English
DUAS AT DAYBREAK AND SUNSET
Be it known to you - may Allah grant you His support - that the traditions about the merits of doing acts of worship at the two hours of daybreak and sunset are too many to be counted. Likewise, too many are the litanies and supplicatory prayers that have been reported from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his Household (a.s.) to be said at these two times. However, I will mention in this brief book a few of them, seeking blessings of Almighty Allah.
First: Ibn Baabwayh has reported through a valid chain of authority that Imam AliAmeer al-Momineen(a.s.) said, “He who recites Surah al-Tawheed, Surah al-Qadr, and Ayah al-Kursi before sunrise eleven times, his property will be protected against any feared matter.”
He (a.s.) is also reported to have said, “Whoever recites Surah al-Tawheed and Surah al-Qadr before sunrise, will be saved from sinning on that day even Satan exerts all efforts to make him commit a sin.”
Second: Al-Kulayni, Ibn Baabwayh, Shaykh al-Tusi, and other scholars have reported through valid chains of authority that Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) said: It is obligatory upon every Muslim to say the following litany ten times before sunrise and before sunset every day:
لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ
There is no god save Allah,
وَحْدَهُ لَاشَرِيْكَ لَهُ
alone without having any partner.
لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ
To him is the kingdom and to Him is all praise.
يُحْيِىْ وَ يُمِيْتُ
He gives life and causes to die
وَ هُوَ حَىُّ لَايَمُوْتُ
while He is Ever-living and never dies.
بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ
In His hand is the good
وَ هُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ۔
and He has power over all things.
According to some narrations, the following statement is added to this litany:
يُحْيِىْ وَ يُمِيْتُ وَ يُمِيْتُ وَ يُحْيِىْ۔
He gives life and causes to die and
The following statement was mentioned in some narrations and missed in others:
وَ هُوْ حَىُّ لَا يَمُوْتُ
while He is Ever-living and never dies.
بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ۔
In His hand is the good
Apparently, whatever form is said is acceptable although it is more acceptable to say the most comprehensive form.
Confirming the significance of this litany, some narrations hold that if you miss saying this litany at these times, you may make up for it later on, because, on the word of other narrations, it remits from sins.
Third: Ibn Baabwayh and other scholars have reported through many chain of authority that Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn and Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) said, “He who repeats the Takbir statement (i.e. Allahu-akbar) one hundred times at sunset will be given the reward of one who has manumitted one hundred slaves.”
According to another authentic narration, Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) is reported to have said: He who repeats the Takbir statement one hundred times before sunrise and one hundred times before sunset, Almighty Allah will record for him the reward of one who has manumitted one hundred slaves; and he who repeats the following doxology (zikr) ten times, will be granted by Allah ten rewards. If he repeats it more, he will be granted more rewards:
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَ بِحَمْدِهٖ۔
All glory be to Allah, and in praise of Him.
Fourth: Through a valid chain of authority, Ibn Baabwayh reports Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) to have quoted the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as saying: In Paradise, there are chambers whose inside can be seen from their outside and whose outside can be seen from their inside. These chambers are dwelled by some of my people who speak good wording, serve food (generously), exchange greetings, and pray at night when the others are asleep. To speak good wording means to repeat the following doxology (zikr) ten times every morning and evening:
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ
All glory be to Allah,
وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ
all praise be to Allah,
وَ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ
there is no god save Allah,
وَ اللهُ اَكْبَرُ۔
and Allah is the Greatest.
In the book of al-Mahasin, al-Barqi has reported through an authentic chain of authority that Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) related the following:
One day, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) passed by a man who was sowing a plant in his orchard. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) stopped and said to him, “May I lead you to a thing that is firmer in sowing, quicker in yielding, and sweeter in fruit?”
“Yes,” the man answered, “You may, Allah’s Messenger.”
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) instructed:
“In every morning and evening, you may say the following:
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ
All glory be to Allah,
وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ
all praise be to Allah,
وَ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ
there is no god save Allah,
وَ اللهُ اَكْبَرُ۔
and Allah is the Greatest.
If you do, for each statement you will be given trees in Paradise from various kinds of fruits. These statements are the ever-abiding, good deeds about which Almighty Allah has said in His Book that they are best and more enduring than the wealth of this world.”
