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OTHER AAMAL OF THE FIRST NIGHT
Fourth: It is recommended for husbands to have sexual intercourse with their wives at this night. In fact, it is discommended to have sexual intercourse with wives at the first night of the Arabic months; rather, this exception is one of the peculiarities of the holy month of Ramadan.
Fifth: It is highly advisable to bathe oneself at this night. A Hadith reads that if one washes himself at the first night of Ramadan, one will be secured against prurigo up to the next Ramadan.
Sixth: It is recommended to bathe oneself in a flowing river and to pour on the head thirty handfuls of water so as to be mentally pure up to the next Ramadan.
Seventh: It is recommended to visit the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) so that sins will be forgiven and the like of the reward of those who undertake Hajj and ‘Umrah in that year will be gained.
Eighth: It is recommended, at this night, to begin with the one thousand unit prayer that has been previously mentioned at the end of the second part of the rites of Ramadan.
Ninth: It is recommended to offer a two unit prayer reciting in each unit Surah al-Faatehah and Surah al-An’am (No. 6) and to pray Almighty Allah for security against apprehensions and ailments.
Tenth: It is recommended to say the aforementioned supplicatory prayer that begins with:
اَللّٰـهُمَّ اِنَّ هٰذَا الشَّهْرَ الْمُبَارَكَ الَّذِيْ اُنْزِلَ فِيْهِ الْقُرْآنُ …
O Allah, this is the blessed month wherein the Holy Qur'an was revealed...
This supplicatory prayer has been mentioned within the rites of the last night of Sha’ban.
Eleventh: It is recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer while raising the hands after the Maghrib Prayer. The supplicatory prayer has been reported in al-Iqbal from Imam Muhammad and Jawad al-Taqi(a.s.):
اَللّٰهُمَّ يَا مَنْ يَمْلِكُ التَّدْبِيْرَ
O Allah Who controls the management of all affairs
وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ،
and He has power over all things!
يَا مَنْ يَعْلَمُ خَآئِنَةَ الْاَعْيُنِ
O He Who knows the stealth of looks,
وَمَا تُخْفِيْ الصُّدُوْرِ وَتُجِنُّ الضَّمِيْرُ
that which breasts conceal, and that which selves hide
وَهُوَ اللَّطِيْفُ الْخَبِيْرُ،
and He is the Knower of subtle, the Aware!
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا مِمَّنْ نَوٰى فَعَمِلَ،
O Allah, (please do) include us with those who intend and carried out their intentions,
وَلَا تَجْعَلْنَا مِمَّنْ شَقِيَ فَكَسِلَ،
and do not include us with those who are unhappy due to their laziness
وَلَا مِمَّنْ هُوَ عَلٰى غَيْرِ عَمَلِ يَتَّكِلُ،
or with those who depend upon unreal hopes.
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَحِّحْ اَبْدَانَنَا مِنَ الْعِلَلِ،
O Allah, (please do) cure our bodies from ailments
وَاَعِنَّا عَلٰى مَا افْتَرَضْتَ عَلَيْنَا مِنَ الْعَمَلِ،
and help us carry out the deeds You have made incumbent upon us to do
حَتّٰى يَنْقَضِيَ عَنَّا شَهْرُكَ هَذَا وَقَدْ اَدَّيْنَا مَفْرُوْضَكَ فِيْهِ عَلَيْنَا،
so that when this month, which is Your month, elapses, we shall have carried out all the duties that You have made obligatory upon us to do.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اَعِنَّا عَلٰى صِيَامِهِ،
O Allah, (please do) help us observe fasting in this month,
وَوَفِّقْنَا لِقِيَامِهِ،
guide us to practice the acts of worship (perfectly),
وَنَشِّطْنَا فِيْهِ لِلصَّلَاةِ،
grant us vigor to offer prayers,
وَلَا تَحْجُبْنَا مِنَ الْقِرَاۤءَةِ،
do not preclude us from reciting (the Holy Qur'an),
وَسَهِّلْ لَنَا فِيْهِ اِيْتَاۤءَ الزَّكَاةِ،
and make easy for us to give alms.
اَللّٰهُمَّ لَا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْنَا وَصَبًا وَلَا تَعَبًا
O Allah, (please) do not inflict us with fatigue, tiredness,
وَلَا سَقَمًا وَلَا عَطَبًا،
ailment, or injury.
اَللّٰهُمَّ ارْزُقْنَا الْاِفْطَارَ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ الْحَلَالِ،
O Allah, (please do) grant us the food with which we break our fasting from Your sustenance that is legally gotten.
