Interpretations (shuru`h) of al-Sahifa al-Sajja`diya
The scholars devoted themselves to interpreting al-Sahifa al-Sajja`diya and wrote in this respect a group of valuable books which Shaykh Agha Buzurg al-Tahrani, the Shaykh of the researchers, has mentioned. The following is the text of what he has mentioned:
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1. Sharh al-Sahifa (the Interpretation of al-Sahifa) by Mirza Ibra`him b. Mohammed 'Ali al-Sabzwa`ri, surnamed Wathraq al-Hukama`', died in 1358 A. H. He interpreted the vague words and difficult sentences. This sharh (interpretation) is Persian and gnostic. It was printed in the year 1342 A. H.
2. Sharh al-Sahifa by Mirza Ibra`him b. Mir Mohammed Ma'su`m b. Mir Fasih b. Mir al-Husayn al-Tabrizi, al-Qazwini, died in the year 1149 A. H. His son al-Sayyid Hasan has mentioned it (Sharh al-Sahifa), in 'Kha`timat al-Ma'a`rijj' and said: "He interpreted some supplications of al-Sahifa."
3. Sharh al-Sahifa by Shaykh Taqi al-Din Ibrahim b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn b. Mohammed b. Sa`lih b. Isma`'il al-Kaf'ami, the author of al-Musba`h, died in the year 1195 A. H. He called it (Sharh al-Sahifa) 'al-Fawa`'id al-Tarifa'.
4. Sharh al-Sahifa by Mawla` Sharif Abi al-Hasan b. Mohammed Ta`hir b. 'Abd al-Hamid al-Fatu`ni, al-'Amili, al-Asfaha`ni, al-Gharawi, who died about the year 1140 A. H.
5. Sharh al-Sahifa, Persian, by some companions.
6. Sharh al-Sahifa by some companions; it is in al-Radawiya Library.
7. Sharh al-Sahifa by some companions; it is in al-Radawiya Library, its time is unknown.
8. Sharh al-Sahifa by the greatest Sayyid Mirza` Mohammed Ba`qir al-Husayn al-Fa`risi.
9. Sharh al-Sahifa, Persian, by 'Alla`ma Mohammed Ba`qir al-Majjlisi. He confined it to the most important and difficult matters.
10. Sharh al-Sahifa, Arabic, by 'Alla`ma Mohammed Ba`qir al-Majjlisi. He called it al-Fawa`'id al-Tarifa, but did not complete it.
11. Sharh al-Sahifa, Persian, by Badi' al-Harnadi. He called it 'Riya`d al-'Abidin'.
12. Sharh al-Sahifa by Mohammed Taqi b. Maqsu`d.
13.Sharh al-Sahifa, Persian, by an unknown author.
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14. Sharh al-Sahifa by al-Sayyid Jama`l al-Din al-Kawkaba`ni al-Yama`ni, from India, died in Baghda`d, in the year 1339 A. H.
15. Sharh al-Sahifa by one of the companions, his name is unknown, for there are missing pages in the beginning and end of the copy.
16. Sharh al-Sahifa by Habib Allah b. 'Ali Madad al-Ka`sha`ni, a copy of it is with his grandsons in Ka`sha`n.
17. Sharh al-Sahifa by Shaykh 'Abba`s b. Mohammed 'Ali al-Bala`ghi al-Najafi, author of Tanqih al-Maqa`l. He wrote it in Khurasa`n (Mashhad) when he went to visit al-Rida`, peace be on him. He began writing it in the beginning of (the month) Jama`di al-Ula`, in the Year 1105 and finished it in Rajab in the same year. He made a fair copy of it after a while when he returned to Asfaha`n.
18. Sharh al-Sahifa by Mirza` Hasan b. al-Mawla` 'Abd al-Razza`q al-La`hiji, author of Shams al-Yaqin. This interpretation is in three volumes, but it is incomplete.
