TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR DUAA
As requirements for duaa to be answered have been met and thousands of hands have been raised in supplication, the pilgrims in Arafat should speak to God with the supplications reached us from the Imams (a.s) in this relation, Imam Hussein's Duaa reci
As requirements for duaa to be answered have been met and thousands of hands have been raised in supplication, the pilgrims in Arafat should speak to God with the supplications reached us from the Imams (a.s) in this relation, Imam Hussein's Duaa recited on such a day in Arafat is the most comprehensive. Also, Duaa 47 of al-Sahifat al-Sajjadiyya, containing theme of servitude is extremely useful for those who do not know Arabic can simply talk to God in their own languages and confide their grievances with their Most Kind Creator
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and know that there is no better confidant for them than God Who has said: وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ، فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ.
�And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way. (The Holy Quran; 2:186)�
Considering the above-mentioned Quranic Verse, is there any fear or concern left in man's heart? The answer is a definite 'No,' for God Himself says: فَمَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِرَبِّهِ فَلا يَخَافُ بَخْساً وَلا رَهَقاً
�So whoever believes in his Lord, he should neither fear loss nor being overtaken by disgrace. (The Holy Quran; 27:13)�
When there are no ears to listen to our grievances, it is God Who is to listen to our requests. يا جَارِيَ اللّصِيقُ، يا رُكْنِيَ الوَثيقُ، يا صاحِبَ كلِّ غَريبٍ، يا مُؤْنِسَ كُلِّ وحيدٍ، يا مَلجَأَ كلِّ طَريدٍ، يا مأْوى كُلِّ شَريدٍ
�O my adjacent Neighbor, O my sturdy pillar, O companion of every stranger, o intimate of everyone alone, o refuge of every outcast, o shelter of every wanderer��1
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1 Du'aa al-Mashloul (Supplication of the Lame Man)
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أينَ المُعَدُّ لِقَطعِ دابِرِ الظَّلَمَةِ؟ أينَ المُنْتَظَرُ لإِقامَةِ الأَمْتِ والعِوَجِ؟ أينَ المُرْتَجى لإِزالَةِ الجَوْرِ والعُدْوانِ؟ أينَ المُدَّخَرُ لِتجديدِ الفَرائِضِ والسُّنَنِ؟ أينَ المُتَخَيَّرُ لإِعادَةِ المِلَّةِ والشَّريعَةِ؟ أينَ المُؤَمَّلُ لإِحْياءِ الكِتابِ وحُدودِهِ؟ أينَ محُيِي مَعالِمِ الدِّينِ وأَهلِهِ؟ أينَ قاصِمُ شَوكَةِ المُعتَدينَ؟ أينَ هادِمُ أبنِيَةِ الشِّرْكِ والنِّفاقِ؟ أينَ مُبيدُ أهلِ الفُسوقِ والعِصْيانِ والطُّغْيانِ؟ أينَ حاصِدُ فُروعِ الغَيِّ والشَّقاقِ؟ أينَ طامِسُ آثارِ الزَّيغِ والأهْواءِ؟ أينَ مُعِزُّ الأولِياءِ ومُذِلُّ الأَعْداءِ؟ أينَ الطّالِبُ بِذُحُولِ الأنبِياءِ وأبناءِ الأنبِياءِ؟ أينَ المُطالِبُ بِدَمِ المَذبوحِ بكَربَلاءَ؟ أينَ المَنصورُ عَلى مَنِ اعْتدَى وافْتَرى؟ هَل إلَيكَ يا بْنَ أحمَدَ سَبيلٌ فَتُلقى؟ هَل يَتَّصِلُ يومُنا مِنك بِغدِهِ فَنَحظى؟ مَتى نَرِدُ مَناهِلَكَ الرَّوِيَّةَ فَنُروى؟
�Where is the one prepared to annihilate the oppressors? Where is the one awaited for straightening the crookedness and dishonesty? Where is the one expected (Imam Mahdi) for abolishing oppression and transgression? Where is the one stored for reviving the obligatory command and Sunnah (of the Holy Prophet)? Where is the one selected for resuscitating the reality of the nation and the religion? Where is the one expected for enlivening the Book and the doctrinal provisions? Where is the enlivener of the facts of the religion and its adherents? Where is the breaker of the might of the transgressors? Where is the demolisher of the edifices of polytheism and hypocrisy? Where is the destroyer of the followers of transgression, disobedience, and rebellion? Where is the eradicator of the branches of errors and dispute? Where is the destroyer of the signs of evil and egoistic tendencies? Where is the severer of the cords of falsehood and calumniation? Where is the destroyer of the vicious and disobedient people? Where is the eradicator of the followers of obstinacy and misguidance and the renegade? Where is the one who honors the friends and debases the enemy? Where is the gate of Allah through which all should enter? Where is the countenance of Allah through which the friends attend towards him? Where is the means stretching from the earth to the heaven? Where is the uniter of the companions of virtue and divine pleasure? Where is the avenger of the blood of the prophets and their children? Where is the seeker of revenge for the blood of the martyred ones of
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Karbala? Where is the triumphant one (who will overcome) over one who transgressed against him and maligned him? O son of Ahmed, is there a way through which you may be met? May our day (of separation) join the day of reappearance by which we enjoy? When shall we arrive at your streams to quench our thirst?�1
When we are said infinite oppression and grave injustice pave the way for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s), despair gives its place to hope in our hearts making waiting for you something pleasant. So, we tolerate all hardship in the hope of your reappearance and keep on supplicating. فَأَغِثْ يا غِياثَ المُستَغيثِينَ عُبَيدَكَ المُبْتَلى وأَرِهِ سَيِّدَهُ يا شَديدَ القِوى وأَزِلْ عنهُ بهِ الأَسى والجَوى وبَرِّدْ غَليلَهُ يا مَن عَلى العَرشِ استَوى ومَن إلَيهِ الرُّجْعى
�So, help, O' helper of those who seek help, your poor afflicted servant. And show him his Master: O severer of strength and through him (Imam Mahdi) remove his (Your servant's) grief and sorrow. And cool the burning of his hurt, O You who are firm in the Heavenly Throne of power and towards Whom is the return and ultimate end.�2
Now that we are blessed with this divine grace and our requests and desires are fulfilled, we should seek forgiveness for our parents, relatives, neighbors, all believers, and the deceased ones. Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: دُعاءُ المَرءِ لأخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الغَيبِ يَدُرُّ الرِّزقَ ويدفَعُ المَكروهَ
�A man's supplication for his absent brother increases the sustenance and saves from evils.�3
Imam Kazim (a.s) says: مَن دَعا لأخِيهِ بِظهرِ الغَيبِ نودِيَ مِن العَرشِ: ولَكَ مِائَةُ ألفِ ضَعفٍ. فَكَرِهتُ أنْ أَدَعَ مِائَةَ ألفِ ضَعفٍ مَضْمونَةً لِواحِدةٍ لا أدِري تُستَجابُ أمْ لا.
�Whoever supplicates for his absent brother in faith, a call from the Divine Throne will say: let one hundred thousand
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1 A part of Du'aa an-Nudba
2 A part of Du'aa an-Nudba
3 See al-Kafi; Vol. 2 p. 507 hadith 2
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times more be for you. So, I thought it was not advisable to leave one hundred thousand supplications certainly answered for one that might or might not be answered.�1
Muawieh ibn Wahab and I were in Arafat. He was reciting duaa while his eyes were full of tears. Listening carefully to him, I found out that he was not reciting a singly duaa for himself, rather he was supplicating for people from here and there mentioning their names and father's names. When the pilgrims left Arafat, I said to him, 'O uncle, I saw something strange about you.' He asked, 'what was strange?' I answered, 'In this holy place, you considered your brethren prior to yourself and recited duaa for them!' He said, 'O my nephew, do not be surprised, for I heard my master and master of every believing man and woman and master of the former and the coming generations after his immaculate fathers (a.s) (if I lie, let my ears become deaf, my eyes blind, and deprived of the Holy Prophet's intercession) as saying:
�Whoever supplicates Allah for his absent brother in faith, an angel from heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let a hundred thousand times more than it be for you.' And an angel from the second heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be two hundred thousand times more for you.' And an angel from the third heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be three hundred thousand times more for you.' And an angel from the fourth heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be four hundred thousand times for you.' And an angel from the fifth heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be five hundred thousand time more for you.' And an angel from the sixth heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be six hundred thousand times more for you.' And an angel from the seventh heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be seven hundred thousand times more for you.' Then, Allah will say: 'I am the Rich Who will never become poor. O servant of Allah, let there be a million times more for you.'�
'O my nephew, which is better: to supplicate for oneself or for others?'2
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1 See Usoul al-Kafi; vol. 2 p. 507 hadith 6 and Oddatol Daee; 136
2 See Oddatol Daee p.136
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�My Allah, who is the one who has come before Thee seeking hospitability? Who is the one who has dismounted at Thy door hoping for magnanimity, and to who Thou hast not shown it? Is it good that I come back from Thy door, turned away in disappointment, while I know of no patron qualified by beneficence but Thee?� 1
How proper it is to conclude the last moment of staying in Arafat with the prayer of Imam Hussein (a.s) on such a day. Here is a summarized translation of the prayer: اَللّهُمّ إنّا نَتَوجَّهُ إلَيكَ في هَذهِ العَشِيَّةِ الّتي شَرَّفتَها وعَظَّمتَها بِمُحّمَدٍ نَبِيِّكَ ورَسولِكَ وخِيَرَتِكَ مِن خَلقِكَ وأمينِكَ عَلى وَحيِكَ البَشيرِ النّذيرِ السّراجِ المُنيرِ الّذي أَنعَمتَ بهِ عَلى المُسلِمينَ وجَعَلتَهُ رَحمَةً لِلعالمَينَ. اَللّهُمّ فَصَلِّ عَلى محَمَّدٍ وآلِ محَمّدٍ كَما محَمَّدٌ
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1 See as-Sahifat al-Kamilat al-Sajjadiyya, The whispered prayer of the hopeful
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أهْلٌ لِذلِكَ مِنكَ يا عَظيمُ، فَصَلِّ عَليهِ وعَلى آلِهِ المُنْتَجَبِينَ الطَّيَِبِينَ الطّاهِرينَ أجمَعينَ وتَغَمّدْنا بعَفوِكَ عَنّا. فَإلَيكَ عَجَّتِ الأصْواتُ بِصُنوفِ اللّغاتِ، فَاجْعَلْ لَنا اللّهُمّ في هَذِهِ العَشِيَّةِ نَصيباً مِن كُلِّ خَيرٍ تَقسِمُهُ بَينَ عِبادِكَ ونورٍ تَهدي بهِ ورَحْمَةٍ تَنشُرُها وبَرَكَةٍ نُتزِلُها وعافِيَةٍ تُجَلِّلُها ورِزقٍ تبَسُطُه يا أرْحَمَ الرّاحِمينَ. اللّهمّ اقْلِبنا في هَذا الوَقتِ مُنجِحينَ مُفلِحينَ مَبرورِينَ غانِمينَ ولا تجْعَلنا مِن القانِطينَ ولا تجْعَلنا مِن رَحمَتِكَ محْرومينَ ولا لِفَضْلِ ما نُؤَمِّلُهُ مِن عَطائِكَ قانِطينَ ولا تَرُدَّنا خائِبينَ ولا مِن بابِكَ مطْرودينَ يا أجْوَدَ الأجوَدينَ وأكْرَمَ الأكْرَمينَ إلَيكَ أقْبَلنا موقِنينَ ولِبَيتِكَ الحَرامِ آمِّينَ قاصِدينَ
�O Allah, we are turning our faces to You in this evening that You glorified and honored by Mohammad� Your Prophet, Messenger, Chosen one among Your creatures, Keeper of Your revelation, bearer of Your good tidings and warnings, and the bright light with whom You have blessed the Muslims and whom You have made mercy from people. Bless him and his household� the chosen ones, the pure, and the immaculate, and include us by means of Your reprieve. To You, voices of different tongues have directed. O Allah, give us in this evening a share of the blessings that you give to Your servants, light of guidance, mercy that You spread, blessings that You reveal, wellbeing that You extend, and abundant sustenance; You are certainly the Most Merciful of the merciful ones. O Allah, in this very time, include us with the successful, the thriving, the blessed, and the winning, and do not deprive us of Your mercy and of that for which we hope, and do not refute us with disappointment, and do not reject us from Your door. You are certainly the Most Generous of the generous ones and the Most Munificent of the munificent. We are directing towards You with full confidence and towards yours Sacred House with full intentions�1
The sun in Arafat set amid tears, moaning, and lamentations of Imam Hussein (a.s) and his companions who then set out for al-Mash'ar al-Haram.