اَللّٰهُمَّ سَهِّلْ لَنَا فِيْهِ مَا قَسَمْتَهُ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ،
O Allah, (please do) make easy for us the gaining of Your sustenance that You decide for us,
وَيَسِّرْ مَا قَدَّرْتَهُ مِنْ اَمْرِكَ،
facilitate for us gaining that which You decide for us,
وَاجْعَلْهُ حَلَالًا طَيِّبًا نَقِيًّا مِنَ الْاٰثَامِ
and make it pure, empty of sins,
خَالِصًا مِنَ الْاٰصَارِ وَالْاَجْرَامِ،
and free from offenses and flaws.
اَللّٰهُمَّ لَا تُطْعِمْنَا اِلَّا طَيِّبًا غَيْرَ خَبِيْثٍ وَلَا حَرَامٍ،
O Allah, (please) do not feed us except the good that is neither bad nor forbidden.
وَاجْعَلْ رِزْقَكَ لَنَا حَلَالًا لَا يَشُوْبُهُ دَنَسٌ وَلَا اَسْقَامٌ
(Please do) let the sustenance that You decide for us be legal, carrying neither filth nor diseases.
يَا مَنْ عِلْمُهُ بِالسِّرِّ كَعِلْمِهِ بِالْاِعْلَانِ،
O He Who knows the secret in the same was as He knows the public!
يَا مُتَفَضِّلًا عَلٰى عِبادِهِ بِالْاِحْسَانِ،
O He Who confers upon His servants with benevolence!
يَا مَنْ هُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ
O He Who has power over all things
وَبِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيْمٌ خَبِيْرٌ
and has acquaintance with all things!
اَلْهِمْنَا ذِكْرَكَ
(Please do) bestow upon us with (ceaseless) reference to You,
وَجَنِّبْنَا عُسْرَكَ،
keep us away Your difficulty,
وَاَنِلْنَا يُسْرَكَ،
make us obtain Your ease,
وَاَهْدِنَا لِلرَّشَادِ،
guide us to the right path,
وَوَفِّقْنَا لِلسَّدَادِ،
lead us to righteousness,
وَاعْصِمْنَا مِنَ الْبَلَايَا،
protect us against misfortunes,
وَصُنَّا مِنَ الْاَوْزَارِ وَالْخَطَايَا،
and safeguard us against sins and faults.
يَا مَنْ لَا يَغْفِرُ عَظِيْمَ الذُّنُوْبِ غَيْرُهُ،
O He save Whom none forgives the grave sins
وَلَا يَكْشِفُ السُّوٓءَ اِلَّا هُوَ،
and none can relieve from hardships!
يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ،
O most Merciful of all those who show mercy
وَاَكْرَمَ الْاََكْرَمِيْنَ،
and most Generous of all those who show generosity!
صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَاَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ الطَّيِّبِيْنَ،
(Please do) send blessings to Muhammad and his Household the pure
وَاجْعَلْ صِيَامَنَا مَقْبُوْلًا،
and decide our fasting to be acceptable
وَبِالْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوٰى مَوْصُوْلًا،
and connected to piety and godliness.
وَكَذٰلِكَ فَاجْعَلْ سَعْيَنَا مَشْكُوْرًا
Similarly, (please do) decide our efforts to be praiseworthy,
وَقِيَامَنَا مَبْرُوْرًا،
our acts of worship admissible,
وَقُرْاٰنَنَا مَرْفُوْعًا،
our reciting of the Qur'an raised (to the heavens),
وَدُعَاۤءَنَا مَسْمُوْعًا،
and our supplications responded.
