A Collection of Supplications and
Devotional Rituals Attributed to Imam al-Mahdi (as)

Compiled by
Shaykh Isa Ahari

Translated by
Hamid Tehrani & Afzal Sumar

Allama Tabataba’i said, ‘I once had a discussion with Henri Corbin about supplications. I asked him, ‘What do you do when you feel that you need to supplicate?’… Corbin said, ‘I avail myself of the supplications reported from your Twelfth Imam. Since the person who has composed these supplications is alive, they inspire special fervour.’

— From Preface by Shaykh Isa Ahari

There are 42 supplications in this book. Each supplication has a note which explains how it originated from the 12th Imam (as) and reached his partisans (i.e., the Shi’a). All the notes appear as endnotes at the end of the book. Each note also provides information of the earlier works where the supplication is recorded. The work is, therefore, of benefit both for the laity and the scholars.

The following shows the supplications included in this edition, followed by the page number in the book:

1. The Supplication for Deliverance 1
2. The Supplication for Knowledge 3
3. The Supplication of the Unity of God 16
4. The Supplication of the Egyptian Alid 20
5. The Supplication of Blessings [al-Salawat] for Friday 59
6. The Supplication for the Fulfilment of Wishes 67
7. The Supplication for Accomplishment and Realisation 70
8. The Supplication for Wisdom 71
9. The Supplication for the Day of Bi’that 75
10. The Supplication for Everlasting Favours 77
11. The Supplication for Rajab 81
12. The Supplication for Relief from Difficulty 83
13. A General Supplication 86
14. The Supplication for General Concerns 88
15. The Supplication for Qunut 91
16. Another Supplication for Qunut 94
17. The Supplication of the Qa’im (as) 100
18. The Glorification [al-Tasbih] Recited by the Qa’im (as) 102
19. The Supplication for Relief from Distress 103
20. The Supplication for Deliverance from Hardships 105
21. The Supplication for a Cure 107
22. The Supplication of the Master of the Affair (as) 108
23. The Supplication of Veiling 109
24. The Supplication for Seeking Wellbeing 111
25. The Supplication for Refuge and Protection 113
26. The Supplication of Visitation 114
27. The Supplication of Lamentation [al-Nudba] 116
28. The Supplication for the Obtainment of Security and Protection 139
29. The Supplication of the Initiation of God’s Praise [al-Iftitah] 142
30. A Supplication for a Portion of the Night 156
31. A Supplication for Seeking the Best
and for Seeking Fulfillment of Needs 160
32. The Supplication of Tears 163
33. The Supplication after the Dawn Ritual Prayer
on the Day of Eid al-Fitr 181
34. The Supplication at the Moment of Orienting the Self
for Prayers, Which Is after the First Takbir 192
35. The Supplication after the dhikr of the Bowing [al-Ruku’]
in the Daily Obligatory Ritual Prayers 194
36. The Supplication after the Daily Obligatory Ritual Prayers 195
37. A Ritual to Seek Felicity and Wellbeing 196
38. A Supplication to Seek Solutions for Straitened Affairs 199
39. The Imam’s Supplication for the Forgiveness of
the Sins of Their Partisans [Shi’a] 200
40. The Twelfth Imam’s Supplication at the Time of His Birth 202
41. A Supplication for the One Who Enters the Place of the Twelfth Imam 203
42. The Supplication after Ziyarat al-Nahiya 205

This volume offers commentary on five Meccan chapters: Sūrah al-Shūrā (Chapter 42), Sūrah al-Zukhruf (Chapter 43), Sūrah al-Dukhān (Chapter 44), Sūrah al-Jāthiyah (Chapter 45), and Sūrah al-Aḥqāf (Chapter 46), exploring revelation, monotheism, and the consequences of belief and disbelief.

In Sūrah al-Shūrā, ʿAllāmah reflects on revelation’s role in divine mercy and justice, highlighting the “Verse of Affection” (42:23) that enjoins love for the Prophet’s family. The chapter emphasizes sustenance (rizq) and the recognition of God’s unity.

Sūrah al-Zukhruf critiques idolatry, refutes claims of divine offspring, and contrasts worldly adornments with eternal paradise. Sūrah al-Dukhān focuses on revelation during Laylat al-Qadr, presenting the Qur’an as guidance and contrasting it with the fate of past nations.

In Sūrah al-Jāthiyah, reflections on God’s signs emphasize His oneness and the consequences of ignoring divine guidance. The theme of deeds recorded for judgment underscores accountability. Sūrah al-Aḥqāf addresses resurrection, the oneness of God, and the destruction of Hūd’s people as a warning for disbelievers.

Philosophical discussions on divine speech, free will, and justice are seamlessly integrated with historical narratives, offering a comprehensive understanding of the Qur’anic worldview. This volume provides profound insights into faith, morality, and divine guidance.

Divine Justice is the special prerogative of theology, but Murtada Mutahhari is exceptional. In this book he chooses to approach the subject from an altogether different perspective. He uses philosophical methods to solve the problems and questions that surround the issue of Divine Justice - such questions as have beset humankind from time immemorial. The success of his efforts are seen in the fact that his book has become a classic of contemporary Islamic literature.

