلَاةِ النَّهَارِ بِالنَّهَارِ قُلْتُ فَيَكُونُ وَتْرَانِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ قَالَ لَا قُلْتُ وَ لِمَ تَأْمُرُنِي أَنْ أُوتِرَ وَتْرَيْنِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ فَقَالَ ( عليه السلام ) أَحَدُهُمَا قَضَاءٌ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Abdullah Bin Muhammad, from Ali Bin Al-Hakam, from Aban Bin Usman, from Ismail Al-Ju’fy who said,

‘Abu Ja’far^-asws said: ‘The best way of fulfilling the optional (Salāts) is fulfilling the (outstanding) night ones at night and the (outstanding) day ones at daytime’. I said, ‘So, can there be two Al-Witr (Salāts) at night?’ He^-asws said: ‘No’. I said, ‘And why not? You^-asws are ordering me that I pray one Witr (Salāt) and two Witr (Salāts) in one night’. So he^-asws said: ‘One of the two is a fulfilment (of an outstanding one)’.[10]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ دَرَّاجٍ عَنْ عَائِذٍ الْأَحْمَسِيِّ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) وَ أَنَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ عَنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقُلْتُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ وَ عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامُ إِي وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا لَوُلْدُهُ وَ مَا نَحْنُ بِذَوِي قَرَابَتِهِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ قَالَهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ إِذَا لَقِيتَ اللَّهَ بِالصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ الْمَفْرُوضَاتِ لَمْ يَسْأَلْكَ عَمَّا سِوَى ذَلِكَ.

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Jameel Bin Darraj, from Aiz Al-Ahmasy who said,

‘I went over to Abu Abdullah^-asws and I wanted to ask him^-asws about the night Salāt. So I said, ‘The greetings be upon you^-asws, O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww!’ So he^-asws said: ‘And upon you be the greetings. Yes, by Allah^-azwj! I^-asws am indeed of his^-saww sons^-asws, and we^-asws are not with his^-saww relatives’ – three times he^-asws said it. Then he^-asws said without me asking him^-asws: ‘When you meet Allah^-azwj with (having prayed) the five Obligatory Salāts, He^-azwj would not ask you of besides that’.[11]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ سَعْدَانَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ شَرَفُ الْمُؤْمِنِ صَلَاتُهُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ عِزُّ الْمُؤْمِنِ كَفُّهُ عَنْ أَعْرَاضِ النَّاسِ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Is’haq, from Sa’dan Bin Muslim, from Abdullah Bin Sinan,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘A nobility of the Believer is his Salāt at night, and an honour of the Believer is his restraint from the vanities of the people’.[12]

Benefits of Night Salat (Namaz-E-Shab)

قيام الليل مصحة للبدن و رضا للرب و تعرض للرحمة و تمسك بأخلاق النبيين

(Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws says): Standing at night (for Salat) is healthy for the body and pleases the Lord^-azwj and brings about the Mercy and is adherence to the ethics of the Prophets^-as.[13]

عنه، عن القاسم بن يحيى، عن جده الحسن بن راشد، عن أبي بصير، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام، قال: حدثنى أبي، عن جدى، عن آبائه، عن علي بن أبي طالب عليهم السلام، قال: قيام الليل مصحة للبدن، ورضى الرب، وتمسك باخلاق النبيين، و تعرض للرحمة.

From him, from Al Qasim in yahya, from his grandfather Al Hassan Bin Rashid, from Abu Baseer,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘My^-asws father^-asws narrated to me^-asws, from my^-asws grandfather^-asws, from his^-asws forefathers^-asws, from Ali^-asws Bin Abu Talib^-asws having said: ‘The establishing of the Night Prayer is healthy for the body, and a Pleasure of the Lord^-azwj, and you would be attaching yourself to the morals of the Prophets^-as and be subjected to the Mercy’.

وفي رواية يعقوب بن يزيد، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام، قال: كذب من زعم أنه يصلى صلوة الليل وهو يجوع، ان صلوة الليل تضمن رزق النهار. وقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: من صلى بالليل حسن وجهه بالنهار.

And in a report of Yaqoub Bin Yazeed,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘He has lied, the one who claims that he Prayed the Night Prayer, and he starves. The Night Prayer guarantees the sustenance of the day. And Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The one who Prays the Night Prayer would have a beautiful face during the day’.^[14]

The One who neglects the Night Salat

عنه، عن الوشاء، عن العلا بن رزين، عن محمد بن مسلم، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام، وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: ما من عبد الا وهو يتيقظ مرة أو مرتين في – الليل أو مرارا، فان قام والا فحج الشيطان فبال في أذنه، ألا يرى أحدكم إذا كان منه ذلك قام ثقيلا وكسلان.

