English
AAMAL OF THE LAST TEN NIGHTS OF RAMADHAN
Starting with this night, it is recommended to say the supplicatory prayers that are dedicated to the last ten nights of Ramadan.
(1) In al-Kafi, Shaykh al-Kulayni has reported Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) as saying: At the last ten nights of Ramadan, you may say the following supplicatory prayer:
اَعُوْذُ بِجَلَالِ وَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيْمِ
I seek the protection of the Majesty of Your Honorable Face
اَنْ يَنْقَضِيَ عَنِّي شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ
against that the month of Ramadan elapses
اَوْ يَطْلُعَ الْفَجْرُ مِنْ لَيْلَتِيْ هٰذِهِ
or dawn puts an end to this night
وَلَكَ قِبَلِيْ ذَنْبٌ اَوْ تَبِعَةٌ تُعَذِّبُنِيْ عَلَيْهِ۔
but there is still an offense or a sin for which I am still liable and for which You will punish me.
(2) As a footnote in al-Balad al-Amin, al-Kaf’ami has mentioned that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) used say the following supplicatory prayer at each of the last ten night of Ramadan after the obligatory and supererogatory (mustahab / nafilah) prayers:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اَدِّ عَنَّا حَقَّ مَا مَضٰى مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ
O Allah, (please) help us fulfill the right of the past days of the month of Ramadan,
وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا تَقْصِيْـرَنَا فِيْهِ،
forgive us our shortcoming during it,
وَتَسَلَّمْهُ مِنَّا مَقْبُوْلًا،
receive it from us with acceptance,
وَلَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا بِاِسْرَافِنَا عَلٰى اَنْفُسِنَا،
do not blame us for our extravagance in our affairs,
وَاجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَرْحُوْمِيْنَ
include us with those upon whom mercy is had,
وَلَا تَجْعَلْنَا مِنَ المَحْرُوْمِيْنَ۔
and do not include us with those deprived (of the awards of Ramadan).
He adds that Almighty Allah will forgive one who says this supplicatory prayer all the sins that he has committed in the past days of Ramadan and will protect him against sinning in the rest of it.
(3) In Iqbal al-A’mal, Sayyid Ibn Tawus has narrated on the authority of Ibn Abi-’Umayr on the authority of Murazim that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) used to say the following supplicatory prayer at each of the last ten nights of Ramadan:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنَّكَ قُلْتَ فِيْ كِتَابِكَ الْمُنْزَلِ
O Allah, You have said in Your revealed Book:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيْ اُنْزِلَ فِيْهِ الْقُرْاٰنُ
“The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur'an was revealed,
هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدٰى وَالْفُرْقَانِ
a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction.”
فَعَظَّمْتَ حُرْمَةَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ
You have thus rendered great the sanctity of this month of Ramadan,
بِمَا اَنْزَلْتَ فِيْهِ مِنَ الْقُرْاٰنِ،
because You revealed the Qur'an in it,
وَخَصَصْتَهُ بِلَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ
decided the Destiny Night to be in this monthexclusively,
وَجَعَلْتَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْ اَلْفِ شَهْرٍ،
and made it better than one thousand months.
اَللّٰهُمَّ وَهٰذِهِ اَيَّامُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ قَدِ انْقَضَتْ،
O Allah, the days of the month of Ramadan are elapsing,
وَلَيَالِيْهِ قَدْ تَصَرَّمَتْ،
its nights are also elapsing,
وَقَدْ صِرْتُ يَا اِلـٰهِيْ مِنْهُ اِلٰى مَا اَنْتَ اَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي
while I have become in the state that You, O my God, know better than I do,
وَاَحْصٰى لِعَدَدِهِ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ اَجْمَعِيْنَ،
and You can count it more precisely than all the created beings.