Divine Justice is the ideological and intellectual master piece of great contemporary scholar Martyr Murtaza Mutahhari. In this book, Mutahhari has explained in depth very delicate and sensitive topic of Divine Justice from various aspects. Today’s curious young and intellectual minds seek answers to many questions and dilemma as to what is the purpose of creation? Why has God created devil or Satan to lure human beings towards sin? Why God allows the wicked and cruel to become powerful and oppress weak and downtrodden? Why calamities and hardships befall innocent human beings? Why downfall of nations occurs? Why natural disasters happen that apparently harm those who have done no sin, crime or injustice? How the intercession of people from different religion will take place? Are all those who claim to be Muslims and do sinful actions going to be forgiven? What will be the divine judgment about those human beings who have done good actions but do not believe in God? Will they go to Hell? In Divine Justice, Martyr Mutahhari answers these important and perplexing questions.

For many people, the primordial Fall of humankind from Heaven to Earth is a tale filled with blame and myth. In this treatment, the Fall is examined from a mystico-philosophical perspective, calling upon essential elements of both Islamic and Western philosophy, new and old. It speaks of the world and heavens from and which the Fall took place. By taking into consideration the pivotal role of sin and rebellion against heaven, this work surveys the historical facets of the Fall, tracing its various stages – from the divine heavens to its entry into the mythical realms – until its final station and the appearance of the modern world. The study continues by expounding the various interpretations of man and the universe in the stages of the Fall and culminates by addressing the plight of contemporary man and the difficulties of the modern anthropological perspective. Intuitive and optimistic, it leaves the reader with a strong sense of hope in human potential and the human condition.

Hamid Parsania is an Iranian cleric with tens of books and articles to his credit on subjects such as philosophy and mysticism. He is currently the chancellor of the Bāqir al-ʿUlūm University in Qum.

The Unknown Imams provides for the first time in English an accessible historical record of the life and thought of the Four Unknown Imams. It is a sad reality that no historical record of their lives and thoughts has been readily accessible to the wider Muslim community or to the English-speaking world at large to date. These incredible personalities were peerless exemplars of the Prophetic Sunna, which is why their words and actions still ring true today.

The Unknown Imams introduces the many dimensions of the noble characters of these luminous exemplars in a highly accessible and engaging narrative form that is suitable for all ages and ranges of understanding. Once one reads the accounts of the lives of these Imams, each chapter of which is like experiencing the uncovering of a priceless treasure trove. What rings true is that they were indeed divinely inspired and guided personalities, whose words and deeds are exemplary assets that will serve the community until the Resurrection.

The reader of these informative chapters in the lives of the hitherto unknown Imams will come away with a sense of intimacy with these illustrious personalities, and with a sense of how each of them interacted with their followers, their detractors, and the ruling authorities of their times, and is sure to feel a genuine sense of deep affection and love for them. At the same time, their histories will necessarily also impart a sense of grief, sorrow and outrage for the cruel and unjust ways they were all treated by the reigning Abbāsid caliphs of their respective times.

► Humans are comprised of a body and a soul, yet most of them take care of their bodies and forget about their souls. This book wakes them up, the author hopes, and provides them with a dose of spirituality which they may never have had before. The book is written for everyone, and its stories will appeal to many, if not most, people who will find in them beauty and universality: There is One God, one human family started by Adam and Eve, one truth, one heaven, one hell, one right and one wrong... and one religion. Call any of these by any name, it does not matter, for calling a rose by any other name does not change its beauty, hue, aroma or anything else. So is the case particularly with God whom the Muslims prefer to call "Allah" for reasons which the book explains. It discusses the "99 Attributes of Allah" or how Muslims view their Creator. Knowing a maker is done by knowing what he makes. It discusses not only prominent figures but other beings as well: jinns (or genies), angels, demons, etc. It narrates interesting tales about a number of God's prophets and messengers such as Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, Solomon and Jesus Christ, peace with them all and many, many salutations.

Does God exist? If yes, then why can’t we see Him? If we can’t see him then how can we be sure of His existence? If God exists, then why did He create the universe and what is the purpose and goal of my life? If God is all powerful, then how can we have free will? If we don’t have free will then how can He hold us responsible for our actions? There is so much suffering and evil in this world that a merciful and powerful God seems improbable. These and many other similar questions cross our minds at least at some point in our life. Some say that in this era, science can explain how the universe came into existence and how life evolved on earth, giving science the status of an idol and rendering believe in a Creator unnecessary. Science gives us facts and we should follow reason rather than revelation. We can be good to others without a need to follow a particular religion. Moreover, there are many religions and people generally follow the religion of their upbringing. How can one religion be better than others, or else it will be unfair to the rest? In “God and god of science” debut author, syed hasan raza jafri presents a world view based on monotheism and attempts to answer some of these challenging questions. Drawing from revelation, philosophy, mysticism and modern scientific knowledge, Dr. Jafri synthesizes a world view that is bound to challenge your perspective about the reality of existence. This book will change your understanding not only about your life but also about yourself.