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1 Part of Duaa of Imam Hussein on Day of Arafat
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�During the Farewell Hajj, the pilgrims' stay in Arafat was completed, the Holy Prophet (saw) said: �O Bilal, tell people to keep silent.� When they did, he (saw) said: �Today, Allah has favored you. He has forgiven the good ones among you and bestowed upon you the right of intercession for the bad ones. Hence, He forgave the bad ones with the intercession of the good ones. Now, set out and all of you have been forgiven by Allah's mercy.�1
Obviously the question of people's rights is another topic in a way that the consent and satisfaction of the owner of a right is prerequisite for God's forgiveness. Hence, all were forgiven �save those who violate people's rights, for God in Just and will take the right of the oppressed from the oppressors.�2
�So, when you hasten on from Arafat, then remember Allah near the Holy Monument� Al-Mash'ar al-Haram. (The Holy Quran; 2:198)�
Day of Arafat and staying in the plain of Arafat has come to an end and it is now the eve of the Eid ul-Adha.3 The pilgrims are prepared to move towards al-Mash'ar al-Haram. With the light of God's cognition upon all hearts, we now depart from Mount Mercy to stay overnight in al-Mash'ar al-Haram and attend another banquet of God.
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1 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p.258 hadith 24
2 This statement is quoted from al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p. 258 hadith 24
3 Eid ul-Adha �feast of sacrifice� is a festival marking the culmination of the annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca.
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It is praiseworthy to delay the Maghrib �evening- and Eshaa �night- (obligatory) Prayers to be performed in al-Mash'ar al-Haram, but because of too many pilgrims, slow traffic and the fear of default, the Maghrib and Eshaa Prayers are performed in Arafat. After having a light dinner, the pilgrims set out for al-Mash'ar. There is a tumult among the crowd, for every pilgrim is busy taking away the tent, packing his personal effects, and getting on into buses. So, great care is needed not to be distracted. Under such circumstances, Satan tries to keep man preoccupied so as to deprive him of his spiritual state. The pilgrims might get angry at getting a seat in front or back of the bus, the quantity of food, or carriage of the effects. Hence, they should be as tolerant, soft, and good-tempered as possible, for God says: وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللهُ، وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى
�Whatever good you do, Allah knows it; and make provision, for surely the provision is the guardian of oneself, and be careful of your duty to Me, O men of understanding. (The Holy Quran; 2:197)�
�Whoever restrains his anger Allah will increase his honor in this world and the Hereafter. Allah says: Those who restrain their anger and pardon men; and Allah loves the doers of good to others. (The Holy Quran; 3:134)�1
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1 See Usoul al-Kafi; vol. 2 p. 110 hadith 5
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heard. Eyes cannot see anywhere but the echo of supplications soothes man's soul.
Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: وإنِ استَطَعتَ أنْ تحيِيَ تلكَ الليلةِ فافْعلْ، فَإنّه بَلَغَنا أنَّ أبوابَ السّماءِ لا تُغلقُ تلكَ الليلةَ لأَصواتِ المؤمِنينَ لهُم دَوِيٌّ كَدَويِّ النّحلِ. يقولُ اللهُ جلّ ثناؤهُ: أَنا رَبُّكُم وأَنتُم عِبادِي أدَّيتُم حَقِّي وحقٌّ عَلَيَّ أن اَستَجيبَ لكُم. فَيَحُطُّ اللهُ تلكَ الليلةَ عّمَّن أرادَ أنْ يحُطَّ ذُنوبَهُ ويغْفِرُ لمَن أرادَ أن يغفرَ لهُ
�If you can keep vigil tonight, do it, for it has been reported to us that the gates of heaven are not closed to the believers tonight. Allah says: 'I am Your Lord and you are My servants. You have paid my due. Hence, it is incumbent on Me to answer your prayer.' Therefore, He removes the sins of whomever He wishes and forgives whom He wills.�1
�And We made the night to be a covering. (The Holy Quran; 78:10)� وَاللّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى
�I swear by the night when it draws a veil. (The Holy Quran; 92:1)�
Should the child-like playful man be left to himself, he is so much in love with the playing called the world and its ornaments that he will
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1 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p. 469 hadith 1
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ruin himself. But like a loving mother who puts her playful child to sleep so that the child's energy will not go into waste, God puts a covering on man so that his eyes will not see all these toys and will be quieted down. Unfortunately, this playful man has turned nights into days with artificial lights and spends his precious life on love for the world making himself physically and mentally exhausted and deprived of the aim of creation. In this world where most people are dead-hearted �and most of them do not understand,�1 there are men of heart who are source of human dignity and living evidence of man's superiority over animals, people who work during the day and keep vigil at night. وَأمّا النَّهارُ فَحُلَماءُ عُلَماءُ، بَرَرَةٌ أتْقِياءُ، قَدْ بَراهُمُ الخَوْفُ فَهُمْ أمْثالُ القِداحِ يَنظُرُ إلَيهِمُ النّاظِرُ فَيَحْسَبُهُم مَرْضى وَما بِالقَوْمِ مِن مَرَضٍ ، أو يَقولُ : قَدْ خولِطُوا، فَقَدْ خالَطَ القَومَ أمْرٌ عَظيمٌ.
أمّا اللَّيلُ فَصافُّونَ أَقْدامَهُم تالِينَ لأَجْزاءِ القُرْآنِ يُرَتِّلونَهُ تَرْتيلاً، يُحْزِنونَ بهِ أنفُسَهُم، وَيَسْتَبشِرونَ بهِ، وتَهيجُ أحْزانُهُم بُكاءً عَلى ذُنوبِهِم وَوَجَعِ كُلومِ جَوانحِهِم ، فَإذا مَرُّوا بآيَةٍ فيها تَخويفٌ أصْغَوا إلَيها بمَسامِعِ قُلوبِهِم وَأبْصارِهِم، فَاقْشَعَرَّتْ مِنها جُلودُهُم، وَوَجِلَت مِنها قُلوبُهُم، وَظَنّوا أنَّ صَهيلَ جَهَنَّمَ وَزَفيرَها وشَهِيقَها في اُصُولِ آذانِهِم، وَإِذا مَرُّوا بِآيَةٍ فِيها تَشْويقٌ رَكَنوا إلَيها طَمَعاً ، وَتَطَلّعَتْ أنفُسُهُم إلَيها شَوقاً، فَظَنُّوا أنَّها نُصْبَ أعْيُنِهِم، جاثِينَ عَلى أوساطِهِم يمَجِّدونَ جَبّاراً عَظيماً، مُفتَرِشينَ جِباهَهُم وَأَكُفَّهُم وأطْرافَ أقْدامِهِم وَرُكَبِهِم، تجَرِي دُمُوعُهُم عَلى خُدودِهِم، يَجْأَرونَ إلى اللهِ في فِكاكِ رِقابِهِم.
�During the day they are enduring, learned, virtuous, and God-fearing. Fear of Allah has made them thin like arrows, if anyone looks at them he believes they are sick, although they are not sick, and he says that they have gone mad. In fact, great concern has made them mad. During the night they are upstanding on their feet reading portions of the Quran and reciting it in a well-measured way, creating through it grief for themselves and seeking by it the care for their ailments. If they come across a verse creating
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1 The Holy Quran; 5:103
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eagerness for Paradise they pursue it avidly, and their spirit turns towards it eagerly, and they feel as if it is in from of them. And when they come across a verse which contains fear of Hell, they bend the ears of their hearts towards it, and feel as though the sound of Hell and its cries are reaching their ears. They bend themselves from their backs, prostrate themselves on their foreheads, their palms, their knees, and their toes, and beseech Allah, the Sublime for their deliverance.�1
Imam Ali (a.s) longed for the nights to come so that he could have communion with God. During his supplication, he would always say: آهٍ آهٍ مِن قِلَّةِ الزّاد وطُولِ الطّريقِ وبُعدِ السّفَر
�Alas! The provision is little, the way is long, the journey is far and the goal is hard to reach.�2
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1 See Nahjul Balagha; sermon 193: Qualities of the God-fearing
2 See Nahjul Balagha; maxim 77
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and know that there is no better confidant for them than God Who has said: وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ، فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ.