From him, from Al Washa, from Al A’ala Bi Razeyn, from Muhammad Bin Muslim,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws, and from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘There is none from a servant except that he wakes up once, or twice during the night, or repeatedly. So he stands (for Salat), otherwise the Satan^-la comes and urinates in his ear. Have you not seen one of you when he is from that, he stands heavy and sleepy?’^[15]

عنه، عن أبيه، عن صفوان، عن خضر أبي هاشم، عن محمد بن مسلم، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام، قال: ان لليل شيطانا يقال له الزهاء فإذا استيقظ العبد واراد القيام إلى الصلوة قال له: ليست ساعتك، ثم يستيقظ مرة أخرى، فيقول له: لم يأن لك، فما يزال كذلك يزيله ويحبسه حتى يطلع الفجر، فإذا طلع الفجر بال في اذنه ثم انصاع يمصع بذنبه فخرا ويصيح.

From him, from his father, from Safwan, from Khizr Abu Hisham, from Muhammad Bin Muslim,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘During the night, a Satan^-la called Al-Zaha’a, when the servant wakes up and intends to stand for the Salat, says to him, ‘This is not your time’. Then he wakes up another time, so he says to him, ‘It has still not come to you’. So that does not cease to remain like that until the emergence of the dawn. So when the dawn emerges, he urinates in his ear, then prides (over himself) having defeated him by his sins, and yells’.^[16]

The Number of Rakats in Night Salat:

عنه، عن محمد بن اسماعيل بن بزيع، عن محمد بن يسير، عن عبد الله بن عمر الخثعمي، عن سليمان بن خالد قال: قلت لابي عبد الله عليه السلام: إني أصلي الزوال ستة وأصلى بالليل ستة عشر ركعة قال: اذن تخالف رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله، إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله كان يصلي الزوال ثمان ركعات وصلوة الليل ثمان ركعات فقلت: قد أعرف أن هذا هكذا ولكني أقضى الايام الخالية.

From him, from Muhammad Bin Ismail Bin Bazi’e, from Muhammad Bin Yaseyr, from Abdullah Bin Umar Al Khash’amy, from Suleyman Bin Khalid who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘I Pray six (Cycles) in the afternoon, and I Pray sixteen Rak’at (Cycles) at night’. He^-asws said: ‘Then, you have opposed the Sunnah of Rasool-Allah^-saww. Rasool-Allah^-saww was Praying eight Cycles in the afternoon, and eight Cycles at night’. So I said, ‘I understood this to be like this, but I fulfilled the lapsed days’.^[17]

What to be Recited in the Night Salat?

وَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص فِي وَصِيَّتِهِ لِعَلِيٍّ ع‏ يَا عَلِيُّ عَلَيْكَ بِصَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ وَ عَلَيْكَ بِصَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ وَ عَلَيْكَ بِصَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ‏.فَإِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَهَا فَكَبِّرِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ سَبْعاً وَ احْمَدْهُ سَبْعاً ثُمَّ تَوَجَّهْ ثُمَّ صَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ تَقْرَأُ فِي الْأُولَى- الْحَمْدَ وَ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ وَ فِي الثَّانِيَةِ الْحَمْدَ وَ قُلْ يا أَيُّهَا الْكافِرُونَ‏ وَ تَقْرَأُ فِي السِّتِّ الرَّكَعَاتِ بِمَا أَحْبَبْتَ إِنْ شِئْتَ طَوَّلْتَ وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ قَصَّرْتَ.

Rasool Allah^-saww said in his^-saww will to Ali^-asws: O Ali^-asws it is essential that you^-asws offer Night Salat, in the first Rak’at recite Sura-e-Alhamd (Chapter 1) and Sura-e-Qul ho Walla ho Ahad (Chapter 112), in the second Rak’at recite Sura-e-Alhamd and Sura-e-Qul Ya Aiyohal Al-Kafaroon (Chapter 109) and then you recite in the remaining six Rak’ats as you like the long verses or the short verses.[18]

Supplications After Night Salat Recommended by the 4^th Imam^-asws:

(1) اللَّهُمَّ يَا ذَا الْمُلْكِ الْمُتَأَبِّدِ بِالْخُلُودِ (2) وَ السُّلْطَانِ الْمُمْتَنِعِ بِغَيْرِ جُنُودٍ وَ لَا أَعْوَانٍ. (3) وَ الْعِزِّ الْبَاقِي عَلَى مَرِّ الدُّهُورِ وَ خَوَالِي الْأَعْوَامِ وَ مَوَاضِي الْأَزمَانِ وَ الْأَيَّامِ (4) عَزَّ سُلْطَانُكَ عِزّاً لَا حَدَّ لَهُ بِأَوَّلِيَّةٍ، وَ لَا مُنْتَهَى لَهُ بِآخِرِيَّةٍ (5) وَ اسْتَعْلَى مُلْكُكَ عَلُوّاً سَقَطَتِ الْأَشْيَاءُ دُونَ بُلُوغِ أَمَدِهِ (6) وَ لَا يَبْلُغُ أَدْنَى مَا اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَقْصَى نَعْتِ النَّاعِتِينَ. (7) ضَلَّتْ فِيكَ الصِّفَاتُ، وَ تَفَسَّخَتْ دُونَكَ النُّعُوتُ، وَ حَارَتْ فِي كِبْرِيَائِكَ لَطَائِفُ الْأَوْهَامِ (8) كَذَلِكَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ الْأَوَّلُ فِي أَوَّلِيَّتِكَ، وَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ أَنْتَ دَائِمٌ لَا تَزُولُ (9) وَ أَنَا الْعَبْدُ الضَّعِيفُ عَمَلًا، الْجَسِيمُ أَمَلًا، خَرَجَتْ مِنْ يَدِي أَسْبَابُ الْوُصُلَاتِ إِلَّا مَا وَصَلَهُ رَحْمَتُكَ، وَ تَقَطَّعَتْ عَنِّي عِصَمُ الْآمَالِ إِلَّا مَا أَنَا مُعْتَصِمٌ بِهِ مِنْ عَفْوِكَ (10) قَلَّ عِنْدِي مَا أَعْتَدُّ بِهِ مِنْ طَاعَتِكَ، و كَثُرَ عَلَيَّ مَا أَبُوءُ بِهِ مِنْ مَعْصِيَتِكَ وَ لَنْ يَضِيقَ عَلَيْكَ عَفْوٌ عَنْ عَبْدِكَ وَ إِنْ أَسَاءَ، فَاعْفُ عَنِّي. (11) اللَّهُمَّ وَ قَدْ أَشْرَفَ عَلَى خَفَايَا الْأَعْمَالِ عِلْمُكَ، وَ انْكَشَفَ كُلُّ مَسْتُورٍ دُونَ خُبْرِكَ، وَ لَا تَنْطَوِي عَنْكَ دَقَائِقُ الْأُمُورِ، وَ لَا تَعْزُبُ عَنْكَ غَيِّبَاتُ السَّرَائِرِ (12) وَ قَدِ اسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَيَّ عَدُوُّكَ الَّذِي اسْتَنْظَرَكَ لِغَوَايَتِي فَأَنْظَرْتَهُ، وَ اسْتَمْهَلَكَ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ لِإِضْلَالِي فَأَمْهَلْتَهُ. (13) فَأَوْقَعَنِي وَ قَدْ هَرَبْتُ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ صَغَائِرِ ذُنُوبٍ مُوبِقَةٍ، وَ كَبَائِرِ أَعْمَالٍ مُرْدِيَةٍ حَتَّى إِذَا قَارَفْتُ مَعْصِيَتَكَ، وَ اسْتَوْجَبْتُ بِسُوءِ سَعْيِي سَخْطَتَكَ، فَتَلَ عَنِّي عِذَارَ غَدْرِهِ، وَ تَلَقَّانِي بِكَلِمَةِ كُفْرِهِ، وَ تَوَلَّى الْبَرَاءَةَ مِنِّي، وَ أَدْبَرَ مُوَلِّياً عَنِّي، فَأَصْحَرَنِي لِغَضَبِكَ فَرِيداً، وَ أَخْرَجَنِي إِلَى فِنَاءِ نَقِمَتِكَ طَرِيداً. (14) لَا شَفِيعٌ يَشْفَعُ لِي إِلَيْكَ، وَ لَا خَفِيرٌ يُؤْمِنُنِي عَلَيْكَ، وَ لَا حِصْنٌ يَحْجُبُنِي عَنْكَ، وَ لَا مَلَاذٌ أَلْجَأُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْكَ. (15) فَهَذَا مَقَامُ الْعَائِذِ بِكَ، وَ مَحَلُّ الْمُعْتَرِفِ لَكَ، فَلَا يَضِيقَنَّ عَنِّي فَضْلُكَ، وَ لَا يَقْصُرَنَّ دُونِي عَفْوُكَ، وَ لَا أَكُنْ أَخْيَبَ عِبَادِكَ التَّائِبِينَ، وَ لَا أَقْنَطَ وُفُودِكَ الْآمِلِينَ، وَ اغْفِرْ لِي، إِنَّكَ خَيْرُ الْغَافِرِينَ. (16) اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ أَمَرْتَنِي فَتَرَكْتُ، وَ نَهَيْتَنِي فَرَكِبْتُ، وَ سَوَّلَ لِيَ الْخَطَاءَ خَاطِرُ السُّوءِ فَفَرَّطْتُ. (17) وَ لَا أَسْتَشْهِدُ عَلَى صِيَامِي نَهَاراً، وَ لَا أَسْتَجِيرُ بِتَهَجُّدِي لَيْلًا، وَ لَا تُثْنِي عَلَيَّ بِإِحْيَائِهَا سُنَّةٌ حَاشَا فُرُوضِكَ الَّتِي مَنْ ضَيَّعَهَا هَلَكَ. (18) وَ لَسْتُ أَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ بِفَضْلِ نَافِلَةٍ مَعَ كَثِيرِ مَا أَغْفَلْتُ مِنْ وَظَائِفِ فُرُوضِكَ، وَ تَعَدَّيْتُ عَنْ مَقَامَاتِ حُدُودِكَ إِلَى حُرُمَاتٍ انْتَهَكْتُهَا، وَ كَبَائِرِ ذُنُوبٍ اجْتَرَحْتُهَا، كَانَتْ عَافِيَتُكَ لِي مِنْ فَضَائِحِهَا سِتْراً. (19) وَ هَذَا مَقَامُ مَنِ اسْتَحْيَا لِنَفْسِهِ مِنْكَ، وَ سَخِطَ عَلَيْهَا، وَ رَضِيَ عَنْكَ، فَتَلَقَّاكَ بِنَفْسٍ خَاشِعَةٍ، وَ رَقَبَةٍ خَاضِعَةٍ، وَ ظَهْرٍ مُثْقَلٍ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا وَاقِفاً بَيْنَ الرَّغْبَةِ إِلَيْكَ وَ الرَّهْبَةِ مِنْكَ. (20) وَ أَنْتَ أَوْلَى مَنْ رَجَاهُ، وَ أَحَقُّ مَنْ خَشِيَهُ وَ اتَّقَاهُ، فَأَعْطِنِي يَا رَبِّ مَا رَجَوْتُ، وَ آمِنِّي مَا حَذِرْتُ، وَ عُدْ عَلَيَّ بِعَائِدَةِ رَحْمَتِكَ، إِنَّكَ أَكْرَمُ الْمَسْئُولِينَ. (21) اللَّهُمَّ وَ إِذْ سَتَرْتَنِي بِعَفْوِكَ، وَ تَغَمَّدْتَنِي بِفَضْلِكَ فِي دَارِ الْفَنَاءِ بِحَضْرَةِ الْأَكْفَاءِ، فَأَجِرْنِي مِنْ فَضِيحَاتِ دَارِ الْبَقَاءِ عِنْدَ مَوَاقِفِ الْأَشْهَادِ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ، وَ الرُّسُلِ الْمُكَرَّمِينَ، وَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَ الصَّالِحِينَ، مِنْ جَارٍ كُنْتُ أُكَاتِمُهُ سَيِّئَاتِي، وَ مِنْ ذِي رَحِمٍ كُنْتُ أَحْتَشِمُ مِنْهُ فِي سَرِيرَاتِي. (22) لَمْ أَثِقْ بِهِمْ رَبِّ فِي السِّتْرِ عَلَيَّ، وَ وَثِقْتُ بِكَ رَبِّ فِي الْمَغْفِرَةِ لِي، وَ أَنْتَ أَوْلَى مَنْ وُثِقَ بِهِ، وَ أَعْطَى مَنْ رُغِبَ إِلَيْهِ، وَ أَرْأَفُ مَنِ اسْتُرْحِمَ، فَارْحَمْنِي. (23) اللَّهُمَّ وَ أَنْتَ حَدَرْتَنِي مَاءً مَهِيناً مِنْ صُلْبٍ مُتَضَايِقِ الْعِظَامِ، حَرِجِ الْمَسَالِكِ إِلَى رَحِمٍ ضَيِّقَةٍ سَتَرْتَهَا بِالْحُجُبِ، تُصَرِّفُنِي حَالًا عَنْ حَالٍ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْتَ بِي إِلَى تَمَامِ الصُّورَةِ، وَ أَثْبَتَّ فِيَّ الْجَوَارِحَ كَمَا نَعَتَّ فِي كِتَابِكَ: نُطْفَةً ثُمَّ عَلَقَةً ثُمَّ مُضْغَةً ثُمَّ عَظْماً ثُمَّ كَسَوْتَ الْعِظَامَ لَحْماً، ثُمَّ أَنْشَأْتَنِي‏ خَلْقاً آخَرَ كَمَا شِئْتَ.