Fifth: Ibn Baabwayh has reported though a valid chain of authority that Imam Ali(a.s.) said:
Whoever repeats these verses three times before or after evening, will not miss any good item on that day, and will be saved from all evils. The same reward will be for one who repeats them in the morning:
فَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ حِيْنَ تُمْسُوْنَ وَ حِيْنَ تُصْبِحُوْنَ
Therefore, glory be to Allah when you enter upon the time of the evening and when you enter upon the time of the morning;
وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ فِى السَّمٰوَاتِ وَالْاَرْضِ
and to Him belongs praise in the heavens and the earth,
وَ عَشِيًّا وَ حِيْنَ تُظْهِرُوْنَ۔
and at nightfall and when you are at midday.
Sixth: In the book of al-Mahasin, al-Barqi has reported through an authenticated chain of authority that Imam al-Rida(a.s.) said: Whoever repeats the following litany three times in the morning and in the evening must not fear any devil, despotic ruler, leprosy, or mycobacterium. As for me, I repeat it one hundred times:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.
لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيْمِ۔
There is neither might nor power except with Allah, the All-high, the All-great.
The same litany has been previously cited to be repeated seven times after the dawn (fajr) and the Evening Prayers.
Seventh: Through a valid chain of authority, Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have related that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had missed one of Ansar (people of al-Madinah who gave shelter and supported the Holy Prophet and the earlier Muslims). When the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) met him afterwards, he asked, “What kept you away from us?”
The man answered, “It was poverty and long disease, Allah’s Messenger.”
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, “May I teach you some words that remove poverty and disease away from you?”
“Yes,” the man answered, “You may, Allah’s Messenger.”
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) thus said: In mornings and evenings, you may say:
لَا حَوْلَ وَلَاقُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللهِ
There is neither might nor power except with Allah.
تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى الْحَىِّ الَّذِىْ لَايَمُوْتُ
I put my trust in the Ever-living (Lord) Who never dies.
وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِىْ لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا
All praise is due to Allah, Who has not taken a son
وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ شَرِيْكٌ فِى الْمُلْكِ
and Who has not a partner in the kingdom,
وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ وَلِىُّ مِّنَ الذُّلِّ
and Who has not a helper to save Him from disgrace;
وَ كَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيْرًا۔
and magnify Him with all magnificence.
Eighth: In many validly reported traditions, Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said: Repeat the following guard-seeking prayer ten times before sunrise and before sunset:
اَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ السَّمِيْعِ الْعَلِيْمِ
I pray for the protection of Allah, the All-hearing the All-knowing,
مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِيْنِ
against the evil suggestions of the devils
وَ اَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ اَنْ يَحْضُرُوْنِ
and I pray for Allah’s protection lest they be present with me.
اِنَّ اللهَ هُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْعَلِيْمُ۔
Verily, Allah is the All-hearing, the Allknowing.
According to some narrations, the third statement is reported in this form:
وَاَعُوْذُ بِكَ رَبِّ اَنْ يَحْضُرُوْنِ۔
and I pray for Your protection, O my Lord, lest they be present with me.
Other narrations have reported this guard-seeking prayer as follows:
اَسْتَعِيْذُ بِاللهِ السَّمِيْعِ الْعَلِيْمِ
I ask for the protection of Allah, the All-hearing the All-knowing,
مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِيْنِ
against the evil suggestions of the devils
وَ اَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ اَنْ يَّحْضُرُوْنِ
and I pray for Allah’s protection lest they be present with me.
اِنَّ اللهَ هُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْعَلِيْمُ۔
Verily, Allah is the All-hearing, the Allknowing.
Ninth: In the book of Falah al-Sa’il, Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said:
What prevents you from saying the following supplicatory prayer three times every morning and three times every evening?
اَللّٰهُمَّ مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوْبِ وَالْاَبْصَارِ
O Allah Who causes the changes of hearts and sights,
ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِىْ عَلٰى دِيْنِكَ
(Please) make firm my heart on the course of Your religion,
وَلَاتُزِغْ قَلْبِىْ بَعْدَ اِذْ هَدَيْتَنِىْ
cause not my heart to stray off after You have guided me,
وَهَبْ لِىْ مِنْ لَّدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً
and bestow upon me mercy from Your Presence.
اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ
Surely, You, only You, are the Bestower.
وَاَجِرْنِىْ مِنَ النَّارِ بِرَحْمَتِكَ
And save me from Hellfire in the name of Your mercy.
اَللّٰهُمَّ امْدُدْلِىْ فِىْ عُمْرِىْ
O Allah, extend my lifetime,
وَ اَوْسِعْ عَلَىَّ فِىْ رِزْقِىْ
expand my sustenance for me,
وَانْشُرْ عَلَىَّ مِنْ رَّحْمَتِكَ
cover me with Your mercy,
وَ اِنْ كُنْتُ عِنْدَكَ فِىْ اُمِّ الْكِتَابِ شَقِيًّا
and if I am listed in the Mother of the Book (source of the ordinance) with the unhappy,
فَاجْعَلْنِىْ سَعِيْدًا
please include me with the happy ones,
فَاِنَّكَ تَمْحُوْمَا تَشَاۤءُ وَ تُثْبِتُ
for surely You efface what You will, establish what You will,
وَ عِنْدَكَ اُمُّ الْكِتَابِ۔
and with You is the Mother of the Book.
Tenth: Al-Tusi, may Allah have mercy upon him, and Ibn Tawus report the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as saying: Whoever says this word of glorification one time in the morning and one time in the evening, Almighty Allah sends an angel to Paradise with a silver shovel. The angel then gathers some clay of Paradise, which is sweet smelling musk, fixes a plant, surrounds it with a fence, places a door on it, and writes on the door that this plant is for so-and-so (i.e. writes the name of that person on the door):
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَ بِحَمْدِہٖ
All glory be to Allah, and in praise of Him.
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ الْعَظِيْمِ۔
All glory be to Allah, the All-great.
In another validly reported tradition, Sayyid Ibn Tawus reports Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) to have said that whoever says the aforesaid doxology (zikr) intending to glorify Almighty Allah but not to express amazement, Almighty Allah will erase one thousand of his sins, record for him one thousand rewards, decide for him one thousand rights of intercession, raise him one thousand ranks, and creates from these words a white bird uttering these words of glorification continuously up to the Resurrection day and the reward of the bird’s glorification words will be recorded for that person.
Eleventh: Al-Qutb al-Rawandi has reported that Imam AliAmeer al-Momineen(a.s.) quoted the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as saying: He who begins his day without mentioning the following four graces, I fear lest he will lose the bliss he is enjoying:
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِىْ عَرَّفَنِىْ نَفْسَهُ
All praise be to Allah Who has introduced Himself to me
وَ لَمْ يَتْرُكْنِىْ عَمْيَانَ الْقَلْبِ
but has not left me blind-hearted.
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِىْ جَعَلَنِىْ مِنْ اُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ
All praise be to Allah Who has made me of the people of Muhammad,
صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِهٖ
may Allah bless him and his Household.
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِىْ جَعَلَ رِزْقِىْ فِىْ يَدَيْهِ
All praise be to Allah Who has made my sustenance lie in His Hands,
وَ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ رِزْقِىْ فِىْ اَيْدِى النَّاسِ
but has not made it lie in the hands of people.
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِىْ سَتَرَ ذُ نُوْبِىْ وَ عُيُوْبِىْ
All praise be to Allah Who has covered my defects
وَلَمْ يَفْضَحْنِىْ بَيْنَ الْخَلَايِقِ۔
and has not exposed me among the creatures.
Twelfth: In the book of al-Balad al-Amin, it is reported that Salman the Persian, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
Any servant who repeats the following doxology (zikr) three times in the morning, Almighty Allah will most surely fend off seventy kinds of afflictions, the easiest of which is distress, from him:
اَلْحَمْدُلِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ
All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيْرًا
All praise be to Allah with praise that is very much,
طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيْهِ۔
pure, and blessed.
