Al Hisn Al Hasin 16 - Merits of the Qur'an

الْحِصْنُ الْحَصِينُ

al-Ḥiṣn al-Ḥaṣīn

THE IMPREGNABLE FORTRESS

From the Words of the Master of the Messengers

مِنْ كَلَامِ سَيِّدِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﷺ

IMAM IBN AL-JAZARĪ

Abū al-Khayr Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad Ibn al-Jazarī · d. 833 AH 

فَضْلُ الْقُرْآنِ الْعَظِيمِ وَسُوَرٍ مِنْهُ وَآيَاتٍ

faḍlu al-qurʾāni al-ʿaẓīmi wa-suwarin minhu wa-ʾāyātin

THE MERIT OF THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN, SOME OF ITS SURAHS, AND SOME VERSES

«اقْرَؤُوا الْقُرْآنَ، فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شَفِيعًا لِأَصْحَابِهِ» [م].

«iqraʾū al-qurʾāna, fa-ʾinnahu yaʾtī yawma al-qiyāmati shafīʿan li-ʾaṣḥābihi» [م].

“Recite the Qur'an, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those devoted to it” [م].

«يَقُولُ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى: مَنْ شَغَلَهُ الْقُرْآنُ عَنْ ذِكْرِي وَمَسْأَلَتِي، أَعْطَيْتُهُ أَفْضَلَ مَا أُعْطِي السَّائِلِينَ».

«yaqūlu Allāhu subḥānahu wa-taʿālā: man shaghalahu al-qurʾānu ʿan dhikrī wa-masʾalatī, ʾaʿṭaytuhu ʾafḍala mā ʾuʿṭī al-sāʾilīna».

“Allah, Glorified and Exalted, says: Whoever is kept busy by the Qur'an from remembering Me and asking of Me, I give them better than what I give those who ask.”

«وَفَضْلُ كَلَامِ اللَّهِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْكَلَامِ كَفَضْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى عَلَى خَلْقِهِ» [ت، م، ي].

«wa-faḍlu kalāmi Allāhi ʿalā sāʾiri al-kalāmi kafaḍli Allāhi taʿālā ʿalā khalqihi» [ت، م، ي].

“The superiority of Allah's speech over all other speech is like the superiority of Allah Most High over His creation” [ت، م، ي].

«تَعَلَّمُوا الْقُرْآنَ وَاقْرَؤُوهُ، فَإِنَّ مَثَلَ الْقُرْآنِ لِمَنْ تَعَلَّمَهُ، فَقَرَأَهُ، وَقَامَ بِهِ، كَمَثَلِ جِرَابٍ مُلِئَ مِسْكًا، يَفُوحُ رِيحُهُ فِي كُلِّ مَكَانٍ؛ وَمَثَلُ مَنْ يَتَعَلَّمُهُ، فَيَرْقُدُ وَهُوَ فِي جَوْفِهِ، كَمَثَلِ جِرَابٍ أُوكِيَ عَلَى مِسْكٍ» [ت، س، ق، حب].

«taʿallamū al-qurʾāna wa-iqraʾūhu, fa-ʾinna mathala al-qurʾāni liman taʿallamahu, fa-qaraʾahu, wa-qāma bihi, kamathali jirābin muliʾa miskan, yafūḥu rīḥuhu fī kulli makānin; wa-mathalu man yataʿallamuhu, fa-yarqudu wa-huwa fī jawfihi, kamathali jirābin ʾūkiya ʿalā miskin» [ت، س، ق، حب].

“Learn the Qur'an and recite it. The example of the Qur'an for one who learns it, recites it, and stands in prayer with it is that of a bag filled with musk whose fragrance spreads everywhere. The example of one who learns it, then sleeps while it is within him, is that of a bag of musk whose mouth has been tied shut” [ت، س، ق، حب].

«مَنْ قَرَأَ حَرْفًا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَلَهُ بِهِ حَسَنَةٌ، وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا، لَا أَقُولُ «الٓمٓ» حَرْفٌ: أَلِفٌ حَرْفٌ، وَلَامٌ حَرْفٌ، وَمِيمٌ حَرْفٌ» [ت].

«man qaraʾa ḥarfan min kitābi Allāhi fa-lahu bihi ḥasanatun, wa-l-ḥasanatu biʿashri ʾamthālihā, lā ʾaqūlu «ʾAlif Lām Mīm» ḥarfun: ʾalifun ḥarfun, wa-lāmun ḥarfun, wa-mīmun ḥarfun» [ت].

“Whoever recites one letter from the Book of Allah receives one good deed for it, and each good deed is multiplied tenfold. I do not say that ‘Alif-Lam-Mim’ is one letter: alif is one letter, lam is one letter, and mim is one letter” [ت].

«لَا حَسَدَ إِلَّا فِي اثْنَتَيْنِ: رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْقُرْآنَ، فَهُوَ يَقُومُ بِهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَآنَاءَ النَّهَارِ، وَرَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالًا فَهُوَ يُنْفِقُهُ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَآنَاءَ النَّهَارِ» [خ، م].

«lā ḥasada ʾillā fī ithnatayni: rajulun ʾātāhu Allāhu al-qurʾāna, fa-huwa yaqūmu bihi ʾānāʾa al-layli wa-ʾānāʾa al-nahāri, wa-rajulun ʾātāhu Allāhu mālan fa-huwa yunfiquhu ʾānāʾa al-layli wa-ʾānāʾa al-nahāri» [خ، م].

“There is no rightful envy except in two cases: a man to whom Allah has given the Qur'an and who stands in prayer with it throughout the night and day, and a man to whom Allah has given wealth and who spends it throughout the night and day” [خ، م].

«وَيُقَالُ لِصَاحِبِ الْقُرْآنِ: اقْرَأْ، وَارْتَقِ، وَرَتِّلْ كَمَا كُنْتَ تُرَتِّلُ فِي الدُّنْيَا، فَإِنَّ مَنْزِلَتَكَ عِنْدَ آخِرِ آيَةٍ تَقْرَؤُهَا» [د، ت].

«wa-yuqālu liṣāḥibi al-qurʾāni: iqraʾ, wa-irtaqi, wa-rattil kamā kunta turattilu fī al-dunyā, fa-ʾinna manzilataka ʿinda ʾākhiri ʾāyatin taqraʾuhā» [د، ت].

“It will be said to the companion of the Qur'an, ‘Recite and ascend, and recite with measured cadence as you used to recite in this world, for your rank will be at the last verse you recite’” [د، ت].

«الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَهُوَ مَاهِرٌ بِهِ مَعَ السَّفَرَةِ الْكِرَامِ الْبَرَرَةِ»،

«alladhī yaqraʾu al-qurʾāna wa-huwa māhirun bihi maʿa al-safarati al-kirāmi al-bararati»,

“The one who recites the Qur'an and is proficient in it will be with the noble and righteous scribes,”

(١) الْجِرَابُ: الْوِعَاءُ.

(1) al-jirābu: al-wiʿāʾu.

(1) A jirab is a bag or container.

(٢) مَاهِرٌ بِهِ: أَيْ حَاذِقٌ فِي حِفْظِهِ وَتِلَاوَتِهِ لَا يَتَوَقَّفُ وَلَا يَتَرَدَّدُ عِنْدَ تِلَاوَتِهِ، وَلَا يَشُقُّ عَلَيْهِ قِرَاءَتُهُ لِجَوْدَةِ حِفْظِهِ وَحُسْنِ أَدَائِهِ.

(2) māhirun bihi: ʾay ḥādhiqun fī ḥifẓihi wa-tilāwatihi lā yatawaqqafu wa-lā yataraddadu ʿinda tilāwatihi, wa-lā yashuqqu ʿalayhi qirāʾatuhu lijawdati ḥifẓihi wa-ḥusni ʾadāʾihi.

(2) “Proficient in it” means skilled in memorizing and reciting it: the person neither stops nor hesitates while reciting, and finds its recitation easy because of sound memorization and fine delivery.

وَالسَّفَرَةُ الْكِرَامُ: هُمُ الرُّسُلُ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ، وَقِيلَ الْمُرَادُ بِالسَّفَرَةِ الْكَتَبَةُ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ أَعْمَالَ الْعِبَادِ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ، وَالْبَرَرَةُ الْمُطِيعُونَ، مِنَ الْبِرِّ وَهُوَ الطَّاعَةُ.

wa-l-safaratu al-kirāmu: humu al-rusulu mina al-malāʾikati, wa-qīla al-murādu bi-l-safarati al-katabatu alladhīna yaktubūna ʾaʿmāla al-ʿibādi mina al-malāʾikati, wa-l-bararatu al-muṭīʿūna, mina al-birri wa-huwa al-ṭāʿatu.

“The noble scribes” are the angelic messengers. It is also said that the scribes are the angels who record people's deeds. “The righteous” are those who are obedient; the word comes from birr, meaning obedience.

  

«وَالَّذِي يَقْرَؤُهُ وَيَتَتَعْتَعُ فِيهِ(١)، وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ شَاقٌّ، لَهُ أَجْرَانِ» [خ، م].

«wa-alladhī yaqraʾuhu wa-yatataʿtaʿu fīhi(1), wa-huwa ʿalayhi shāqqun, lahu ʾajrāni» [خ، م].

“While the one who recites it, stumbling over it(1) and finding it difficult, will have two rewards” [خ، م].