وَاهْدِنَا لِلْحُسْنٰى،
(Please do) guide us to the most excellent way,
وَجَنِّبْنَا الْعُسْرٰى،
save us from difficulties,
وَيَسِّرْنَا لِلْيُسْرٰى،
facilitate for us the easy end,
وَاَعِلْ لَنَا الدَّرَجَاتِ،
elevate our ranks,
وَضَاعِفْ لَنَا الْحَسَنَاتِ،
double the rewards for our good deeds,
وَاقْبَلْ مِنَّا الصَّوْمَ وَالصَّلَاةَ،
accept our fasting and prayers,
واسْمَعْ مِنَّا الدَّعَوَاتِ،
react to our supplications,
وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا الْخَطِيْئَاتِ،
forgive our sins,
وَتَجَاوَزْ عَنَّا السَّيِّئَاتِ،
overlook our wrongdoings,
وَاجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الْعَامِلِيْنَ الْفَاۤئِزِيْنَ،
make us of the successful worshippers,
وَلَا تَجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَغْضُوْبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّآلِّيْنَ،
and do not include us with those who earn Your anger nor of those who go astray
حَتّٰى يَنْقَضِيَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ عَنَّا
so that when the month of Ramadan elapses,
وَقَدْ قَبِلْتَ فِيْهِ صِيَامَنَا وَقِيَامَنَا،
You shall have accepted our fasting and acts of worship,
وَزَكَّيْتَ فِيْهِ اَعْمَالَنَا،
blessed our deeds,
وَغَفَرْتَ فِيْهِ ذُنُوْبَنَا،
forgiven our sins,
وَاَجْزَلْتَ فِيْهِ مِنْ كُلِّ خَيْرٍ نَصِيْبَنَا،
and doubled our shares from all good things.
فَاِنَّكَ الْاِلـٰهُ الْمُجِيْبُ،
Verily, You are the God Who responds,
وَالرَّبُّ الْقَرِيْبُ،
the Lord Who is Nigh,
وَاَنْتَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُحِيْطٌ۔
and You encompass all things.
Twelfth: It is recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer that is reported from Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) as is mentioned in the book of al-Iqbal:
اَللّٰہُمَّ رَبَّ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ،
O Allah, the Lord of the month of Ramadan
مُنَزِّلَ الْقُرْاٰنِ،
and the Revealer of the Qur'an.
هٰذَا شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ
This is the month of Ramadan
الَّذِيْ اَنْزَلْتَ فِيْهِ الْقُرْاٰنَ،
in which You revealed the Qur'an
وَاَنْزَلْتَ فِيْهِ اٰيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدٰى وَالْفُرْقَانِ،
and revealed therein chapters of true guidance and distinction (between the right and the wrong).
اَللّٰهُمَّ ارْزُقْنَا صِيَامَهُ،
O Allah, make us observe fast in its days
وَاَعِنَّا عَلٰى قِيَامِهِ،
and remain awake in its nights to pray.
اَللّٰهُمَّ سَلِّمْهُ لَنَا
O Allah, let it be peaceful for us,
وَسَلِّمْنَا فِيْهِ
keep us in sound condition for it,
وَتَسَلَّمْهُ مِنَّا فِيْ يُسْرٍ مِنْكَ وَمُعَافَاةٍ،
and receive it from us witheasiness and wellbeing.
وَاجْعَلْ فِيْـمَا تَقْضِيْ وَتُقَدِّرُ
While taking decisions
مِنَ الْاَمْرِ الْمَحْتُوْمِ
from among Your inevitable decisions
وَفِيْـمَا تَفْرُقُ مِنَ الْاَمْرِ الْحَكِيْمِ
and from among that which You decide from the wise affairs
فِيْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ
at the Destiny Night
مِنَ الْقَضَاۤءِ الَّذِيْ لَا يُرَدُّ وَلَا يُبَدَّلُ،
from the act that is neither rejected nor altered,
اَنْ تَكْتُبَنِيْ مِنْ حُجَّاجِ بَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامِ
(please) write my name in the list of those pilgrims to Your Sacred House
الْمَبْرُوْرِ حَجُّهُمُ،
whose pilgrimage receives Your approval,
الْمَشْكُوْرِ سَعْيُهُمُ،
whose efforts are appreciated,
الْمَغْفُوْرِ ذُنُوْبُهُمُ،
whose sins are forgiven,
الْمُكَفَّرِ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُهُمْ،
and whose wrongdoings are overlooked.
وَاجْعَلْ فِيْـمَا تَقْضِيْ وَتُقَدِّرُ
While making decisions and rendering possible things and events,
اَنْ تُطِيْلَ فِيْ عُمْرِيْ
(please) grant me long lifetime
وَتُوَسِّعَ عَليَّ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ الْحَلَالِ۔
and expand my sustenance, making it from legal sources only.
Thirteenth: It is recommended to say the supplicatory prayer No. 44 of al-Sahifah al-Kamilah al-Sajjadiyyah, which begins with the following statement:
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ هَدَانَا لِحَمْدِهِ۔۔۔
Praise belongs to Allah who guided us to His praise...
