Islam Guidance

As for the hajj to the Sacred House of Allah, the Ima`m, peace be on him, clung to it, for he found in its standing places refreshment for his soul which was melted by the tragedies of Karbala`'. He, peace be on him, urged (the Muslims) to perform the hajj and the 'Umra (a certain kind of hajj to the Kaaba), for they would result in great benefits.

Hence he said: "(When) you perform the hajj and the 'Umra, your bodies become sound, your daily bread becomes ample, your faith becomes righteous, and you are sufficient for the provisions of the people and of your families."(Was'il al-Shi'a, vol. 8, p. 5).
 He, peace be on him, said: "The hajji (pilgrim) is forgiven, the Garden is surely for him, the work is resumed through him, his family and his possessions are preserved."(Man la Yahdarahu al-Faqih, p. 156. Wasa'il al-Shi'a, vol. 8, p. 5).

He, peace be on him, said: "The angels intercede for the one who runs between al-Safa` and al-Marwa` (with Allah)."( Man la Yahdarahu al-Faqih, p. 159).

He also urged (the Muslims) to honor and magnify the pilgrims when they returned from the Sacred House of Allah, Hence he said: "Show happiness when the pilgrims return (from Mecca), shake hands with them, and magnify them. (Hence), you take a share in their reward before you mix with them in sin."( Man la Yahdarahu al-Faqih, p. 155).
Now, we will briefly present some affairs of his hajj.
 
His Hajj on Foot

The Ima`m, peace be on him, performed the hajj on foot more than one time, as his father and his uncle, al-Hasan, peace be on them, did. It took him twenty days to perform the hajj to the House (of Allah)."(Al-Bihar. In al'Aqdd al-Farid, vol. 3, p. 103. It has been mentioned: "He performed the hajj on foot twenty-five times.)"
 
His Hajj Riding

He, peace be on him, performed the hajj on the (back of) his she-camel twenty times, and he took great care of it. The historians said: "He never whipped it."
( Hulyat al-Awliya', vol. 3, p. 133).

Ibra`him b. 'Ali said: "I performed the hajj with 'Ali b. al-Husayn. His she-camel was moving slowly, Hence he pointed to it with the stick, and then he withdrew it and said: 'Woe if there was on retaliation (in the next world)!' Again it moved slowly among the Mountains of Radawa` , Hence he showed it the stick and said (to it): 'You should walk; otherwise I will do!' Then he mounted it, and it walked."(Al-Fusul al-Muhimma, p. 189).
His soul exalted to this level of mercy, pity, and gentleness to animal, Hence he never whipped and frightened his she-camel. He thought that aggression against animal would result in punishment and reckoning in the Next Abode.
 
The Reciters accompany Him

When he intended to perform the hajj to the Sacred House of Allah, the reciters (of the Qur'a`n) and the religious scholars would accompany him, for they acquired from him sciences, knowledge, wise sayings, and good manners. Sa'id b. al-Musayyab said: "The reciters (of the Qur'a`n) did not go out of Mecca until 'Ali b. al-Husayn went out, Hence he went out and a thousand riders went out with him.(Hayat al-Imam Mohammed al-Baqir, vol. 1, p. 138).

They learnt from him the problems of the hajj, the rules of the religion, and all the affairs of Islamic law, for there was no one in his time, according to the consensus of the historians and narrators, more knowledgeable than him in the precepts of the Book and Sunna."
 
His Food for the Hajj

The Ima`m, peace be on him, took good and perfect preparations for performing the hajj and the 'Umra. He supplied himself with the best food such as almonds, sugar, soured and sugared fine flour.(Al-Bihar, vol. 46. p. 71).
His pure sister, Sukayna, made him and excellent food on which she spent thousands of dirhams, but when he arrived at al-Hurrah, he ordered the food to be divided among the poor and the needy.( Saffwat al-Saffwa, vol. 2, p. 54).
 
His Disorder during Ritual Consecration

When the Ima`m arrived at one of the places appointed for the ritual consecration(such as Masjid al-Shajara (the Mosque of the Tree), the place appointed for the people of Medina and those who passed by it(he began performing the rules of ritual consecration such as ablution. When he wanted to say the talbiya (Here I am at your service), his skin would turn yellow, and he disordered and was unable to say the talbiya. He was asked: "Why don't you say the talbiya ?"

He trembled with fear of Allah and said: "I fear that I say: labbayk (Here I am at Your service), and it will be said to me: 'la` labbayk' (You are not at My service).
When he said the talbiya , he fainted because of his abundant fear of Allah, and fell off his she-camel. This state attacked him several times until he finished his hajj.(Nihayat al-Irab, vol. 21, p. 326. Khulasat Tahdhib al-Kamal, p. 131).

Ma`lik reported: "When Zayn al-'Abidin wanted to say the talbiya, he fainted, fell off his she-camel, and broke (one of his bones).(Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 7, 306).
The Ima`m thoroughly knew of Allah, adored Him, was afraid of His punishment, and tended to Him with all his feelings and sentiments, as his fathers, who were the lords of the Allah-fearing and of those who turned to Allah in repentance, did.
 
His Supplication by the Black Stone

When he finished his going around (the Kaaba) and arrived at the Black Stone, he looked at the sky and said: "O Allah, make me enter Heaven through Your mercy-while he was looking at the mizab (Spout)- grant me sanctuary from the Fire through Your mercy, heal me of illness, allow me to attain my provision through lawful means, and drive away from me the wickedness of the sinners from among the jinn and men, and the wickedness of the sinners from among the Arabs and non-Arabs."(Furu' Al-Kafi, vol. 4, 407).
 

His Prayer under the miza`b

When the Ima`m, peace be on him, had finished his rituals (of hajj) such as going around the Kaaba and running between al-Safa and al-Marwa, he came to pray under the Spout of Mercy (mizab al-Rahma). Tawu`s al-Yama`ni saw him at that Holy Place standing in prayer, supplicating Allah, and weeping because of fear of Allah. When he finished his prayers, Ta`wus interrupted him, saying: "I have seen you in this state of humility while you have three qualities. I hope that they will make you safe from fear. One of them is that you are the (grand) son of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, the second is the intercession of your grandfather, and the third is Allah's mercy."

The Ima`m gently answered Tawus: "O Ta`wus, as for that I am the (grand) son of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, it will not safe me (from fear), and you have heard Allah, the Exalted, say: There shall be no ties of relationship between them, nor shall they ask of each other. As for the intercession of my grandfather, it will not safe me (from fear), for Allah, the Most High, says: They do not intercede except for him who He approves. As for Allah's mercy, Allah says: Allah's mercy is close to the benefactors, and I don't think that I am a benefactor."(Al-Majjlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 46, p. 101).
Have you noticed this humility and self-negation before Allah, the Exalted? Indeed, this Ima`m was a unique copy among mankind except his great fathers.
 