(24) حَتَّى إِذَا احْتَجْتُ إِلَى رِزْقِكَ، وَ لَمْ أَسْتَغْنِ عَنْ غِيَاثِ فَضْلِكَ، جَعَلْتَ لِي قُوتاً مِنْ فَضْلِ طَعَامٍ وَ شَرَابٍ أَجْرَيْتَهُ لِأَمَتِكَ الَّتِي أَسْكَنْتَنِي جَوْفَهَا، وَ أَوْدَعْتَنِي قَرَارَ رَحِمِهَا. (25) وَ لَوْ تَكِلُنِي يَا رَبِّ فِي تِلْكَ الْحَالاتِ إِلَى حَوْلِي، أَوْ تَضْطَرُّنِي إِلَى قُوَّتِي لَكَانَ الْحَوْلُ عَنِّي مُعْتَزِلًا، وَ لَكَانَتِ الْقُوَّةُ مِنِّي بَعِيدَةً. (26) فَغَذَوْتَنِي بِفَضْلِكَ غِذَاءَ الْبَرِّ اللَّطِيفِ، تَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ بِي تَطَوُّلًا عَلَيَّ إِلَى غَايَتِي هَذِهِ، لَا أَعْدَمُ بِرَّكَ، وَ لَا يُبْطِئُ بِي حُسْنُ صَنِيعِكَ، وَ لَا تَتَأَكَّدُ مَعَ ذَلِكَ ثِقَتِي فَأَتَفَرَّغَ لِمَا هُوَ أَحْظَى لِي عِنْدَكَ. (27) قَدْ مَلَكَ الشَّيْطَانُ عِنَانِي فِي سُوءِ الظَّنِّ وَ ضَعْفِ الْيَقِينِ، فَأَنَا أَشْكُو سُوءَ مُجَاوَرَتِهِ لِي، وَ طَاعَةَ نَفْسِي لَهُ، وَ أَسْتَعْصِمُكَ مِنْ مَلَكَتِهِ، وَ أَتَضَرَّعُ إِلَيْكَ فِي صَرْفِ كَيْدِهِ عَنِّي. (28) وَ أَسْأَلُكَ فِي أَنْ تُسَهِّلَ إِلَى رِزْقِي سَبِيلًا، فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى ابْتِدَائِكَ بِالنِّعَمِ الْجِسَامِ، وَ إِلْهَامِكَ الشُّكْرَ عَلَى الْإِحْسَانِ وَ الْإِنْعَامِ، فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ، وَ سَهِّلْ عَلَيَّ رِزْقِي، وَ أَنْ تُقَنِّعَنِي بِتَقْدِيرِكَ لِي، وَ أَنْ تُرْضِيَنِي بِحِصَّتِي فِيمَا قَسَمْتَ لِي، وَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ مَا ذَهَبَ مِنْ جِسْمِي وَ عُمُرِي فِي سَبِيلِ طَاعَتِكَ، إِنَّكَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ. (29) اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ نَارٍ تَغَلَّظْتَ بِهَا عَلَى مَنْ عَصَاكَ، وَ تَوَعَّدْتَ بِهَا مَنْ صَدَفَ عَنْ رِضَاكَ، وَ مِنْ نَارٍ نُورُهَا ظُلْمَةٌ، وَ هَيِّنُهَا أَلِيمٌ، وَ بَعِيدُهَا قَرِيبٌ، وَ مِنْ نَارٍ يَأْكُلُ بَعْضَهَا بَعْضٌ، وَ يَصُولُ بَعْضُهَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ. (30) وَ مِنْ نَارٍ تَذَرُ الْعِظَامَ رَمِيماً، وَ تَسقِي أَهْلَهَا حَمِيماً، وَ مِنْ نَارٍ لَا تُبْقِي عَلَى مَنْ تَضَرَّعَ إِلَيْهَا، وَ لَا تَرْحَمُ مَنِ اسْتَعْطَفَهَا، وَ لَا تَقْدِرُ عَلَى التَّخْفِيفِ عَمَّنْ خَشَعَ لَهَا وَ اسْتَسْلَمَ إِلَيْهَا تَلْقَى سُكَّانَهَا بِأَحَرِّ مَا لَدَيْهَا مِنْ أَلِيمِ النَّكَالِ وَ شَدِيدِ الْوَبَالِ‏ (31) وَ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَقَارِبِهَا الْفَاغِرَةِ أَفْوَاهُهَا، وَ حَيَّاتِهَا الصَّالِقَةِ بِأَنْيَابِهَا، وَ شَرَابِهَا الَّذِي يُقَطِّعُ أَمْعَاءَ وَ أَفْئِدَةَ سُكَّانِهَا، وَ يَنْزِعُ قُلُوبَهُمْ، وَ أَسْتَهْدِيكَ لِمَا بَاعَدَ مِنْهَا، وَ أَخَّرَ عَنْهَا. (32) اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ، وَ أَجِرْنِي مِنْهَا بِفَضْلِ رَحْمَتِكَ، وَ أَقِلْنِي عَثَرَاتِي بِحُسْنِ إِقَالَتِكَ، وَ لَا تَخْذُلْنِي يَا خَيْرَ الْمُجِيرِينَ (33) اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَقِي الْكَرِيهَةَ، وَ تُعْطِي الْحَسَنَةَ، وَ تَفْعَلُ مَا تُرِيدُ، وَ أَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ (34) اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ، إِذَا ذُكِرَ الْأَبْرَارُ، وَ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ، مَا اخْتَلَفَ اللَّيْلُ وَ النَّهَارُ، صَلَاةً لَا يَنْقَطِعُ مَدَدُهَا، وَ لَا يُحْصَى عَدَدُهَا، صَلَاةً تَشْحَنُ الْهَوَاءَ، وَ تَمْلَأُ الْأَرْضَ وَ السَّمَاءَ. (35) صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَرْضَى، وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بَعْدَ الرِّضَا، صَلَاةً لَا حَدَّ لَهَا وَ لَا مُنْتَهَى، يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.[19]