فَاَسْاَلُكَ بِمَا سَاَلَكَ بِهِ مَلَآئِكَتُكَ الْمُقَرَّبُوْنَ
So, I beseech You in the name of that by which Your favorite angels,
وَاَنْبِيَآؤُكَ الْمُرْسَلُوْنَ،
Your missioned Prophets,
وَعِبَادُكَ الصَّالِحُوْنَ،
and Your righteous servants have besought You,
اَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَاٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
to bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,
وَاَنْ تَفُكَّ رَقَبَتِيْ مِنَ النَّارِ،
release me from Hellfire,
وَتُدْخِلَنِى الْجَنَّةَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ،
allow me to enter Paradise by Your mercy,
وَاَنْ تَتَفَضَّلَ عَلَيَّ بِعَفْوِكَ وَكَرَمُكَ
confer upon me with Your pardon and Your generosity,
وَ تَتَقَبَّلَ تَقَرُبِيْ
accept my seeking of nearness to You,
وَ تَسْتَجِيْبَ دُعَآئِيْ
respond to my prayer,
وَتَمُنَّ عَلَيَّ بِالْاَمْنِ يَوْمَ الْخَوْفِ
and bestow upon me with security on the Day of Dread
مِنْ كُلِّ هَوْلٍ اَعْدَدْتَهُ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ،
against all the horrors that You have prepared for the Resurrection Day.
اِلـٰهِيْ وَاَعُوْذُ بِوَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيْمِ،
O my God, I seek the protection of Your Noble Face
وَبِجَلَالِكَ الْعَظِيْمِ
and Your Great Majesty
اَنْ يَنْقَضِيَ اَيَّامُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَلَيَالِيْهِ
against that the days and nights of the month of Ramadan elapse
وَلَكَ قِبَلِيْ تَبِعَةٌ اَوْ ذَنْبٌ تُؤَاخِذُنِيْ بِهِ
while there is still a sin or an offense for which You may punish me,
اَوْ خَطِيْئَةٌ تُرِيْدُ اَنْ تَقْتَصَّهَا مِنِّيْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْهَا لِيْ
or a wrongdoing for which You want to chastise me and You have not yet forgiven them for me.,
سَيِّدِيْ سَيِّدِيْ سَيِّدِيْ
O my Master! O my Master! O my Master!
اَسْاَلُكَ يَا لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ
I beseech You, O He save Whom there is no god,
اِذْ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ
since there is indeed no god save You,
اِنْ كُنْتَ رَضَيْتَ عَنِّي فِيْ هٰذَا الشَّهْرِ
if You have been pleased with me in this month,
فَازْدَدْ عَنِّيْ رِضًا،
then (please) increase Your satisfaction with me;
وَاِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ رَضَيْتَ عَنِّي
but if You have not been pleased with me,
فَمِنَ الْاٰنَ فَارْضَ عَنِّيْ
then (please) be satisfied with me from this moment.
يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ،
O most Merciful of all those who show mercy!
يَا اَللهُ يَا اَحَدُ يَا صَمَدُ
O Allah! O One and Only! O Besought of all!
يَا مَنْ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُوْلَدْ
O He Who begets not, nor is He begotten,
وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا اَحَدٌ۔
and none is like Him!
(4) You may repeat the following supplicatory prayer as many times as possible during this night:
يَا مُلَيِّنَ الْحَدِيْدِ لِدَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ،
O He Who made the iron pliant for (Prophet) David, peace be upon him!
يَا كَاشِفَ الضُرِّ وَالْكُرَبِ الْعِظَامِ عَنْ اَيُّوْبَ (عليه السلام)،
O He Who took off the harm and calamity that afflict (Prophet) Job, peace be upon him!
اَيْ مُفَرِّجَ هَمِّ يَعْقُوْبَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ،
O He Who relieved the sorrow of (Prophet) Jacob, peace be upon him!
اَيْ مُنَفِّسَ غَمِّ يُوْسُفَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ،
O He Who removed the grief of (Prophet) Joseph, peace be upon him!
صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَاٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ،
(Please do) send blessings to Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad
كَمَا اَنْتَ اَهْلُهُ اَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَيْهِمْ اَجْمَعِيْنَ،
as exactly as You are worth blessing them all,
وَافْعَلْ بِيْ مَا اَنْتَ اَهْلُهُ،
do to me that which befits You,
وَلَا تَفْعَلْ بِيْ مَا اَنَا اَهْلُهُ۔
and do not do to me that which I deserve.