�And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way. (The Holy Quran; 2:186)�
Considering the above-mentioned Quranic Verse, is there any fear or concern left in man's heart? The answer is a definite 'No,' for God Himself says: فَمَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِرَبِّهِ فَلا يَخَافُ بَخْساً وَلا رَهَقاً
�So whoever believes in his Lord, he should neither fear loss nor being overtaken by disgrace. (The Holy Quran; 27:13)�
When there are no ears to listen to our grievances, it is God Who is to listen to our requests. يا جَارِيَ اللّصِيقُ، يا رُكْنِيَ الوَثيقُ، يا صاحِبَ كلِّ غَريبٍ، يا مُؤْنِسَ كُلِّ وحيدٍ، يا مَلجَأَ كلِّ طَريدٍ، يا مأْوى كُلِّ شَريدٍ
�O my adjacent Neighbor, O my sturdy pillar, O companion of every stranger, o intimate of everyone alone, o refuge of every outcast, o shelter of every wanderer��1
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1 Du'aa al-Mashloul (Supplication of the Lame Man)
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أينَ المُعَدُّ لِقَطعِ دابِرِ الظَّلَمَةِ؟ أينَ المُنْتَظَرُ لإِقامَةِ الأَمْتِ والعِوَجِ؟ أينَ المُرْتَجى لإِزالَةِ الجَوْرِ والعُدْوانِ؟ أينَ المُدَّخَرُ لِتجديدِ الفَرائِضِ والسُّنَنِ؟ أينَ المُتَخَيَّرُ لإِعادَةِ المِلَّةِ والشَّريعَةِ؟ أينَ المُؤَمَّلُ لإِحْياءِ الكِتابِ وحُدودِهِ؟ أينَ محُيِي مَعالِمِ الدِّينِ وأَهلِهِ؟ أينَ قاصِمُ شَوكَةِ المُعتَدينَ؟ أينَ هادِمُ أبنِيَةِ الشِّرْكِ والنِّفاقِ؟ أينَ مُبيدُ أهلِ الفُسوقِ والعِصْيانِ والطُّغْيانِ؟ أينَ حاصِدُ فُروعِ الغَيِّ والشَّقاقِ؟ أينَ طامِسُ آثارِ الزَّيغِ والأهْواءِ؟ أينَ مُعِزُّ الأولِياءِ ومُذِلُّ الأَعْداءِ؟ أينَ الطّالِبُ بِذُحُولِ الأنبِياءِ وأبناءِ الأنبِياءِ؟ أينَ المُطالِبُ بِدَمِ المَذبوحِ بكَربَلاءَ؟ أينَ المَنصورُ عَلى مَنِ اعْتدَى وافْتَرى؟ هَل إلَيكَ يا بْنَ أحمَدَ سَبيلٌ فَتُلقى؟ هَل يَتَّصِلُ يومُنا مِنك بِغدِهِ فَنَحظى؟ مَتى نَرِدُ مَناهِلَكَ الرَّوِيَّةَ فَنُروى؟
�Where is the one prepared to annihilate the oppressors? Where is the one awaited for straightening the crookedness and dishonesty? Where is the one expected (Imam Mahdi) for abolishing oppression and transgression? Where is the one stored for reviving the obligatory command and Sunnah (of the Holy Prophet)? Where is the one selected for resuscitating the reality of the nation and the religion? Where is the one expected for enlivening the Book and the doctrinal provisions? Where is the enlivener of the facts of the religion and its adherents? Where is the breaker of the might of the transgressors? Where is the demolisher of the edifices of polytheism and hypocrisy? Where is the destroyer of the followers of transgression, disobedience, and rebellion? Where is the eradicator of the branches of errors and dispute? Where is the destroyer of the signs of evil and egoistic tendencies? Where is the severer of the cords of falsehood and calumniation? Where is the destroyer of the vicious and disobedient people? Where is the eradicator of the followers of obstinacy and misguidance and the renegade? Where is the one who honors the friends and debases the enemy? Where is the gate of Allah through which all should enter? Where is the countenance of Allah through which the friends attend towards him? Where is the means stretching from the earth to the heaven? Where is the uniter of the companions of virtue and divine pleasure? Where is the avenger of the blood of the prophets and their children? Where is the seeker of revenge for the blood of the martyred ones of
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Karbala? Where is the triumphant one (who will overcome) over one who transgressed against him and maligned him? O son of Ahmed, is there a way through which you may be met? May our day (of separation) join the day of reappearance by which we enjoy? When shall we arrive at your streams to quench our thirst?�1
When we are said infinite oppression and grave injustice pave the way for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s), despair gives its place to hope in our hearts making waiting for you something pleasant. So, we tolerate all hardship in the hope of your reappearance and keep on supplicating. فَأَغِثْ يا غِياثَ المُستَغيثِينَ عُبَيدَكَ المُبْتَلى وأَرِهِ سَيِّدَهُ يا شَديدَ القِوى وأَزِلْ عنهُ بهِ الأَسى والجَوى وبَرِّدْ غَليلَهُ يا مَن عَلى العَرشِ استَوى ومَن إلَيهِ الرُّجْعى
�So, help, O' helper of those who seek help, your poor afflicted servant. And show him his Master: O severer of strength and through him (Imam Mahdi) remove his (Your servant's) grief and sorrow. And cool the burning of his hurt, O You who are firm in the Heavenly Throne of power and towards Whom is the return and ultimate end.�2
Now that we are blessed with this divine grace and our requests and desires are fulfilled, we should seek forgiveness for our parents, relatives, neighbors, all believers, and the deceased ones. Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: دُعاءُ المَرءِ لأخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الغَيبِ يَدُرُّ الرِّزقَ ويدفَعُ المَكروهَ
�A man's supplication for his absent brother increases the sustenance and saves from evils.�3
Imam Kazim (a.s) says: مَن دَعا لأخِيهِ بِظهرِ الغَيبِ نودِيَ مِن العَرشِ: ولَكَ مِائَةُ ألفِ ضَعفٍ. فَكَرِهتُ أنْ أَدَعَ مِائَةَ ألفِ ضَعفٍ مَضْمونَةً لِواحِدةٍ لا أدِري تُستَجابُ أمْ لا.
�Whoever supplicates for his absent brother in faith, a call from the Divine Throne will say: let one hundred thousand
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1 A part of Du'aa an-Nudba
2 A part of Du'aa an-Nudba
3 See al-Kafi; Vol. 2 p. 507 hadith 2
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times more be for you. So, I thought it was not advisable to leave one hundred thousand supplications certainly answered for one that might or might not be answered.�1
Muawieh ibn Wahab and I were in Arafat. He was reciting duaa while his eyes were full of tears. Listening carefully to him, I found out that he was not reciting a singly duaa for himself, rather he was supplicating for people from here and there mentioning their names and father's names. When the pilgrims left Arafat, I said to him, 'O uncle, I saw something strange about you.' He asked, 'what was strange?' I answered, 'In this holy place, you considered your brethren prior to yourself and recited duaa for them!' He said, 'O my nephew, do not be surprised, for I heard my master and master of every believing man and woman and master of the former and the coming generations after his immaculate fathers (a.s) (if I lie, let my ears become deaf, my eyes blind, and deprived of the Holy Prophet's intercession) as saying:
�Whoever supplicates Allah for his absent brother in faith, an angel from heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let a hundred thousand times more than it be for you.' And an angel from the second heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be two hundred thousand times more for you.' And an angel from the third heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be three hundred thousand times more for you.' And an angel from the fourth heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be four hundred thousand times for you.' And an angel from the fifth heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be five hundred thousand time more for you.' And an angel from the sixth heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be six hundred thousand times more for you.' And an angel from the seventh heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be seven hundred thousand times more for you.' Then, Allah will say: 'I am the Rich Who will never become poor. O servant of Allah, let there be a million times more for you.'�
'O my nephew, which is better: to supplicate for oneself or for others?'2
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1 See Usoul al-Kafi; vol. 2 p. 507 hadith 6 and Oddatol Daee; 136
2 See Oddatol Daee p.136
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�My Allah, who is the one who has come before Thee seeking hospitability? Who is the one who has dismounted at Thy door hoping for magnanimity, and to who Thou hast not shown it? Is it good that I come back from Thy door, turned away in disappointment, while I know of no patron qualified by beneficence but Thee?� 1
How proper it is to conclude the last moment of staying in Arafat with the prayer of Imam Hussein (a.s) on such a day. Here is a summarized translation of the prayer: اَللّهُمّ إنّا نَتَوجَّهُ إلَيكَ في هَذهِ العَشِيَّةِ الّتي شَرَّفتَها وعَظَّمتَها بِمُحّمَدٍ نَبِيِّكَ ورَسولِكَ وخِيَرَتِكَ مِن خَلقِكَ وأمينِكَ عَلى وَحيِكَ البَشيرِ النّذيرِ السّراجِ المُنيرِ الّذي أَنعَمتَ بهِ عَلى المُسلِمينَ وجَعَلتَهُ رَحمَةً لِلعالمَينَ. اَللّهُمّ فَصَلِّ عَلى محَمَّدٍ وآلِ محَمّدٍ كَما محَمَّدٌ
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1 See as-Sahifat al-Kamilat al-Sajjadiyya, The whispered prayer of the hopeful
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أهْلٌ لِذلِكَ مِنكَ يا عَظيمُ، فَصَلِّ عَليهِ وعَلى آلِهِ المُنْتَجَبِينَ الطَّيَِبِينَ الطّاهِرينَ أجمَعينَ وتَغَمّدْنا بعَفوِكَ عَنّا. فَإلَيكَ عَجَّتِ الأصْواتُ بِصُنوفِ اللّغاتِ، فَاجْعَلْ لَنا اللّهُمّ في هَذِهِ العَشِيَّةِ نَصيباً مِن كُلِّ خَيرٍ تَقسِمُهُ بَينَ عِبادِكَ ونورٍ تَهدي بهِ ورَحْمَةٍ تَنشُرُها وبَرَكَةٍ نُتزِلُها وعافِيَةٍ تُجَلِّلُها ورِزقٍ تبَسُطُه يا أرْحَمَ الرّاحِمينَ. اللّهمّ اقْلِبنا في هَذا الوَقتِ مُنجِحينَ مُفلِحينَ مَبرورِينَ غانِمينَ ولا تجْعَلنا مِن القانِطينَ ولا تجْعَلنا مِن رَحمَتِكَ محْرومينَ ولا لِفَضْلِ ما نُؤَمِّلُهُ مِن عَطائِكَ قانِطينَ ولا تَرُدَّنا خائِبينَ ولا مِن بابِكَ مطْرودينَ يا أجْوَدَ الأجوَدينَ وأكْرَمَ الأكْرَمينَ إلَيكَ أقْبَلنا موقِنينَ ولِبَيتِكَ الحَرامِ آمِّينَ قاصِدينَ
�O Allah, we are turning our faces to You in this evening that You glorified and honored by Mohammad� Your Prophet, Messenger, Chosen one among Your creatures, Keeper of Your revelation, bearer of Your good tidings and warnings, and the bright light with whom You have blessed the Muslims and whom You have made mercy from people. Bless him and his household� the chosen ones, the pure, and the immaculate, and include us by means of Your reprieve. To You, voices of different tongues have directed. O Allah, give us in this evening a share of the blessings that you give to Your servants, light of guidance, mercy that You spread, blessings that You reveal, wellbeing that You extend, and abundant sustenance; You are certainly the Most Merciful of the merciful ones. O Allah, in this very time, include us with the successful, the thriving, the blessed, and the winning, and do not deprive us of Your mercy and of that for which we hope, and do not refute us with disappointment, and do not reject us from Your door. You are certainly the Most Generous of the generous ones and the Most Munificent of the munificent. We are directing towards You with full confidence and towards yours Sacred House with full intentions�1
The sun in Arafat set amid tears, moaning, and lamentations of Imam Hussein (a.s) and his companions who then set out for al-Mash'ar al-Haram.
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1 Part of Duaa of Imam Hussein on Day of Arafat
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�During the Farewell Hajj, the pilgrims' stay in Arafat was completed, the Holy Prophet (saw) said: �O Bilal, tell people to keep silent.� When they did, he (saw) said: �Today, Allah has favored you. He has forgiven the good ones among you and bestowed upon you the right of intercession for the bad ones. Hence, He forgave the bad ones with the intercession of the good ones. Now, set out and all of you have been forgiven by Allah's mercy.�1
Obviously the question of people's rights is another topic in a way that the consent and satisfaction of the owner of a right is prerequisite for God's forgiveness. Hence, all were forgiven �save those who violate people's rights, for God in Just and will take the right of the oppressed from the oppressors.�2
�So, when you hasten on from Arafat, then remember Allah near the Holy Monument� Al-Mash'ar al-Haram. (The Holy Quran; 2:198)�
Day of Arafat and staying in the plain of Arafat has come to an end and it is now the eve of the Eid ul-Adha.3 The pilgrims are prepared to move towards al-Mash'ar al-Haram. With the light of God's cognition upon all hearts, we now depart from Mount Mercy to stay overnight in al-Mash'ar al-Haram and attend another banquet of God.
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1 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p.258 hadith 24
2 This statement is quoted from al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p. 258 hadith 24
3 Eid ul-Adha �feast of sacrifice� is a festival marking the culmination of the annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca.