1- O Allah^-azwj, O Possessor of kingdom perpetual in everlastingness,

2- Authority invincible without armies or helpers,

3- Might abiding through aeons past, years gone by, times and days elapsed!

4- Your^-azwj authority is Mighty with a Might that knows no bound by being first nor utmost end by being the last!

5- Your^-azwj kingdom towers high with a towering before which all things fall down without reaching its term;

6- The least of it which You^-azwj has Kept to Yourself^-azwj is not reached by the furthest description of the describers!

7- Attributes go astray in Your^-azwj (Praise), descriptions fall apart below Your^-azwj (Essence), the subtlest of imaginations are bewildered by Your^-azwj Magnificence!

8- So are You O Allah^-azwj, the First in Your^-azwj Firstness, and so are You^-azwj everlastingly. You^-azwj do not pass away.

9- But I am the slave, feeble in works, immense in hopes. The tying links are outside my hand, except what is tied by Your^-azwj mercy; the bonds of hopes have been cut away from me, except the pardon to which I hold fast.

10- Little on my part is the obedience toward You^-azwj upon which I count, and great against me the disobedience toward You^-azwj to which I have reverted. But pardoning Your^-azwj slave will not constrain Yourself^-azwj, even if he be bad, so (please) pardon me!

11- O Allah^-azwj, Your^-azwj knowledge watches over hidden works, every covered thing is exposed before Your^-azwj awareness, the intricacies of things are not concealed from You^-azwj, and unseen mysteries slip not away from You^-azwj.

12- But over me Your^-azwj enemy has gained mastery: He^-la (Iblis) asked a delay from You^-azwj to lead me astray, and You^-azwj Gave him^-la the delay! He^-la asked a respite from You^-azwj until the Day of Doom to misguide me, and You^-azwj Gave him^-la the respite![20]

13- So he^-la threw me down, though I had fled to You^-azwj from small, ruinous sins and great, deadly works, until, when I had yielded to disobeying You^-azwj and merited Your^-azwj Wrath through my bad efforts, he^-la turned the bridle of his treachery away from me, met me with the word of his^-la ingratitude, undertook to be quit of me,[21] turned his back to flee from me, threw me to the desert of Your^-azwj Wrath alone, and sent me as an outcast into the courtyard of Your vengeance.