With Hisha`m b. 'Abd al-Malik

Hisha`m b. 'Abd al-Malik, accompanied by the police, made the pilgrimage to the Sacred House of Allah. The mercenaries and the prominent persons from among the Syrians surrounded him. He did his best to catch the Black Stone, but he could not, because the place was full of pilgrims who pushed each other in order to kiss the Black Stone. Hence the pilgrims paid no attention to Hisha`m and made no room to him, for there were no differences in that Great House. A pulpit was installed for him and he sat on it. He looked at the people who were going around the Kaaba.

In the meantime Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, came to perform going around the Kaaba. A pilgrim saw him and recognized him, Hence he called out at the top of his voice: "That is the remaining one of Allah in His earth! That is the remaining one of Prophethood! That is the Ima`m of the Allah-fearing and lord of the worshippers!"

The Ima`m's solemnity, to which the faces and foreheads yielded, and which was similar to that of his grandfather, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, overwhelmed the pilgrims. The pilgrims shouted loudly everywhere in the Mosque: "There is no god but Allah! Allah is Great!" Then they made room for the Ima`m. Blessed was the one who kissed his hand or touched his garments of ritual consecration.

The Mosque was full of saying: "Allah is Great!" The Syrians were astonished at that fearful sight, for they thought that there was no one worthy of honor and magnification except the Umayyads who were, according to the Umayyad mass media, the inheritors of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, and close to him in lineage! Hence the Syrians hurried to Hisha`m and asked him: "Who is that person whom the people has respected with this respect?"
Hisha`m burst into anger, and his crossed eye appeared1, and he shouted at them: "I don't recognize him!"

Hisha`m denied recognizing the Ima`m, for he feared that the Syrians would incline to him and desert the Umayyads. Al-Farazdaq, the Arab great poet, was present there. He understood the truth, shook all over, rushed toward the Syrians with enthusiasm and said to: "I know him!"
"Who is he, Abu` Fira`s?" asked the Syrians.

Hisha`m became frightened and lost his mind, for he feared that al-Farazdaq would introduce the Ima`m to the Syrians, Hence he shouted at him: "I don't know him!"
Condemning Hisha`m, al-Farazdaq said at the top of his voice: "Yes, you know him!"
Then he turned to the Syrians and said to them: "Syrians, whoever wants to recognize this man, let him come (here)!"

Hence the Syrians and others hurried to the Arab great poet and fully listened. Al-Farazdaq was eager for supporting the truth. Hence he improvised this poem called al-'Asma`', which represents truthful words and beautiful style, and in which he said:
This is the descendant of Husayn and son of Fa`tim,
daughter of the Messenger through whom darkness scattered.

This is he whose ability the valley (of Mecca), recognizes,and whom the (Sacred) House recognizes (as do) the sanctuary and the area outside the sanctuary (al-hill).
This is the son of the best of all Allah's servants.
This is the pure pious man, the pure eminent man.

When Quraysh saw him, their spokesman said: Generosity leads to the noble qualities of this (man).He belongs to the zenith of glory which the Arabs of Islam
When he comes to touch the corner of the wall of the Kaaba, it almost grasps the palm of his hand.

He lowers (his eyes) because of modesty and (eyes are) lowered due to his solemnity. Hence (none) speaks with him but when he smiles.

In his hand there is a cane whose smell is fragrant because of the hand of the one who is wonderful and noble.The prophets are indebted to the outstanding merits of his grandfather, and the nations are indebted to the excellencies of his nation.

The light of guidance comes out of the light of his forehead (which) is like the sun whose rising scatters the dark.His plant (origin) is derived from the Messenger of Allah.
Its elements, nature, and qualities are good.

This is the son of Fa`tima, if you do not recognize him, the prophets of Allah were sealed through his grandfather.Allah had already honored him, and his excellencies occurred through that in the tablet of the pen.

Your words 'who is this' do not harm, the Arabs and non-Arabs recognize him whom you deny.
Both his hands are relief; their profit is general; they are equal hands; deprivation does not befall them.

He is the carrier of the burdens of the peoples when they are overburdened. His merits are pretty; 'yes' is pleasant with him.He does not break promise; blessed is his soul; his
courtyard is ample; he is brilliant when he determines.

(He is) from the people whose love is religion; whose hate is unbelief; nearness to them is refuge and protection.If the Allah-fearing are numbered, they are their Ima`ms, or (if) it is said, who is the best of the world's inhabitants?, it is said, they are.

None of the generous can (access) their far-fetched objectives, nor can people vie with them (in generosity) even if they are generous. They are rain when a crisis is intense and lions, the lions of a forest, when war is violent.

Poverty does not decrease their munificence. It is the same for them whether they are rich or poor.Evil and tribulation are pushed away through love for them, and through it kindness and blessings are regained.

Their remembrance is advanced in every affair after the remembrance of Allah, and words are sealed through it.(Their) noble natures and their hands full of liberality do not allow abasement to occur in their courtyard.Which creature is excluded from the priority and  favors of

this (Ima`m)?

Whoever thanks Allah thanks the priority of this (Ima`m in belief in Allah), for nations have attained religion from the House of this (Ima`m).(Nihayat al-Irab, vol. 21, pp. 331).
This poem, called al-'Asma`', is distinguished from the rest of the Arab poetry by immortality throughout history, for it was a revolt against falsehood and support for the truth. It was mentioned in the time in which mouths were muzzled and tongues were prevented from mentioning the laudable deeds of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them.

The Umayyad tyrannical authorities executed all those who mentioned their laudable deeds or their outstanding merits. They employed all their organs to efface the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them, from the map of existence.

In his poem, al-Farazdaq lauded the great Ima`m, the Ima`m of the Syrians and other than them from among all the pilgrims, Hence his praise was a painful blow against the Umayyad policy. Commenting on this poem, al-Busta`ni said: "They said: This poem is sufficient for al-Farazdaq to enter the Garden.."

This poem contains wonderful truthfulness, support of the truth, and pretty coherence of lines. Al-Sayyid 'Ali al-Madani said: "As for the coherence of this poem, it is an unattainable objective and unpossessable mind. He (al-Farazdaq) avoided (mentioning) explanatory remarks in it, and mentioned wonderful coherence in it. He who notices the poetry of al-Farazdaq and notices this poem, he will admire it, for there is no relation between this poem of al-Farazdaq and all his sayings in cause, praise, and satire.
This means that he composed it spontaneously. Without doubt Allah, the Glorified, supported him when he composed it, and pointed him the right way when he improvised it."(Anwar al-Rabi', vol. 4, p. 35).
 
al-Farajj doubts the Poem

Abu` al-Farajj al-Asfaha`ni doubted that this poem did not belong to al-Farazdaq. He thought that al-Farazdaq's style in poetry was different from his style in this poem. He claimed that al-Farazdaq used difficult styles, words, and imaginations. Commenting on this view of Abu` al-Farajj, shaykh Mohammed, Abu` Zahra, said:
"I do not think that this doubt is acceptable or agrees with the sound method of studying narrations, for the following reasons:

"First, all the narrators have unanimously agreed that this poem is ascribed to al-Farazdaq, but al-Asfaha`ni tried to accuse them of lying.
"Second, al-Asfaha`ni did not mention with proof the poet, from among the poets of the Household (of the Prophet), to whom he attributed this poem. Hence he has no right to abolish the ascription of a poem to its poet, or to leave it in an unknown attribution, or to ascribe it (to someone) without any proof.

"The poet sometimes uses difficult words and sometimes uses nice words according to the situation in which he composes (his poem). If the poet composes (his poem) according to his situation, if he describes desert and what within it, he will use difficult (words). If he speaks about morals and qualities, he will without doubt use soft (words). When the poet is good, he chooses suitable (words) for every situation.

"Imru' al-Quays, a pre-Islamic poet, composed soft poetry in the end of his lifetime. This was when some misfortunes befell him. We do not intend to give accounts about literature, that we may tell you about his description of his illness and what befell him. Al-A'sha` and Ka'ab b. Zuhair also composed nice poems. When they praised the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, their poetry became soft to the extent that it agreed with his qualities and miracles. Al-Farazdaq's words in this poem are soft, so there is no need to denying and doubt.

"Here, we must say that al-Farazdaq firmly inclined to the members of the House (Al al-Bayt), though he did not compose abundant poetry about them, for he did not want to expose himself to the persecutions of the Umayyads."
(Imam Zayd, pp. 28-29).

Al-Farazdaq was one of Ima`m 'Ali's followers, Hence he praised Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him. Al-Sharif al-Murtada` said: "Al-Farazdaq was a Shi'ite inclining to the Ha`shimites. In the end of his lifetime, he gave up transgression and slander. He followed the way of the religion, but he had not neglected the religion before, nor had he neglected its affairs."(Sarh al-'Uyyun, p. 390).

Anyhow, the attribution of this poem called al-'Asma`' is among the definite affairs, for all the narrators have unanimously agreed on it.
 
Al-Farazdaq is arrested

When Hisha`m b. 'Abd al-Malik heard this poem, he became excited and wished that the ground would have swallowed him. This is because the poem included all the outstanding qualities of the great Ima`m and introduced him to the Syrians who had no knowledge of him and his grandfathers. Al-Farazdaq praised the position of the Ima`m. He indicated that following the Ima`m was inseparable part of Islam, and that the Ima`m was the best person in the world at that time.

Hisha`m ordered al-Farazdaq to be arrested. Hence, he was arrested and imprisoned in the prison of 'Asfa`n, a place between Mecca and Medina. When Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, heard of this, he sent al-Farazdaq twelve thousand dirhams, but the latter refused to accept it, saying:

"I composed (these words) concerning you to show my anger for Allah and His Messenger only." The Ima`m sent back the money to al-Farazdaq, and he accepted it. Hence al-Farazdaq began satirizing Hisha`m. Among the lines with which he satirized him is the following:
Will he imprison me between ('Asfa`n) and Medina, to which the hearts of the people incline?

He turns a head which is not the head of a chief, and he has a cross eye with apparent defects.(Nihayat al-Irab, vol. 21, p. 331).
 
His Whispered Prayers in the Sacred House

Many whispered prayers in the Sacred House of Allah were related from Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him. He used to recite them before his Lord in the darkness. The following is some of them:

1. Mohammed b. Abi Hamza reported: [I saw 'Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on him, praying in the courtyard of the Kaaba. He lengthened standing in prayer to the extent that he sometimes leant on his right leg and sometimes on his left leg. Then I heard him weeping loudly and whispering to his Lord:]

"O my Master, will You chastise me (while) Your love is in my heart? By Your might, You shall not gather me with the people toward whom I have shown enmity for You!(Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 579).

In this short whispered prayer, the Ima`m, peace be on him, expressed his absolute devotion and pleading to Allah, asking Him for pardon and good pleasure.

2. Al-Asma'i narrated: [While I was going around the Kaaba, I saw a young man clinging to its curtains and saying sad words:] "The eyes have slept, and the stars have become high, and You are the King, the Living, the Self-subsistent. The kings have closed their gates, and their guards have stood by them, but Your gate is still open for the askers. I have come to You to, that You may look at me through Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful."

[Then he composed:]

"O He who responds in the darkness to the supplication of the distressed!
O He who removes affliction, tribulation, and illness!
All those have come to You have slept around the House,and only You, O Self-subsistent, do not sleep!
I supplicate You, my Lord, with a supplication which You have commanded!
Hence have mercy on my weeping, by the right of the House and the Sanctuary!
If the immoderate do not expect Your pardon, then who will bestows favor lavishly upon the disobedient!"

Al-Asma'i said: "I followed his traces, suddenly he was Zayn al-'Abidin. I kissed him and said to him: You are 'Ali b. al-Husayn; your father is the martyr of Karbala`'; your grandfather is 'Ali al-Murtada`; your (grand) mother is Fa`tima, the chaste; your grandmother is Khadija al-Kubra` (the greatest one); your great grandfather is Mohammed al-Mustafa` (the chosen one), Hence why do you say such words?"

The Ima`m softly and kindly answered him: "Have you not read these words of Him, the Exalted: Hence when the trumpet is blown, there shall be no ties of relationship between them on that day, nor shall they ask of each other?1 Have you not heard the words of my grandfather: The Garden has been created for the obedient even if they are from Ethiopia; the Fire has been created for the disobedient even if they are from Quraysh?( Roudat al-Jannat, vol. 5, p. 161).

This great Ima`m clung to Allah, the Exalted, devoted himself to him, obeyed him, and worshipped him because of knowledge, faith, and sincerity.

3. Ta`wus al-Yama`ni narrated: [I passed by the (Black) Stone. Suddenly, (I saw) a person bowing and prostrating. I carefully considered him, and I could realized that he was 'Ali b. al-Husayn, Hence I said to myself: He is a righteous man from among the Household of the Prophet. By Allah, I will wait until he finishes his prayers, that I may make use of his supplication. Then he raised his hands and began addressing Allah, saying:]

"O Allah, my Master, my Master! I have stretched out my hands full of sins toward You and looked (at You) with hope. The right of him who humbly supplicates you with regret is that You generously respond to him!

"My Master, have you created me as one of the miserable, Hence I will lengthen my weeping? Or have you created me as one of the happy, Hence I will be happy with my hope?
"My Master, have you created my limbs to be hit with whips (of iron)? Or have you created my bowels for drinking the boiling water (in the Fire)?