«الْفَاتِحَةُ»:

«al-fātiḥatu»:

Surat al-Fatihah:

«أَعْظَمُ سُورَةٍ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ، هِيَ السَّبْعُ الْمَثَانِي، وَالْقُرْآنُ الْعَظِيمُ» [خ، د، س، ق].

«ʾaʿẓamu sūratin mina al-qurʾāni, hiya al-sabʿu al-mathānī, wa-l-qurʾānu al-ʿaẓīmu» [خ، د، س، ق].

“It is the greatest surah in the Qur'an; it is the Seven Oft-Repeated Verses and the Glorious Qur'an” [خ، د، س، ق].

«أُعْطِيتُ فَاتِحَةَ الْكِتَابِ مِنْ تَحْتِ الْعَرْشِ» [مس].

«ʾuʿṭītu fātiḥata al-kitābi min taḥti al-ʿarshi» [مس].

“I was given the Opening of the Book from beneath the Throne” [مس].

بَيْنَا جِبْرِيلُ قَاعِدٌ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ سَمِعَ نَقِيضًا مِنْ فَوْقِهِ، فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ: هَذَا مَلَكٌ نَزَلَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ لَمْ يَنْزِلْ قَطُّ إِلَّا الْيَوْمَ، فَسَلَّمَ وَقَالَ:

baynā jibrīlu qāʿidun ʿinda al-nabiyyi ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam samiʿa naqīḍan min fawqihi, fa-rafaʿa raʾsahu fa-qāla: hādhā malakun nazala ʾilā al-ʾarḍi lam yanzil qaṭṭu ʾillā al-yawma, fa-sallama wa-qāla:

While Gabriel was sitting with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he heard a creaking sound above him. He raised his head and said, “This is an angel who descended to earth today and had never descended before.” The angel greeted them and said,

أَبْشِرْ بِنُورَيْنِ أُوتِيتَهُمَا لَمْ يُؤْتَهُمَا نَبِيٌّ قَبْلَكَ؛ فَاتِحَةُ الْكِتَابِ، وَخَوَاتِيمُ سُورَةِ «الْبَقَرَةِ»، لَنْ تَقْرَأَ بِحَرْفٍ مِنْهُمَا إِلَّا أُعْطِيتَهُ [م، س].

ʾabshir binūrayni ʾūtītahumā lam yuʾtahumā nabiyyun qablaka; fātiḥatu al-kitābi, wa-khawātīmu sūrati «al-baqarati», lan taqraʾa biḥarfin minhumā ʾillā ʾuʿṭītahu [م، س].

“Rejoice in two lights given to you that were not given to any prophet before you: the Opening of the Book and the concluding verses of Surat al-Baqarah. You will never recite a single letter from either of them without being given what it contains” [م، س].

«الْبَقَرَةُ»:

«al-baqaratu»:

Surat al-Baqarah:

«إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَفِرُّ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ فِيهِ «الْبَقَرَةَ»» [م، ت، س].

«ʾinna al-shayṭāna yafirru mina al-bayti alladhī yaqraʾu fīhi «al-baqarata»» [م، ت، س].

“Satan flees from a house in which Surat al-Baqarah is recited” [م، ت، س].

«اقْرَؤُوهَا، فَإِنَّ أَخْذَهَا بَرَكَةٌ، وَتَرْكَهَا حَسْرَةٌ، وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُهَا الْبَطَلَةُ(٢)» [م].

«iqraʾūhā, fa-ʾinna ʾakhdhahā barakatun, wa-tarkahā ḥasratun, wa-lā yastaṭīʿuhā al-baṭalatu(2)» [م].

“Recite it, for taking hold of it is a blessing, abandoning it brings regret, and sorcerers cannot withstand it”(2) [م].

«لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ سَنَامٌ(٣)، وَسَنَامُ الْقُرْآنِ «الْبَقَرَةُ»» [ت، مس، حب].

«likulli shayʾin sanāmun(3), wa-sanāmu al-qurʾāni «al-baqaratu»» [ت، مس، حب].

“Everything has a summit,(3) and the summit of the Qur'an is Surat al-Baqarah” [ت، مس، حب].

«مَنْ قَرَأَهَا لَيْلًا لَمْ يَدْخُلِ الشَّيْطَانُ بَيْتَهُ ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ، وَمَنْ قَرَأَهَا نَهَارًا لَمْ يَدْخُلِ الشَّيْطَانُ بَيْتَهُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ» [حب].

«man qaraʾahā laylan lam yadkhuli al-shayṭānu baytahu thalātha layālin, wa-man qaraʾahā nahāran lam yadkhuli al-shayṭānu baytahu thalāthata ʾayyāmin» [حب].

“Whoever recites it at night, Satan will not enter that person's house for three nights; and whoever recites it by day, Satan will not enter that person's house for three days” [حب].

«أُعْطِيتُ «الْبَقَرَةَ» مِنَ الذِّكْرِ الْأَوَّلِ» [مس].

«ʾuʿṭītu «al-baqarata» mina al-dhikri al-ʾawwali» [مس].

“I was given Surat al-Baqarah from the scriptures revealed to the earlier prophets” [مس].

«الْبَقَرَةُ» وَ«آلُ عِمْرَانَ»:

«al-baqaratu» wa-«ʾālu ʿimrāna»:

Surat al-Baqarah and Surat Al ʿImran:

«اقْرَؤُوا الزَّهْرَاوَيْنِ: «الْبَقَرَةَ» وَ«آلَ عِمْرَانَ»، فَإِنَّهُمَا يَأْتِيَانِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كَأَنَّهُمَا

«iqraʾū al-zahrāwayni: «al-baqarata» wa-«ʾāla ʿimrāna», fa-ʾinnahumā yaʾtiyāni yawma al-qiyāmati kaʾannahumā

“Recite the two radiant surahs, al-Baqarah and Al ʿImran, for on the Day of Resurrection they will come as though they were

(١) مِنَ التَّتَعْتُعِ وَهُوَ التَّرَدُّدُ فِي قِرَاءَتِهِ لِضَعْفِ حِفْظِهِ أَوْ لِثِقَلِ لِسَانِهِ.

(1) mina al-tataʿtuʿi wa-huwa al-taraddudu fī qirāʾatihi liḍaʿfi ḥifẓihi ʾaw lithiqali lisānihi.

(1) This comes from tataʿtuʿ, meaning hesitation in recitation because of weak memorization or difficulty of speech.

(٢) يُقَالُ أَبْطَلَ إِذَا جَاءَهُ بِالْبَاطِلِ، وَقِيلَ هُمْ مِنَ الشُّجْعَانِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَاطِلِ.

(2) yuqālu ʾabṭala ʾidhā jāʾahu bi-l-bāṭili, wa-qīla hum mina al-shujʿāni min ʾahli al-bāṭili.

(2) The verb abtala is used when someone brings falsehood. It is also said that they are bold people from among those devoted to falsehood.

(٣) سَنَامُ الشَّيْءِ أَعْلَاهُ.

(3) sanāmu al-shayʾi ʾaʿlāhu.

(3) The summit of something is its highest point.

 

غَمَامَتَانِ، أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَيَايَتَانِ، أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا فِرْقَانِ مِنْ طَيْرٍ صَوَافَّ، يُحَاجَّانِ(١) عَنْ أَصْحَابِهِمَا» [م].

ghamāmatāni, ʾaw kaʾannahumā ghayāyatāni, ʾaw kaʾannahumā firqāni min ṭayrin ṣawāffa, yuḥājjāni(1) ʿan ʾaṣḥābihimā» [م].

two clouds, or two canopies, or two flocks of birds in ranks with wings outspread, pleading the case(1) of their companions” [م].

آيَةُ الْكُرْسِيِّ:

ʾāyatu al-kursiyyi:

Ayat al-Kursi:

«هِيَ أَعْظَمُ آيَةٍ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ» [م، د].

«hiya ʾaʿẓamu ʾāyatin fī kitābi Allāhi» [م، د].

“It is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah” [م، د].

«هِيَ سَيِّدَةُ آيِ الْقُرْآنِ» [ت، حب، مس].

«hiya sayyidatu ʾāyi al-qurʾāni» [ت، حب، مس].

“It is the foremost verse of the Qur'an” [ت، حب، مس].

«لَا تَضَعْهَا عَلَى مَالٍ وَلَا وَلَدٍ فَيَقْرَبَهُ شَيْطَانٌ» [م].

«lā taḍaʿhā ʿalā mālin wa-lā waladin fa-yaqrabahu shayṭānun» [م].

“No property or child over which you recite it will be approached by a devil” [م].

الْآيَتَانِ: ﴿آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ...﴾ آخِرَ سُورَةِ «الْبَقَرَةِ»:

al-ʾāyatāni: ﴿ʾāmana al-rasūlu...﴾ ʾākhira sūrati «al-baqarati»:

The two verses beginning “The Messenger believes...” at the end of Surat al-Baqarah:

«وَلَا يُقْرَآنِ فِي دَارٍ ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ، فَيَقْرَبَهَا شَيْطَانٌ» [ت، س، حب، مس].

«wa-lā yuqraʾāni fī dārin thalātha layālin, fa-yaqrabahā shayṭānun» [ت، س، حب، مس].

“They are not recited in a house for three nights without preventing Satan from coming near it” [ت، س، حب، مس].

«إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَتَمَ «الْبَقَرَةَ» بِآيَتَيْنِ أَعْطَانِيهِمَا مِنْ كَنْزِهِ الَّذِي تَحْتَ عَرْشِهِ، فَتَعَلَّمُوهُنَّ، وَعَلِّمُوهُنَّ نِسَاءَكُمْ وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ، فَإِنَّهَا صَلَاةٌ وَقُرْآنٌ وَدُعَاءٌ»(٢) [مس].

«ʾinna Allāha khatama «al-baqarata» biʾāyatayni ʾaʿṭānīhimā min kanzihi alladhī taḥta ʿarshihi, fa-taʿallamūhunna, wa-ʿallimūhunna nisāʾakum wa-ʾabnāʾakum, fa-ʾinnahā ṣalātun wa-qurʾānun wa-duʿāʾun»(2) [مس].

“Allah concluded Surat al-Baqarah with two verses that He gave me from His treasure beneath His Throne. Learn them and teach them to your wives and children, for they are prayer, Qur'an, and supplication”(2) [مس].

«الْأَنْعَامُ»:

«al-ʾanʿāmu»:

Surat al-Anʿam:

لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ سَبَّحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «لَقَدْ شَيَّعَ(٣) هَذِهِ السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مَا سَدُّوا الْأُفُقَ» [مس].

lammā nazalat sabbaḥa rasūlu Allāhi ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam thumma qāla: «laqad shayyaʿa(3) hādhihi al-sūrata mina al-malāʾikati mā saddū al-ʾufuqa» [مس].

When it was revealed, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) glorified Allah and then said, “So many angels escorted this surah that they filled the horizon” (3) [مس].

«الْكَهْفُ»:

«al-kahfu»:

Surat al-Kahf:

«مَنْ قَرَأَهَا يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ أَضَاءَ لَهُ مِنَ النُّورِ مَا بَيْنَ الْجُمُعَتَيْنِ» [مس].

«man qaraʾahā yawma al-jumuʿati ʾaḍāʾa lahu mina al-nūri mā bayna al-jumuʿatayni» [مس].

“Whoever recites it on Friday will have light shining for them from one Friday to the next” [مس].

«مَنْ قَرَأَهَا لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ أَضَاءَ لَهُ مِنَ النُّورِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ» [مو، ي].

«man qaraʾahā laylata al-jumuʿati ʾaḍāʾa lahu mina al-nūri fīmā baynahu wa-bayna al-bayti al-ʿatīqi» [مو، ي].

“Whoever recites it on Friday night will have light shining for them across the distance between where they are and the Ancient House” [مو، ي].

«مَنْ قَرَأَهَا كَمَا أُنْزِلَتْ كَانَتْ لَهُ نُورًا مِنْ مَقَامِهِ إِلَى مَكَّةَ، وَمَنْ قَرَأَ بِعَشْرِ آيَاتٍ مِنْ آخِرِهَا فَخَرَجَ الدَّجَّالُ لَمْ يُسَلَّطْ عَلَيْهِ» [س، مس].

«man qaraʾahā kamā ʾunzilat kānat lahu nūran min maqāmihi ʾilā makkata, wa-man qaraʾa biʿashri ʾāyātin min ʾākhirihā fa-kharaja al-dajjālu lam yusallaṭ ʿalayhi» [س، مس].

“Whoever recites it as it was revealed will have a light from where they stand all the way to Mecca. If someone recites ten verses from its end and the Antichrist appears, he will not be given power over that person” [س، مس].

(١) غَمَامَتَانِ: يَعْنِي سَحَابَتَيْنِ، وَإِنَّمَا سُمِّيَ غَمَامًا لِأَنَّهُ يَغُمُّ السَّمَاءَ أَيْ يَسْتُرُهَا.

(1) ghamāmatāni: yaʿnī saḥābatayni, wa-ʾinnamā summiya ghamāman liʾannahu yaghummu al-samāʾa ʾay yasturuhā.

(1) “Two clouds” means two masses of cloud. Cloud is called ghamam because it covers the sky—that is, it conceals it.

غَيَايَتَانِ: قَالَ أَبُو عُبَيْدٍ: الْغَيَايَةُ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ أَظَلَّ الْإِنْسَانَ فَوْقَ رَأْسِهِ كَالسَّحَابَةِ وَالْغَاشِيَةِ.

ghayāyatāni: qāla ʾabū ʿubaydin: al-ghayāyatu kullu shayʾin ʾaẓalla al-ʾinsāna fawqa raʾsihi ka-l-saḥābati wa-l-ghāshiyati.

“Two canopies”: Abu ʿUbayd said that a ghayah is anything that shades a person from above, such as a cloud or a covering.

فِرْقَانِ: تَثْنِيَةُ فِرْقٍ، وَهُوَ الْقِطَعُ، أَيْ قِطْعَتَانِ مِنْ طَيْرٍ صَوَافَّ بَاسِطَةٍ أَجْنِحَتَهَا حَالَ طَيَرَانِهَا.

firqāni: tathniyatu firqin, wa-huwa al-qiṭaʿu, ʾay qiṭʿatāni min ṭayrin ṣawāffa bāsiṭatin ʾajniḥatahā ḥāla ṭayarānihā.

“Two flocks”: firqan is the dual of firq, meaning a group. That is, two groups of birds in rows, spreading their wings as they fly.

يُحَاجَّانِ عَنْ أَصْحَابِهِمَا: أَيْ يُقِيمَانِ الْحُجَّةَ لَهُ وَيُجَادِلَانِ عَنْهُ، وَصَاحِبُهُمَا هُوَ الْمُسْتَكْثِرُ مِنْ قِرَاءَتِهِمَا.

yuḥājjāni ʿan ʾaṣḥābihimā: ʾay yuqīmāni al-ḥujjata lahu wa-yujādilāni ʿanhu, wa-ṣāḥibuhumā huwa al-mustakthiru min qirāʾatihimā.

“Pleading the case of their companions” means presenting proof and arguing on their behalf. Their companion is the person who recites the two surahs frequently.

(٢) أَيْ يَقْرَأُ بِهِمَا الْمُصَلِّي فِي صَلَاتِهِ وَيَتْلُو بِهِمَا التَّالِي فِي تِلَاوَتِهِ وَيَدْعُو بِهِمَا الدَّاعِي فِي دُعَائِهِ.

(2) ʾay yaqraʾu bihimā al-muṣallī fī ṣalātihi wa-yatlū bihimā al-tālī fī tilāwatihi wa-yadʿū bihimā al-dāʿī fī duʿāʾihi.

(2) That is, a worshipper recites the two verses in prayer, a reciter reads them as Qur'an, and a supplicant uses them in supplication.

(٣) أَيْ نَزَلَ مُشَيَّعًا لَهَا.

(3) ʾay nazala mushayyaʿan lahā.

(3) That is, it descended while being escorted by them.

  

«مَنْ قَرَأَ سُورَةَ «الْكَهْفِ» كَانَتْ لَهُ نُورًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، مِنْ مَقَامِهِ إِلَى مَكَّةَ، وَمَنْ قَرَأَ بِعَشْرِ آيَاتٍ مِنْ آخِرِهَا، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ الدَّجَّالُ، لَمْ يَضُرَّهُ» [طس].

«man qaraʾa sūrata «al-kahfi» kānat lahu nūran yawma al-qiyāmati, min maqāmihi ʾilā makkata, wa-man qaraʾa biʿashri ʾāyātin min ʾākhirihā, thumma kharaja al-dajjālu, lam yaḍurrahu» [طس].

“Whoever recites Surat al-Kahf will have a light on the Day of Resurrection stretching from where they stand to Mecca. If someone recites ten verses from its end and the Antichrist then appears, he will not harm that person” [طس].

«مَنْ حَفِظَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا عُصِمَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ [د، س] الدَّجَّالِ» [م، د، ت، س].

«man ḥafiẓa ʿashra ʾāyātin min ʾawwalihā ʿuṣima min fitnati [د، س] al-dajjāli» [م، د، ت، س].

“Whoever memorizes ten verses from its beginning will be protected from the trial of [د، س] the Antichrist” [م، د، ت، س].

مَنْ حَفِظَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ [م، د]. مَنْ قَرَأَ الْعَشْرَ [س] الْأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ «الْكَهْفِ» عُصِمَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الدَّجَّالِ [م، د، س].

man ḥafiẓa ʿashra ʾāyātin [م، د]. man qaraʾa al-ʿashra [س] al-ʾawākhira min «al-kahfi» ʿuṣima min fitnati al-dajjāli [م، د، س].

Whoever memorizes ten verses [م، د]—whoever recites the last ten [س] verses of Surat al-Kahf—will be protected from the trial of the Antichrist [م، د، س].

مَنْ قَرَأَ ثَلَاثَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِ «الْكَهْفِ» عُصِمَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الدَّجَّالِ [ت].

man qaraʾa thalātha ʾāyātin min ʾawwali «al-kahfi» ʿuṣima min fitnati al-dajjāli [ت].

Whoever recites three verses from the beginning of Surat al-Kahf will be protected from the trial of the Antichrist [ت].

«مَنْ أَدْرَكَ الدَّجَّالَ فَلْيَقْرَأْ عَلَيْهِ فَوَاتِحَهَا...» الْحَدِيثَ [م، عه]، «فَإِنَّهَا جِوَارٌ لَهُ مِنْ فِتْنَتِهِ» [د].