Fourteenth: It is recommended to say the lengthy supplicatory prayer that is mentioned by Sayyid Ibn Tawus in Iqbal al-A’mal and beings with the following statement:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنَّ هٰذَا شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ۔۔۔
O Allah, this month of Ramadan...
Fifteenth: It is recommended to say the following:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنَّهُ قَدْ دَخَلَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ
O Allah, the month of Ramadan has begun.
اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ،
O Allah, the Lord of the month of Ramadan
الَّذِيْ اَنْزَلْتَ فِيْهِ الْقُرْاٰنَ،
in which You have revealed the Qur'an
وَجَعَلْتَهُ بَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدٰى وَالْفُرْقَانِ،
making it guidance to people and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction.
اَللّٰهُمَّ فَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِيْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ،
So, O Allah, please bless us in the month of Ramadan,
وَاَعِنَّا عَلٰى صِيَامِهِ وَصَلَوَاتِهِ
help us observe fasting and offer prayers in it,
وَتَقَبَّلْهُ مِنَّا۔
and accept from us.
According to a Hadith, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to say this supplicatory prayerat the beginning of Ramadan.
Sixteenth: The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is also reported to have said the following supplicatory prayer at the first night of Ramadan:
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ اَكْرَمَنَا بِكَ
All praise be to Allah Who has honored us with you,
اَيُّهَا الشَّهْرُ الْمُبَارَكُ،
O blessed month.
اَللّٰهُمَّ فَقَوِّنَا عَلٰى صِيَامِنَا وَقِيَامِنَا،
O Allah, (please do) grant us strength to observe fasting and practice acts of worship in this month,
وَثَبِّتْ اَقْدَامَنَا
make our steps firm,
وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِيْنَ،
and assist us against the unbelieving people.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اَنْتَ الْوَاحِدُ فَلَا وَلَدَ لَكَ،
O Allah, You are surely the One; therefore, You have not son.
وَاَنْتَ الصَّمَدُ فَلَا شِبْهَ لَكَ،
You are the eternally Besought of all; therefore, nothing is like You.
وَاَنْتَ الْعَزِيْزُ فَلَا يُعِزُّكَ شَيْءٌ،
You are the Almighty; therefore, nothing can overcome You.
وَاَنْتَ الْغَنِيُّ وَاَنَا الْفَقِيْرُ،
You are the Self-sufficient while I am poor.
وَاَنْتَ الْمَوْلٰى وَاَنَا الْعَبْدُ،
You are the Master while I am (Your) slave.
وَاَنْتَ الْغُفُوْرُ وَاَنَا الْمُذْنِبُ،
You are the All-forgiving while I am sinful.
وَاَنْتَ الرَّحِيْمُ وَاَنَا الْمُخْطِئُ،
You are the All-merciful while I am mistaken.
وَاَنْتَ الْخَالِقُ وَاَنَا الْمَخْلُوْقُ،
You are the Creator while I am (Your) creature.
وَاَنْتَ الْحَيُّ وَاَنَا الْمَيِّتُ،
You are the Ever-living while I am mortal.
اَسْاَلُكَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ
I thus beseech You in the name of Your mercy
اَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِيْ وَتَرْحَمَنِيْ وَتَجَاوَزَ عَنِّي
to forgive me, have mercy upon me, and excuse my offenses.
اِنَّكَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ۔
You have power over all things.
Seventeenth: As has been previously mentioned in the book, it is recommended to say the supplicatory prayer known as Dua al-Jawshan al-Kabir at the first night of Ramadan.
Eighteenth: It is recommended to say the supplicatory prayer known as Dua al-Hajj, which has been previously mentioned in this book.
Nineteenth: It is highly advisable to recite the Holy Qur’an very frequently at the first hours of Ramadan. In this respect, it has been narrated that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) used to say the following supplicatory prayer before he would start reciting the Holy Qur’an:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ هٰذَا كِتَابُكَ الْمُنْزَلُ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ
O Allah, I testify that this is the Book revealed by You
عَلٰى رَسُوْلِكَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِاللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ واٰلِهِ،
on Your Messenger Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah, blessings of Allah be on him and on his Household,
وَكَلَامُكَ النَّاطِقُ عَلٰى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّكَ،
(these are) Your Words, Your Prophet gave tongue to,
جَعَلْتَهُ هَادِيًا مِنْكَ اِلٰى خَلْقِكَ،
(whom) You appointed as guide for the people,
وَحَبْلًا مُتَّصِلًا فِيْـمَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ،
and a connected link between You and Your servants.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي نَشَرْتُ عَهْدَكَ وَكِتابَكَ،
O Allah, I am opening Your testament and Your Book.
