There is no doubt that supplication plays a very important role in the life of every human being and influences his happiness, the fulfilment of his wishes and desires, and the realizations of his hopes and aspirations. This is especially true when all the doors are closed to an individual, and all the material means at his disposal are of no avail; it is then that a person turns to supplication and whispers to the Mighty Lord who has power over all things - just as Allah says:

ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ

“Call unto Me, I will answer you” (40:60).

In fact, supplication is not limited only to times of need. It should be part of one’s daily routine because it strengthens the ties of a servant with his Lord and gives him spiritual purity, illuminating his heart. Through it, he can reach the heights of human perfection.

It is for this reason that the close friends of Allah, the Glorified, always supplicate to Him and take pleasure in supplication, making it an integral part of their lives. Many supplications have been narrated from al-Sayyida Fatimah al-Zahra (‘a), as she regularly used to supplicate to her Lord with these invocations. In the following pages, we will mention a few examples of these supplications in order to derive benefit therefrom:

1. One of the supplications that she was taught by the Prophet of Allah (S) was:

Abu al-Mufadhdhal Muhammad Ibn Abdillah Ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib al-Shaybani has recorded in the third volume of his Amali, narrating from al-Hasan Ibn Ali (‘a), from his mother Fatimah Bint Rasul Allah (S), that the Prophet said to her: “O my daughter, should I not teach you a supplication that none recites but that he is answered, and by which no magic or poison can affect you, no enemy can harm you, Satan cannot come to you, and through which the Most Merciful Lord will never turn away from you, your heart will never go astray, your prayer will never go unanswered and all your needs will be fulfilled?”

She said: “O father, that would be more beloved to me than the whole world and all that it contains.” He said: “Recite the following”:

يا أعزَّ مذكور وأقدمه قدماً في العزّ والجبروت، يا رحيم كل مسترحم، ومفزع كل ملهوف إليه، يا راحم كل حزين يشكو بثّة وحُزنه إليه، يا خير مَن سُئل المعروف وأسرعهُ إعطاءً، يا مَن يخاف الملائكة - المتوقّدة بالنور - منه؛ أسألك بالأسماء التي يدعوك بها حَمَلَة عَرشك، ومَن حولَ عرشك بِنورك يُسبِّحون شفقةً من خوف عقابك، وبالأسماء التي يدعوك بها جبرئيل وميكائيل وإسرافيل إلاّ أجبتني وكشفت - يا إلهي - كُربتي، وسترت ذنوبي.

O Greatest remembered one, and the First of the foremost in Power and Glory. O Most Merciful to all who seek mercy and Granter of refuge to all those who turn to Him. O He who shows compassion to all those who complain to Him about their sorrow and grief. O He who is the best one to be asked for goodness and the quickest in giving it. O He whom the angels, who are surrounded by light, are afraid of. I beseech You with the names that the bearers of Your Divine Throne, and those who surround it, glorify and implore You with, out of fear of Your chastisement. And by Your names that Jibra’il, Mika’il and Israfil call unto You with – I beseech You to answer my supplication and remove my hardship and cover up my sins.

يا مَن أمر بالصيحة في خلقه فإذا هُم بالساهرة يُحشرون، وبذلك الاسم الذي أحييت به العظام وهي رميم، أحيِ قلبي، واشرح صدري، وأصلح شأني.

O He who shall command the Cry to be called among His creation So, that they awaken and are resurrected. By that name with which You give life to the bones when they have turned to dust, I implore You to give life to my heart, open my breast and mend my condition.

ا مَن خصَّ نفسه بالبقاء، وخلَق لبريّته الموت والحياة والفناء يا مَن فعلُه قول، وقوله أمرٌ، وأمرُه ماضٍ على ما يشاء؛ أسألك بالاسم الذي دعاك به خليلك حين أُلقي في النار، فدعاك به فاستجبت له، وقلت: (يَا نَارُ كُونِي بَرْداً وَسَلاماً عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ). وبالاسم الذي دعاك به موسى من جانب الطور الأيمن فاستجبتَ له. وبالاسم الذي خلقتَ به عيسى من روح القُدُس، وبالاسم الذي تُبتَ على داود، وبالاسم الذي وهبتَ لزكريا يحيى، وبالاسم الذي كشفتَ به عن أيوب الضُرَّ، وتُبتَ به على داود، وسخَّرت به لسليمان الريح تجري بأمره، والشياطين وعلّمته منطق الطير. وبالاسم الذي خلقتَ به العرش، وبالاسم الذي خلقت به الكرسي، وبالاسم الذي خلقتَ به الرَّوحانيين، وبالاسم الذي خلقتَ به الجنّ والإنس، وبالاسم الذي خلقتَ به جميع خلقك، وبالاسم الذي خلقت به جميع ما أردتَ من شيء وبالاسم الذي قَدَرتَ به على كل شيء.