"My Master, if a servant was able to escape from his master, I would be the first of those who escaped from their master, but I know that I cannot escape from You!
"My Master, if I knew that my chastisement would increase Your kingdom, I would ask You for patience against it, but I know that the obedience of the obedient does not increase Your kingdom, nor does the disobedience of the disobedient decrease it.

"My Master, Here I am! What is my importance? Pardon me through your bounty! Cover me over with Your cover! Forgive me my scolding through the generosity of Your face!
"My Allah and my Master, have mercy on me when I will be dead on my bed, (and when) the hands of my lovers turn me! Have mercy on me when I will be placed in the wash room, (and when) my righteous neighbors wash me! Have mercy on me when I will be carried, (and when) my relatives carry the ends of my coffin! Have mercy on my exile and my lonesomeness in that dark house!"

When Ta`wus heard these sad whispered prayers, he burst into tears, Hence the Ima`m turned to him and asked him:

"O Yama`ni, what makes you weep? Isn't this the standing place of the sinners?"
Ta`wus interrupted the Ima`m with submission and admiration, saying: "Your right against Allah is that He should respond to you.(Roudat al-Wa'izin, vol. 1, p. 237).
The Ima`m, peace be on him, loved the world of angels, clung to it, and devoted his life to it.

4. The narrators reported on the authority of al-Hasan al-Basri, who said: "I saw 'Ali b. al-Husayn in the Kaaba pleading to Allah and supplicating Him in repentance, Hence I came nearer to him and heard him reciting these soft lines:

O He who is expected for (fulfilling) every need!
I complained to You of affliction, Hence have mercy on my complaint!
O He who is my hope! Your are the Remover of my distress, Hence forgive me every sin I have committed and fulfill my request!
To You belong aim in every request! You are the Helper of the askers and my goal!
I have made ugly acts the like of which none of the creatures has made!
My provision is little; I do not think that it is enough!
Shall I weep for my provision or for my distant road!
Will You muster me along with the oppressive in the standing places?
Therefore, where is my circumambulation, then where are my visitations?
Will you burn me with the Fire, O Goal of hopes?

Therefore, where is my expectation, then where is my fear?
My Master, oblige me with repentance, for You, my Lord,
know my words!

These lines had a great effect on the soul of al-Hasan al-Basri, Hence he hurried to kiss the feet of the Ima`m and say:

"O grandson of the Prophet, why are you saying these whispered prayers and weeping? Are you not from among the Prophet's Household concerning whom Allah said: 'To take away the uncleanness from you and to purify thoroughly.'?"

The Ima`m explained to al-Hasan al-Basri the true Islam, which adopted good deeds and paid no attention to lineage, saying: "Leave this! The Garden has been created for him who obeys Allah even if he is from Ethiopia; the Fire has been created for him who disobeys Him even if he is from Quraysh. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, said: 'Bring me your acts, not your lineage.(Roudat al-Jannat, vol. 3, p. 29).

Some writers thought that this narration was incorrect. This is because the narration contains weak lines of poetry. Besides it shows that al-Husayn al-Basri kissed the Ima`m's foot. They said that this action did not agree with the position of al-Basri, and that the Ima`m did not accepted it.(Al-Sila bayna al-Tasawuf wa al-Tashayya', vol. 1, p. 161).
This view is weak for the following reasons:

First, the Ima`m, peace be on him, recited these lines. None knows that he composed them.
Second, we do not think that these lines are weak, for they are soft and good.
Third, as for that al-Hasan al-Basri kissed the Ima`m, it was not an insult; rather it was honor and pride for him. This is because the Ima`m was the remaining one of Allah in His earth, the lord of the pure Household (of the Prophet), and a piece of the liver of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. Al-Basri was the most knowledgeable of these authors in the Ima`m's position.

5. Ta`wus, the jurist, reported one of the Ima`m's whispered prayers to Allah in the Sacred House. He said: [I saw 'Ali b. al-Husayn going around (the Kaaba) from the evening to the early morning. As he was alone, he looked at the sky and said:]

"My Allah, the stars of Your heavens have set! The eyes of Your creatures have slept, but Your gates are open for the askers! I have come to You in order to pardon me, to have mercy on me, and to show me the face of my grandfather, Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, on the Day of Resurrection."

[Then he wept and addressed Allah, the Exalted, saying:]

"I (swear) by Your might and majesty, I do not want to disobey You through my disobedience. I do not doubt You when I disobey You nor am I ignorant of Your exemplary punishment nor do I want to subject myself to Your punishment. However, my soul entices me and Your cover which is over me helps me with this.

Hence, now, who can save me from Your chastisement?
If You cut Your rope from me, then to which rope shall I cling? How evil my standing before You will be tomorrow! If it is said to those who have small (sins): 'pass', and to those who have great (sins): 'stop', then shall I pass with those who have small (sins) or stop with those who have great (sins)? Woe unto me! The long my span is, the more my sins are! Still, I do not announce my repentance! Isn't it a time for me to feel shame of my Lord!"
[Then he burst into tears and recited:]
"Will you burn me with the Fire, O Goal of hopes? Therefore, where is my expectation, then where is my fear?

"I have done ugly works the like of which none of the creatures has done!
"Glory belongs to You! You are disobeyed as if You were not seen! You are clement as if You were not disobeyed! You show love toward Your creatures through (Your) kindness as if You were in need of them, while You, my Master, are in no need of them!"
[Then he prostrated himself (in prayer), Hence I (Ta`wus) came nearer to him, raised his head, put it on my lap, Hence a tear of mine fell onto his holy cheek. Then he sat down and said with a faint voice:]

"Who has distracted me from praising my Lord?"
Hence Ta`wus answered him with submission and magnification: "It is I, Ta`wus. Son of Allah's Apostle, what is this impatience and fear? It is we who should behave in this manner. We are disobedient and sinful, while your father is al-Husayn b. 'Ali, your (grand) mother is Fa`tima, the chaste, and your grandfather is Allah's Messenger."
[However, the Ima`m paid no attention to the clear lineage with which he was endowed, Hence he interrupted (me), saying:]

"How far! How far! Ta`wus, leave mentioning my father, my mother, and my grandfather. Allah has created the Garden to him who obeys Him and does good even if he is a Negro from Ethiopia, and He created the Fire for him who disobeys Him even if he is a chief from Quraysh. Have you not heard these words of Him, the Exalted: Hence when the trumpet is blown, there shall be no ties of relationship between them on that day, nor shall they ask of each other. I swear by Allah that nothing will profit you tomorrow except your good acts.(Kashf al-Ghumma, vol. 1, p. 151. Al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 46, p. 81. Tha'lab, al-Majlisi, vol. 2, p. 462).