19. Sharh al-Sahifa by Ta`jj al-Din Hasan b. Mohammed al-Asfaha`ni, the father of al-Fa`dil al-Hindi. It is in the Library of Abi al-Huda` al-Kalba`si, in Asfaha`n.
20. Sharh al-Sahifa, Persian, by the Researcher, Agha` Husayn al-Kha`nsa`ri, died in the year 1099 A. H.
21. Sharh al-Sahifa by Husayn b. Mawla` Hasan al-Jilani al-Asfaha`ni, died 1129 A. H.
22. Sharh al-Sahifa , just like commentary, by al-Sayyid Husayn b. al-Hasan b. Abi Ja'far Mohammed al-Mu`sawi al-Karki.
23. Sharh al-Sahifa , just like commentary, by Shaykh 'Izz al-Din al-Husayn b. 'Abd al-Samad al-Ha`rithi, al- 'Amili, the father of Shaykh al-Baha`'i, died in the year 984 A. H.
24. Sharh al-Sahifa by Khalil b. al-Gha`zi al-Qazwini, a copy of it was in the Library of al-Asfaha`ni, the Shaykh of al-Shari'a, in Najaf.
25. Sharh al-Sahifa by al-Sayyid Mohammed Rida` al-'Araji.
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26. Sharh al-Sahifa by Rida` 'Ali al-Ta`liqa`ni.
27. Sharh al-Sahifa by Mohammed Salim al-Ra`zi.
28. Sharh al-Sahifa , Persian, by Mohammed Sa`lih b. Mohammed Ba`qir al-Roghani al-Qazwini.
29. Sharh al-Sahifa, Arabic, by Mohammed Sa`lih b. Mohammed Ba`qir al-Roghani al-Qazwini.
30. Sharh al-Sahifa by Shaykh 'Abba`s b. Mohammed 'Ali b. Mohammed al-Bala`ghi al-Najafi.
31. Sharh al-Sahifa by al-Sayyid Sadr al-Din b. Mir Mohammed Sa`lih al-Tabataba`'i, the grandfather of the Sayyids who have been given the nick-name of al-Mudarrisi in Yazid.
32. Sharh al-Sahifa by Mufti Mir 'Abba`s al-Lakinhu`ri; it is in the Library of al-Sayyid Na`sir Husayn al-Kantu`ri, in Lakinhu`r.
33. Sharh al-Sahifa by Jama`l al-Sa`likin 'Abd al-Ba`qi al-Khatta`t al-Tabrizi; it is easy and detailed, according to the Sufi method, in this manner it has been mentioned in al-Riya`d.
34. Sharh al-Sahifa by 'Abd al-Ghaffa`r al-Rashti, who belonged to the time of Sha`h 'Abba`s.
35. Sharh al-Sahifa by Ibn Mifta`h Abi al-Hasan 'Abd Allah b. Abi al-Qa`sim b. Mifta`h al-Zaydi al-Yama`ni.
36. Sharh al-Sahifa by 'Abd Allah Afandi, the author of 'Riya`d al-'Ulama`''.
37. Sharh al-Sahifa by Mohammed Ta`hir b. al-Husayn al-Shira`zi, lived in Qum.
38. Sharh al-Sahifa by Sadr al-Din 'Ali b. Niza`m al-Din Ahmed al-Ashtaki al-Shira`zi, better known as al-Medani, died 1120 A. H. He called it 'Riya`d al-Sa`likin'.
39. Sharh al-Sahifa by al-Sayyid Sharaf al-Din 'Ali b. Hujjat Allah al-Sholista`ni al-Husayni al-Taba`taba`'i.
40. Sharh al-Sahifa by Nu`r al-Din Abi al-Hasan b. 'Abd al-'Al al-Karki, died 940 A. H.
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41. Sharh al-Sahifa, Persian, by Abi al-Hasan 'Ali b. al-Hasan al-Zawa`ri.
42. Sharh al-Sahifa by Shaykh 'Ali b. Shaykh Zayn al-'Abidin, one of the grandsons of the second martyr. It is an easy interpretation, just like the Interpretation of Majjma' al-Baya`n, for he first mentioned the supplication, then language, then parsing, and then meaning.