O He who has distinguished Himself with everlastingness, and has created for His servants death, life and annihilation. O He whose action is a word and whose word is a command and whose command flows in accordance with His will. I ask You by the name that Your friend [Ibrahim] called You with when he was being thrown into the fire, and by which You answered him and said: ‘O fire, be cool and safe for Ibrahim.’ And by the name with which Musa called unto You from the right side of the mountain, and You answered him. And by the name through which You created ‘Isa from the Holy Spirit, and by the name through which You forgave Dawud, and by the name through which You gifted Yahya to Zakariyya, and by the name through which You removed distress from Ayyub, and forgave Dawud, and made the wind and the devils subservient to Sulayman and taught him the speech of birds.

And by the name through which You created the Divine Throne. By the name through which You created the Seat [of Divine Authority]. And by the name through which You created the immaterial beings. By the name through which You created the Jinn and Man. And by the name through which You created Your entire creation. By the name through which You created all the things that You intended and by the name through which You exercise Your authority over all things.

أسألك بهذه الأسماء إلاّ ما أعطيتني سؤلي، وقضيت حوائجي يا كريم.

I ask You, by all these names, to grant my wish and to fulfil my desire, O Most Benevolent One!

For Indeed, if you recite this, the answer will be: ‘Yes, yes, O Fatimah!’”1

2. Another supplication from our mistress Fatimah al-Zahra (‘a):

اللّهمّ قنِّعني بما رزقتني، واستُرني وعافني أبداً ما أبقيتني، واغفر لي وارحمني إذا توفَّيتني. اللّهمّ لا تُعيني في طلب ما لا تُقدِّر لي، وما قدّرته عليَّ فاجعله ميسّراً سهلاً. اللّهمّ كافِ عنّي والديَّ - وكلّ مَن له نعمةٌ عليّ - خير مكافاة. اللّهمّ فرِّغني لما خلقتني له، ولا تشغلني بما تكفّلتَ لي به، ولا تعذِّبني وأنا أستغفرك، ولا تَحرمني وانا أسالك. اللّهمّ ذلِّل نفسي في نفسي، وعظِّم شأنك في نفسي، وألهِمني طاعتك، والعملَ بما يُرضيك، والتجنُّب عمّا يُسخطك، يا أرحم الراحمين.

O Allah, make me content with what You have given me. Hide my faults and give me good health for as long as You give me life and forgive me and have mercy on me when You give me death. O Allah do not let me undergo hardship in seeking that which You have not decreed for me, and make that which You have decreed for me easy to acquire. O Allah, repay my parents, and all those who have a right over me for the good they have done to me, with the best of rewards. O Allah, enable me to discharge that which You have created me for, and do not let me get engrossed in [seeking] the things that You have guaranteed for me. Do not punish me while I plead for Your forgiveness, and do not deprive me while I beg from You. O Allah, lower me in my own estimation and increase Your awe in my heart. Inspire me to worship You and do the things that please You and eschew the actions that displease You, O Most Merciful of the merciful. 2

3. One day the Prophet (S) came to Fatimah (‘a) and found that al-Hasan (‘a) was not well. The Prophet was very distressed So, Jibra’il (‘a) descended and said, “O Muhammad, do you want me to teach you a supplication that will cure al-Hasan of his ailment if you recite it?” He said, “Yes.” Jibra’il said, “Say:

اللّهمّ لا إله إلاّ أنتَ العليُّ العظيم، ذو السلطان القديم، والمنِّ العظيم، والوجه الكريم، لا إله إلاّ أنت العلي العظيم، وليّ الكلمات التامّات والدعوات المستجابات، حُلَّ ما أصبح بفُلان.

O Allah, there is no Lord but You, the Greatest and Most High, the Pre-eternal Sovereign, Bestower of the Great Blessing, the Most Generous. There is no God but You, the Most High, the Great. You are the Custodian of the perfect words and the answered supplications. I beseech You to remove the distress of so-and- so.”

So the Prophet (S) recited it and then placed his hand on the forehead of al-Hasan (‘a), and by the Grace of Allah, he was cured.3

4. The Supplication of Light (Du’a al-Nur):

This supplication is well known among the Shi’ah. The Supplication of Light has been narrated from al-Sayyida Fatimah al-Zahra (‘a). It has been tried and tested throughout the ages and has proven to be an especially effective cure for fever. Many of our scholars have mentioned it in their books of supplications and traditions, including al-Sayyid Ibn Tawus in his book Muhaj al-Da’awat.

