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SUPPLICATIONS AT SUNRISE & SUNSET

Too many are the supplications that have been reported from the Holy Prophet and the Holy Imams, peace be upon them, to be said at sunrise and sunset. Besides, verses from the Holy Qur’an and traditions of the Infallibles, peace be upon them, have urged on and awakened desires for the persistence on saying such supplications at these two times of the day. However, let us mention a few number of these authenticated supplications:

First: Master Hadithists have narrated, through authenticated chain of authority (sanad), that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) said: It is incumbent upon each and every Muslim to repeat the following supplicatory prayer ten times before sunrise and ten times before sunset:

لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ

There is no god save Allah,

وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ

alone without having any partner.

لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ

To him is the kingdom and to Him is all praise.

يُحْيِيْ وَ يُمِيْتُ وَ يُمِيْتُ وَ يُحْيِيْ

He gives life and causes to die and causes to die and gives life

وَ هُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوْتُ

while He is ever-living and never dies.

بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ

In His hand is the good

وَ هُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيْرٌ ۔

and He has power over all things.

According to some narrations, this supplication should be made up if it is missed because it is obligatory.

Second: Through trustworthy chains of authority too, Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said: Before sunrise and sunset, repeat ten times the following supplicatory prayer:

اَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ السَّمِيْعِ الْعَلِيْمِ

I seek the protection of Allah, the All-hearing and All-knowing,

مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِيْنِ

against the evil suggestions of the devils

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ اَنْ يَحْضُرُوْنِ

and I seek Allah’s protection lest they be present with me.

اِنَّ اللهَ هُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْعَلِيْمُ۔

Verily, Allah is the All-hearing, the All-knowing.

Third: Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is also reported to have said: Nothing should divert you from saying the following supplicatory prayer three times each morning and evening:

اَللّٰهُمَّ مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوْبِ وَ الْاَبْصَارِ

O Allah Who causes the changes of hearts and sights,

ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِيْ عَلٰى دِيْنِكَ

(please) make firm my heart on the course of Your religion,

وَ لَا تُزِغْ قَلْبِيْ بَعْدَ اِذْ هَدَيْتَنِيْ

cause not my heart to stray off after You have guided me,

وَ هَبْ لِي مِنْ لَّدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً

and bestow upon me mercy from Your Presence.

اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ

Surely, You are the All-bestower.

وَ اَجِرْنِي مِنَ النَّارِ بِرَحْمَتِكَ

And save me from Hellfire out of Your mercy.

اَللّٰهُمَّ امْدُدْ لِي فِي عُمْرِيْ

O Allah, (please) extend my lifetime,

وَ اَوْسِعْ عَلَيَّ فِي رِزْقِيْ

expand my sustenance,

وَ انْشُرْ عَلَيَّ رَحْمَتَكَ

cover me with Your mercy,

وَ اِنْ كُنْتُ عِنْدَكَ فِيْ اُمِّ الْكِتَابِ شَقِيًّا

and if I am listed in the Mother of the Book with the unhappy ones,

فَاجْعَلْنِيْ سَعِيْدًا

please include me with the happy ones,

فَاِنَّكَ تَمْحُوْ مَا تَشَاۤءُ وَ تُثْبِتُ

for, surely, You efface what You will, and establish what You will,

وَ عِنْدَكَ اُمُّ الْكِتَابِ۔

and with You is the Mother of the Book.

Fourth: Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is also reported to have instructed to say the following supplicatory prayer each morning and evening:

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاۤءُ

All praise be to Allah Who does whatever He wills

وَ لَا يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاۤءُ غَيْرُهُ

and none else can ever do whatever one wills.

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ كَمَا يُحِبُّ اللهُ اَنْ يُّحْمَدَ

All praise be to Allah as much as Allah desires to be praised.

الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ كَمَا هُوَ اَهْلُهُ

All praise be to Allah as much as He is worthy of praising.

اَللّٰهُمَّ اَدْخِلْنِيْ فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ اَدْخَلْتَ فِيْهِ مُحَمَّدًا وَ اٰلَ مُحَمَّدٍ

O Allah, include me witheach (item of) goodness with which You have included Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,

وَ اَخْرِجْنِيْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ اَخْرَجْتَ مِنْهُ مُحَمَّدًا وَ اٰلَ مُحَمَّدٍ

and take me out of each (item of) evil from which You have taken out Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad.

صَلَّى اللهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

May Allah bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad.

Fifth: Repeat the following litany ten times each morning and evening:

سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ

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.

Dua al-Ashraat, which will be later on cited in this book, is one of the supplications to be advisably said each morning and evening.