6. Ta`wus narrated another whispered prayers of the Ima`m's in the Sacred House. He said: [I entered the Stone (i.e., the Stone of Isma`'il) one night and there was 'Ali b. al-Husayn. He had come in and was standing praying. He prayed as Allah had wished. Hence I said: He is a righteous man, Hence I must listen to him, thus I heard him say:]

Your little servant is at Your courtyard;
Your miserable one is at Your courtyard:
Your poor one is at Your courtyard;
Your beggar is at Your courtyard.

Ta`wus memorized this short whispered prayer, which expressed self-denial and absolute obedience to Allah. He supplicated Allah with it when in need, and Allah removed his afflictions.( Nur al-Abbsar, p. 127. Nahjj al-Balagha, vol. 6, p. 192).

These are some whispered prayers of the Ima`m in the Sacred House of Allah. They show his great turning to Allah in repentance and his devotion to Him. The Ima`m has other whispered prayers. We will mention them when we talk about his supplications and his whispered prayers.
 

With a Man circumambulating the Kaaba

On cir*****ambulating the Kaaba, the Ima`m heard a man asking Allah for patience, Hence he turned to the man and said to him: "You are asking (Allah) for tribulation. Say: O Allah, I ask You for well-being and gratitude for it.
(Quttub al-Ranwandi, Da'awat, p. 43).

The Ima`m taught the man how to supplicate Allah. He ordered him to ask Allah for well-being and gratitude for it. He warned him against asking Allah for endurance, which he had to seek during tribulation and poverty.
 
The Ima`m blamed those who begged on the Day of 'Arafa

The Ima`m, peace be on him, saw some men asking the people to help them on the Day of 'Arafa. He rebuked them for this and said: "Woe unto you! Why do you ask other than Allah on such a day? Those who are in the wombs of the pregnant want to be happy on this day!(Al-Majjlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 46, p. 105).
 
His Freeing the Slaves on the Day of 'Arafa`t

He, peace be on him, bought black slaves though he had no need of them. He brought them to 'Arafat. When he returned from 'Arafat, he ordered the slaves to be released and to be given money gifts.(Al-Majjlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 46, p. 62).
 
His Supplication on the Day of 'Arafa

On the day of 'Arafa, the Ima`m stood in prayer, recited the Holy Qur'a`n, and supplicated Allah with this holy supplication, which is among the outstanding supplications of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them. This is because it contains important affairs. The following is its text:

"Praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds! O Allah, to You belongs praise! Originator of the heavens and the earth! Possessor of majesty and munificence! Lord of Lords! Object of worship of every worshipper! Creator of every creature! Inheritor of all things!

There is nothing like Him, knowledge of nothing escapes Him, He encompasses everything, and He is watchful over everything. You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Unique, the Alone, the Single, the Isolated. You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Generous, the Generously Bestowing, the All-mighty, the Mightily Exalted, the Magnificent, the Magnificently Magnified. You are Allah, there is no god but You, the All-high, the Sublimely High, the Strong in prowess.

You are Allah, there is no god but You, the All-merciful, the All-compassionate, the All-knowing, the All-wise. You are Allah, there is no god but You, the All-hearing, the All-Seeing, the Eternal, the All-aware. You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Generous, the Most Generous, the Everlasting, the Most Everlasting. You are Allah, there is no god but You, the First before everyone, the Last after every number. You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Close in His highness, the High in His closeness.

You are Allah, there is no god but You, Possessor of radiance and glory, magnificence and praise. You are Allah, there is no god but You. You have brought forth the things without root, formed what You have formed without exemplar, and originated the originated things without imitation. It is You who has ordained each thing with an ordination, eased each thing with an easing, and governed everything below Yourself with a governing.

It is You whom no associate helps with Your creation and no vizier aids in Your command. You have no witness and no equal. It is You who willed, and what You willed was unfailing, who decreed, and what You decreed was just, who decided, and what You decided was fair. It is You whom place does not contain, before whose authority no authority stands up, and whom no proof or explication can thwart."

In these brilliant words, the Ima`m magnified, lauded, and praised Allah. He explained the most positive attributes of Him, the Exalted. He said: "Allah, the Most High, has brought forth, found, and originated things with His power and will, which firmly made everything." Allah, the Exalted, firmly created seen and unseen things.

He ordained them with an ordination and governed them with a governing through His great wisdom, which perplexes intellects. Man is a possible being, limited in knowledge, power, and will, Hence he is unable to know the Great Creator, Who is far above imagination and perception. This is what the Ima`m has stressed in the following paragraph of this holy supplication:

"It is You who have counted everything in numbers, appointed for everything a term, and ordained everything with an ordination. It is You before whose selfness imaginations fall short, before whose howness understandings have no incapacity, and the place of whose whereness eyes perceive not. It is You who have no bounds, lest You be bounded, who are not exemplified, lest You be found, who do not beget, lest You be begotten.

It is You with whom there is no opposite, lest it contend with You, who have no equal, lest it vie with You, who have no rival, lest it resist You. It is You who are He who began, devised, brought forth, originated, and made well all that He made. Glory be to You! How majestic is Your station! How high Your place among the places! How cleanly Your Separator cleaves with the truth!"

In this paragraph, the Ima`m of monotheists has mentioned the boundless knowledge of Allah, the Exalted, of which is that He has counted in numbers everything in the universe and knows everything in it, Hence no weight of an atom is concealed from Him in the heavens and the earth. The Ima`m has also mentioned that understandings fall short before the selfness and howness of Him, the Exalted.

This is because the possible being is incapable of understanding the selfness and howness of the Necessary Being, Who has neither kind nor genus nor family. Man- who is incapable of understanding his selfness, his howness, and his wonderful organs- is unable to understanding the selfness and howness of the Almighty Creator, Who created time, place, the stars, and galaxies whose stars none can count except Allah.

This paragraph contains important philosophical concepts such negating bound, equal, and opposite. The books of philosophy and theology have discussed them in detail. Now, listen to another part of this holy supplication:

"Glory be to You! The Gentle - how gentle You are! The Clement - how clement You are! The Wise - how knowing You! Glory be to You! The King - how invincible You are! The Munificent - how full of plenty You are! The Elevated - how elevated You are!

Possessor of radiance and glory, magnificence and praise! Glory be to You! You have stretched forth Your hand with good things, and from You guidance has come to be known, Hence he who begs from Your religion or this world will find You. Glory be to You! Whatever passes in Your knowledge is subjected to You, all below Your Throne are humbled before Your mightiness, and every one of Your creatures follows You in submission.

Glory be to You! You are not sensed, nor touched, nor felt, nor beguiled, nor held back, nor challenged, nor kept up with, nor resisted, nor deceived, nor circumvented. Glory be to You! Your path is smooth ground, Your command right guidance, and You are a living, eternal refuge. Glory be to You! Your word is decisive, Your decree unfailing, Your will resolute. Glory be to You! None can reject Your wish, none can change Your words. Glory be to You! Outdazzling in signs, Creator of the heavens, Author of the spirits!"