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It is praiseworthy to delay the Maghrib �evening- and Eshaa �night- (obligatory) Prayers to be performed in al-Mash'ar al-Haram, but because of too many pilgrims, slow traffic and the fear of default, the Maghrib and Eshaa Prayers are performed in Arafat. After having a light dinner, the pilgrims set out for al-Mash'ar. There is a tumult among the crowd, for every pilgrim is busy taking away the tent, packing his personal effects, and getting on into buses. So, great care is needed not to be distracted. Under such circumstances, Satan tries to keep man preoccupied so as to deprive him of his spiritual state. The pilgrims might get angry at getting a seat in front or back of the bus, the quantity of food, or carriage of the effects. Hence, they should be as tolerant, soft, and good-tempered as possible, for God says: وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللهُ، وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى
�Whatever good you do, Allah knows it; and make provision, for surely the provision is the guardian of oneself, and be careful of your duty to Me, O men of understanding. (The Holy Quran; 2:197)�
�Whoever restrains his anger Allah will increase his honor in this world and the Hereafter. Allah says: Those who restrain their anger and pardon men; and Allah loves the doers of good to others. (The Holy Quran; 3:134)�1
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1 See Usoul al-Kafi; vol. 2 p. 110 hadith 5
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heard. Eyes cannot see anywhere but the echo of supplications soothes man's soul.
Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: وإنِ استَطَعتَ أنْ تحيِيَ تلكَ الليلةِ فافْعلْ، فَإنّه بَلَغَنا أنَّ أبوابَ السّماءِ لا تُغلقُ تلكَ الليلةَ لأَصواتِ المؤمِنينَ لهُم دَوِيٌّ كَدَويِّ النّحلِ. يقولُ اللهُ جلّ ثناؤهُ: أَنا رَبُّكُم وأَنتُم عِبادِي أدَّيتُم حَقِّي وحقٌّ عَلَيَّ أن اَستَجيبَ لكُم. فَيَحُطُّ اللهُ تلكَ الليلةَ عّمَّن أرادَ أنْ يحُطَّ ذُنوبَهُ ويغْفِرُ لمَن أرادَ أن يغفرَ لهُ
�If you can keep vigil tonight, do it, for it has been reported to us that the gates of heaven are not closed to the believers tonight. Allah says: 'I am Your Lord and you are My servants. You have paid my due. Hence, it is incumbent on Me to answer your prayer.' Therefore, He removes the sins of whomever He wishes and forgives whom He wills.�1
�And We made the night to be a covering. (The Holy Quran; 78:10)� وَاللّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى
�I swear by the night when it draws a veil. (The Holy Quran; 92:1)�
Should the child-like playful man be left to himself, he is so much in love with the playing called the world and its ornaments that he will
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1 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p. 469 hadith 1
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ruin himself. But like a loving mother who puts her playful child to sleep so that the child's energy will not go into waste, God puts a covering on man so that his eyes will not see all these toys and will be quieted down. Unfortunately, this playful man has turned nights into days with artificial lights and spends his precious life on love for the world making himself physically and mentally exhausted and deprived of the aim of creation. In this world where most people are dead-hearted �and most of them do not understand,�1 there are men of heart who are source of human dignity and living evidence of man's superiority over animals, people who work during the day and keep vigil at night. وَأمّا النَّهارُ فَحُلَماءُ عُلَماءُ، بَرَرَةٌ أتْقِياءُ، قَدْ بَراهُمُ الخَوْفُ فَهُمْ أمْثالُ القِداحِ يَنظُرُ إلَيهِمُ النّاظِرُ فَيَحْسَبُهُم مَرْضى وَما بِالقَوْمِ مِن مَرَضٍ ، أو يَقولُ : قَدْ خولِطُوا، فَقَدْ خالَطَ القَومَ أمْرٌ عَظيمٌ.
أمّا اللَّيلُ فَصافُّونَ أَقْدامَهُم تالِينَ لأَجْزاءِ القُرْآنِ يُرَتِّلونَهُ تَرْتيلاً، يُحْزِنونَ بهِ أنفُسَهُم، وَيَسْتَبشِرونَ بهِ، وتَهيجُ أحْزانُهُم بُكاءً عَلى ذُنوبِهِم وَوَجَعِ كُلومِ جَوانحِهِم ، فَإذا مَرُّوا بآيَةٍ فيها تَخويفٌ أصْغَوا إلَيها بمَسامِعِ قُلوبِهِم وَأبْصارِهِم، فَاقْشَعَرَّتْ مِنها جُلودُهُم، وَوَجِلَت مِنها قُلوبُهُم، وَظَنّوا أنَّ صَهيلَ جَهَنَّمَ وَزَفيرَها وشَهِيقَها في اُصُولِ آذانِهِم، وَإِذا مَرُّوا بِآيَةٍ فِيها تَشْويقٌ رَكَنوا إلَيها طَمَعاً ، وَتَطَلّعَتْ أنفُسُهُم إلَيها شَوقاً، فَظَنُّوا أنَّها نُصْبَ أعْيُنِهِم، جاثِينَ عَلى أوساطِهِم يمَجِّدونَ جَبّاراً عَظيماً، مُفتَرِشينَ جِباهَهُم وَأَكُفَّهُم وأطْرافَ أقْدامِهِم وَرُكَبِهِم، تجَرِي دُمُوعُهُم عَلى خُدودِهِم، يَجْأَرونَ إلى اللهِ في فِكاكِ رِقابِهِم.
�During the day they are enduring, learned, virtuous, and God-fearing. Fear of Allah has made them thin like arrows, if anyone looks at them he believes they are sick, although they are not sick, and he says that they have gone mad. In fact, great concern has made them mad. During the night they are upstanding on their feet reading portions of the Quran and reciting it in a well-measured way, creating through it grief for themselves and seeking by it the care for their ailments. If they come across a verse creating
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1 The Holy Quran; 5:103
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eagerness for Paradise they pursue it avidly, and their spirit turns towards it eagerly, and they feel as if it is in from of them. And when they come across a verse which contains fear of Hell, they bend the ears of their hearts towards it, and feel as though the sound of Hell and its cries are reaching their ears. They bend themselves from their backs, prostrate themselves on their foreheads, their palms, their knees, and their toes, and beseech Allah, the Sublime for their deliverance.�1
Imam Ali (a.s) longed for the nights to come so that he could have communion with God. During his supplication, he would always say: آهٍ آهٍ مِن قِلَّةِ الزّاد وطُولِ الطّريقِ وبُعدِ السّفَر
�Alas! The provision is little, the way is long, the journey is far and the goal is hard to reach.�2
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1 See Nahjul Balagha; sermon 193: Qualities of the God-fearing
2 See Nahjul Balagha; maxim 77
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and know that there is no better confidant for them than God Who has said: وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ، فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ.
�And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way. (The Holy Quran; 2:186)�
Considering the above-mentioned Quranic Verse, is there any fear or concern left in man's heart? The answer is a definite 'No,' for God Himself says: فَمَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِرَبِّهِ فَلا يَخَافُ بَخْساً وَلا رَهَقاً
�So whoever believes in his Lord, he should neither fear loss nor being overtaken by disgrace. (The Holy Quran; 27:13)�
When there are no ears to listen to our grievances, it is God Who is to listen to our requests. يا جَارِيَ اللّصِيقُ، يا رُكْنِيَ الوَثيقُ، يا صاحِبَ كلِّ غَريبٍ، يا مُؤْنِسَ كُلِّ وحيدٍ، يا مَلجَأَ كلِّ طَريدٍ، يا مأْوى كُلِّ شَريدٍ
�O my adjacent Neighbor, O my sturdy pillar, O companion of every stranger, o intimate of everyone alone, o refuge of every outcast, o shelter of every wanderer��1
DUAA FOR REAPPEARANCE OF IMAM MAHDI (a.s)
The desire for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (may our souls be ransoms for him) who is a cure of the physical and spiritual diseases of human society must be at the top of the list of our requests today. All social and individual misfortunes, ignorance, poverty, moral corruption, and maladies afflicting human beings will be removed with the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s) and security and justice will prevail in the world in the light of his divine guidance. So, let us supplicate to God in unison and say:____________
1 Du'aa al-Mashloul (Supplication of the Lame Man)
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أينَ المُعَدُّ لِقَطعِ دابِرِ الظَّلَمَةِ؟ أينَ المُنْتَظَرُ لإِقامَةِ الأَمْتِ والعِوَجِ؟ أينَ المُرْتَجى لإِزالَةِ الجَوْرِ والعُدْوانِ؟ أينَ المُدَّخَرُ لِتجديدِ الفَرائِضِ والسُّنَنِ؟ أينَ المُتَخَيَّرُ لإِعادَةِ المِلَّةِ والشَّريعَةِ؟ أينَ المُؤَمَّلُ لإِحْياءِ الكِتابِ وحُدودِهِ؟ أينَ محُيِي مَعالِمِ الدِّينِ وأَهلِهِ؟ أينَ قاصِمُ شَوكَةِ المُعتَدينَ؟ أينَ هادِمُ أبنِيَةِ الشِّرْكِ والنِّفاقِ؟ أينَ مُبيدُ أهلِ الفُسوقِ والعِصْيانِ والطُّغْيانِ؟ أينَ حاصِدُ فُروعِ الغَيِّ والشَّقاقِ؟ أينَ طامِسُ آثارِ الزَّيغِ والأهْواءِ؟ أينَ مُعِزُّ الأولِياءِ ومُذِلُّ الأَعْداءِ؟ أينَ الطّالِبُ بِذُحُولِ الأنبِياءِ وأبناءِ الأنبِياءِ؟ أينَ المُطالِبُ بِدَمِ المَذبوحِ بكَربَلاءَ؟ أينَ المَنصورُ عَلى مَنِ اعْتدَى وافْتَرى؟ هَل إلَيكَ يا بْنَ أحمَدَ سَبيلٌ فَتُلقى؟ هَل يَتَّصِلُ يومُنا مِنك بِغدِهِ فَنَحظى؟ مَتى نَرِدُ مَناهِلَكَ الرَّوِيَّةَ فَنُروى؟
�Where is the one prepared to annihilate the oppressors? Where is the one awaited for straightening the crookedness and dishonesty? Where is the one expected (Imam Mahdi) for abolishing oppression and transgression? Where is the one stored for reviving the obligatory command and Sunnah (of the Holy Prophet)? Where is the one selected for resuscitating the reality of the nation and the religion? Where is the one expected for enlivening the Book and the doctrinal provisions? Where is the enlivener of the facts of the religion and its adherents? Where is the breaker of the might of the transgressors? Where is the demolisher of the edifices of polytheism and hypocrisy? Where is the destroyer of the followers of transgression, disobedience, and rebellion? Where is the eradicator of the branches of errors and dispute? Where is the destroyer of the signs of evil and egoistic tendencies? Where is the severer of the cords of falsehood and calumniation? Where is the destroyer of the vicious and disobedient people? Where is the eradicator of the followers of obstinacy and misguidance and the renegade? Where is the one who honors the friends and debases the enemy? Where is the gate of Allah through which all should enter? Where is the countenance of Allah through which the friends attend towards him? Where is the means stretching from the earth to the heaven? Where is the uniter of the companions of virtue and divine pleasure? Where is the avenger of the blood of the prophets and their children? Where is the seeker of revenge for the blood of the martyred ones of
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Karbala? Where is the triumphant one (who will overcome) over one who transgressed against him and maligned him? O son of Ahmed, is there a way through which you may be met? May our day (of separation) join the day of reappearance by which we enjoy? When shall we arrive at your streams to quench our thirst?�1
When we are said infinite oppression and grave injustice pave the way for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s), despair gives its place to hope in our hearts making waiting for you something pleasant. So, we tolerate all hardship in the hope of your reappearance and keep on supplicating. فَأَغِثْ يا غِياثَ المُستَغيثِينَ عُبَيدَكَ المُبْتَلى وأَرِهِ سَيِّدَهُ يا شَديدَ القِوى وأَزِلْ عنهُ بهِ الأَسى والجَوى وبَرِّدْ غَليلَهُ يا مَن عَلى العَرشِ استَوى ومَن إلَيهِ الرُّجْعى
�So, help, O' helper of those who seek help, your poor afflicted servant. And show him his Master: O severer of strength and through him (Imam Mahdi) remove his (Your servant's) grief and sorrow. And cool the burning of his hurt, O You who are firm in the Heavenly Throne of power and towards Whom is the return and ultimate end.�2
ASK FORGIVENESS FOR YOUR PARENTS, RELATIVES,
AND ALL BELIEVERS IN ARAFAT
AND ALL BELIEVERS IN ARAFAT
Now that we are blessed with this divine grace and our requests and desires are fulfilled, we should seek forgiveness for our parents, relatives, neighbors, all believers, and the deceased ones. Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: دُعاءُ المَرءِ لأخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الغَيبِ يَدُرُّ الرِّزقَ ويدفَعُ المَكروهَ
�A man's supplication for his absent brother increases the sustenance and saves from evils.�3
Imam Kazim (a.s) says: مَن دَعا لأخِيهِ بِظهرِ الغَيبِ نودِيَ مِن العَرشِ: ولَكَ مِائَةُ ألفِ ضَعفٍ. فَكَرِهتُ أنْ أَدَعَ مِائَةَ ألفِ ضَعفٍ مَضْمونَةً لِواحِدةٍ لا أدِري تُستَجابُ أمْ لا.