43. Sharh al-Sahifa by Shaykh 'Ali b. Shaykh Abi Ja'far, who was also one of the grandsons of the Second Martyr, Zayn al-Din. A copy of this interpretation (sharh) is in the Library of al-Sayyid Mohammed al-Mashka`t, in Tehran.
44. Sharh al-Sahifa by Mohammed 'Ali b. Nusayr al-Jaha`r dahi al-Rashti al-Najafi, died in the year 1334 A. H. This interpretation, written in Persian, is in a big volume, titled 'al-Ha`shiya'.
45. Sharh al-Sahifa by Mohammed 'Ali b. al-Ha`jj Sulayma`n al-Jashi al-Bahra`ni al-Khatti. He interpreted the words and vague sentences, but he did not complete it.
46. Sharh al-Sahifa by Fatih Allah al-Khatta`t al-Su`fi. In it he discussed the method of the Sufis.
47. Sharh al-Sahifa by Shaykh Fakhr al-Din al-Turayhi al-Najafi, died in the year 1085. A. H. He called it 'al-Nukta al-Latifa'.
48. Sharh al-Sahifa by Mirza` Qa`di. He interpreted four supplications of al-Sahifa al-Sajja`diya, and called this interpretation 'al-Tuhfa al-Radawiya'.
49. Sharh al-Sahifa by an unknown author, for some pages in the beginning and end of this interpretation are missing. Shaykh Mehdi Sharaf al-Din, in Tustar, had a copy of it.
50. Sharh al-Sahifa by al-Sayyid Muhsin b. Qa`sim b. Isha`q al-Dagha`ni al-Zaydi, lived in the 13th century.
51. Sharh al-Sahifa by al-Sayyid Muhsin b. Ahmed al-Sha`mi al-Husayni al-Yama`ni al-Zaydi, died in the year 1251 A. H. Ibn Ziya`da mentioned this interpretation in his manuscript called 'Nashir al-'Urf'.
52. Sharh al-Sahifa by Mohammed b. Mohammed Rida`
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al-Mashhadi, the author of 'Kanz al-Daqa`'iq. The interpretation is in four volumes. Al-Sayyid Shaha`b al-Din al-Tabrizi, who lived in Qum, had a copy of this interpretation.
53. Sharh al-Sahifa by al-Sayyid Afsah al-Din Mohammed al-Shira`zi, the author of 'al-Mawa`hib al-Ila`hiya' on the Interpretation of 'Ali's Nahjj al-Bala`gha. Al-Sayyid Shaha`b al-Din mentioned this Sharh (interpretation) in the introduction he wrote to the printed Sahifa (of al-Sajja`d).
54. Sharh al-Sahifa by Mohammed, better known as 'Abd al-Ba`qi. In it he mentioned the words of al-Sahifa.
55. Sharh al-Sahifa by Shaykh Abi Ja'far Mohammed b. Jama`l al-Din Abi Mansu`r al-Hasan, son of the second martyr, may Allah have mercy on him, died in the year 1030 A. H.
56. Sharh al-Sahifa by Mohammed b. al-Husayn b. 'Abd al-Samad al-Ha`rithi al-'Amili, died 1030. A. H. He called this sharh 'Hada`'iq al-Sa`lihin'; it is other than his other interpretation, which is just like commentary.
57. Sharh al-Sahifa , a brief Persian interpretation, by Qutub al-Din Mohammed b. 'Ali al-La`hiji al-Daylami. A copy of this sharh is in the Library of al-Sayyid Jala`l al-Din al-Muhaddith, in Tehran.
58. Sharh al-Sahifa by al-Sayyid Mohammed b. Haydar al-Husayni al-Taba`taba`'i al-Najafi, died in the year 1099 A. H. He was among the scholars of the time of Shah Safi, and one of the students of Shaykh al-Baha`'i, and the teacher of 'Alla`ma al-Majjlisi.