This part contains the most wonderful words with which the saints and the pious glorify their Lord. How Great and Majestic was Allah in the opinion of the Ima`m, peace be on him. This is because He, the Exalted, is gentle and clement to his creatures, and is a Powerful King! Whoever seeks refuge in Him seeks refuge in a stronghold and inaccessible cave. The Ima`m, peace be on him, mentioned the mightiness of Allah, the Most High, to which all that which in the universe is subjected, toward which all that which in the existence is humble, before which all creatures are submissive.

Another quality of Allah's mightiness is that He is free from body, Hence He is not sensed through the five senses, for He is the Light of the heavens and the earth. Another quality of His mightiness is that none can beguile, circumvent, argue with, and challenge him; rather all His creatures are in his grasp, His force, and His Command. Hence His word is decisive, His decree is unfailing, and His will is resolute. After this, let's listen to another part of this holy tradition:

"To You belongs praise, a praise that will be permanent with Your permanence! To You belongs praise, a praise everlasting through Your favor! To You belongs praise, a praise that will parallel Your benefaction! To You belongs praise, a praise that will increase Your good pleasure!

To You belongs praise, a praise along with the praise of every praiser and a thanksgiving before which falls short the thanksgiving of every thanksgiver; a praise which is suitable for none but You and through which nearness is sought to none but You, a praise which will make permanent the first (bounty) and call forth the permanence of the last; a praise which will multiply through recurrence of times and increase through successive doublings; a praise which the guardians will not be able to number and which exceeds what the writers number in Your Book; a praise which will counterbalance Your glorious Throne and equal Your elevated Footstool; a praise whose reward with You will be complete and whose recompense will comprise every recompense; a praise whose outward conforms to its inward, and whose inward conforms to its to correct intention; a praise with whose like no creature has praised You and whose excellence none knows but You; a praise in which he who strives to multiply Your praise will be helped and he who draws the bow to the utmost in fulfilling it will be confirmed; a praise which will gather all the praise which You have created and tie together all which You will afterwards create; a praise than which no praise is near to Your word and than which none is greater from any who praise You; a praise whose fullness will obligate increase through Your generosity and to which You will join increase after increase as graciousness from You; a praise that will befit the generosity of Your face and meet the might of Your majesty!"

The Ima`m, peace be on him, used all words to praise and laud his Greatest Lover, the Almighty Creator. He praised Him with a boundless praise for His great blessings and favors.

After this let's listen to another part of this holy supplication:

"My Lord, bless Mohammed and the Household of Mohammed with a fruitful blessing, more fruitful than which there is no blessing! Bless him with a growing blessing more growing than which there is no blessing! And bless him with a pleasing blessing, beyond which there is no blessing!

My Lord, bless Mohammed and his Household with a blessing which will please him and increase his good pleasure! Bless him with a blessing which will please You and increase Your good pleasure toward him! And bless him with a blessing through other than which You will not be pleased for him, and for which You see no one else worthy!

"My Lord, bless Mohammed and his Household with a blessing which will pass beyond Your good pleasure, be continuous in its continuity through Your subsistence, and never be spent, just as Your words will never be spent!

My Lord, bless Mohammed and his Household with a blessing which will tie together the blessings of Your angels, Your prophets, Your messengers, and those who obey You, comprise the blessings of Your servants, jinn or mankind, and those worthy of Your response, and bring together the blessings of the kinds of Your creatures which You have sown and authored!

My Lord, bless Mohammed and his Household with a blessing which will encompass every blessing, bygone and new!

Bless him and his Household with a blessing which is pleasing to You and everyone below You and will bring forth with all that a blessing with which You will multiply those blessings and increase them through the recurrence of days with an increasing in multiplies which none can count but You!"

In these words the Ima`m, peace be on him, praised his grandfather, the greatest Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family. He asked Allah, the Exalted, to bless him with a fruitful, growing, and pleasing blessing which would remain throughout the recurrence of days and nights, be continuous through the subsistence of Allah, Who has no bound, and never be spent just as the words of Allah would never be spent.

After this let's listen to another part of this supplication:

"My Lord, bless the best of his Household, those whom You have chosen for Your command appointed the treasures of Your knowledge, the guardians of Your religion, Your vicegerents in Your earth, and Your arguments against Your servants, purified from uncleanness and defilement through a purification by Your desire, and made the mediation to You and the road to Your Garden!

My Lord, bless Mohammed and his Household with a blessing which makes plentiful Your gifts and generosity, perfects for them Your bestowals and awards, and fills out their share of Your kindly acts and benefits!

My Lord, bless Mohammed and his Household with a blessing whose first has no term, whose term has no limit, and whose last has no utmost end!

My Lord, bless them to the weight of Your Throne and all below it, the amount that fills the heavens and all above them, the number of Your earths and all below and between them, a blessing that will bring them near to You in proximity, please You and them, and be joined to its likes forever!"

In these words the Ima`m, peace be on him, showed the high position of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them, and their excellencies, which are as follows:

* Allah chose them to spread His religion and to deliver His message to His servants.

* He appointed them as the treasurers of His knowledge and centers of His wisdom.

* They guarded the religion of Allah from increase and decrease.

* They were the vicegerents of Allah in His earth and His arguments against His servants.

* Allah purified them from uncleanness and defilement, as this holy verse reads: "Verily Allah intends to keep off from you every kind of uncleanliness and to purify you, people of the House, with a through purification."

* Allah, the Exalted, made them the mediation to Him and the road to His Garden, Hence whoever followed them was safe, and whoever disobeyed them was drowning and straying.

These are some of their outstanding merits and laudable deeds about which the Ima`m, peace be on him, talked. Now, let's listen to another part of this supplication:

"O Allah, surely You have confirmed Your religion in all times with an Ima`m whom You have set up as a guidepost to Your servants and a lighthouse in Your lands after his cord has been joined to Your cord!

You have appointed him the means to Your pleasure, made obeying him obligatory, cautioned against disobeying him, and commanded following his commands, abandoning his prohibitions, and that no forward-goer go ahead of him or back-keeper keep back from him!

Hence he is the preservation of the shelter-seekers, the cave of the faithful, the handhold of the adherents, and the radiance of the worlds!

O Allah, Hence inspire Your guardian to give thanks for that in which You have favored him inspire us with the like concerning him, grant him an authority from You to help him, open for him an easy opening, aid him with Your mightiest pillar, brace back his back, strengthen his arm, guard him with Your eye, defend him with Your safeguarding, help him with Your angels, and assist him with Your most victorious troops!

Through him establish Your Book, Your bounds, Your laws, and the norms of Your Messenger's Sunna (Your blessings,

O Allah, be upon him and his Household), bring to life the guideposts of Your religion, deadened by wrongdoers, burnish the rust of injustice from Your way, sift the adversity from Your road, eliminate those who deviate from Your path, and erase those who seek crookedness in Your straightness!