�Whoever supplicates for his absent brother in faith, a call from the Divine Throne will say: let one hundred thousand
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1 A part of Du'aa an-Nudba
2 A part of Du'aa an-Nudba
3 See al-Kafi; Vol. 2 p. 507 hadith 2
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times more be for you. So, I thought it was not advisable to leave one hundred thousand supplications certainly answered for one that might or might not be answered.�1
WHAT A BLESSED DUAA!
Ibn Abi-Umeir reports the following on the authority of Zeid an-Nersi:Muawieh ibn Wahab and I were in Arafat. He was reciting duaa while his eyes were full of tears. Listening carefully to him, I found out that he was not reciting a singly duaa for himself, rather he was supplicating for people from here and there mentioning their names and father's names. When the pilgrims left Arafat, I said to him, 'O uncle, I saw something strange about you.' He asked, 'what was strange?' I answered, 'In this holy place, you considered your brethren prior to yourself and recited duaa for them!' He said, 'O my nephew, do not be surprised, for I heard my master and master of every believing man and woman and master of the former and the coming generations after his immaculate fathers (a.s) (if I lie, let my ears become deaf, my eyes blind, and deprived of the Holy Prophet's intercession) as saying:
�Whoever supplicates Allah for his absent brother in faith, an angel from heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let a hundred thousand times more than it be for you.' And an angel from the second heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be two hundred thousand times more for you.' And an angel from the third heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be three hundred thousand times more for you.' And an angel from the fourth heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be four hundred thousand times for you.' And an angel from the fifth heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be five hundred thousand time more for you.' And an angel from the sixth heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be six hundred thousand times more for you.' And an angel from the seventh heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be seven hundred thousand times more for you.' Then, Allah will say: 'I am the Rich Who will never become poor. O servant of Allah, let there be a million times more for you.'�
'O my nephew, which is better: to supplicate for oneself or for others?'2
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1 See Usoul al-Kafi; vol. 2 p. 507 hadith 6 and Oddatol Daee; 136
2 See Oddatol Daee p.136
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NOW, SUPPLICATION TO GOD
O Lord, now that You like to hear Your servant's duaa for others and fulfill them, we ask You through the affinity and love of Your most beloved creatures; Mohammad and his household (a.s) to hasten the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s) and guide the human society on the right path of guidance. Also, make the ummah united to defend itself against atheism. Protect our youths against corruption. Do not separate our children and us from the Holy Quran and the household of the Holy Prophet (saw) in this world and the Hereafter. Fill our hearts with Your love and that of the Imams (a.s). Heal the patients all over the world very soon. Make our women chaste. Give a share of this reward to our parents, relatives, neighbors, friends, and the deceased. Keep us from the fire of Your wrath.THE SUN IN ARAFAT IS SETTING
The sun in Arafat is setting and God's banquet is coming to an end. O my beloved, I know this much that this humble person was Your guest and You, the Lord of the heavens and the earth were my Generous Host. Then, I have the right to say: إِلهَِي، مَن الّذي نَزَلَ بكَ مُلتَمِساً قِراكَ فَما قَرَيتَهُ؟ ومَن الّذي أناخَ بِبابِكَ مُرتجِياً نِداكَ فَما أولَيتَهُ؟ أيَحْسَنُ أنْ أرجِعَ عَن بابِكَ بالخَيبَةِ مَصروفاً ولَستُ أعْرِفُ سِواكَ مَولىً بالإحْسانِ مَوصوفاً؟�My Allah, who is the one who has come before Thee seeking hospitability? Who is the one who has dismounted at Thy door hoping for magnanimity, and to who Thou hast not shown it? Is it good that I come back from Thy door, turned away in disappointment, while I know of no patron qualified by beneficence but Thee?� 1
How proper it is to conclude the last moment of staying in Arafat with the prayer of Imam Hussein (a.s) on such a day. Here is a summarized translation of the prayer: اَللّهُمّ إنّا نَتَوجَّهُ إلَيكَ في هَذهِ العَشِيَّةِ الّتي شَرَّفتَها وعَظَّمتَها بِمُحّمَدٍ نَبِيِّكَ ورَسولِكَ وخِيَرَتِكَ مِن خَلقِكَ وأمينِكَ عَلى وَحيِكَ البَشيرِ النّذيرِ السّراجِ المُنيرِ الّذي أَنعَمتَ بهِ عَلى المُسلِمينَ وجَعَلتَهُ رَحمَةً لِلعالمَينَ. اَللّهُمّ فَصَلِّ عَلى محَمَّدٍ وآلِ محَمّدٍ كَما محَمَّدٌ
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1 See as-Sahifat al-Kamilat al-Sajjadiyya, The whispered prayer of the hopeful
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أهْلٌ لِذلِكَ مِنكَ يا عَظيمُ، فَصَلِّ عَليهِ وعَلى آلِهِ المُنْتَجَبِينَ الطَّيَِبِينَ الطّاهِرينَ أجمَعينَ وتَغَمّدْنا بعَفوِكَ عَنّا. فَإلَيكَ عَجَّتِ الأصْواتُ بِصُنوفِ اللّغاتِ، فَاجْعَلْ لَنا اللّهُمّ في هَذِهِ العَشِيَّةِ نَصيباً مِن كُلِّ خَيرٍ تَقسِمُهُ بَينَ عِبادِكَ ونورٍ تَهدي بهِ ورَحْمَةٍ تَنشُرُها وبَرَكَةٍ نُتزِلُها وعافِيَةٍ تُجَلِّلُها ورِزقٍ تبَسُطُه يا أرْحَمَ الرّاحِمينَ. اللّهمّ اقْلِبنا في هَذا الوَقتِ مُنجِحينَ مُفلِحينَ مَبرورِينَ غانِمينَ ولا تجْعَلنا مِن القانِطينَ ولا تجْعَلنا مِن رَحمَتِكَ محْرومينَ ولا لِفَضْلِ ما نُؤَمِّلُهُ مِن عَطائِكَ قانِطينَ ولا تَرُدَّنا خائِبينَ ولا مِن بابِكَ مطْرودينَ يا أجْوَدَ الأجوَدينَ وأكْرَمَ الأكْرَمينَ إلَيكَ أقْبَلنا موقِنينَ ولِبَيتِكَ الحَرامِ آمِّينَ قاصِدينَ
�O Allah, we are turning our faces to You in this evening that You glorified and honored by Mohammad� Your Prophet, Messenger, Chosen one among Your creatures, Keeper of Your revelation, bearer of Your good tidings and warnings, and the bright light with whom You have blessed the Muslims and whom You have made mercy from people. Bless him and his household� the chosen ones, the pure, and the immaculate, and include us by means of Your reprieve. To You, voices of different tongues have directed. O Allah, give us in this evening a share of the blessings that you give to Your servants, light of guidance, mercy that You spread, blessings that You reveal, wellbeing that You extend, and abundant sustenance; You are certainly the Most Merciful of the merciful ones. O Allah, in this very time, include us with the successful, the thriving, the blessed, and the winning, and do not deprive us of Your mercy and of that for which we hope, and do not refute us with disappointment, and do not reject us from Your door. You are certainly the Most Generous of the generous ones and the Most Munificent of the munificent. We are directing towards You with full confidence and towards yours Sacred House with full intentions�1
The sun in Arafat set amid tears, moaning, and lamentations of Imam Hussein (a.s) and his companions who then set out for al-Mash'ar al-Haram.
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1 Part of Duaa of Imam Hussein on Day of Arafat
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GOOD TIDINGS
Imam Sajjad (a.s) says: إنّهُ لمّا وَقَفَ بِعَرَفَةَ وهَمَّتِ الشّمْسُ أنْ تَغيبَ، قالَ رسولُ اللهِ صلّى اللهُ عليهِ وآلِهِ: يا بلالُ، قُل لِلناّسِ فَليُنصِتوا. فَلمّا نَصَتوا قَالَ رسولُ اللهِ صلّى اللهُ عليهِ وآلِهِ: إنَّ رَبّكُم تَطَوَّلَ عَليكُم في هذا اليَومِ فَغَفَرَ لِمُحسِنِكُم وَشَفَّعَ مُحسِنَكُم في مُسيئِكُم، فَاَفيضوا مَغْفوراً لَكُم.�During the Farewell Hajj, the pilgrims' stay in Arafat was completed, the Holy Prophet (saw) said: �O Bilal, tell people to keep silent.� When they did, he (saw) said: �Today, Allah has favored you. He has forgiven the good ones among you and bestowed upon you the right of intercession for the bad ones. Hence, He forgave the bad ones with the intercession of the good ones. Now, set out and all of you have been forgiven by Allah's mercy.�1
Obviously the question of people's rights is another topic in a way that the consent and satisfaction of the owner of a right is prerequisite for God's forgiveness. Hence, all were forgiven �save those who violate people's rights, for God in Just and will take the right of the oppressed from the oppressors.�2
HALTING PLACE V: AL-MASH'AR AL-HARAM
فَإِذَا أَفَضْتُمْ مِنْ عَرَفَاتٍ فَاذْكُرُوا اللهَ عِنْدَ المَشْعَرِ الحَرامِ�So, when you hasten on from Arafat, then remember Allah near the Holy Monument� Al-Mash'ar al-Haram. (The Holy Quran; 2:198)�
Day of Arafat and staying in the plain of Arafat has come to an end and it is now the eve of the Eid ul-Adha.3 The pilgrims are prepared to move towards al-Mash'ar al-Haram. With the light of God's cognition upon all hearts, we now depart from Mount Mercy to stay overnight in al-Mash'ar al-Haram and attend another banquet of God.