«man ʾadraka al-dajjāla fa-lyaqraʾ ʿalayhi fa-wātiḥahā...» al-ḥadītha [م، عه], «fa-ʾinnahā jiwārun lahu min fitnatihi» [د].

“Whoever lives to see the Antichrist should recite the opening verses of the surah against him...” to the end of the hadith [م، عه], “for they will protect him from the Antichrist's trial” [د].

[طٰهٰ، وَالطَّوَاسِينُ، وَالْحَوَامِيمُ]:

[Ṭā Hā, wa-l-ṭawāsīnu, wa-l-ḥawāmīmu]:

Ta-Ha, the surahs beginning Ta-Sin, and the surahs beginning Ha-Mim:

«وَأُعْطِيتُ «طٰهٰ»، وَالطَّوَاسِينَ، وَالْحَوَامِيمَ، مِنْ أَلْوَاحِ مُوسَى» [مس].

«wa-ʾuʿṭītu «Ṭā Hā», wa-l-ṭawāsīna, wa-l-ḥawāmīma, min ʾalwāḥi mūsā» [مس].

“I was given Ta-Ha, the surahs beginning Ta-Sin, and the surahs beginning Ha-Mim from the Tablets of Moses” [مس].

[«يٰسٓ»]:

[«Yā Sīn»]:

Surat Ya-Sin:

«قَلْبُ الْقُرْآنِ «يٰسٓ»، لَا يَقْرَأُهَا رَجُلٌ يُرِيدُ اللَّهَ وَالدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ إِلَّا غُفِرَ لَهُ، اقْرَؤُوهَا عَلَى مَوْتَاكُمْ» [س، د، ق، حب].

«qalbu al-qurʾāni «Yā Sīn», lā yaqraʾuhā rajulun yurīdu Allāha wa-l-dāra al-ʾākhirata ʾillā ghufira lahu, iqraʾūhā ʿalā mawtākum» [س، د، ق، حب].

“The heart of the Qur'an is Ya-Sin. No one recites it seeking Allah and the Home of the Hereafter without being forgiven. Recite it over those who are dying” [س، د، ق، حب].

[«الْفَتْحُ»]:

[«al-fatḥu»]:

Surat al-Fath:

«الْفَتْحُ، هِيَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ» [خ، س، ت].

«al-fatḥu, hiya ʾaḥabbu ʾilayya mimmā ṭalaʿat ʿalayhi al-shamsu» [خ، س، ت].

“Surat al-Fath is dearer to me than everything on which the sun has risen” [خ، س، ت].

[«الْمُلْكُ»]:

[«al-mulku»]:

Surat al-Mulk:

﴿تَبَارَكَ﴾ «الْمُلْكُ» ثَلَاثُونَ آيَةً، شَفَعَتْ لِرَجُلٍ حَتَّى غُفِرَ لَهُ [حب، عه، مس].

﴿tabāraka﴾ «al-mulku» thalāthūna ʾāyatan, shafaʿat lirajulin ḥattā ghufira lahu [حب، عه، مس].

“Blessed is He”—Surat al-Mulk—is thirty verses. It interceded for a man until he was forgiven [حب، عه، مس].

«تَسْتَغْفِرُ لِصَاحِبِهَا حَتَّى يُغْفَرَ لَهُ» [حب].

«tastaghfiru liṣāḥibihā ḥattā yughfara lahu» [حب].

“It seeks forgiveness for its companion until he is forgiven” [حب].

«وَدِدْتُ أَنَّهَا فِي قَلْبِ كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ» [مس].

«wadidtu ʾannahā fī qalbi kulli muʾminin» [مس].

“I wish it were in the heart of every believer” [مس].

«يُؤْتَى الرَّجُلُ فِي قَبْرِهِ، فَتُؤْتَى رِجْلَاهُ فَتَقُولُ: لَيْسَ لَكُمْ عَلَى مَا قِبَلِي سَبِيلٌ، كَانَ يَقْرَأُ بِي سُورَةَ «الْمُلْكِ»،

«yuʾtā al-rajulu fī qabrihi, fa-tuʾtā rijlāhu fa-taqūlu: laysa lakum ʿalā mā qibalī sabīlun, kāna yaqraʾu bī sūrata «al-mulki»,

“When a man is approached in his grave, the approach is made from the direction of his feet. They say, ‘You have no way to reach him from our direction; he used to stand on us and recite Surat al-Mulk.’

ثُمَّ يُؤْتَى مِنْ صَدْرِهِ، مِنْ بَطْنِهِ، ثُمَّ يُؤْتَى مِنْ رَأْسِهِ، كُلٌّ يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ، فَهِيَ تَمْنَعُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَهِيَ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ، مَنْ قَرَأَهَا فِي لَيْلَةٍ فَقَدْ أَكْثَرَ وَأَطَابَ» [مو، مس].

thumma yuʾtā min ṣadrihi, min baṭnihi, thumma yuʾtā min raʾsihi, kullun yaqūlu dhālika, fa-hiya tamnaʿu min ʿadhābi al-qabri, wa-hiya fī al-tawrāti, man qaraʾahā fī laylatin fa-qad ʾakthara wa-ʾaṭāba» [مو، مس].

Then the approach is made from his chest—or his abdomen—and then from his head, and each says the same. It therefore protects from the punishment of the grave. It is mentioned in the Torah. Whoever recites it in a night has done much and done well” [مو، مس].

 

«الزَّلْزَلَةُ»

«al-zalzalatu»

SURAT AL-ZALZALAH

﴿إِذَا زُلْزِلَتْ﴾ رُبْعُ الْقُرْآنِ [ت].

﴿ʾidhā zulzilat﴾ rubʿu al-qurʾāni [ت].

“When the earth is shaken...” is one quarter of the Qur'an [ت].

«تَعْدِلُ نِصْفَ الْقُرْآنِ» [ت، مس].

«taʿdilu niṣfa al-qurʾāni» [ت، مس].

“It is equal to half of the Qur'an” [ت، مس].

يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَقْرِئْنِي سُورَةً جَامِعَةً. فَأَقْرَأَهُ: ﴿إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا﴾ [الزَّلْزَلَةِ: ١] حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنْهَا، فَقَالَ: وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ لَا أَزِيدُ عَلَيْهَا أَبَدًا. ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ الرَّجُلُ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: «أَفْلَحَ الرُّوَيْجِلُ» مَرَّتَيْنِ [د، س، مس، حب].

yā rasūla Allāhi, ʾaqriʾnī sūratan jāmiʿatan. fa-ʾaqraʾahu: ﴿ʾidhā zulzilati al-ʾarḍu zilzālahā﴾ [al-zalzalati: 1] ḥattā faragha minhā, fa-qāla: wa-alladhī baʿathaka bi-l-ḥaqqi lā ʾazīdu ʿalayhā ʾabadan. thumma ʾadbara al-rajulu, fa-qāla al-nabiyyu ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam: «ʾaflaḥa al-ruwayjilu» marratayni [د، س، مس، حب].

A man said, “Messenger of Allah, teach me a comprehensive surah.” He taught him: “When the earth is shaken with its final earthquake” [الزَّلْزَلَةِ: ١], and continued until he had finished the surah. The man said, “By the One who sent you with the truth, I will never add anything to it.” He then turned away, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said twice, “That man has prospered” [د، س، مس، حب].

[«الْكَافِرُونَ»]:

[«al-kāfirūna»]:

Surat al-Kafirun:

««الْكَافِرُونَ» رُبْعُ الْقُرْآنِ» [ت].

««al-kāfirūna» rubʿu al-qurʾāni» [ت].

“Surat al-Kafirun is one quarter of the Qur'an” [ت].

تَعْدِلُ رُبْعَ الْقُرْآنِ [ت، مس].

taʿdilu rubʿa al-qurʾāni [ت، مس].

It is equal to one quarter of the Qur'an [ت، مس].

[«الْكَافِرُونَ» وَ«الْإِخْلَاصُ»]:

[«al-kāfirūna» wa-«al-ʾikhlāṣu»]:

Surat al-Kafirun and Surat al-Ikhlas:

«نِعْمَ السُّورَتَانِ هُمَا يُقْرَآنِ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْفَجْرِ: «الْكَافِرُونَ» وَ«الْإِخْلَاصُ»» [حب].

«niʿma al-sūratāni humā yuqraʾāni fī al-rakʿatayni qabla al-fajri: «al-kāfirūna» wa-«al-ʾikhlāṣu»» [حب].

“What fine surahs to recite in the two units before dawn prayer: al-Kafirun and al-Ikhlas” [حب].

[«النَّصْرُ»]:

[«al-naṣru»]:

Surat al-Nasr:

﴿إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ﴾ [النَّصْرِ: ١] رُبْعُ الْقُرْآنِ [ت].

﴿ʾidhā jāʾa naṣru Allāhi﴾ [al-naṣri: 1] rubʿu al-qurʾāni [ت].

“When Allah's help comes...” [النَّصْرِ: ١] is one quarter of the Qur'an [ت].

[«الْإِخْلَاصُ»]:

[«al-ʾikhlāṣu»]:

Surat al-Ikhlas:

﴿قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ﴾ [الْإِخْلَاصِ: ١] ثُلُثُ الْقُرْآنِ [خ، م، ت، ق].

﴿qul huwa Allāhu ʾaḥadun﴾ [al-ʾikhlāṣi: 1] thuluthu al-qurʾāni [خ، م، ت، ق].