Make his side mild toward Your friends, stretch forth his hand over his enemies, give us his clemency, his mercy, his tenderness, his sympathy, and make us his hearers and obeyers, strivers toward his good pleasure, assistants in helping him and defending him, and brought near through that to You and Your Messenger (Your blessings be upon him and his Household)."

The Ima`m, peace be on him, talked about the high position of the appointed Ima`m and his great importance in the world of Islam, for he is the guardian of the religion of Allah, the one who guides (people) to the way of the truth and guidance, and the means to Allah's good pleasure.

Hence it is incumbent on (men) to obey the Ima`m, and it is forbidden for them to disobey him, for he is the preservation of the shelter-seekers, the cave of the faithful, the handhold of the adherents, and the radiance of the worlds.

Then the Ima`m asked Allah to grant him victory and a clear conquest in order that he might establish the Sunna of Islam, and bring to life the guideposts of Islamic law and the precepts of the religion which were deadened by the wrongdoers.

Now, let's listen to another part of this great supplication:

"O Allah, and bless the friends (of the Ima`ms), the confessors of their station, the keepers to their course, the pursuers of their tracks, the clingers to their handhold, the adherents to their guardianship, the followers of their Ima`mate, the submitters to their command, the strivers to obey them, the awaiters of their days, the directors of their eyes toward them, with blessings blessed, pure, growing, fresh, and fragrant! Give them and their spirits peace, bring together their affair in reverential fear, set right their situations, turn toward them, Surely Your are Ever-turning, All-compassionate and the Best of forgivers, and place us with them in the Abode of Peace, through Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful!"

The Ima`m, peace be on him, asked Allah, the Exalted, to bless the Shi'ites of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them, who (the Shi'ites) represent the ideological awareness in Islam, follow the way of the pure Ima`ms, pursue their tracks, adhere to their guardianship, follow their Ima`mate, and strive to obey them, and await their days.

It is the Shi'ites who cling to the true Islam and follow the Prophet's words and practices through obeying the Ima`ms of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them, cleaving to them, and putting into practice the Islamic precepts which have been reported on their authority. Then the Ima`m, peace be on him, asked Allah to bring together their affairs in reverential fear, to set rights their situations, to turn toward them, and to place him with them in the Abode of Peace. Let's listen to another part of this supplication:

"O Allah, this is the Day of 'Arafa, a day which You have made noble, given honor, and magnified. Within it You have spread Your mercy, showed kindness through Your pardon, and made plentiful Your giving, and by it You have been bounteous toward Your servants.

O Allah, I am Your servants whom You favored before creating him and after creating him. You made him one of those whom You guided to Your religion, gave success in fulfilling Your right, preserved through Your cord, included within Your party, and directed aright to befriend Your friends and show enmity to Your enemies.

Then You commanded him, but he did not follow Your commands, You restricted him, but he did not heed Your restrictions, You prohibited him from disobedience toward You, but he broke Your command by doing what You had prohibited, not in contention with You, nor to display pride toward You; on the contrary, his caprice called him to that which You had set apart and cautioned against, and he was helped in that by Your enemy and his enemy.

Hence he went ahead with it knowing Your threat, hoping for Your pardon, and relying upon Your forbearance, though he was the most obligated of Your servants -given Your kindness toward him- not to do Hence. Here I am, then, before You, despised, lowly, humble, abject, fearful, confessing the dreadful with which I am burdened and the great offenses that I have committed, seeking sanctuary in Your forgiveness, asking shelter in Your mercy, and certain that no sanctuary-giver will give me sanctuary from You and no withholder will hold me back from You.

Hence act kindly toward me, just as You act kindly by shielding him who commits sins, be munificent toward me, just as You are munificent by pardoning him who throws himself before You, and show kindness to me just as it is nothing great for You to show kindness by forgiving him who expectantly hopes in You! Appoint for me in this day an allotment through which I may attain a share of Your good pleasure, and send me not back destitute of that with which Your worshippers return from among Your servants!

Though I have not forwarded the righteous deeds which they have forwarded, I have forwarded the profession of Your Unity and the negation from You of opposites, rivals, and likenesses, I have come to You by the gateways by which You have commanded that people come, and I have sought nearness to You through that without seeking nearness through which none gains nearness to You.

Then I followed all this with repeated turning toward You, lowliness and abasement before You, opinion of You, and trust in what is with You; and that I coupled hope in You, since the one who hopes in You is seldom disappointed!

I ask You with the asking of one vile, lowly, pitiful, poor, fearful, seeking sanctuary; all that in fear and pleading seeking refuge and asking shelter, not presumptuous through the pride of the proud, nor exalting myself with the boldness of the obedient, nor presumptuous of the intercession of the interceders. For I am still the least of the least and the lowliest of the lowly, like a dust mote or less!"

In this part of his supplication, the Ima`m, peace be on him, expressed his magnification and glorification toward the Day of 'Arafa, which is among the most glorious days of Allah. This is because, Allah, the Exalted, spreads therein His mercy, shows kindness toward the pilgrims of His Sacred House through pardon and forgiveness.

The Ima`m, peace be on him, also showed his lowliness and absolute obedience to Allah relying upon His gentleness, hoping for His pardon, forwarding the profession of His Unity, and negating from Him opposites, rivals, and likenesses, coming to Him by the gateways which He, the Exalted, had commanded that people come, and which were the gateways of the pure Ima`ms.

In this there is a lesson for the negligent and those who turn away from Allah, the Exalted, to follow this way, that they might save themselves from the chastisement of Allah in the Next Abode.

Now, let's return to listen to another part of this holy supplication: "O He who does not hurry the evildoers nor restrain those living in ease! O He who shows kindness through releasing stumblers and gratuitous bounty through respiting the offenders! I am the evildoer, the confessor, the offender, the stumbler! I am he who was audacious toward You as one insolent! I am he who disobeyed You with forethought! I am he who hid myself from Your servants and blatantly showed myself to You!

I am he who was awed by Your servants and felt secure from You! I am he who dreaded not Your penalty and feared not Your severity! I am the offender against himself! I am the hostage to his own affliction! I am short in shame! I am long in suffering! By the right of him whom You have distinguished among Your creation and by him whom You have chosen for Yourself! By the right of him whom You have selected from among Your creatures and by him whom You have picked for Your task!

By the right of him whom the obeying of whom You have joined to obeying You, and by him the disobeying of whom You have made like disobeying You!

And by the right of him whose friendship You have bound to Your friendship and by him whose enmity You have linked to Your enmity! Shield me in this day of mine by that through which You shield him prays fervently to you while disavowing and him who seeks refuge in Your forgiveness while repenting! Attend to me with that through which You attend to the people of obedience toward You, proximity to You, and rank with You! Single me out as You single him out who fulfills Your covenant, fatigues himself for Your sake alone, and exerts himself in Your good pleasure!