14- There is no intercessor to intercede for me with You^-azwj (besides whoever You^-azwj Nominate) no protector to make me feel secure against You^-azwj, no fortress to veil me from You^-azwj, no shelter in which to seek asylum apart from You^-azwj!

15- This is the station of him who takes refuge with Yourself^-azwj, the place of the confessor to You^-azwj: Let not Your^-azwj bounty be too tiny for me, let not Your^-azwj Pardon fall short of me! Let me not be the most disappointed of Your^-azwj repentant servants, nor the most despairing of those who come to You^-azwj with expectations! (please) Forgive me, surely You^-azwj are the best of the forgivers!

16- O Allah^-azwj, (when) You^-azwj Commanded me, and I refrained, You^-azwj Prohibited me, and I committed, evil thoughts tempted me to offend, and I was negligent.

17- I cannot call upon daytime to witness my fasting, nor can I seek sanctuary in night because of my vigil; no Sunna praises me for keeping it alive, only Your^-azwj obligations, he who neglects which has perished.

18- I cannot seek access to You^-azwj through the excellence of a supererogatory work, given the many duties of Your^-azwj obligations of which I have been heedless and the stations of Your^-azwj bounds which I have transgressed, thereby violating sacred things and committing great sins, through Your^-azwj (Mercy) I find hope of safety from their disgraces as a covering.

19- This is the station of him who is ashamed of himself before You^-azwj, angry with himself, and satisfied with You^-azwj. He meets You^-azwj with a humble soul, a neck bent down, a back heavy with offenses, hesitating between longing for You^-azwj and fear of You^-azwj.

20- You^-azwj are the most worthy of those in whom he might hope, the most deserving for him to dread and fear. So give me, my Lord^-azwj, what I hope for, make me secure against what frightens me, and act kindly toward me with the kindly act of mercy! Surely You^-azwj are the most generous of those from whom are asked!

21- O Allah^-azwj, since You^-azwj have covered me with Your^-azwj Pardon and Shielded me with Your^-azwj bounty in the abode of annihilation and the presence of equals, (please) Grant me sanctuary from the disgraces of the Abode of Subsistence at the standing places of the Witnesses (the angels brought nigh, the messengers honoured, the martyrs, the righteous) before the neighbour from whom I have hidden my evil deeds and the womb relative before whom I feel ashamed in my secret thoughts!

22- I trust them not, my Lord^-azwj, to cover me over, but I trust You^-azwj, my Lord^-azwj, to forgive me! You^-azwj are the most worthy of those in whom confidence one must have, the most giving of those who are besought, and the most clement of those from whom mercy is asked. So (please) Have mercy upon me!

23- O Allah, You^-azwj Caused me to descend as mean water from loins of narrow bones and tight passages into a constricted womb which You have covered with veils;[22] You^-azwj Turned me about from state to state until You Took me to the completion of the form and fixed within me the bodily parts, as You^-azwj have described in Your^-azwj Book: a drop, then a clot, then a tissue, then bones, then You^-azwj Garmented the bones with flesh, then You^-azwj Produced me as another creature as You^-azwj Willed.[23]

24- Then, when I needed Your^-azwj Provision, and could not do without the aid of Your^-azwj Bounty, You^-azwj appointed for me a nourishment from the bounty of the food and drink which You^-azwj Bestowed upon Your^-azwj handmaid in whose belly You^-azwj Gave me to rest and in the lodging of whose womb You^-azwj deposited me.

25- You^-azwj have Entrusted me in those states, my Lord^-azwj, to my own force or driven me to have recourse to my own strength, force would have been removed from me and strength taken far away.

26. So You^-azwj have Fed me through Your^-azwj Bounty with the food of the Good, the Gentle; You have Done that for me in graciousness toward me up to this my present point. I do not lack Your^-azwj Goodness, nor does Your^-azwj Benefaction keep me waiting. Yet with all that, my trust has not become firm enough that I might free myself for that which is more favoured by You^-azwj.

27- Satan^-la has taken possession of my reins through my distrust and frail certainty. I complain of his evil neighbourhood with me and my soul’s obedience toward him! I ask You^-azwj to Preserve me against his domination, and I plead with You^-azwj to Turn his^-la trickery away from me!