The summary of this tradition is that al-Sayyida Fatimah al-Zahra (‘a) taught this supplication to Salman al-Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: “If you wish never to be afflicted by fever in this world, then pay heed to these words that have been taught to me by my father, Muhammad (S). [Whenever I had a fever] I would recite this in the day and at night:

سمِ الله الرّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ بسم الله النور، بسم الله نور النور، بسم الله نور من نور، بسم الله الذي هو مدبّر الأمور، بسم الله الذي خلق النور من النور، الحمد لله الذي خلق النور من النور، وأنزل النور على الطُور، في كتاب مَسطور في رَقٍّ منشور، بَقَدرٍ مقدور، على نبيٍّ مَحبُور، الحمد لله الذي هو بالعِزّ مذكور، وبالفخر مشهور، وعلى السَّرَّاء والضَّرَّاء مشكور، وصلّى الله على سيّدنا محمد وآله الطاهرين.

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. In the name of Allah, the Light. In the name of Allah, the Light of light. In the name of Allah, Light over light. In the name of Allah, the One who manages all affairs. In the name of Allah who created light from Light. Praise be to Allah who created light from Light and sent down Light on the mountain (Tur), in the inscribed book, in the unrolled parchment, by a determined measure, on the Prophet, the giver of glad tidings. Praise be to Allah, who is remembered with awe and reverence, who is known to be the Most Glorious, and who is thankfully praised in times of joy and distress. And salutations and blessings of Allah on our master, Muhammad, and on his pure progeny.”4

Salman said: “By Allah, I have taught this to more than a thousand people who were afflicted with fever in Makkah and Madinah, and they got cured from it by the permission of Allah.”

5. In Kashf al-Ghummah: From ‘Abdullah Ibn al-Hasan, from his mother Fatimah Bint al-Husayn, from Fatimah (‘a) who said, “Whenever the Prophet of Allah entered the masjid he would say:

بسم الله، والحمد لله، وصلّى الله على رسول الله، اللّهمّ اغفر لي ذنوبي، وسهِّل لي أبواب رحمتك.

In the Name of Allah and all praise belongs to Allah; and blessings and salutations of Allah upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, forgive my sins and open for me the doors of Your mercy.

And when he came out of the masjid, he would say the same thing except that he would add ‘…the doors of Your mercy and grace.’”5

6. From Zayn al-’Abidin (‘a) who said: “My father (‘a) held me close to his chest on the day of his martyrdom, while blood was flowing from his body, and said: ‘O my son, remember this supplication which was taught to me by my mother Fatimah (‘a), who in turn learnt it from the Messenger of Allah (S), who was taught by Jibra’il (‘a) that in times of grief, sorrow and hardship, and when great calamity befalls, one should recite:

بحقّ يس والقرآن الحكيم، وبحق طه والقرآن العظيم، يا مَن يقدر على حوائج السائلين، يا مَن يعلم ما في الضمير، يا منفِّس عن المكروبين يا مفرّج عن المغمومين يا راحم الشيخ الكبير، يا رازق الطفل الصغير، يا مَن لا يحتاج إلى التفسير صلِّ على محمد وآل محمد، وافعل بي... (تذكر الحاجة).

By the right of Yasin and the Qur’an full of wisdom, and by the right of Taha and the great Qur’an; O He who is able to fulfil the desires of those who ask, O He who knows what is in the heart, O He who banishes sorrow from the sorrowful, O He who dispels grief from those who grieve, O He who is merciful to the aged, O He who provides for the infant child, O He who needs no explanation, send blessings upon Muhammad and his progeny and grant me…(mention your wishes).’”6

7. Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) said: “Fatimah (‘a) one day came to her father (S) complaining about a toothache. The Prophet (S) placed his right index finger on her aching tooth and recited:

بسم الله وبالله، أسألك بعزَّتك وجلالك وقدرتك على كل شيء، إنّ مريم لم تلد غير عيسى روحِك وكلمتك، أن تكشف ما تلقى فاطمة بنت خديجة من الضُرِّ كلِّه.

In the name of Allah and by Allah; I ask You by You might and majesty, and by Your power over all things - by the fact that Maryam did not give birth to anyone other than ‘Isa, Your Soul and Word - that you relieve all the pain that is being felt by Fatimah Bint Khadijah.