“Say: He is Allah, the One” [الْإِخْلَاصِ: ١] is one third of the Qur'an [خ، م، ت، ق].

تَعْدِلُ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ [خ، د، ت، مس].

taʿdilu thulutha al-qurʾāni [خ، د، ت، مس].

It is equal to one third of the Qur'an [خ، د، ت، مس].

وَقَالَ ﷺ عَنْ رَجُلٍ كَانَ يَقْرَأُ بِهَا لِأَصْحَابِهِ فِي الصَّلَاةِ: «أَخْبِرُوهُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّهُ» [خ، م، س].

wa-qāla ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam ʿan rajulin kāna yaqraʾu bihā li-ʾaṣḥābihi fī al-ṣalāti: «ʾakhbirūhu ʾanna Allāha yuḥibbuhu» [خ، م، س].

Regarding a man who used to recite it while leading his companions in prayer, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Tell him that Allah loves him” [خ، م، س].

وَقَالَ ﷺ لِرَجُلٍ كَانَ يُلَازِمُ قِرَاءَتَهَا مَعَ غَيْرِهَا فِي الصَّلَاةِ: «حُبُّكَ إِيَّاهَا أَدْخَلَكَ الْجَنَّةَ» [خ، ت].

wa-qāla ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam lirajulin kāna yulāzimu qirāʾatahā maʿa ghayrihā fī al-ṣalāti: «ḥubbuka ʾiyyāhā ʾadkhalaka al-jannata» [خ، ت].

To a man who always recited it together with another surah in prayer, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Your love for it has admitted you to Paradise” [خ، ت].

وَسَمِعَ رَجُلًا يَقْرَؤُهَا فَقَالَ: «وَجَبَتِ الْجَنَّةُ»، أَيْ: لَهُ [ت، طا، س، مس].

wa-samiʿa rajulan yaqraʾuhā fa-qāla: «wajabati al-jannatu», ʾay: lahu [ت، طا، س، مس].

He heard a man reciting it and said, “Paradise has become certain”—meaning, certain for him [ت، طا، س، مس].

«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّهَا لَتَعْدِلُ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ» [خ، د، س].

«wa-alladhī nafsī biyadihi ʾinnahā lataʿdilu thulutha al-qurʾāni» [خ، د، س].

“By the One in whose hand is my soul, it is indeed equal to one third of the Qur'an” [خ، د، س].

 

«مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَنَامَ عَلَى فِرَاشِهِ، فَنَامَ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ: ﴿قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ﴾، إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ يَقُولُ الرَّبُّ: يَا عَبْدِي، ادْخُلْ عَلَى يَمِينِكَ الْجَنَّةَ» [ت].

«man ʾarāda ʾan yanāma ʿalā firāshihi, fa-nāma ʿalā yamīnihi, thumma qaraʾa miʾata marratin: ﴿qul huwa Allāhu ʾaḥadun﴾, ʾidhā kāna yawmu al-qiyāmati yaqūlu al-rabbu: yā ʿabdī, udkhul ʿalā yamīnika al-jannata» [ت].

“Whoever wishes to sleep in bed, lies on the right side, and then recites ‘Say: He is Allah, the One’ one hundred times, the Lord will say to that person on the Day of Resurrection, ‘My servant, enter Paradise on your right’” [ت].

[«الْفَلَقُ» وَ«النَّاسُ»]:

[«al-falaqu» wa-«al-nāsu»]:

Surat al-Falaq and Surat al-Nas:

«أَلَا أُعَلِّمُكَ خَيْرَ سُورَتَيْنِ قُرِئَتَا؟» [د، س].

«ʾalā ʾuʿallimuka khayra sūratayni quriʾatā?» [د، س].

“Shall I teach you the best two surahs ever recited?” [د، س].

«اقْرَأْ بِهِمَا، وَلَنْ تَقْرَأَ بِمِثْلِهِمَا» [س، حب].

«iqraʾ bihimā, wa-lan taqraʾa bimithlihimā» [س، حب].

“Recite them; you will never recite anything comparable to them” [س، حب].

وَكَانَ ﷺ يَتَعَوَّذُ مِنَ الْجَانِّ، وَعَيْنِ الْإِنْسَانِ، حَتَّى نَزَلَتِ الْمُعَوِّذَتَانِ، أَخَذَ بِهِمَا وَتَرَكَ مَا سِوَاهُمَا [ت، س، ق].

wa-kāna ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam yataʿawwadhu mina al-jānni, wa-ʿayni al-ʾinsāni, ḥattā nazalati al-muʿawwidhatāni, ʾakhadha bihimā wa-taraka mā siwāhumā [ت، س، ق].

He (peace and blessings be upon him) used to seek protection from the jinn and the evil eye of human beings. When the two surahs of refuge were revealed, he adopted them and left everything else [ت، س، ق].

«مَا سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ، وَلَا اسْتَعَاذَ مُسْتَعِيذٌ بِمِثْلِهِمَا» [مص].

«mā saʾala sāʾilun, wa-lā istaʿādha mustaʿīdhun bimithlihimā» [مص].

“No one who asks has asked with anything like them, and no one who seeks refuge has sought refuge with anything like them” [مص].

«اقْرَأْ بِهِمَا كُلَّمَا نِمْتَ، وَكُلَّمَا قُمْتَ» [مص].

«iqraʾ bihimā kullamā nimta, wa-kullamā qumta» [مص].

“Recite them whenever you go to sleep and whenever you rise” [مص].

«اقْرَأْ بِـ: ﴿قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ﴾ [الْفَلَقِ: ١]، فَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تَقْرَأَ بِسُورَةٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَأَبْلَغَ عِنْدَهُ مِنْهَا، فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَلَّا تَفُوتَكَ فَافْعَلْ» [مس].

«iqraʾ bi: ﴿qul ʾaʿūdhu birabbi al-falaqi﴾ [al-falaqi: 1], fa-ʾinnaka lan taqraʾa bisūratin ʾaḥabba ʾilā Allāhi wa-ʾablagha ʿindahu minhā, fa-ʾini istaṭaʿta ʾallā tafūtaka fa-ifʿal» [مس].

“Recite ‘Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak’ [الْفَلَقِ: ١], for you will never recite a surah more beloved to Allah or of greater merit in His sight than this one. If you can ensure that you never miss it, then do so” [مس].

«لَنْ تَقْرَأَ شَيْئًا أَبْلَغَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ: ﴿قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ﴾» [ي].

«lan taqraʾa shayʾan ʾablagha ʿinda Allāhi min: ﴿qul ʾaʿūdhu birabbi al-falaqi﴾» [ي].

“You will never recite anything of greater merit in Allah's sight than ‘Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak’” [ي].

«أَلَمْ تَرَ آيَاتٍ نَزَلَتِ اللَّيْلَةَ لَمْ تَرَ مِثْلَهُنَّ قَطُّ؟: «الْفَلَقُ» «النَّاسُ»» [م، ت، س].

«ʾalam tara ʾāyātin nazalati al-laylata lam tara mithlahunna qaṭṭu?: «al-falaqu» «al-nāsu»» [م، ت، س].

“Have you not seen the verses revealed tonight, the like of which has never been seen? They are al-Falaq and al-Nas” [م، ت، س].

Al Hisn Al Hasin 15 - Salatul tasbih and Istighfar

الْحِصْنُ الْحَصِينُ

al-Ḥiṣn al-Ḥaṣīn

THE IMPREGNABLE FORTRESS

From the Words of the Master of the Messengers

مِنْ كَلَامِ سَيِّدِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﷺ

IMAM IBN AL-JAZARĪ

Abū al-Khayr Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad Ibn al-Jazarī · d. 833 AH 

صَلَاةُ التَّسْبِيحِ

ṣalātu al-tasbīḥi

The Prayer of Glorification

وَهُنَّ اللَّوَاتِي يُقَلْنَ فِي صَلَاةِ التَّسْبِيحِ، وَذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ ﷺ قَالَ لِعَمِّهِ الْعَبَّاسِ: «يَا عَبَّاسُ، يَا عَمَّاهُ، أَلَا أُعْطِيكَ، أَلَا أَمْنَحُكَ، أَلَا أَحْبُوكَ، أَلَا أَفْعَلُ بِكَ ...» عَشْرَ خِصَالٍ: «إِذَا أَنْتَ فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ ذَنْبَكَ،

wa-hunna allawātī yuqalna fī ṣalāti al-tasbīḥi, wa-dhālika ʾannahu ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam qāla liʿammihi al-ʿabbāsi: «yā ʿabbāsu, yā ʿammāhu, ʾalā ʾuʿṭīka, ʾalā ʾamnaḥuka, ʾalā ʾaḥbūka, ʾalā ʾafʿalu bika...» ʿashra khiṣālin: «ʾidhā ʾanta faʿalta dhālika ghafara Allāhu laka dhanbaka,

These are the words said in the Prayer of Glorification. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to his uncle al-'Abbas, “O 'Abbas! O my uncle! Shall I not give you something, bestow something upon you, grant you a gift, and do for you … ten things? If you do this, Allah will forgive your sins:

أَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ، قَدِيمَهُ وَحَدِيثَهُ، خَطَأَهُ وَعَمْدَهُ، صَغِيرَهُ وَكَبِيرَهُ، سِرَّهُ وَعَلَانِيَتَهُ ...» عَشْرَ خِصَالٍ: «أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ، تَقْرَأُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ فَاتِحَةَ الْكِتَابِ وَسُورَةً، فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ مِنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ فِي أَوَّلِ رَكْعَةٍ، وَأَنْتَ قَائِمٌ،

ʾawwalahu wa-ʾākhirahu, qadīmahu wa-ḥadīthahu, khaṭaʾahu wa-ʿamdahu, ṣaghīrahu wa-kabīrahu, sirrahu wa-ʿalāniyatahu...» ʿashra khiṣālin: «ʾan tuṣalliya ʾarbaʿa rakaʿātin, taqraʾu fī kulli rakʿatin fātiḥata al-kitābi wa-sūratan, fa-ʾidhā faraghta mina al-qirāʾati fī ʾawwali rakʿatin, wa-ʾanta qāʾimun,

the first and the last, the old and the recent, the inadvertent and the deliberate, the minor and the major, the secret and the public …”—ten categories. “Pray four units of prayer, reciting the Opening of the Book and another surah in each unit. When you finish the recitation in the first unit while still standing,

قُلْتَ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ. خَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ مَرَّةً، ثُمَّ تَرْكَعُ، فَتَقُولُهَا وَأَنْتَ رَاكِعٌ عَشْرًا، ثُمَّ تَرْفَعُ رَأْسَكَ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ، فَتَقُولُهَا عَشْرًا، ثُمَّ تَهْوِي سَاجِدًا، فَتَقُولُهَا عَشْرًا، ثُمَّ تَرْفَعُ

qulta: subḥāna Allāhi, wa-l-ḥamdu li-llāhi, wa-lā ʾilāha ʾillā Allāhu, wa-Allāhu ʾakbaru. khamsa ʿashrata marratan, thumma tarkaʿu, fa-taqūluhā wa-ʾanta rākiʿun ʿashran, thumma tarfaʿu raʾsaka mina al-rukūʿi, fa-taqūluhā ʿashran, thumma tahwī sājidan, fa-taqūluhā ʿashran, thumma tarfaʿu

say: Glory be to Allah; all praise is due to Allah; there is no deity but Allah; and Allah is greatest—fifteen times. Then bow and say them ten times while bowing. Then raise your head from the bow and say them ten times. Then descend into prostration and say them ten times. Then raise

(١) أَيْ أَنَّ التَّسْبِيحَ وَالتَّحْمِيدَ وَالتَّكْبِيرَ وَالتَّهْلِيلَ ثَابِتٌ فِي الْقُرْآنِ بِتِلْكَ الصِّيغِ الْقُرْآنِيَّةِ.

(1) ʾay ʾanna al-tasbīḥa wa-l-taḥmīda wa-l-takbīra wa-l-tahlīla thābitun fī al-qurʾāni bitilka al-ṣīghi al-qurʾāniyyati.

(1) That is, glorifying Allah, praising Him, magnifying Him, and declaring His oneness are all established in the Qur'an in these Qur'anic formulas.

(٢) جَمْعُ قَاعٍ وَهُوَ الْمَكَانُ الْمُسْتَوِي الْوَاسِعُ. وَقِيلَ الْأَرْضُ الْخَالِيَةُ مِنَ الشَّجَرِ.

(2) jamʿu qāʿin wa-huwa al-makānu al-mustawī al-wāsiʿu. wa-qīla al-ʾarḍu al-khāliyatu mina al-shajari.

(2) The plural of qa', meaning a broad, level place. It is also said to mean land bare of trees.

(٣) أَيْ مَا يَسْتُرُكُمْ وَيَقِيكُمْ.

(3) ʾay mā yasturukum wa-yaqīkum.

(3) That is, something that covers and protects you.

(٤) مُجَنَّبَاتٌ: أَيْ مُقَدِّمَاتٍ أَمَامَكُمْ. وَمُعَقِّبَاتٌ: أَيْ مُؤَخَّرَاتٌ يَعْقُبُونَكُمْ مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ وَمُجَنَّبَاتٍ مِنْ أَمَامِكُمْ.

(4) mujannabātun: ʾay muqaddimātin ʾamāmakum. wa-muʿaqqibātun: ʾay muʾakhkharātun yaʿqubūnakum min warāʾikum wa-mujannabātin min ʾamāmikum.

(4) Mujannabat means those placed ahead of you. Mu'aqqibat means those placed behind you, following at your rear, while the mujannabat are in front of you.

 

مِنَ السُّجُودِ، فَتَقُولُهَا عَشْرًا، ثُمَّ تَسْجُدُ فَتَقُولُهَا عَشْرًا، ثُمَّ تَرْفَعُ رَأْسَكَ مِنَ السُّجُودِ فَتَقُولُهَا عَشْرًا، قَبْلَ أَنْ تَقُومَ، فَذَلِكَ خَمْسٌ وَسَبْعُونَ مَرَّةً فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ، تَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فِي أَرْبَعِ رَكَعَاتٍ،

mina al-sujūdi, fa-taqūluhā ʿashran, thumma tasjudu fa-taqūluhā ʿashran, thumma tarfaʿu raʾsaka mina al-sujūdi fa-taqūluhā ʿashran, qabla ʾan taqūma, fa-dhālika khamsun wa-sabʿūna marratan fī kulli rakʿatin, tafʿalu dhālika fī ʾarbaʿi rakaʿātin,

your head from the prostration and say them ten times. Then prostrate again and say them ten times. Then raise your head from the prostration and, before standing up, say them ten times. That makes seventy-five times in each unit of prayer. Do this in four units.

إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَهَا فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مَرَّةً فَافْعَلْ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَفِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ مَرَّةً، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَفِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ مَرَّةً، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَفِي عُمْرِكَ مَرَّةً» [د، مس، حب].

ʾini istaṭaʿta ʾan tuṣalliyahā fī kulli yawmin marratan fa-ifʿal, fa-ʾin lam tafʿal fa-fī kulli shahrin marratan, fa-ʾin lam tafʿal fa-fī kulli sanatin marratan, fa-ʾin lam tafʿal fa-fī ʿumrika marratan» [د، مس، حب].

If you can perform this prayer once every day, do so. If you cannot, then once every month; if you cannot, then once every year; and if you cannot, then once in your lifetime” [د، مس، حب].

وَهِيَ مَعَ: (وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ)، فَإِنَّهُنَّ الْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ، وَهُنَّ يَحْطُطْنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا تَحُطُّ الشَّجَرَةُ وَرَقَهَا، وَهُنَّ مِنْ كُنُوزِ الْجَنَّةِ [ط].

wa-hiya maʿa: (wa-lā ḥawla wa-lā quwwata ʾillā bi-llāhi), fa-ʾinnahunna al-bāqiyātu al-ṣāliḥātu, wa-hunna yaḥṭuṭna al-khaṭāyā kamā taḥuṭṭu al-shajaratu waraqahā, wa-hunna min kunūzi al-jannati [ط].

Together with (There is no power and no strength except through Allah), these are the enduring righteous deeds. They cause sins to fall away just as a tree sheds its leaves, and they are among the treasures of Paradise [ط].

«تُجْزِئُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَنْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُهُ» [مص].

«tujziʾu mina al-qurʾāni man lā yastaṭīʿuhu» [مص].

“These words suffice in place of the Qur'an for someone unable to recite it” [مص].

وَكَذَلِكَ مَعَ: (اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي، وَارْزُقْنِي، وَعَافِنِي، وَاهْدِنِي) تُجْزِئُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ لِمَنْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُهُ، مَنْ أَخَذَهُ فَقَدْ مَلَأَ يَدَهُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ [د، س].

wa-ka-dhālika maʿa: (Allāhumma irḥamnī, wa-urzuqnī, wa-ʿāfinī, wa-ihdinī) tujziʾu mina al-qurʾāni liman lā yastaṭīʿuhu, man ʾakhadhahu fa-qad malaʾa yadahu mina al-khayri [د، س].

Likewise, together with (O Allah, have mercy on me, provide for me, grant me well-being, and guide me), they suffice in place of the Qur'an for someone unable to recite it. Whoever takes hold of this has filled his hand with goodness [د، س].

وَهِيَ أَيْضًا بِغَيْرِ الدُّعَاءِ مَعَ: (وَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ)، قُيِّضَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مَلَكٌ، فَضَمَّهُنَّ تَحْتَ جَنَاحِهِ، وَصَعِدَ بِهِنَّ، لَا يَمُرُّ بِهِنَّ عَلَى جَمْعٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ إِلَّا اسْتَغْفَرُوا لِقَائِلِهِنَّ، حَتَّى يُحَيِّيَ بِهِنَّ وَجْهَ الرَّحْمَنِ [مو، مس].

wa-hiya ʾayḍan bighayri al-duʿāʾi maʿa: (wa-tabāraka Allāhu), quyyiḍa ʿalayhinna malakun, fa-ḍammahunna taḥta janāḥihi, wa-ṣaʿida bihinna, lā yamurru bihinna ʿalā jamʿin mina al-malāʾikati ʾillā istaghfarū liqāʾilihinna, ḥattā yuḥayyiya bihinna wajha al-raḥmāni [مو، مس].

These words, without the supplication but with (Blessed is Allah), are entrusted to an angel. He gathers them beneath his wing and ascends with them. Whenever he passes a gathering of angels, they ask forgiveness for the one who uttered them, until he greets the Face of the Most Compassionate with them [مو، مس].

«إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَى مِنَ الْكَلَامِ أَرْبَعًا: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ. فَمَنْ قَالَ: (سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ) كُتِبَ لَهُ عِشْرُونَ حَسَنَةً، وَحُطَّتْ عَنْهُ عِشْرُونَ سَيِّئَةً، وَمَنْ قَالَ: (الْحَمْدُ [ط] لِلَّهِ) فَمِثْلُ ذَلِكَ،

«ʾinna Allāha iṣṭafā mina al-kalāmi ʾarbaʿan: subḥāna Allāhi, wa-l-ḥamdu li-llāhi, wa-lā ʾilāha ʾillā Allāhu, wa-Allāhu ʾakbaru. fa-man qāla: (subḥāna Allāhi) kutiba lahu ʿishrūna ḥasanatan, wa-ḥuṭṭat ʿanhu ʿishrūna sayyiʾatan, wa-man qāla: (al-ḥamdu [ط] li-llāhi) fa-mithlu dhālika,

“Allah has chosen four utterances: Glory be to Allah; all praise is due to Allah; there is no deity but Allah; and Allah is greatest. Whoever says (Glory be to Allah) will have twenty good deeds recorded for him and twenty bad deeds erased from him. Whoever says (All praise [ط] is due to Allah) will receive the same;

وَمَنْ قَالَ: (اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ) فَمِثْلُ ذَلِكَ، وَمَنْ قَالَ: (لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ) فَمِثْلُ ذَلِكَ، وَمَنْ قَالَ: (الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ) مِنْ قِبَلِ نَفْسِهِ (١)، كُتِبَ لَهُ ثَلَاثُونَ حَسَنَةً، وَحُطَّتْ عَنْهُ ثَلَاثُونَ سَيِّئَةً ...» [س، أ، مس، ر].

wa-man qāla: (Allāhu ʾakbaru) fa-mithlu dhālika, wa-man qāla: (lā ʾilāha ʾillā Allāhu) fa-mithlu dhālika, wa-man qāla: (al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīna) min qibali nafsihi (1), kutiba lahu thalāthūna ḥasanatan, wa-ḥuṭṭat ʿanhu thalāthūna sayyiʾatan...» [س، أ، مس، ر].

whoever says (Allah is greatest) will receive the same; and whoever says (There is no deity but Allah) will receive the same. Whoever says (All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds) on his own initiative (1) will have thirty good deeds recorded for him and thirty bad deeds erased from him …” [س، أ، مس، ر].

«أَمَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ عَمَلًا؟» قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، وَمَنْ يَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ: «كُلُّكُمْ يَسْتَطِيعُهُ». قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، مَاذَا؟

«ʾamā yastaṭīʿu ʾaḥadukum ʾan yaʿmala kulla yawmin mithla ʾuḥudin ʿamalan?» qālū: yā rasūla Allāhi, wa-man yastaṭīʿu dhālika? qāla: «kullukum yastaṭīʿuhu». qālū: yā rasūla Allāhi, mādhā?

“Can none of you perform deeds equal to Mount Uhud every day?” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, who could do that?” He said, “Every one of you can.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what is it?”

قَالَ: «(سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ) أَعْظَمُ مِنْ أُحُدٍ، وَ(لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ) أَعْظَمُ مِنْ أُحُدٍ، وَ(الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ) أَعْظَمُ مِنْ أُحُدٍ، وَ(اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ) أَعْظَمُ مِنْ أُحُدٍ» [د، ط].

qāla: «(subḥāna Allāhi) ʾaʿẓamu min ʾuḥudin, wa-(lā ʾilāha ʾillā Allāhu) ʾaʿẓamu min ʾuḥudin, wa-(al-ḥamdu li-llāhi) ʾaʿẓamu min ʾuḥudin, wa-(Allāhu ʾakbaru) ʾaʿẓamu min ʾuḥudin» [د، ط].

He said, “(Glory be to Allah) is greater than Mount Uhud; (There is no deity but Allah) is greater than Mount Uhud; (All praise is due to Allah) is greater than Mount Uhud; and (Allah is greatest) is greater than Mount Uhud” [د، ط].

(١) يَعْنِي مِنْ عِنْدِ نَفْسِهِ، يَعْنِي زِيَادَةً عَلَى مَا ذُكِرَ أَوَّلًا مِنْ التَّسْبِيحِ وَمَا ذُكِرَ بَعْدَهُ.

(1) yaʿnī min ʿindi nafsihi, yaʿnī ziyādatan ʿalā mā dhukira ʾawwalan min al-tasbīḥi wa-mā dhukira baʿdahu.

(1) That is, he says it of his own accord, as an addition to the glorification mentioned first and the phrases mentioned after it.

 

«(سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ) مِائَةً تَعْدِلُ مِائَةَ رَقَبَةٍ مِنْ وَلَدِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، وَ(الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ) مِائَةً تَعْدِلُ مِائَةَ فَرَسٍ مُسْرَجَةٍ مُلْجَمَةٍ، يُحْمِلُ عَلَيْهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ،

«(subḥāna Allāhi) miʾatan taʿdilu miʾata raqabatin min waladi ʾismāʿīla, wa-(al-ḥamdu li-llāhi) miʾatan taʿdilu miʾata fa-rasin musrajatin muljamatin, yuḥmilu ʿalayhā fī sabīli Allāhi,

“Saying (Glory be to Allah) one hundred times is equivalent to freeing one hundred slaves descended from Ishmael. Saying (All praise is due to Allah) one hundred times is equivalent to providing one hundred saddled and bridled horses to carry riders in the cause of Allah.

وَ(اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ) مِائَةً تَعْدِلُ مِائَةَ بَدَنَةٍ مُقَلَّدَةٍ، مُتَقَبَّلَةٍ [س، ق، مس، ط، مص] تُنْحَرُ بِمَكَّةَ [ط]، وَ(لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ) تَمْلَأُ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ» [س، ق، مس، أ، ط].

wa-(Allāhu ʾakbaru) miʾatan taʿdilu miʾata badanatin muqalladatin, mutaqabbalatin [س، ق، مس، ط، مص] tunḥaru bimakkata [ط], wa-(lā ʾilāha ʾillā Allāhu) tamlaʾu mā bayna al-samāʾi wa-l-ʾarḍi» [س، ق، مس، أ، ط].

Saying (Allah is greatest) one hundred times is equivalent to offering one hundred garlanded sacrificial camels that are accepted [س، ق، مس، ط، مص] and slaughtered in Mecca [ط]. And (There is no deity but Allah) fills what lies between heaven and earth” [س، ق، مس، أ، ط].

«بَخٍ بَخٍ بِخَمْسٍ (١)، مَا أَثْقَلَهُنَّ فِي الْمِيزَانِ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَالْوَلَدُ الصَّالِحُ يُتَوَفَّى لِلْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ فَيَحْتَسِبُهُ» [س، حب، مس، ر، أ، ط].

«bakhin bakhin bikhamsin (1), mā ʾathqalahunna fī al-mīzāni: lā ʾilāha ʾillā Allāhu, wa-subḥāna Allāhi, wa-l-ḥamdu li-llāhi, wa-Allāhu ʾakbaru, wa-l-waladu al-ṣāliḥu yutawaffā li-l-marʾi al-muslimi fa-yaḥtasibuhu» [س، حب، مس، ر، أ، ط].

“How wonderful—how wonderful—are these five things (1)! How heavy they are in the Scale: There is no deity but Allah; glory be to Allah; all praise is due to Allah; Allah is greatest; and the death of a righteous child, when the Muslim parent seeks reward from Allah for the loss” [س، حب، مس، ر، أ، ط].

«إِنَّ مِمَّا تَذْكُرُونَ مِنْ جَلَالِ اللَّهِ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، يَنْعَطِفْنَ حَوْلَ الْعَرْشِ، لَهُنَّ دَوِيٌّ كَدَوِيِّ النَّحْلِ، تُذَكِّرُ بِصَاحِبِهَا، أَمَا يُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَكُونَ - أَوْ لَا يَزَالُ - مَنْ يُذَكَّرُ بِهِ؟» [ق، مس].

«ʾinna mimmā tadhkurūna min jalāli Allāhi: subḥāna Allāhi, wa-lā ʾilāha ʾillā Allāhu, wa-l-ḥamdu li-llāhi, yanʿaṭifna ḥawla al-ʿarshi, lahunna dawiyyun kadawiyyi al-naḥli, tudhakkiru biṣāḥibihā, ʾamā yuḥibbu ʾaḥadukum ʾan yakūna - ʾaw lā yazālu - man yudhakkaru bihi?» [ق، مس].

“Among the words with which you proclaim Allah's majesty are: Glory be to Allah; there is no deity but Allah; and all praise is due to Allah. They circle around the Throne, humming like bees, and keep the one who uttered them in remembrance. Would any of you not love to have something—or always have something—that mentions him?” [ق، مس].

«اسْتَكْثِرُوا مِنَ الْبَاقِيَاتِ الصَّالِحَاتِ: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ» [س، حب].

«istakthirū mina al-bāqiyāti al-ṣāliḥāti: Allāhu ʾakbaru, wa-lā ʾilāha ʾillā Allāhu, wa-subḥāna Allāhi, wa-l-ḥamdu li-llāhi, wa-lā ḥawla wa-lā quwwata ʾillā bi-llāhi» [س، حب].