28- I ask You^-azwj to Make the path to my provision easy, since to You^-azwj belongs praise for Your^-azwj Beginning with immense favours and Your^-azwj Inspiring gratitude for beneficence and bestowing favour! Bless Muhammad^-saww and his^-saww Household, and Make the way to my provision easy for me! [I Plead to You^-azwj] to Make me content with Your^-azwj Ordainment for me, to make me satisfied with my lot in that which You^-azwj have Apportioned for me and to Place what has gone of my body and my life-span into the path of Your^-azwj Obedience![24]  Surely, You^-azwj are the Best of providers!

29- O Allah^-azwj, I seek refuge in You^-azwj from the Fire through which You^-azwj are harsh toward him who disobeys You^-azwj and by which You^-azwj have Threatened him who turns away from Your^-azwj good pleasure; from the Fire whose Light is darkness, whose ease is pain, and whose far is near; from the Fire parts of which devour parts and parts of which leap upon parts;

30- From the Fire which leaves bones decayed and lets its people drink boiling water; from the Fire which ‘does not spare him who pleads to it,’ [25] has no mercy on him who seeks sympathy from it, and has no power to relieve him who humbles himself before it and yields himself to it; it meets its inhabitants with the hottest that it possesses: painful punishment and intense noxiousness.

31- I seek refuge in You^-azwj from its gaping-jawed scorpions, its scraping-toothed serpents, and its drinks, which tear apart the intestines and hearts of its inhabitants and root out their marrows. I ask guidance from You^-azwj to that which will keep far from it and make it retreat!

32- O Allah^-azwj, Bless Muhammad^-saww and his^-saww Household, Grant me sanctuary from it through the bounty of Your^-azwj Mercy, release me from my stumbles through Your^-azwj good releasing, and abandon me not, O Best of the sanctuary-granters!

33- O Allah^-azwj, You^-azwj Protect from the disliked, Give the good, do what You Will, and You^-azwj are powerful over everything.[26]

34- O Allah^-azwj, Bless Muhammad^-saww and his^-saww Household when the pious are mentioned and Bless Muhammad^-saww and his^-saww Household as long as night and day come and go with a blessing whose replenishment is never cut off and whose number cannot be counted, a blessing that will fill up the air and crowd the earth and the heaven!

35- Allah^-azwj Bless him^-saww until he^-saww is well pleased and Allah^-azwj Bless him^-saww and his^-saww Household after good pleasure with a blessing that has neither bound nor utmost limit! O Most Merciful of the merciful![27]

[1] Al-Mahaasin – V 1 Bk 1H 48

[2] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt CH 84 H 2

[3] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt CH 84 H 8

[4] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt CH 84 H 16

[5] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book of Salāt CH 7 H 6

[6] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt CH 84 H 13

[7] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt CH 84 H 14

[8] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt CH 84 H 18

[9] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt CH 84 H 19

[10] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt CH 85 H 5

[11] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt  CH 100 H 3

[12] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt  CH 100 H 9

[13] http://hubeali.com/images/newimg/Mola-Ali-asws-400-Ahadith.pdf  الخصال ج : 2 ص : 611

[14] Al Mahaasin – V 1 Bk 2 H 79

[15] Al Mahaasin – V 1 Bk 3 H 24

[16] Al Mahaasin – V 1 Bk 3 H 25

[17] Al Mahaasin – V 1 Bk 5 H 137

[18] من لا يحضره الفقيه، ج‏1، ص: 484 H. 1399

[19] الصحيفة السجادية، ص: 146

[20] Reference to the Qur’anic account of Iblis, in which Iblis asks from Allah and is given permission to try to lead His servants astray until the Day of Resurrection (7:14-18, 15:36-43, 38:79-86).

[21] Reference to 59:16: Like Satan, when he said to man, ‘Disbelieve!’ Then, when he disbelieved, he said: ‘Surely I am quit of you. Surely I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds.’

[22] Reference to 32:7: He originated the creation of man out of clay, then He fashioned his progeny of an extraction of mean water, then He shaped him and breathed His spirit into him.

[23] Reference to a number of Qur’anic passages, especially 23:12-14: We created man of an extraction of clay, then We set him, a drop, in a receptacle secure, then We created of the drop a clot, then We created of the clot a tissue, then We created of the tissue bones, then We garmented the bones with flesh; thereafter We produced him as another creature.

[24] As the commentators point out, this ‘placing’ is connected to the Qur’anic doctrine of the transformation of evil deeds into good deeds, e.g.: Whosoever does that shall meet the price of sin… save him who repents, has faith, and does righteous works – those, Allah will change their evil deeds into good deeds (25:68-70).

[25] This is part of a hadith;

[26] 3:26

[27] الصحيفة السجادية، ص: 146