59. Sharh al-Sahifa by Mohammed by Mohammed, better known as Shah Mohammed al-Istihba`na`ti, al-Shira`zi. He called this sharh 'Riya`d al-'Arifin'.
60. Sharh al-Sahifa or commentary on it by al-Muhaddith (traditionalist) Mohammed b. Shah Murtada` al-Ka`sha`ni, better known as al-Mawla` Muhsin al-Fayd, died in the year 1091 A. H. This Sharh has been printed.
61. Sharh al-Sahifa by Shaykh Abi Ja'far Mohammed b. Mansu`r b. Ahmed, son of the second martyr.
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62. Sharh al-Sahifa by the Shaykh of Isla`m and Muslims, the splendor of the creed and religion, Mohammed b. al-Husayn b. 'Abd al-Samad al-Ha`rithi, al-'Amili, died in the year 1030 A. H. He called this sharh 'Hada`'iq al-Sa`lhin'.
1
63. Sharh al-Sahifa by al-Muhaddith (traditionalist) al-Sayyid Ni'mat Allah b. 'Abd Allah al-Musawi, al-Tustari, al-Jaza`'ri, died in the year 1112. He called this sharh 'Nu`r al-Anwa`r', and it was printed in the year 1316. A. H.
64. Sharh al-Sahifa by al-Sayyid Ni'mat Allah Jaza`'ri; it is other than 'Nu`r al-Anwa`r'; rather it is bigger and older than it.
65. Sharh al-Sahifa, Persian, by al-Fa`dil Ha`di b. al-Mawla` Mohammed Sa`lih b. Ahmed al-Ma`zindara`ni.
66. Sharh al-Sahifa by Shaykh Ya'qu`b b. Ibra`him al-Bakhtiya`ri al-Hawzi, died in the year 1050 A. H. Al-Sayyid Hasan al-Sadr said: "I have seen it (the interpretation) written in his holy script."
With this we will end what the great researcher, Shaykh Agha` Bu`zurg al-Tahra`ni, has mentioned concerning the interpretation (sharh) of al-Sahifa al-Sajja`diya.
2After this two interpretations of al-Sahifa al-Sajja`diya were printed. They are:
67. Sharh al-Sahifa by Shaykh Mohammed Jawa`d Mughniya, printed in Beirut.
68. Sharh al-Sahifa by His Eminence al-Hujja al-Sayyid al-Shira`zi, printed in the Sacred City of Karbala`'. These are some interpretations of al-Sahifa al-Sajja`diya. These interpretations show that the religious scholars take care of it throughout times, for they find therein treasures of knowledge, wisdom, Gnosticism, and they regard it as part of the ideological wealth after the Holy Qur'a`n, and 'Ali's Nahjj al-Bala`gha.
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1 See Sharh al-Sahïfa no. 56.
2 Al-Dharï'a fï Tasa`nïf al-Shï'a, vol. 13, pp. 354-359.
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Supplementary Versions
Al-Sahifa al-Sajja`diya, which was narrated on the authority of Ima`m Abi Ja'far (peace be on him) and his brother the great martyr Zayd b. 'Ali (peace be on him), includes fifty-three supplications, but if some of these supplications are omitted, the Sahifa will be incomplete, as it has been mentioned in its introduction, hence the scholars devoted themselves to looking for the rest of the supplications, and they have found a group of them and added them to Al-Sahifa al-Sajja`diya. The following is the name of the supplementary versions along with the names of their authors:
Al-Sahifa al-Ula` (the First Sahifa of al-Sajja`d): It was collected by al-Muhaddith (the traditionalist) al-Hurr al-'Amily, author of Wasa`'il al-Shi'a, died in the year 1104 A. H. He brought it forth from the reliable sources and wrote in the end of it: "The servant (of Allah), Mohammed b. al-Husayn b. 'Ali b. Mohammed al-Hurr al-'Amili, may Allah pardon him, said: 'This is what I have concluded concerning al-Sahifa al-Ka`mila.'"