As soon as he said this, she was relieved and felt no more pain…”7

8. It is narrated that when Fatimah once visited the Prophet (S), he asked her, “Should I not give you some provision?” She replied, “Yes.” He said, “Recite the following:

اللّهمّ ربّنا وربّ كل شيء، مُنزل التوراة والإنجيل والفرقان، فالق الحب والنوى، أعوذ بك من كل دابّة أنت آخذ بناصيتها، أنت الأوّل فليس قبلك شيء، وأنت الآخر فليس بعدك شيء، وأنت الظاهر فليس فوقك شيء وأنت الباطن فليس دونك شيء، صلِّ على محمّدٍ وعلى أهل بيته عليهم‌السلام، واقض عني الدَين، وأغنني من الفقر، ويسّر لي كل أمر يا أرحم الراحمين.

O Allah, our Lord and the Lord of all things, the Revealer of the Tawrat, Injil and Furqan, the splitter of seeds and kernels. I seek Your protection from the evil of every living being that You hold by its forelock. You are the First, nothing existed before You and You are the Last, nothing shall exist after You. You are the Manifest, there is nothing above You and You are the Hidden, there is nothing beneath You. Send Your blessings on Muhammad and his household, upon him and them be peace, and repay my debts, and remove me from poverty, and make every matter easy for me, O Most Merciful of those who show mercy!”8

9. Ali (‘a) said: “Fatimah once complained to the Prophet of Allah (S) of sleeplessness, So, he told her: ‘O daughter, recite:

ا مشبع البطون الجائعة، ويا كاسي الجسوم العارية، ويا ساكن العروق الضاربة، ويا منوِّم العيون الساهرة، سكِّن عروقي الضاربة، وائذن لعيني نوماً عاجلاً.

O He who satiates the hungry stomachs, O He who clothes the naked bodies, O He who calms the palpitating hearts, O He who gives rest to the sleepless eyes, calm my anxious heart and let my eyes get sleep quickly.’

He (‘a) said: “When she recited this, her problem went away [and she got sleep].”9

10. The following supplication was [also] narrated from al-Sayyida Fatimah (‘a):

اللّهمَّ بعلمك الغيب، وقدرتك على الخَلق، أحيني ما علمتَ الحياة خيراً لي، وتوفَّني إذا كانت الوفاة خيراً لي، اللّهمّ إنّي أسألك كلمة الإخلاص، وخشيتك في الرضا والغضب، والقصد في الغنى والفقر، وأسألك نعيماً لا ينفد، وأسألك قرَّة عينٍ لا تنقطع، وأسألك الرضا بالقضاء، وأسألك بَردَ العيش بعد الموت، وأسألك النظر إلى وجهك والشوق إلى لقائك، من غير ضرّاء مضرَّة، ولا فتنةٍ مظلمة، اللّهمَّ زينّا بزينة الإيمان، واجعلنا هداةً مهديِّين يا ربّ العالمين.

O Allah, by Your knowledge of the unseen and Your power over the creation, give me life if You know life is good for me and cause me to die if death is better for me. O Allah I ask you for sincerity in my actions, and that I remain fearful of Your majesty in times of happiness and anger, and moderate in wealth and poverty. And I ask You for incessant blessings, and for coolness of the eyes that does not stop, and for satisfaction with Your divine decree. I ask for a good life after death, and I ask You to allow me to look upon Your countenance10and have a yearning for meeting You, without any harm or tribulation [befalling me]. O Allah, adorn us with the ornament of faith and place us among the guided leaders, O Lord of the worlds.11

• 1. Ali Ibn Musa Ibn Tawus (d. 664 A.H.), Muhaj al-Da’awat wa Manhaj al-’Ibadat, pp. 139-141.
• 2. Muhaj al-Da’awat wa Manhaj al-’Ibadat, pp. 141.
• 3. Muhaj al-Da’awat wa Manhaj al-’Ibadat, pp. 141.
• 4. Muhaj al-Da’awat wa Manhaj al-’Ibadat, pp. 7.
• 5. Kashf al-Ghummah, vol. 1, p. 553.
• 6. Qutb al-Din al-Rawandi (d. 573 A.H.), al-Da’awat, p. 54.
• 7. Makarim al-Akhlaq, p. 406.
• 8. Muhaj al-Da’awat, p. 142, and in Dhakha’ir al-’Uqba, p. 49, Fatimah (‘a) asked her father for a slave girl So, he taught her this supplication.
• 9. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 76, p. 213.
• 10. Meaning: ‘allow me to gain Your mercy and favour’ – since we do not believe that Allah is a body that has a perceivable countenance.
• 11. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 94, p. 225.