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1 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p.258 hadith 24
2 This statement is quoted from al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p. 258 hadith 24
3 Eid ul-Adha �feast of sacrifice� is a festival marking the culmination of the annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca.
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It is praiseworthy to delay the Maghrib �evening- and Eshaa �night- (obligatory) Prayers to be performed in al-Mash'ar al-Haram, but because of too many pilgrims, slow traffic and the fear of default, the Maghrib and Eshaa Prayers are performed in Arafat. After having a light dinner, the pilgrims set out for al-Mash'ar. There is a tumult among the crowd, for every pilgrim is busy taking away the tent, packing his personal effects, and getting on into buses. So, great care is needed not to be distracted. Under such circumstances, Satan tries to keep man preoccupied so as to deprive him of his spiritual state. The pilgrims might get angry at getting a seat in front or back of the bus, the quantity of food, or carriage of the effects. Hence, they should be as tolerant, soft, and good-tempered as possible, for God says: وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللهُ، وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى
�Whatever good you do, Allah knows it; and make provision, for surely the provision is the guardian of oneself, and be careful of your duty to Me, O men of understanding. (The Holy Quran; 2:197)�
RESTRAIN YOUR ANGER
Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: مَا مِن عَبدٍ كَظَمَ غَيظاً إلا زادَهُ اللهُ عَزّ وجلّ عِزاً في الدّنيا والآخِرَةِ. وقَد قالَ اللهُ عزّ وجَلّ: وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ وَاللهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ.�Whoever restrains his anger Allah will increase his honor in this world and the Hereafter. Allah says: Those who restrain their anger and pardon men; and Allah loves the doers of good to others. (The Holy Quran; 3:134)�1
AL-MASH'AR OR THE MEETING PLACE OF
GOD'S LOVERS
Al-Mash'ar is also called 'al-Muzdalifah�the near place-' since it is very near to Mecca. There is a consensus among the Islamic scholars that the Maghrib and Eshaa Prayers should be offered together in al-Mash'ar. It is derived from the Arabic root 'sh-a-r' meaning 'motto' or 'sign'. It is a place for those seeking God, for no sign of mammonism or egotism is there. Al-Mash'ar is a dark plain with pebbles on it, which has accommodated over one million pilgrims who have taken refuge in God and supplications under the dim light of stars of a mysterious sky. It is truly Mash'ar �sign-, for nothing but God-seeking mottos can beGOD'S LOVERS
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1 See Usoul al-Kafi; vol. 2 p. 110 hadith 5
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heard. Eyes cannot see anywhere but the echo of supplications soothes man's soul.
WHAT A BLESSED PLACE AND WHAT AN
AUSPICIOUS NIGHT!
This night has no equal in man's life. It is dark but brighter than any day for men of heart. It is a night when the breeze of God's mercy is blowing and rain of His forgiveness is falling. It is a night when the doors of God's favor are opened to man. It is the even of the festival of sacrifice and the time of the King's public audience.AUSPICIOUS NIGHT!
Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: وإنِ استَطَعتَ أنْ تحيِيَ تلكَ الليلةِ فافْعلْ، فَإنّه بَلَغَنا أنَّ أبوابَ السّماءِ لا تُغلقُ تلكَ الليلةَ لأَصواتِ المؤمِنينَ لهُم دَوِيٌّ كَدَويِّ النّحلِ. يقولُ اللهُ جلّ ثناؤهُ: أَنا رَبُّكُم وأَنتُم عِبادِي أدَّيتُم حَقِّي وحقٌّ عَلَيَّ أن اَستَجيبَ لكُم. فَيَحُطُّ اللهُ تلكَ الليلةَ عّمَّن أرادَ أنْ يحُطَّ ذُنوبَهُ ويغْفِرُ لمَن أرادَ أن يغفرَ لهُ
�If you can keep vigil tonight, do it, for it has been reported to us that the gates of heaven are not closed to the believers tonight. Allah says: 'I am Your Lord and you are My servants. You have paid my due. Hence, it is incumbent on Me to answer your prayer.' Therefore, He removes the sins of whomever He wishes and forgives whom He wills.�1
NIGHT, TIME OF COMMUNION WITH GOD
Men of heart and insight know that night is opportune time for communion with God. Among blessings God has bestowed upon man is the blessing of night: وَجَعَلْنَا اللّيْلَ لِباساً�And We made the night to be a covering. (The Holy Quran; 78:10)� وَاللّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى
�I swear by the night when it draws a veil. (The Holy Quran; 92:1)�
Should the child-like playful man be left to himself, he is so much in love with the playing called the world and its ornaments that he will
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1 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p. 469 hadith 1
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ruin himself. But like a loving mother who puts her playful child to sleep so that the child's energy will not go into waste, God puts a covering on man so that his eyes will not see all these toys and will be quieted down. Unfortunately, this playful man has turned nights into days with artificial lights and spends his precious life on love for the world making himself physically and mentally exhausted and deprived of the aim of creation. In this world where most people are dead-hearted �and most of them do not understand,�1 there are men of heart who are source of human dignity and living evidence of man's superiority over animals, people who work during the day and keep vigil at night. وَأمّا النَّهارُ فَحُلَماءُ عُلَماءُ، بَرَرَةٌ أتْقِياءُ، قَدْ بَراهُمُ الخَوْفُ فَهُمْ أمْثالُ القِداحِ يَنظُرُ إلَيهِمُ النّاظِرُ فَيَحْسَبُهُم مَرْضى وَما بِالقَوْمِ مِن مَرَضٍ ، أو يَقولُ : قَدْ خولِطُوا، فَقَدْ خالَطَ القَومَ أمْرٌ عَظيمٌ.
أمّا اللَّيلُ فَصافُّونَ أَقْدامَهُم تالِينَ لأَجْزاءِ القُرْآنِ يُرَتِّلونَهُ تَرْتيلاً، يُحْزِنونَ بهِ أنفُسَهُم، وَيَسْتَبشِرونَ بهِ، وتَهيجُ أحْزانُهُم بُكاءً عَلى ذُنوبِهِم وَوَجَعِ كُلومِ جَوانحِهِم ، فَإذا مَرُّوا بآيَةٍ فيها تَخويفٌ أصْغَوا إلَيها بمَسامِعِ قُلوبِهِم وَأبْصارِهِم، فَاقْشَعَرَّتْ مِنها جُلودُهُم، وَوَجِلَت مِنها قُلوبُهُم، وَظَنّوا أنَّ صَهيلَ جَهَنَّمَ وَزَفيرَها وشَهِيقَها في اُصُولِ آذانِهِم، وَإِذا مَرُّوا بِآيَةٍ فِيها تَشْويقٌ رَكَنوا إلَيها طَمَعاً ، وَتَطَلّعَتْ أنفُسُهُم إلَيها شَوقاً، فَظَنُّوا أنَّها نُصْبَ أعْيُنِهِم، جاثِينَ عَلى أوساطِهِم يمَجِّدونَ جَبّاراً عَظيماً، مُفتَرِشينَ جِباهَهُم وَأَكُفَّهُم وأطْرافَ أقْدامِهِم وَرُكَبِهِم، تجَرِي دُمُوعُهُم عَلى خُدودِهِم، يَجْأَرونَ إلى اللهِ في فِكاكِ رِقابِهِم.
�During the day they are enduring, learned, virtuous, and God-fearing. Fear of Allah has made them thin like arrows, if anyone looks at them he believes they are sick, although they are not sick, and he says that they have gone mad. In fact, great concern has made them mad. During the night they are upstanding on their feet reading portions of the Quran and reciting it in a well-measured way, creating through it grief for themselves and seeking by it the care for their ailments. If they come across a verse creating
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1 The Holy Quran; 5:103
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eagerness for Paradise they pursue it avidly, and their spirit turns towards it eagerly, and they feel as if it is in from of them. And when they come across a verse which contains fear of Hell, they bend the ears of their hearts towards it, and feel as though the sound of Hell and its cries are reaching their ears. They bend themselves from their backs, prostrate themselves on their foreheads, their palms, their knees, and their toes, and beseech Allah, the Sublime for their deliverance.�1
Imam Ali (a.s) longed for the nights to come so that he could have communion with God. During his supplication, he would always say: آهٍ آهٍ مِن قِلَّةِ الزّاد وطُولِ الطّريقِ وبُعدِ السّفَر
�Alas! The provision is little, the way is long, the journey is far and the goal is hard to reach.�2
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1 See Nahjul Balagha; sermon 193: Qualities of the God-fearing
2 See Nahjul Balagha; maxim 77
TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR DUAA
As requirements for duaa to be answered have been met and thousands of hands have been raised in supplication, the pilgrims in Arafat should speak to God with the supplications reached us from the Imams (a.s) in this relation, Imam Hussein's Duaa recited on such a day in Arafat is the most comprehensive. Also, Duaa 47 of al-Sahifat al-Sajjadiyya, containing theme of servitude is extremely useful for those who do not know Arabic can simply talk to God in their own languages and confide their grievances with their Most Kind Creator( 106 )
and know that there is no better confidant for them than God Who has said: وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ، فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ.