1The Sahifa contains sixty-three supplications.
Al-Sahifa al-Tha`niya (the Second Sahifa of al-Sajja`d): It was collected by al-Fa`dil 'Abd Allah b. Mirza` 'I#sa` b. Mohammed b. Sa`lih al-Asfaha`ni, known as Afandi, author of 'Riya`d al-'Ulama`''. In it he mentioned what escaped al-Hurr al-'Amili. It was engraved on stone.
2
Al-Sahifa al-Tha`litha (the Third Sahifa of al-Sajja`d): It was gathered by Mirza` Husayn al-Nu`ri. He mentioned what escaped Mirza` 'Abd Allah, the one who collected al-Sahifa al-Tha`niya. He collected therein seventy-seven supplications, which has not been mentioned in the other versions.
3
Al-Sahifa al-Ra`bi'a (the Fourth Sahifa of al-Sajja`d): It was
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1 Ibid., vol. 15, p. 18. Rouda`t al-Jina`n, vol. 7, p. 97.
2 A'ya`n al-Shï'a, 4/Q1/500.
3 Al-Dharï'a fï Tasa`nïf al-Shï'a, vol. 15, p. 19.
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collected by the great researcher al-Sayyid Muhsin al-'Amili. He mentioned what escaped (the authors) of the previous versions. The total number of its supplications is 182, hence he added only 52 supplications.
1
Al-Sahifa al-Kha`misa (the Fifth Sahifa of al-Sajja`d): It was gathered by Shaykh Mohammed Sa`lih b. Mirza` Fadl Allah al-Ma`zindara`ni al-Ha`'iri.
2
Supplementary Supplications
I (the author) have found some supplications which have not been written in the original Sahifa of al-Sajja`d, and these supplications are as follows:
His Supplication for Good Mindedness
One of his holy supplications is this: "O Allah, we seek refuge in You from that You make good my outward conduct in the flashing eyes and make ill my mindedness. O Allah, just as I did evil and You were kind to me. If I return, You return to me.
3"
The Ima`m, peace be on him, asked Allah, the Exalted, to make good his inner self. He sought refuge in Him from that He might make good his outward conduct before the people with out making good his inner self. Also he asked Him to show forgiveness and good pleasure toward him if he returned to one of his psychological desires.
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1 Ibid.
2 Ibid.
3 Safwat al-Safwa, vol. 2, p. 52. Durrar al-Abka`r, p. 70. Siyar 'Ala`m al-Nubala`', vol. 4, p. 237. Al-'Aqd al-Farïd, vol. 3, p. 155. He increased it: “And provide me with helping those whom provision You have decreased through the plentiful (provision You have provided) me with.”
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His Supplication when Afflicted by
Neediness
The Ima`m, peace be on him, would supplicate with this holy supplication when neediness befell him or he was afraid of a certain affair. He advised his children to supplicate Allah with it after a four-ruk'a or two-ruk'a prayer. The following is its text:
"O Place of every complaint! O Hearer of every secret conversation! O Healer of every affliction! O He who knows all hidden thinks! O He who removes every tribulation! I ask You with the supplication of one whose indigence is extreme, whose strength has become weak, whose force has decreased; the asking of the stranger, the drowned one, and the poor one whose neediness none removes except You, O Most Merciful of the merciful! There is no god but You! I was among the wrongful!"
He would say: "Allah relieves all those who supplicate Him with this supplication.
1" This supplication represents the Ima`m's clinging and devotion to Allah, for he was sure that only Allah had the power to remove poverty and neediness; there was none had power to change man's misery and unhappiness except Allah, the most High.
His Supplication when Cleaved to Allah
This is one of his holy supplications which were narrated on his authority by Zayd b. Aslam. It is as follows: "O Allah, entrust me not to my own self, for I am incapable of it! Entrust me not to the creatures, for they will disparage me!