(5) Shaykh al-Kulayni, in al-Kafi, has narrated, with a complete chain of authority, that the following supplicatory prayer, which is also narrated in al-Muqni’ah and al-Misbah yet with an interruption in the chain of authority, should be said at the twenty-first night of Ramadan:
يَامُوْلِجَ اللَّيْلِ فِي النَّهَارِ،
O He Who causes the night to enter into the day,
وَمُوْلِجَ النَّهَارِ فِي اللَّيْلِ،
causes the day to enter into the night,
وَمُخْرِجَ الْحَيِّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ،
brings forth the living from the dead,
وَمُخْرِجَ الْمَيِّتِ مِنَ الْحَيِّ،
and brings forth the dead from the living!
يَا رَازِقَ مَنْ يَشَاۤءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ،
O He Who gives sustenance to whomever He please without measure!
يَااَللهُ يَارَحْمٰنُ،
O Allah! O All-beneficent!
يَااللهُ يَارَحِيْمُ،
O Allah! O All-merciful!
يَااللهُ يَااللهُ يَااللهُ
O Allah! O Allah! O Allah!
لَكَ الْاَسَّمَاۤءُ الْحُسْنٰى،
To You are the Most Excellent Names,
وَالْاَمْثَالُ الْعُلْيَا،
the most elevated examples,
وَالْكِبْرِيَاۤءُ وَالْاٰلَاۤءُ،
greatness, and bounties.
اَسْاَلُكَ اَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَاٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ،
I beseech You to bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,
وَاَنْ تَجْعَلَ اسْمِيْ فِيْ هٰذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ فِي السُّعَدَاۤءِ،
include my name with the list of the happiest ones,
وَرُوْحِيْ مَعَ الشُّهَدَاۤءِ،
add my soul to the martyrs,
وَاِحْسَانِيْ فِي عِلِّيِّيْنَ،
record my good deeds in the most exalted rank,
وَاِسَآئَتِيْ مَغْفُوْرَةً،
decide my offense to be forgiven,
وَاَنْ تَهَبَ لِيْ يَقِيْنًا تُبَاشِرُ بِهِ قَلْبِيْ،
grant me certitude that fills in my heart
وَاِيْمَانًا يُذْهِبُ الشَّكَّ عَنِّي،
and faith that removes doubt from me,
وَتُرْضِيَنِيْ بِمَا قَسَمْتَ لِي،
make me feel satisfied with that which You decide for me,
وَاٰتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً،
grant us reward in this world
وَفِي الْاٰخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً،
and reward in the Hereafter,
وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الْحَرِيْقِ،
save us from the torment of the burning Fire,
وَارْزُقْنِيْ فِيْهَا ذِكْرَكَ وَشُكْرَكَ وَالرَّغْبَةَ اِلَيْكَ،
and confer upon us at this night Your mentioning, thanking You, desiring for You,
وَالْاِنَابَةَ وَالتَّوْفِيْقَ لِمَا وَفَّقْتَ لَهُ مُحَمَّدًا وَآلَ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ۔
turning to You, and success to that to which You led Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad, peace be upon him and them.
(6) Al-Kaf’ami has quoted Sayyid Ibn Baqi as saying that it is recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer at the twenty-first night of Ramadan:
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَاٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
O Allah, (please) bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad
وَاقْسِمْ لِي حِلْمًا يَسُدُّ عَنِّيْ بَابَ الْجَهْلِ،
and decide for me forbearance that blocks the door to ignorance against me,
وَهُدًى تَمُنُّ بِهِ عَلَيَّ مِنْ كُلِّ ضَلَالَةٍ،
guidance that You confer upon me against any item of straying off,
وَغِنًى تَسُدُّ بِهِ عَنِّيْ بَابَ كُلِّ فَقْرٍ
affluence that blocks the door to all poverty against me,
وَقُوَّةً تَرُدُّ بِهَا عَنِّي كُلَّ ضَعْفٍ،
power due to which You repel any weakness from me,
وَعِزًا تُكْرِمُنِيْ بِهِ عَنْ كُلِّ ذُلٍّ،
might with which You honor me against all humiliation,
وَرِفْعَةً تَرْفَعُنِيْ بِهَا عَنْ كُلِّ ضَعَةٍ،
sublimity through which You exalt me against all humbleness,
وَاَمْنًا تَرُدُّ بِهِ عَنِّيْ كُلِّ خَوْفٍ،
security through which You protect me against any fear,
وَعَافِيَةً تَسْتُرُنِي بِهَا عَنْ كُلِّ بَلَاۤءٍ،
wellbeing by which You cover me against any ailment,
وَعِلْمًا تَفْتَحُ لِيْ بِهِ كُلَّ يَقِيْنٍ،
knowledge due to which You open before me all certitude,
وَيَقِيْنًا تُذْهِبُ بِهِ عَنِّيْ كُلَّ شَكٍّ،
certitude due to which You remove from me any doubt,