Take me not to task for my neglect in respect to You, my transgressing the limit in Your bounds, and stepping outside Your ordinances! Draw me not on little by little by granting me a respite, like the drawing on little by little of him who withholds from me the good he has by not sharing with You in letting favor down upon me! Arouse me from the sleep of the heedless, the slumber of the prodigal, and the dozing of the forsaken! Take my heart to that in which You have employed the devout, enthralled the worshippers, and rescued the remiss!

Give me refuge from that which will keep me far from You, come between me and my share from You, and bar me from that which I strive for in You! Make easy for me the road of good deeds toward You, racing to them from where You have commanded, and covering them as You desire! Efface me not along with those whom You efface for thinking lightly of what You have promised! Destroy me not with those whom You destroy for exposing themselves to Your hate! Annihilate me not among those whom You annihilate for deviating from Your roads! Deliver me from the floods of trial, save me from the gullets of affliction, and grant me sanctuary from being seized by respite!"

In this paragraph, the Ima`m, peace be on him, talked about the favors of Allah, the Exalted, toward His servants, which are: Allah did not hurry to punish the evildoers and the disobedient; He granted them a respite in order that they might return to the road of the truth and righteousness. The Ima`m, peace be on him, also expressed his abasement and lowliness before the Great Creator. He asked and pleaded to him to grant him pardon and good pleasure, to arouse him from the sleep of the heedless and the slumber of the prodigal, and to make him walk on the road of the righteous. Let's listen to another part of this holy supplication:

"Come between me and the enemy who misguides me, the caprice which ruins me, and the failing which overcomes me! Turn not away from me with the turning away in wrath from one with whom You are not pleased! Let me not lose heart in expecting from You lest I be overcome by despair of Your mercy! Grant me not that which I cannot endure lest You weigh me down with the surplus of Your love which You load upon me! Send me not from Your hand, the sending of him who possesses no good, toward whom You have no need, and who turns not back (to You)!

Cast me not with the casting of him who has fallen from the eye of Your regard and been wrapped in degradation from You! Rather take my hand (and save me) from the falling of the stumblers, the disquiet of the deviators, the slip of those deluded, and the plight of the perishers! Release me from that with which You have afflicted the ranks of Your servants and handmaids and make me reach the utmost degrees of him about whom You are concerned, towards whom You show favor, and with whom You are pleased, Hence that You let him live as one praiseworthy and take him to You as one felicitous!

Collar me with the collar of abstaining from that which makes good deeds fail and takes away blessings! Impart to my heart restraint before ugly works of evil and disgraceful misdeeds! Divert me not by that which I cannot reach except through You from doing that which alone makes You pleased with me! Root out from my heart the love of this vile world, which keeps from everything which is with You, bars from seeking the mediation to You, and distracts from striving for nearness to You! Embellish for me solitude in prayer whispered to You by night and by day! Give me a preservation which will bring me close to dread of You cut me off from committing things made unlawful by You, and spare me from captivation by dreadful sins!

Give me purification from the defilement of disobedience, take away from me the filth of offenses, dress me in the dress of Your well-being, cloak me in the cloak of Your release, wrap me in Your ample favors, and clothe me in Your bounty and Your graciousness!

Strengthen me with Your giving success and Your pointing the right way, help me toward righteous intention, pleasing words, and approved works, and entrust me not to my force and my strength in place of Your force and Your strength! Degrade me not on the day You raise me up to meet You, disgrace me not before Your friends, make me not forget remembering You, take me not away from me thanking You, but enjoin it upon me in states of inattention when the ignorant are heedless of Your boons, and inspire me to laud what You have done for me and confess to what You have conferred upon me!

place my beseeching You above the beseeching of the beseechers and my praise of You above the praise of the praisers! Abandon me not with my neediness for You, destroy me not for what I have done for You!"

Have you noticed this clinging to Allah, the Exalted, and sincere obedience to Him? Have you noticed how the Ima`m, peace be on him, asked his Lord with lowliness, submission, and flattery? He asked Him to protect him from the trickery of the accursed Satan, the first enemy of man.

He asked Him to turn him aside from every caprice that took him to a way other than the right way, to take care of him, to take his hand (and save him) from the falling of the stumblers, the disquiet of the divators, and the slip of those deluded, to root out from his heart the love of this world, which is the root of every crime, and to embellish for him worship and obedience to Him, that he would attain obedience, worship, and nearness to Him. Now, let's listen to another part of this holy supplication:

"And slap not my brow with that with which You slap the brow of those who contend with You, for I am submitted to You. I know that the argument is Yours, that You are closest to bounty, most accustomed to beneficence, worthy of reverent fear, and worthy of forgiveness, that You are closer to pardoning than to punishing, and that You are nearer to covering over than to making notorious! Hence let me live an agreeable life that will tie together what I want and reach what I love while I not bring what You dislike and not commit what You have prohibited; and make me die the death of him whose light runs before him and on his right hand!

Abase me before Yourself and exalt me before Your creatures, lower me when I am alone with You and raise me among Your servants, free me from need for him has no need of You and increase me in neediness and poverty toward You! Give me refuge from the gloating of enemies, the arrival of affliction, lowliness and suffering! Shield me in what You see from me, the shielding of him who would have power over violence had he no clemency, and would seize for misdeeds had he no lack of haste! When You desire for a people a trial or an evil, deliver me from it, for I seek Your shelter; and since You have not stood me in the station of disgrace in this world of Yours, stand me not in such a station in the next world of Yours!

Couple for me the beginnings of Your kindness with their ends and the ancient of Your benefits with the freshly risen! Prolong not my term with a prolonging through which my heart will harden! Strike me not with a striking that will take my radiance! Visit me not with a meanness that will diminish my worth or a deficiency that will keep my rank unknown! Frighten me not with a fright by which I will despair or a terror through which I will dread!

"However, make me stand in awe of Your threat , take precautions against leaving no excuses and Your warning, and tremble at the recitation of Your verses! Fill my night with life by keeping awake therein for worshipping You, solitude with vigil for You, exclusive devotion to reliance upon You, setting my needs before You, and imploring that You will set my neck free from the Fire and grant me sanctuary from Your chastisement, within which its inhabitants dwell!

Leave me not blindly wandering in my insolence or inattentive in my perplexity for a time, make me not an admonition to him who takes admonishment, a punishment exemplary for him who takes heed, a trial for him who observe, devise not against me along with those against whom You devise, replace me not with another, change not my name, transform not my body, appoint me not a mockery for Your creatures, a laughing-stock for Yourself, a follower of anything but Your goo-pleasure, a menial servant for anything but avenging You!"

The Ima`m, peace be on him, presented his worries and requests before the Great Creator asking Him to fulfill them and not to refuse to accept answering him.

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