اَللّٰهُمَّ فَاجْعَلْ نَظَرِيْ فِيْهِ عِبَادَةً،
O Allah, decide my looking in it to be a kind of worship,
وَقِرَاۤءَتِي فِيْهِ فِكْرًا،
my reciting in it to be ponderation,
وَفِكْرِيْ فِيْهِ اعْتِبَارًا،
and my ponderation over it to be learning lessons from it.
وَاجْعَلْنِيْ مِمَّنْ اِتَّعَظَ بِبَيَانِ مَوَاعِظِكَ فِيْهِ،
Include me with those who take lessons from the elucidation of Your preaches therein
وَاجْتَنَبَ مَعَاصِيْكَ،
and those who accordingly avoid doing acts of disobedience to You.
وَلَا تَطْبَعْ عِنْدَ قِرَاۤءَتِيْ عَلٰى سَمْعِيْ،
Do not seal on my hearing while I am reciting it,
وَلَا تَجْعَلْ عَلٰى بَصَرِيْ غِشَاوَةً،
do not place covering on my sight,
وَلَا تَجْعَلْ قِرَاۤءَتِي قِرَاۤءَةً لَا تَدَبُّرَ فِيْهَا،
and do not decide my reciting to be thoughtless;
بَلِ اجْعَلْنِيْ اَتَدَبَّرُ اٰيَاتِهِ وَاَحْكَامَهُ،
rather, (please) make me ponder over its verses and laws,
اٰخِذًا بِشَرَايِعِ دِيْنِكَ،
learning the laws of my religion.
وَلَا تَجْعَلْ نَظَرِيْ فِيْهِ غَفْلَةً،
Do not decide my looking in it to be inadvertence,
وَلَا قِرَاۤءَتِيْ هَذَرًا،
and do not allow my reciting to be worthless.
اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الرَّؤُوْفُ الرَّحِيْمُ۔
You are verily the Allkind, the All-merciful.
When he finished reciting the Holy Qur’an, Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) used to say the following supplicatory prayer:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي قَدْ قَرَأْتُ مَا قَضَيْتَ مِنْ كِتَابِكَ الَّذِيْ اَنْزَلْتَهُ عَلٰى نَبِيِّكَ الصَّادِقِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهِ، فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ رَبَّنَا، اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِيْ مِمَّنْ يُحِلُّ حَلَالَهُ، وَيُحَرِّمُ حَرَامَهُ، وَيُؤْمِنُ بِمُحْكَمِهِ وَمُتَشَابِهِهِ، وَاجْعَلْهُ لِيْ اُنْسًا فِيْ قَبْرِيْ، وَاُنْسًا فِيْ حَشْرِيْ، وَاجْعَلْنِيْ مِمَّنْ تُرْقِيْهِ بِكُلِّ اٰيَةٍ قَرَاهَا دَرَجَةً فِيْ اَعْلَا عِلِّيِّيْنَ، اٰمِيْنَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ۔
O Allah, I have recited that which You command in Your Book
الَّذِيْ اَنْزَلْتَهُ عَلٰى نَبِيِّكَ الصَّادِقِ
that You revealed to Your truthful Prophet,
صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهِ،
Peace of Allah be upon him and his Household.
فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ رَبَّنَا،
So, all praise be to You, our Lord.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِيْ مِمَّنْ يُحِلُّ حَلَالَهُ،
O Allah, (please do) make me of those who do only what is deemed legal therein,
وَيُحَرِّمُ حَرَامَهُ،
avoid that which is deemed unlawful therein,
وَيُؤْمِنُ بِمُحْكَمِهِ وَمُتَشَابِهِهِ،
and believe in its decisive and allegorical verses.
وَاجْعَلْهُ لِيْ اُنْسًا فِيْ قَبْرِيْ،
(Please) decide it to be entertainment for me in my grave
وَاُنْسًا فِيْ حَشْرِيْ،
and entertainment when I will be resurrected.
وَاجْعَلْنِيْ مِمَّنْ تُرْقِيْهِ بِكُلِّ اٰيَةٍ قَرَاهَا دَرَجَةً فِيْ اَعْلَا عِلِّيِّيْنَ،
(Please) include me with those whom You raise a rank to the most elevated position witheach verse that they recite.
اٰمِيْنَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ۔
Respond to me, O Lord of the worlds!