Thirteenth: Through a valid chain of authority, al-Kulayni reports Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) to have said: In the morning, you may say the following litany:
اَصْبَحْتُ بِاللهِ مُؤْمِنًا
I receive this morning having faith in Allah,
عَلٰى دِيْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَسُنَّتِهٖ
following the religion and traditions of Muhammad,
وَدِيْنِ عَلِيٍّ وَ سُنَّتِهٖ
the religion and traditions of 'Ali,
وَ دِيْنِ الْاَوْصِيَاۤءِ وَ سُنَّتِهِمْ
and the religion and traditions of the Successors.
اٰمَنْتُ بِسِّرِهِمْ وَ عَلَانِيَتِهِمْ
I believe in their secret and openness,
وَ شَاهِدِهِمْ وَ غَاۤئِبِهِمْ
and their present and their absent.
وَ اَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِمَّا اسْتَعَاذَ مِنْهُ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ
I pray for Allah’s protection against what the Messenger of Allah,
صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِهٖ
may Allah bless him and his Household,
وَ عَلِىُّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ
Ali, peace be upon him,
وَالْاَوْصِيَاۤءُ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ
and the Successors, peace be upon them, have sought protection against.
وَاَرْغَبُ اِلَى اللهِ فِيْمَا رَغِبُوْا اِلَيْهِ
I desire to Allah for what they have desired for.
وَلَاحَوْلَ وَلَاقُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللهِ۔
There is neither might nor power except with Allah.
Fourteenth: Al-Kulayni has reported that Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) mentioned many merits for saying the following doxology (zikr) in the first hour of morning before sunrise:
اَللهُ اَكْبَرُ اَللهُ اَكْبَرُ كَبِيْرًا
Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest with all greatness.
وَ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ بُكْرَةً وَ اَصِيْلًا
All glory be to Allah in morning and evening.
وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ كَثِيْرًا
All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, with very much praise.
لَاشَرِيْكَ لَهُ
No partner has He.
وَ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِهٖ۔
May Allah bless Muhammad and his Household.
Fifteenth: In the book of al-Balad al-Amin, Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said: No tribulation will afflict one who repeats this litany three times in the morning until evening, and no tribulation will afflict him who repeats it three times in the evening until the next morning:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الَّذِىْ لَايَضُرُّ مَعَ اِسْمِهِ شَىْءٌ
In the Name of Allah with Whose Name nothing can ever harm
فِى الْاَرْضِ وَلَا فِى السَّمَاۤءِ
in the earth or in the heavens.
وَ هُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْعَلِيْمُ۔
And He is the Allhearing, the Allknowing.
Sixteenth: Al-Kulayni, Ibn Baabwayh, and other scholars have reported through authenticated and valid chains of authority that Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) says: Prophet Noah (a.s.) was described as most grateful servant (indication of Qur’an, 17:3), because he used to say the following doxology (zikr) every morning and evening:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّىْ اُشْهِدُكَ
O Allah, I call You to witness for me
اَنَّهُ مَا اَمْسٰى وَ اَصْبَحَ بِىْ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ اَوْ عَافِيَةٍ فِىْ دِيْنٍ اَوْ دُنْيَا
that whatever bliss or welfare in religious or worldly affair that I receive in every evening or morning
فَمِنْكَ وَحْدَكَ لَاشَرِيْكَ لَكَ
are from You alone; there is no partner to You.
لَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَ لَكَ الشُّكْرُ بِهَا عَلَىَّ
All praise and all thanks be to You from me for these,
حَتّٰى تَرْضٰى اِلٰهَنَا۔
until You are pleased, O our Lord.
According to other narrations, Prophet Noah (a.s.) used to repeat the following doxology (zikr) ten times every morning and evening:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنَّهُ مَا اَصْبَحَ بِىْ مِنْ نِّعْمَةٍ اَوْ عَافِيَةٍ فِىْ دِيْنٍ
O Allah, whatever bliss or welfare in religious or worldly affair that I receive in every morning
اَوْ دُنْيَا فَمِنْكَ وَحْدَكَ لَاشَرِيْكَ لَكَ
are from You alone; there is no partner to You.
لَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَ لَكَ الشُّكْرُ بِهَا عَلَىَّ حَتّٰى تَرْضٰى وَ بَعْدَ الرِّضَا۔
All praise and all thanks be to You from me for these, until You are pleased and after Your pleasure.
However, to say any of the two doxological formulas is good.