2"
The Ima`m, peace be on him, asked Allah, the Most High not to entrust him to his own soul, for soul commands man to do evil, nor to the creatures, for they would disparage and disdain him. As for entrusting to Allah, it brings about success in this world and the next.
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1 Akhba`r al-Diwa`l, p. 109. Ibn al-Sabba`gh, Al-Fusu`l al-Muhimma, p. 192.
2 Al-Dhahabi, Ta`rikh al-Isla`m, vol. 2, p. 266. Siyar 'Ala`m al-Nubala`', vol. 4, p. 23. Ta`rikh Dimashaq, vol. 36, p. 152.
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His Supplication for Forgiveness and Repentance
He, peace be on him, would supplicate Allah to forgive him and to accept his repentance, saying: "O He remembering whom brings honor to those who remember! O He thanking whom brings triumph to those who give thanks! O He obeying whom brings deliverance to those who obey! Bless Mohammed and his Household, and divert our hearts through remembering You from every act of remembrance, our tongues through thanking You from every act of thanksgiving, our limbs through obeying You from every act of obedience! If You have ordained for us idleness from these occupation, make it an idleness of safety, within which no ill consequence visits us or weariness overtakes us! Then the writers of evil deeds may depart from us with a page empty of the mention of our evil deeds, and the writers of good deeds may turn away from us happy with the good deeds of ours which they have written. And when the days of our life have passed by, the terms of our lifetimes have elapsed, and Your call, which must come and be answered, summons us forth, then bless Mohammed and his Household and make the outcome of what the writers of our works count against us an accepted repentance, which afterwards gave us no rest in a sin we committed or an act of disobeying that we performed! Remove not from us any covering with which You have covered over the heads of the witnesses on the day when the records of Your servants are tried! Verily You are Merciful to him who calls upon You!
1"
The Ima`m, peace be on him, pled to Allah, the Exalted, asking Him to employ his heart, his tongue, and all his limbs in remembering and worshipping Him and to make the outcome of his life an accepted repentance.
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1 Al-Qutb al-Ra`wandi, Da'wa`t (manuscript), p. 49.
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His Supplication in calling down blessings
upon the Prophet
This is one of his holy supplications. He would supplicate with it to call down blessings upon his grandfather, the Greatest Prophet, may Allah bless him and his Household. The following is its text:
"O Lasting! O Everlasting! O Living! O Self-subsistent! O Reliever of worry! O Remover of grief! O He who sent the messengers! O He who keeps His word! Bless Mohammed and Mohammed's Household, and do with me what is worthy of You!
1"
His Supplication when his Supplication
accepted
The Ima`m, peace be on him, would supplicate with this supplication when his supplication was accepted: "O Allah, the request has come to nothing, the force has failed except with You, the ways have become narrow, the requests have stopped, the desires have become difficult, the paths are cut off except (those lead) to You, hopes passed, expectations are cut off except (those) from You, trust has become unsuccessful and opinions have become disappointed except in You.
"O Allah, I find the ways of requests lead to You, and the fountains of hope are open for You! I know that You respond to him who supplicates You, help him who calls upon You, he who seeks You is close to You, the whispered prayer of a servant is not veiled from Your hearing, that longing for Your munificence, satisfaction with Your promise, and pleasure with Your guarantee are a recompense for the deprivation of the misers, an alternative to what is in the hands of the alone possessors, and avoidance of the deception
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1 Al-Kaf'ami, al-Junnah al-Wa`qiya and al-Janna al-Ba`qiya (two manuscripts) al-Sayyid al-Hakïm's Library, no. 1272.
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of the deceitful. There is no god but You, so forgive me my past sins, safeguard me during my remaining span, and open for me the doors to Your mercy and munificence, which You do not shut (in the faces of) Your friends and Your chosen ones, O Most Merciful of the merciful!
1"
The Ima`m, peace be on him, clung to Allah, sought protection in Him, and devoted himself to Him. He set his desires, hopes and expectations on Him, for he, peace be on him, thought that relying on other than Allah was part of feebleness and weakness, for such relying was adopting imaginations and looking for mirage.
