Supplications and Ziyarah (salutations) are special modes of Islamic cognition. Nay, these are profound lessons in monotheism, creed, and ethics and from their characteristics are the explanation of Islamic laws and injunctions. These are not, as is generally understood, rituals or formalities.

There are numerous incidental benefits related to invocations, some of which are as follows:

A) Relation

By nature, man feels lonely and desolate in this world due to its difficulties, problems and sorrows and hence, is in continuous and eternal need of his Creator. Thus, it is essential that this relation with his Creator should be true, continuous and eternal, referring to Him in a state of humility, humbleness and feeling utterly lowly while begging.

B) Aim Of Supplication

In a state of desperation, difficulty, poverty and their like, man pleads only with his Creator through invocation and supplication. This is due to his short sight, limited thoughts and ignorance of what awaits him in

the hereafter. And that he is negligent of what Allah, the Almighty, intends of him and that which He has informed His Prophet (S) in the explicit verse of His book:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

“And I have not created the Jinn and the humans except that they worship Me” (Holy Qur’an, 51:56).

And like Amir ul-Mu’minin (‘a) said,

الدُّعَاءُ مُخُّ العِبَادَةِ

“Invocation (du’a) is the essence of worship.”1

Then, the creature, due to his excessive involvement in the transient world, forgets the quote of the Holy Prophet (S) who said:

الدنيا مزرعة الآخرة

“The world is the cultivating field of the hereafter.”

Whatever one gains in this world, its fruits will be seen only in the hereafter. Amir ul-Mu’minin (‘a) says:

أَلاَ وَإنَّ الدُّنْيَا قَدْ وَلَّتْ حَذَّاءَ، فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهَا إِلاَّ صُبَابَةٌ كَصُبَابَةِ الاْنَاءِ اصْطَبَّهَا صَابُّهَا، أَلاَ وَإِنَّ الاْخِرَةَ قَدْ أَقْبَلَتْ، وَلِكُلٍّ مِنْهُمَا بَنُونَ، فَكُونُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الاْخِرَةِ، وَلاَ تَكُونُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الدُّنْيَا، فَإِنَّ كُلَّ وَلَد سَيُلْحَقُ بأُمِّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَإِنَّ الْيَوْمَ عَمَلٌ وَلاَ حِسَابَ، وَغَداً حِسَابٌ وَلاَ عَمَلَ.

“You should know this world is moving rapidly and nothing has remained out of it except last particles like the dregs of a vessel which has been emptied by someone. Beware, the next world is advancing, and that both of them have sons (i. e. followers). Be the sons of the next world and do not become sons of this world because on the Day of Judgement every son would cling to his mother. Today is the day of action and there is no reckoning while tomorrow is the day of reckoning but there would be no (opportunity for) action”.2

Hence, it is obligatory on us that we prepare ourselves through reflection, deliberation and deep thought in the ways of nature before death overtakes us. And it is also necessary that we take our own account before our account is taken.

C) Seeking Permission

Indeed, Allah the Almighty on account of His Mercy and Kindness for His weak and humble slave, has provided the method of invocation, so that it may enlighten him and guide him. Thus, whosoever intends that his prayers should be accepted, then Allah the Almighty has promised him thus:

ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ

“Call Me, I will answer you.” (Holy Qur’an, 40:60).

Therefore, when a person cannot fathom the nuances and manners of this world, how is it possible that he understands the method of invocation by which His Mercy encompasses him? Without recognising the method and manners of invocation and supplication, how it is possible that its concepts are facilitated for him and provided unto him? Thus, it is essential for a person that he recognises the manner of invocations to attain its concepts.

After acquiring the permission to pray, the questions that arise are as to with what we should invoke? How should we supplicate? In what way should we ask? So how should we recognise this proof who has been explained only by his Master? Therefore, it is necessary that we have a guide whom we follow. Who is this guide? What is the method that we can follow step by step? What are the obstacles in the acceptance (of supplications)? And how can we remove these obstacles?

D) Guides Towards The Right Path

For the acceptance of prayers which we have already explained, the manifest proof for guidance towards Allah’s right path, are the divine proofs for the creatures and those who have been termed as ‘the gate of Allah through whom (Allah) is reached’, and this is the best standard. As Allah the Almighty says,

وَابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ

“..and seek a medium to Him.” (Holy Qur’an, 5:35).

They are the trusts of Allah among His creatures, and the Gnostics whom the servants need, and they are the guides towards Allah, Glorified be He, the High. Therefore, the acceptance of supplication depends upon blessings and salutations upon them because they are the medium of dispelling the calamities and difficulties of this nation. They are the ones whom Allah the Almighty has attributed as the possessors of power to describe Allah the Almighty unto His Creatures, as He says in His Mighty Book:

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

Purified is Allah from what they attribute except His sincere servants.” (Holy Qur’an, 37:159).

Then who are these holy personalities? They are the Messenger of Allah (S) and his progeny (‘a) as he (S) has willed,

“Surely, I leave behind you two most weighty things, Allah’s Book and my progeny. If you hold unto them, you will never be misguided after me.”

They are his holy and purified Ahl al-Bayt (on them is all the best blessing and salutation). And in our times today, the medium and the stretched rope between the Creator and His creatures, His trust among His creatures, His proof on His earth, is the Hujjat al-Zaman, al-Mahdi, the Promised (may Allah the Almighty hasten his holy reappearance). As the Holy Prophet (S) said:

“Mahdi is from my progeny. His name is my name. He will fill the earth with justice and equity like it would be fraught with injustice and tyranny.”

These are the chosen ones who taught the creatures numerous supplications for worship. Their word is lower than Allah’s word and higher than that of the creature. Whoever heard their saying, said, “Your word is light.”

None in the universe can describe Allah the Almighty but them and their word is proof upon all the creatures.

E) Lessons In Invocation

In Islamic teachings, it has been explained that invocation alone is not enough. Yes, it is essential that it is accompanied with action, efforts and perseverance. Then, the one who seeks sustenance, it is necessary that this invocation is supplemented with efforts. Similarly, the one who is in quest for knowledge and intends to keep away ignorance, it is obligatory that his supplication should be accompanied with striving towards acquisition of knowledge. Therefore, in our supplications you find lesson on beliefs, ethics and Islamic injunctions. Let us take Du’a al-Jaushan Kabeer as an instance which contains concepts on monotheism. Or Du’a al-Makarem al-Akhlaq which comprises of discussions on nobility and ethics. It is necessary that a believer adorns himself with these traits and characteristics. Du’a al-Abu Hamza al-Thumali shows the domination of divine mercy over divine wrath. Du’a al-Nudba explains for us the series of Allah’s proofs (peace be on them all) among His creatures from Hazrat Adam (‘a) to the Holy Prophet (S) till Hazrat Mahdi (AJ) and the tortures they faced from the people. Du’a al-Faraj elucidates that Hazrat Sahib uz-Zaman (AJ) is the only heir of the Holy Prophet (S) and will fill the earth with justice and equity like it would be fraught with injustice and oppression. By his reappearance, the statement, ‘There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger and Ali is the friend of Allah’ will become widespread, thereby resulting in the prevalence of Allah’s (Purified and High be He) true worship.

• 1. Majma al-Bahrain, vol. 2, pg. 442.
• 2. Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 42. Online at: https://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-1-sermons/sermon-42-o-peopl...