�And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way. (The Holy Quran; 2:186)�
Considering the above-mentioned Quranic Verse, is there any fear or concern left in man's heart? The answer is a definite 'No,' for God Himself says: فَمَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِرَبِّهِ فَلا يَخَافُ بَخْساً وَلا رَهَقاً
�So whoever believes in his Lord, he should neither fear loss nor being overtaken by disgrace. (The Holy Quran; 27:13)�
When there are no ears to listen to our grievances, it is God Who is to listen to our requests. يا جَارِيَ اللّصِيقُ، يا رُكْنِيَ الوَثيقُ، يا صاحِبَ كلِّ غَريبٍ، يا مُؤْنِسَ كُلِّ وحيدٍ، يا مَلجَأَ كلِّ طَريدٍ، يا مأْوى كُلِّ شَريدٍ
�O my adjacent Neighbor, O my sturdy pillar, O companion of every stranger, o intimate of everyone alone, o refuge of every outcast, o shelter of every wanderer��1
DUAA FOR REAPPEARANCE OF IMAM MAHDI (a.s)
The desire for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (may our souls be ransoms for him) who is a cure of the physical and spiritual diseases of human society must be at the top of the list of our requests today. All social and individual misfortunes, ignorance, poverty, moral corruption, and maladies afflicting human beings will be removed with the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s) and security and justice will prevail in the world in the light of his divine guidance. So, let us supplicate to God in unison and say:____________
1 Du'aa al-Mashloul (Supplication of the Lame Man)
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أينَ المُعَدُّ لِقَطعِ دابِرِ الظَّلَمَةِ؟ أينَ المُنْتَظَرُ لإِقامَةِ الأَمْتِ والعِوَجِ؟ أينَ المُرْتَجى لإِزالَةِ الجَوْرِ والعُدْوانِ؟ أينَ المُدَّخَرُ لِتجديدِ الفَرائِضِ والسُّنَنِ؟ أينَ المُتَخَيَّرُ لإِعادَةِ المِلَّةِ والشَّريعَةِ؟ أينَ المُؤَمَّلُ لإِحْياءِ الكِتابِ وحُدودِهِ؟ أينَ محُيِي مَعالِمِ الدِّينِ وأَهلِهِ؟ أينَ قاصِمُ شَوكَةِ المُعتَدينَ؟ أينَ هادِمُ أبنِيَةِ الشِّرْكِ والنِّفاقِ؟ أينَ مُبيدُ أهلِ الفُسوقِ والعِصْيانِ والطُّغْيانِ؟ أينَ حاصِدُ فُروعِ الغَيِّ والشَّقاقِ؟ أينَ طامِسُ آثارِ الزَّيغِ والأهْواءِ؟ أينَ مُعِزُّ الأولِياءِ ومُذِلُّ الأَعْداءِ؟ أينَ الطّالِبُ بِذُحُولِ الأنبِياءِ وأبناءِ الأنبِياءِ؟ أينَ المُطالِبُ بِدَمِ المَذبوحِ بكَربَلاءَ؟ أينَ المَنصورُ عَلى مَنِ اعْتدَى وافْتَرى؟ هَل إلَيكَ يا بْنَ أحمَدَ سَبيلٌ فَتُلقى؟ هَل يَتَّصِلُ يومُنا مِنك بِغدِهِ فَنَحظى؟ مَتى نَرِدُ مَناهِلَكَ الرَّوِيَّةَ فَنُروى؟
�Where is the one prepared to annihilate the oppressors? Where is the one awaited for straightening the crookedness and dishonesty? Where is the one expected (Imam Mahdi) for abolishing oppression and transgression? Where is the one stored for reviving the obligatory command and Sunnah (of the Holy Prophet)? Where is the one selected for resuscitating the reality of the nation and the religion? Where is the one expected for enlivening the Book and the doctrinal provisions? Where is the enlivener of the facts of the religion and its adherents? Where is the breaker of the might of the transgressors? Where is the demolisher of the edifices of polytheism and hypocrisy? Where is the destroyer of the followers of transgression, disobedience, and rebellion? Where is the eradicator of the branches of errors and dispute? Where is the destroyer of the signs of evil and egoistic tendencies? Where is the severer of the cords of falsehood and calumniation? Where is the destroyer of the vicious and disobedient people? Where is the eradicator of the followers of obstinacy and misguidance and the renegade? Where is the one who honors the friends and debases the enemy? Where is the gate of Allah through which all should enter? Where is the countenance of Allah through which the friends attend towards him? Where is the means stretching from the earth to the heaven? Where is the uniter of the companions of virtue and divine pleasure? Where is the avenger of the blood of the prophets and their children? Where is the seeker of revenge for the blood of the martyred ones of
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Karbala? Where is the triumphant one (who will overcome) over one who transgressed against him and maligned him? O son of Ahmed, is there a way through which you may be met? May our day (of separation) join the day of reappearance by which we enjoy? When shall we arrive at your streams to quench our thirst?�1
When we are said infinite oppression and grave injustice pave the way for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s), despair gives its place to hope in our hearts making waiting for you something pleasant. So, we tolerate all hardship in the hope of your reappearance and keep on supplicating. فَأَغِثْ يا غِياثَ المُستَغيثِينَ عُبَيدَكَ المُبْتَلى وأَرِهِ سَيِّدَهُ يا شَديدَ القِوى وأَزِلْ عنهُ بهِ الأَسى والجَوى وبَرِّدْ غَليلَهُ يا مَن عَلى العَرشِ استَوى ومَن إلَيهِ الرُّجْعى
�So, help, O' helper of those who seek help, your poor afflicted servant. And show him his Master: O severer of strength and through him (Imam Mahdi) remove his (Your servant's) grief and sorrow. And cool the burning of his hurt, O You who are firm in the Heavenly Throne of power and towards Whom is the return and ultimate end.�2
ASK FORGIVENESS FOR YOUR PARENTS, RELATIVES,
AND ALL BELIEVERS IN ARAFAT
AND ALL BELIEVERS IN ARAFAT
Now that we are blessed with this divine grace and our requests and desires are fulfilled, we should seek forgiveness for our parents, relatives, neighbors, all believers, and the deceased ones. Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: دُعاءُ المَرءِ لأخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الغَيبِ يَدُرُّ الرِّزقَ ويدفَعُ المَكروهَ
�A man's supplication for his absent brother increases the sustenance and saves from evils.�3
Imam Kazim (a.s) says: مَن دَعا لأخِيهِ بِظهرِ الغَيبِ نودِيَ مِن العَرشِ: ولَكَ مِائَةُ ألفِ ضَعفٍ. فَكَرِهتُ أنْ أَدَعَ مِائَةَ ألفِ ضَعفٍ مَضْمونَةً لِواحِدةٍ لا أدِري تُستَجابُ أمْ لا.
�Whoever supplicates for his absent brother in faith, a call from the Divine Throne will say: let one hundred thousand
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1 A part of Du'aa an-Nudba
2 A part of Du'aa an-Nudba
3 See al-Kafi; Vol. 2 p. 507 hadith 2
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times more be for you. So, I thought it was not advisable to leave one hundred thousand supplications certainly answered for one that might or might not be answered.�1
WHAT A BLESSED DUAA!
Ibn Abi-Umeir reports the following on the authority of Zeid an-Nersi:Muawieh ibn Wahab and I were in Arafat. He was reciting duaa while his eyes were full of tears. Listening carefully to him, I found out that he was not reciting a singly duaa for himself, rather he was supplicating for people from here and there mentioning their names and father's names. When the pilgrims left Arafat, I said to him, 'O uncle, I saw something strange about you.' He asked, 'what was strange?' I answered, 'In this holy place, you considered your brethren prior to yourself and recited duaa for them!' He said, 'O my nephew, do not be surprised, for I heard my master and master of every believing man and woman and master of the former and the coming generations after his immaculate fathers (a.s) (if I lie, let my ears become deaf, my eyes blind, and deprived of the Holy Prophet's intercession) as saying:
�Whoever supplicates Allah for his absent brother in faith, an angel from heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let a hundred thousand times more than it be for you.' And an angel from the second heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be two hundred thousand times more for you.' And an angel from the third heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be three hundred thousand times more for you.' And an angel from the fourth heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be four hundred thousand times for you.' And an angel from the fifth heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be five hundred thousand time more for you.' And an angel from the sixth heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be six hundred thousand times more for you.' And an angel from the seventh heaven will call: 'O servant of Allah, let there be seven hundred thousand times more for you.' Then, Allah will say: 'I am the Rich Who will never become poor. O servant of Allah, let there be a million times more for you.'�
'O my nephew, which is better: to supplicate for oneself or for others?'2
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1 See Usoul al-Kafi; vol. 2 p. 507 hadith 6 and Oddatol Daee; 136
2 See Oddatol Daee p.136
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NOW, SUPPLICATION TO GOD
O Lord, now that You like to hear Your servant's duaa for others and fulfill them, we ask You through the affinity and love of Your most beloved creatures; Mohammad and his household (a.s) to hasten the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s) and guide the human society on the right path of guidance. Also, make the ummah united to defend itself against atheism. Protect our youths against corruption. Do not separate our children and us from the Holy Quran and the household of the Holy Prophet (saw) in this world and the Hereafter. Fill our hearts with Your love and that of the Imams (a.s). Heal the patients all over the world very soon. Make our women chaste. Give a share of this reward to our parents, relatives, neighbors, friends, and the deceased. Keep us from the fire of Your wrath.THE SUN IN ARAFAT IS SETTING
The sun in Arafat is setting and God's banquet is coming to an end. O my beloved, I know this much that this humble person was Your guest and You, the Lord of the heavens and the earth were my Generous Host. Then, I have the right to say: إِلهَِي، مَن الّذي نَزَلَ بكَ مُلتَمِساً قِراكَ فَما قَرَيتَهُ؟ ومَن الّذي أناخَ بِبابِكَ مُرتجِياً نِداكَ فَما أولَيتَهُ؟ أيَحْسَنُ أنْ أرجِعَ عَن بابِكَ بالخَيبَةِ مَصروفاً ولَستُ أعْرِفُ سِواكَ مَولىً بالإحْسانِ مَوصوفاً؟�My Allah, who is the one who has come before Thee seeking hospitability? Who is the one who has dismounted at Thy door hoping for magnanimity, and to who Thou hast not shown it? Is it good that I come back from Thy door, turned away in disappointment, while I know of no patron qualified by beneficence but Thee?� 1
How proper it is to conclude the last moment of staying in Arafat with the prayer of Imam Hussein (a.s) on such a day. Here is a summarized translation of the prayer: اَللّهُمّ إنّا نَتَوجَّهُ إلَيكَ في هَذهِ العَشِيَّةِ الّتي شَرَّفتَها وعَظَّمتَها بِمُحّمَدٍ نَبِيِّكَ ورَسولِكَ وخِيَرَتِكَ مِن خَلقِكَ وأمينِكَ عَلى وَحيِكَ البَشيرِ النّذيرِ السّراجِ المُنيرِ الّذي أَنعَمتَ بهِ عَلى المُسلِمينَ وجَعَلتَهُ رَحمَةً لِلعالمَينَ. اَللّهُمّ فَصَلِّ عَلى محَمَّدٍ وآلِ محَمّدٍ كَما محَمَّدٌ
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1 See as-Sahifat al-Kamilat al-Sajjadiyya, The whispered prayer of the hopeful
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أهْلٌ لِذلِكَ مِنكَ يا عَظيمُ، فَصَلِّ عَليهِ وعَلى آلِهِ المُنْتَجَبِينَ الطَّيَِبِينَ الطّاهِرينَ أجمَعينَ وتَغَمّدْنا بعَفوِكَ عَنّا. فَإلَيكَ عَجَّتِ الأصْواتُ بِصُنوفِ اللّغاتِ، فَاجْعَلْ لَنا اللّهُمّ في هَذِهِ العَشِيَّةِ نَصيباً مِن كُلِّ خَيرٍ تَقسِمُهُ بَينَ عِبادِكَ ونورٍ تَهدي بهِ ورَحْمَةٍ تَنشُرُها وبَرَكَةٍ نُتزِلُها وعافِيَةٍ تُجَلِّلُها ورِزقٍ تبَسُطُه يا أرْحَمَ الرّاحِمينَ. اللّهمّ اقْلِبنا في هَذا الوَقتِ مُنجِحينَ مُفلِحينَ مَبرورِينَ غانِمينَ ولا تجْعَلنا مِن القانِطينَ ولا تجْعَلنا مِن رَحمَتِكَ محْرومينَ ولا لِفَضْلِ ما نُؤَمِّلُهُ مِن عَطائِكَ قانِطينَ ولا تَرُدَّنا خائِبينَ ولا مِن بابِكَ مطْرودينَ يا أجْوَدَ الأجوَدينَ وأكْرَمَ الأكْرَمينَ إلَيكَ أقْبَلنا موقِنينَ ولِبَيتِكَ الحَرامِ آمِّينَ قاصِدينَ
�O Allah, we are turning our faces to You in this evening that You glorified and honored by Mohammad� Your Prophet, Messenger, Chosen one among Your creatures, Keeper of Your revelation, bearer of Your good tidings and warnings, and the bright light with whom You have blessed the Muslims and whom You have made mercy from people. Bless him and his household� the chosen ones, the pure, and the immaculate, and include us by means of Your reprieve. To You, voices of different tongues have directed. O Allah, give us in this evening a share of the blessings that you give to Your servants, light of guidance, mercy that You spread, blessings that You reveal, wellbeing that You extend, and abundant sustenance; You are certainly the Most Merciful of the merciful ones. O Allah, in this very time, include us with the successful, the thriving, the blessed, and the winning, and do not deprive us of Your mercy and of that for which we hope, and do not refute us with disappointment, and do not reject us from Your door. You are certainly the Most Generous of the generous ones and the Most Munificent of the munificent. We are directing towards You with full confidence and towards yours Sacred House with full intentions�1
The sun in Arafat set amid tears, moaning, and lamentations of Imam Hussein (a.s) and his companions who then set out for al-Mash'ar al-Haram.