His Supplication when Food placed and
taken
He, peace be on him, would supplicate with this supplication when food was placed before him: "O Allah, this is of Your kindness and bounty and giving. So make it blessed for us, make us swallow it easily, and provide us with another (food) when we have eaten it. There may be someone who is in need of it. You have provided (us with food), so You have done well. O Allah, place us among the thankful."
When the food was taken from him, he would supplicate with this supplication: "Praise belongs to Allah who carries us on land and in see, provides us with agreeable things, and makes us surpass many of His creatures with a surpass.
2"
The Ima`m, peace be on him, always occupied himself with remembering Allah. He never flagged (in glorifying Him), nor did he abandon Him.
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1 Al-Qutb al-Ra`wandi, Da'wa`t, p. 27.
2 Furu`' al-Ka`fi, vol. 6, p. 294.
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His Supplication in Entrusting his Affairs to
Allah
This is one of his great supplications: "In the name of Allah, by Allah, in the way of Allah, by Allah, from Allah, to Allah, in the creed of Allah's Messenger, may Allah bless him and his Household. O Allah, I have submitted my own soul to You, entrusted my affairs to You, turned my face toward You, leant my back against You. O Allah, safeguard me with the safeguarding of faith from before me and behind me, from my right hand and my left hand, from above me and below me. Repel from me (the evil) through Your force and Your strength. There is neither force nor strength save in Allah, the Most High, the Great!
1"
The Ima`m, peace be on him, submitted his own self to Allah, entrusted his affairs to Him, sought protection in Him, clung to His cord, and was sure that neither force nor strength save in Him.
His Supplication in Seeking Refuge from
Allah's Wrath
He, peace be on him, would supplicate with this supplication in seeking refuge from the wrath of Allah, the Exalted: "O Allah, what am I and You become angry with me? By Your mightiness, my good deeds do not adorn Your kingdom, nor do my evil deeds make it ugly! My riches does not decrease Your treasures, nor does my poverty increase them!
2"
His Supplication when went to Bed
He, peace be on him, would supplicate with this supplication when he went to bed: "O Allah, You are the First without anything before You, You are the Outward without anything above You, You
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1 Al-Himyari, Qurb al-Isna`d, p. 3.
2 Biha`r al-Anwa`r, vol. 46, p. 101.
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are the Inward without anything below You, and You are the Last without anything after You. O Allah! O Lord of the seven heavens and seven earths! O Lord of the Torah, the Bible, the Zabu`r (David's Psalms), and the Holy Qur'a`n! I seek refuge in You from every beast whose forelock is in Your hand! Verily, You are on a straight path!
1"
His Supplication in Repelling Fearful Things
He, peace be on him, would supplicate with this supplication to drive fearful things away: "O Allah, nothing repels Your wrath but Your clemency, nothing repels Your displeasure but Your pardon, nothing grants sanctuary from Your punishment but Your mercy, and nothing will deliver me from You except pleading to You before You. So give me, my Allah, relief by means of the power through which You revive the dead lands and bring the souls of servants to life. Destroy me not, my Allah, and give me the knowledge of Your response (to my supplication)! Raise me up, push me not down, help me, provide me with (provision), and make me well from blights.
"My Allah, if You rise me up, who is there to push me down? If You push me down, who is there to raise me up? But I know that there is no wrong in Your decree and no hurry in Your vengeance. He alone hurries who fears to miss, and only the weak needs to wrong. But You are exalted, My Allah, high indeed above all that!
"Make me not the target of affliction nor the object of Your vengeance, respite me, comfort me, release me from my stumble, and afflict me not with an affliction in the wake of an affliction, for You have seen my frailty, the paucity of my stratagems. So, my lord, make me patient, for I am weak, pleading to You! I seek refuge in You form You! I seek sanctuary in You from every affliction, so give me sanctuary! I cover myself over with You, so cover me over, my Lord, of what I am afraid and careful! You are the Great One, the Greatest
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1 Ibn Ta`wus, Fala`h al-Sa`'il.