وَدُعَاۤءً تَبْسُطُ لِيْ بِهِ الَاِجَابَةَ فِيْ هٰذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ وَفِي هٰذِهِ السَّاعَةِ،
prayer through which You expand Your response to me at this very night and at this very hour,
السَّاعَةِ السَّاعَةِ السَّاعَةِ يَا كَرِيْمُ،
this very hour, this very hour, this very hour, O All-generous,
وَخَوْفًا تَنْشُرُ لِيْ بِهِ كُلَّ رَحْمَةٍ،
apprehension due to which You spread over me all items of mercy,
وَعِصْمَةً تَحُوْلُ بِهَا بَيْنِيْ وَبَيْنَ الذُّنُوْبِ
and shelter due to which You intervene between my sins and me,
حَتَّى اُفْلِحَ بِہَا عِنْدَ الْمَعْصُوْمِيْنَ عِنْدَكَ
so that I shall succeed in the view of the Infallible ones with You,
بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَآ اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ۔
in the name of Your mercy, O most Merciful of all those who show mercy.
It has been narrated that Ali ibn Hammad visited Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) at the twenty-first night of Ramadan. “Have you bathed yourself, Hammad?” asked the Imam. “Yes, I have,” answered Hammad. The Imam (a.s.) then asked him to stand by him so as to imitate him in offering prayers. Hammad did. When they finished all the prayers, the Imam (a.s.) began to supplicate and Hammad listened and prayed for response. When dawn (fajr) rose, the Imam (a.s.) declared the adhan (call to prayer), uttered the iqamah (the prefatory part of prayers), and then summoned one of his servants to participate in the prayer. They all stood behind the Imam (a.s.) who led their congregational Fajr (dawn (fajr)) Prayer reciting Surahs al-Faatehah and al-Qadr in the first unit and Surahs al-Faatehah and al-Tawheed in the second. When he finished the post-prayer litanies and doxologies, praising Him, venerating Him, thanking Him, invoking His blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household, and praying Him for the good of all the believing men and women as well as all the Muslims, Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) prostrated himself. The companions could not hear anything except the Imam’s breaths for a long time. Hammad narrated: I could then hear him saying the following:
لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوْبِ وَ الْاَبْصَارِ۔۔۔۔
There is no god save You, the Transformer of hearts and sights...
This long supplicatory prayer has been mentioned by Sayyid Ibn Tawus in his book of Iqbal al-A’mal.
Al-Kulayni has narrated that Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) used to supplicate Almighty Allah at the twenty-first and twenty-third nights of Ramadan up to midnight. After that, he would offer prayers.
As for the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), it has been narrated that he used to bathe himself at each of the last ten nights of Ramadan.
Being the best time of I’tikaf (the ritual seclusion in places of worship for practicing acts of worship), it is highly recommended to practice the ritual I’tikaf at the last ten nights of Ramadan, for this deed brings about an abundant reward. According to narrations, its reward is as same as the reward of two times of Hajj and two times of ‘Umrah. In this regard, it is reported that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), at the last ten nights of Ramadan, used to confine himself to the mosque where a dome made of camel hair would be erected for him while he would roll up his bed and prepare himself for worship.
It is worth mentioning that at the twenty-first night of Ramadan, the sadnesses of the Shi’ah should be shown. At the twenty-first night of Ramadan, AH 40, Imam Ali ibn Abi-Talib, Ameer al-Momineen - peace be upon him - departed life as martyr. It is narrated that fresh blood would be found under any rock that was lifted at that night. The same thing happened at the night of Imam al-Husayn’s martyrdom.
Shaykh al-Mufid says: At this night, it is highly recommended, as frequently as possible, to invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household and to invoke His curse upon those who have wronged the Ahl al-Bayt and upon the killer of Imam AliAmeer al-Momineen.