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1 Part of Duaa of Imam Hussein on Day of Arafat
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GOOD TIDINGS
Imam Sajjad (a.s) says: إنّهُ لمّا وَقَفَ بِعَرَفَةَ وهَمَّتِ الشّمْسُ أنْ تَغيبَ، قالَ رسولُ اللهِ صلّى اللهُ عليهِ وآلِهِ: يا بلالُ، قُل لِلناّسِ فَليُنصِتوا. فَلمّا نَصَتوا قَالَ رسولُ اللهِ صلّى اللهُ عليهِ وآلِهِ: إنَّ رَبّكُم تَطَوَّلَ عَليكُم في هذا اليَومِ فَغَفَرَ لِمُحسِنِكُم وَشَفَّعَ مُحسِنَكُم في مُسيئِكُم، فَاَفيضوا مَغْفوراً لَكُم.�During the Farewell Hajj, the pilgrims' stay in Arafat was completed, the Holy Prophet (saw) said: �O Bilal, tell people to keep silent.� When they did, he (saw) said: �Today, Allah has favored you. He has forgiven the good ones among you and bestowed upon you the right of intercession for the bad ones. Hence, He forgave the bad ones with the intercession of the good ones. Now, set out and all of you have been forgiven by Allah's mercy.�1
Obviously the question of people's rights is another topic in a way that the consent and satisfaction of the owner of a right is prerequisite for God's forgiveness. Hence, all were forgiven �save those who violate people's rights, for God in Just and will take the right of the oppressed from the oppressors.�2
HALTING PLACE V: AL-MASH'AR AL-HARAM
فَإِذَا أَفَضْتُمْ مِنْ عَرَفَاتٍ فَاذْكُرُوا اللهَ عِنْدَ المَشْعَرِ الحَرامِ�So, when you hasten on from Arafat, then remember Allah near the Holy Monument� Al-Mash'ar al-Haram. (The Holy Quran; 2:198)�
Day of Arafat and staying in the plain of Arafat has come to an end and it is now the eve of the Eid ul-Adha.3 The pilgrims are prepared to move towards al-Mash'ar al-Haram. With the light of God's cognition upon all hearts, we now depart from Mount Mercy to stay overnight in al-Mash'ar al-Haram and attend another banquet of God.
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1 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p.258 hadith 24
2 This statement is quoted from al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p. 258 hadith 24
3 Eid ul-Adha �feast of sacrifice� is a festival marking the culmination of the annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca.
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It is praiseworthy to delay the Maghrib �evening- and Eshaa �night- (obligatory) Prayers to be performed in al-Mash'ar al-Haram, but because of too many pilgrims, slow traffic and the fear of default, the Maghrib and Eshaa Prayers are performed in Arafat. After having a light dinner, the pilgrims set out for al-Mash'ar. There is a tumult among the crowd, for every pilgrim is busy taking away the tent, packing his personal effects, and getting on into buses. So, great care is needed not to be distracted. Under such circumstances, Satan tries to keep man preoccupied so as to deprive him of his spiritual state. The pilgrims might get angry at getting a seat in front or back of the bus, the quantity of food, or carriage of the effects. Hence, they should be as tolerant, soft, and good-tempered as possible, for God says: وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللهُ، وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى
�Whatever good you do, Allah knows it; and make provision, for surely the provision is the guardian of oneself, and be careful of your duty to Me, O men of understanding. (The Holy Quran; 2:197)�
RESTRAIN YOUR ANGER
Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: مَا مِن عَبدٍ كَظَمَ غَيظاً إلا زادَهُ اللهُ عَزّ وجلّ عِزاً في الدّنيا والآخِرَةِ. وقَد قالَ اللهُ عزّ وجَلّ: وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ وَاللهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ.�Whoever restrains his anger Allah will increase his honor in this world and the Hereafter. Allah says: Those who restrain their anger and pardon men; and Allah loves the doers of good to others. (The Holy Quran; 3:134)�1
AL-MASH'AR OR THE MEETING PLACE OF
GOD'S LOVERS
Al-Mash'ar is also called 'al-Muzdalifah�the near place-' since it is very near to Mecca. There is a consensus among the Islamic scholars that the Maghrib and Eshaa Prayers should be offered together in al-Mash'ar. It is derived from the Arabic root 'sh-a-r' meaning 'motto' or 'sign'. It is a place for those seeking God, for no sign of mammonism or egotism is there. Al-Mash'ar is a dark plain with pebbles on it, which has accommodated over one million pilgrims who have taken refuge in God and supplications under the dim light of stars of a mysterious sky. It is truly Mash'ar �sign-, for nothing but God-seeking mottos can beGOD'S LOVERS
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1 See Usoul al-Kafi; vol. 2 p. 110 hadith 5
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heard. Eyes cannot see anywhere but the echo of supplications soothes man's soul.
WHAT A BLESSED PLACE AND WHAT AN
AUSPICIOUS NIGHT!
This night has no equal in man's life. It is dark but brighter than any day for men of heart. It is a night when the breeze of God's mercy is blowing and rain of His forgiveness is falling. It is a night when the doors of God's favor are opened to man. It is the even of the festival of sacrifice and the time of the King's public audience.AUSPICIOUS NIGHT!
Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: وإنِ استَطَعتَ أنْ تحيِيَ تلكَ الليلةِ فافْعلْ، فَإنّه بَلَغَنا أنَّ أبوابَ السّماءِ لا تُغلقُ تلكَ الليلةَ لأَصواتِ المؤمِنينَ لهُم دَوِيٌّ كَدَويِّ النّحلِ. يقولُ اللهُ جلّ ثناؤهُ: أَنا رَبُّكُم وأَنتُم عِبادِي أدَّيتُم حَقِّي وحقٌّ عَلَيَّ أن اَستَجيبَ لكُم. فَيَحُطُّ اللهُ تلكَ الليلةَ عّمَّن أرادَ أنْ يحُطَّ ذُنوبَهُ ويغْفِرُ لمَن أرادَ أن يغفرَ لهُ
�If you can keep vigil tonight, do it, for it has been reported to us that the gates of heaven are not closed to the believers tonight. Allah says: 'I am Your Lord and you are My servants. You have paid my due. Hence, it is incumbent on Me to answer your prayer.' Therefore, He removes the sins of whomever He wishes and forgives whom He wills.�1
NIGHT, TIME OF COMMUNION WITH GOD
Men of heart and insight know that night is opportune time for communion with God. Among blessings God has bestowed upon man is the blessing of night: وَجَعَلْنَا اللّيْلَ لِباساً�And We made the night to be a covering. (The Holy Quran; 78:10)� وَاللّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى
�I swear by the night when it draws a veil. (The Holy Quran; 92:1)�
Should the child-like playful man be left to himself, he is so much in love with the playing called the world and its ornaments that he will
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1 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p. 469 hadith 1
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ruin himself. But like a loving mother who puts her playful child to sleep so that the child's energy will not go into waste, God puts a covering on man so that his eyes will not see all these toys and will be quieted down. Unfortunately, this playful man has turned nights into days with artificial lights and spends his precious life on love for the world making himself physically and mentally exhausted and deprived of the aim of creation. In this world where most people are dead-hearted �and most of them do not understand,�1 there are men of heart who are source of human dignity and living evidence of man's superiority over animals, people who work during the day and keep vigil at night. وَأمّا النَّهارُ فَحُلَماءُ عُلَماءُ، بَرَرَةٌ أتْقِياءُ، قَدْ بَراهُمُ الخَوْفُ فَهُمْ أمْثالُ القِداحِ يَنظُرُ إلَيهِمُ النّاظِرُ فَيَحْسَبُهُم مَرْضى وَما بِالقَوْمِ مِن مَرَضٍ ، أو يَقولُ : قَدْ خولِطُوا، فَقَدْ خالَطَ القَومَ أمْرٌ عَظيمٌ.
أمّا اللَّيلُ فَصافُّونَ أَقْدامَهُم تالِينَ لأَجْزاءِ القُرْآنِ يُرَتِّلونَهُ تَرْتيلاً، يُحْزِنونَ بهِ أنفُسَهُم، وَيَسْتَبشِرونَ بهِ، وتَهيجُ أحْزانُهُم بُكاءً عَلى ذُنوبِهِم وَوَجَعِ كُلومِ جَوانحِهِم ، فَإذا مَرُّوا بآيَةٍ فيها تَخويفٌ أصْغَوا إلَيها بمَسامِعِ قُلوبِهِم وَأبْصارِهِم، فَاقْشَعَرَّتْ مِنها جُلودُهُم، وَوَجِلَت مِنها قُلوبُهُم، وَظَنّوا أنَّ صَهيلَ جَهَنَّمَ وَزَفيرَها وشَهِيقَها في اُصُولِ آذانِهِم، وَإِذا مَرُّوا بِآيَةٍ فِيها تَشْويقٌ رَكَنوا إلَيها طَمَعاً ، وَتَطَلّعَتْ أنفُسُهُم إلَيها شَوقاً، فَظَنُّوا أنَّها نُصْبَ أعْيُنِهِم، جاثِينَ عَلى أوساطِهِم يمَجِّدونَ جَبّاراً عَظيماً، مُفتَرِشينَ جِباهَهُم وَأَكُفَّهُم وأطْرافَ أقْدامِهِم وَرُكَبِهِم، تجَرِي دُمُوعُهُم عَلى خُدودِهِم، يَجْأَرونَ إلى اللهِ في فِكاكِ رِقابِهِم.
�During the day they are enduring, learned, virtuous, and God-fearing. Fear of Allah has made them thin like arrows, if anyone looks at them he believes they are sick, although they are not sick, and he says that they have gone mad. In fact, great concern has made them mad. During the night they are upstanding on their feet reading portions of the Quran and reciting it in a well-measured way, creating through it grief for themselves and seeking by it the care for their ailments. If they come across a verse creating
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1 The Holy Quran; 5:103
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eagerness for Paradise they pursue it avidly, and their spirit turns towards it eagerly, and they feel as if it is in from of them. And when they come across a verse which contains fear of Hell, they bend the ears of their hearts towards it, and feel as though the sound of Hell and its cries are reaching their ears. They bend themselves from their backs, prostrate themselves on their foreheads, their palms, their knees, and their toes, and beseech Allah, the Sublime for their deliverance.�1
Imam Ali (a.s) longed for the nights to come so that he could have communion with God. During his supplication, he would always say: آهٍ آهٍ مِن قِلَّةِ الزّاد وطُولِ الطّريقِ وبُعدِ السّفَر
�Alas! The provision is little, the way is long, the journey is far and the goal is hard to reach.�2
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1 See Nahjul Balagha; sermon 193: Qualities of the God-fearing
2 See Nahjul Balagha; maxim 77