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of the great! O Allah, I cover myself with You, so bless Mohammed and his pure Household!
1"
These are some supplementary of al-Sahifa al-Sajja`diya. Whoever wants more on them, let him see the five supplementary supplications in the Sahifa, al-Kaf'mi's Musba`h, al-Tu`si's Musba`h, Muhajj al-Da'awa`t, and other supplication books.
Wonderful Examples of the Sahifa
As long as we are busy speaking about the Sahifa of al-Sajja`d, we will mention some of its valuable supplications, which have surpassed art thoughts. They are as follows:
His Supplication in Calling down Blessings
upon the Prophet
The Ima`m, peace be on him, would supplicate with this supplication. He has mentioned therein the efforts of his grandfather, the Greatest Messenger, may Allah bless him and his Household, and the persecutions he faced in the way of the Islamic Message and raising Allah's Word in the earth. The following is its text:
"Praise belongs to Allah, who was kind to us through Mohammed (Allah bless him and his Household) to the exclusion of past communities and bygone generations, displaying thereby His power, which nothing can render incapable, though it be great, and nothing can escape, though it be subtle. He sealed through us all He created, appointed us witnesses over those who deny, and increased us by His kindness over those who are few. O Allah, bless Mohammed, entrusted by You with Your revelation, distinguished by You among Your creatures, devoted to You among Your servants, the Ima`m of mercy, the leader of good, the key to blessing, who wearied his soul for Your affairs, exposed his body to detested things for Your sake, showed open enmity toward his next of kin by summoning to You,
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1 Al-Hurr al-'Amili, Al-Sahifa al-Sajja`diya, pp. 159-160.
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fought against his family for Your good pleasure, cut the ties of the womb in giving life to Your religion, sent far those close because of their denial, brought near those far because of their response to You, showed friendship to the most distant for Your sake, displayed enmity toward the nearest for Your sake, made his soul persevere in delivering Your message, tired it in summoning to Your creed, busied it in counseling those worthy of Your summons, migrated to the land of exile and the place of remoteness from home of his saddlebags, the walkway of his feet, the ground of his birth, and the intimate abode of his soul, desiring to exalt Your religion and seeking help against those who disbelieved in You until what he attempted against Your enemies went well with him and what he arranged for Your friends was accomplished. He rose up against them seeking victory through Your aid, becoming strong in spite of his weakness with Your help. He fought against them in the center of their cities and attacked them in the midst of their dwellings, until Your command prevailed, and Your word rose up, though the idolaters were averse. O Allah, so raise him, because of his labors for Your sake, to the highest degree of Your Garden, that none may equal him in station, none may match him in level, and no angel brought nigh or prophet sent out may parallel him in Your sight. And inform him concerning his Household the pure and his community the faithful of an excellent intercession, greater than what You have promised him! O Keeper of promises! O Faithful to Your word! O He who changes evil deeds into manifold good deeds! You are of bounty abounding!
1"
The Ima`m, peace be on him, presented what his grandfather, the Greatest Prophet, may Allah bless him and his Household suffered, such as hardships, difficulties in the way of spreading Islam and raising up the Word of the Unity of Allah. An example of these hardships is that the idolaters from among his blood relations and people unanimously agreed on fighting against him, crushing his message, and declaring war against him, hence the Messenger, may
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1 Al-Sahifa al-Sajja`diya, Supplication no. 2.
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Allah bless him and his Household, abandoned them and brought near those far (like 'Amma`r b. Ya`sir, Salma`n al-Fa`risi, Abi Dharr(who were the best of all the people in clinging to him and sacrificing their lives for him. Another example of the hardships the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his Household, faced was his emigration to al-Ta`'if and Medina (Yathrib). There he faced various kinds of difficulties and hardships, but Allah, the Exalted helped and supported him, when He manifested his affair and exalted his importance. Hence the Messenger was able to fight against the unbelievers in the center of their cities and spread Islam among them.