“Say often the enduring righteous deeds: Allah is greatest; there is no deity but Allah; glory be to Allah; all praise is due to Allah; and there is no power and no strength except through Allah” [س، حب].

«قُلْ: لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ. فَإِنَّهَا كَنْزٌ مِنْ كُنُوزِ الْجَنَّةِ» [ع، أ، ر، ط].

«qul: lā ḥawla wa-lā quwwata ʾillā bi-llāhi. fa-ʾinnahā kanzun min kunūzi al-jannati» [ع، أ، ر، ط].

“Say: There is no power and no strength except through Allah, for it is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise” [ع، أ، ر، ط].

بَابٌ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ [أ، ط]، غِرَاسُ الْجَنَّةِ [حب، أ، ط].

bābun min ʾabwābi al-jannati [أ، ط], ghirāsu al-jannati [حب، أ، ط].

A Gate of Paradise [أ، ط]; a Planting of Paradise [حب، أ، ط].

وَتَقَدَّمَ أَنَّهَا دَوَاءٌ مِنْ تِسْعَةٍ وَتِسْعِينَ دَاءً أَيْسَرُهَا الْهَمُّ [مس، ط].

wa-taqaddama ʾannahā dawāʾun min tisʿatin wa-tisʿīna dāʾan ʾaysaruhā al-hammu [مس، ط].

It was stated earlier that it is a remedy for ninety-nine ailments, the least of which is anxiety [مس، ط].

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ، فَقُلْتُهَا، فَقَالَ: «مَا تَدْرِي مَا تَفْسِيرُهَا؟» قُلْتُ: اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. قَالَ: «لَا حَوْلَ عَنْ مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا بِعِصْمَةِ اللَّهِ،

kuntu ʿinda rasūli Allāhi ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam, fa-qultuhā, fa-qāla: «mā tadrī mā tafsīruhā?» qultu: Allāhu wa-rasūluhu ʾaʿlamu. qāla: «lā ḥawla ʿan maʿṣiyati Allāhi ʾillā biʿiṣmati Allāhi,

I was with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and I said these words. He asked, “Do you know what they mean?” I replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “There is no power to turn away from disobedience to Allah except through Allah's protection,

وَلَا قُوَّةَ عَلَى طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا بِعَوْنِ اللَّهِ [د]»، وَهِيَ مَعَ: (وَلَا مَنْجَا (٢) مِنَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا إِلَيْهِ) كَنْزٌ مِنْ كُنُوزِ الْجَنَّةِ [س، ر].

wa-lā quwwata ʿalā ṭāʿati Allāhi ʾillā biʿawni Allāhi [د]», wa-hiya maʿa: (wa-lā manjā (2) mina Allāhi ʾillā ʾilayhi) kanzun min kunūzi al-jannati [س، ر].

and no strength to obey Allah except through Allah's aid [د].” Together with (There is no escape (2) from Allah except to Him), it is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise [س، ر].

«مَنْ قَالَ: رَضِيتُ بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا، وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا، وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ رَسُولًا (نَبِيًّا) [م، د]. وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ» [س، م، د، مص].

«man qāla: raḍītu bi-llāhi rabban, wa-bi-l-ʾislāmi dīnan, wa-bimuḥammadin ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam rasūlan (nabiyyan) [م، د]. wajabat lahu al-jannatu» [س، م، د، مص].

“Whoever says, ‘I am content with Allah as Lord, with Islam as religion, and with Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as Messenger (Prophet) [م، د],’ Paradise becomes his due” [س، م، د، مص].

«مَنْ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ، عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، إِنِّي أَعْهَدُ إِلَيْكَ فِي هَذِهِ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا أَنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، وَحْدَكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ، وَأَنَّ

«man qāla: Allāhumma rabba al-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi, ʿālima al-ghaybi wa-l-shahādati, ʾinnī ʾaʿhadu ʾilayka fī hādhihi al-ḥayāti al-dunyā ʾannī ʾashhadu ʾan lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta, waḥdaka lā sharīka laka, wa-ʾanna

“Whoever says, ‘O Allah, Lord of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, I make this covenant with You in this worldly life: I bear witness that there is no deity but You alone, without partner, and that

(١) كَلِمَةٌ تُقَالُ عِنْدَ إِرَادَةِ الْمُبَالَغَةِ فِي الشَّيْءِ، وَقَدْ تُقَالُ عِنْدَ الرِّضَا بِالشَّيْءِ.

(1) kalimatun tuqālu ʿinda ʾirādati al-mubālaghati fī al-shayʾi, wa-qad tuqālu ʿinda al-riḍā bi-l-shayʾi.

(1) This is an expression used to emphasize admiration for something; it may also be used to express satisfaction with it.

(٢) هُوَ مَا تَكُونُ بِهِ النَّجَاةُ.

(2) huwa mā takūnu bihi al-najātu.

(2) That by which deliverance is attained.

 

مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُكَ وَرَسُولُكَ، فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي تُقَرِّبْنِي مِنَ الشَّرِّ، وَتُبَاعِدْنِي مِنَ الْخَيْرِ، وَإِنِّي لَا أَثِقُ إِلَّا بِرَحْمَتِكَ، فَاجْعَلْ لِي عِنْدَكَ عَهْدًا تُوَفِّينِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ،

muḥammadan ʿabduka wa-rasūluka, fa-ʾinnaka ʾin takilnī ʾilā nafsī tuqarribnī mina al-sharri, wa-tubāʿidnī mina al-khayri, wa-ʾinnī lā ʾathiqu ʾillā biraḥmatika, fa-ijʿal lī ʿindaka ʿahdan tuwaffīnīhi yawma al-qiyāmati,

Muhammad is Your servant and Messenger. If You leave me to myself, it will draw me nearer to evil and farther from good. I trust in nothing but Your mercy, so grant me a covenant with You that You will fulfill for me on the Day of Resurrection,

إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ. إِلَّا قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لِمَلَائِكَتِهِ: إِنَّ عَبْدِي عَهِدَ عِنْدِي عَهْدًا فَأَوْفُوهُ إِيَّاهُ. فَيُدْخِلُهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْجَنَّةَ».

ʾinnaka lā tukhlifu al-mīʿāda. ʾillā qāla Allāhu ʿazza wa-jalla yawma al-qiyāmati limalāʾikatihi: ʾinna ʿabdī ʿahida ʿindī ʿahdan fa-ʾawfūhu ʾiyyāhu. fa-yudkhiluhu Allāhu ʿazza wa-jalla al-jannata».

for You never break Your promise,’ Allah Almighty will say to His angels on the Day of Resurrection, ‘My servant made a covenant with Me, so fulfill it for him.’ Allah Almighty will then admit him to Paradise.”

قَالَ سُهَيْلٌ: فَأَخْبَرْتُ الْقَاسِمَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ عَوْفًا أَخْبَرَنِي بِكَذَا وَكَذَا، فَقَالَ: مَا فِي أَهْلِنَا جَارِيَةٌ إِلَّا وَهِيَ تَقُولُ هَذَا فِي خِدْرِهَا [أ].

qāla suhaylun: fa-ʾakhbartu al-qāsima bna ʿabdi al-raḥmāni ʾanna ʿawfan ʾakhbaranī bikadhā wa-kadhā, fa-qāla: mā fī ʾahlinā jāriyatun ʾillā wa-hiya taqūlu hādhā fī khidrihā [أ].

Suhayl said, “I told al-Qasim ibn 'Abd al-Rahman that 'Awf had told me such and such.” He replied, “Every young woman in our household says this in her private chamber” [أ].

وَلَمَّا جَلَسَ الرَّجُلُ وَقَالَ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا، طَيِّبًا، مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ، كَمَا يُحِبُّ رَبُّنَا وَيَرْضَى. فَقَالَ ﷺ: «وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ،

wa-lammā jalasa al-rajulu wa-qāla: al-ḥamdu li-llāhi ḥamdan kathīran, ṭayyiban, mubārakan fīhi, kamā yuḥibbu rabbunā wa-yarḍā. fa-qāla ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam: «wa-alladhī nafsī biyadihi,

When the man sat down, he said, “All praise is due to Allah—abundant, wholesome, and blessed praise, as our Lord loves and is pleased with.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “By Him in whose hand is my soul,

لَقَدِ ابْتَدَرَهَا عَشَرَةُ أَمْلَاكٍ، كُلُّهُمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَى أَنْ يَكْتُبُوهَا، فَمَا دَرَوْا كَيْفَ يَكْتُبُونَهَا، حَتَّى رَفَعُوهَا إِلَى ذِي الْعِزَّةِ، فَقَالَ: اكْتُبُوهَا كَمَا قَالَ عَبْدِي» [حب، س].

laqadi ibtadarahā ʿasharatu ʾamlākin, kulluhum ḥarīṣun ʿalā ʾan yaktubūhā, fa-mā daraw kayfa yaktubūnahā, ḥattā rafaʿūhā ʾilā dhī al-ʿizzati, fa-qāla: uktubūhā kamā qāla ʿabdī» [حب، س].

ten angels rushed to record these words, each one eager to write them down. They did not know how to record them, so they raised them to the Possessor of Might, who said, ‘Record them just as My servant said them’” [حب، س].

الِاسْتِغْفَارُ

al-istighfāru

Seeking Forgiveness

وَتَقَدَّمَ سَيِّدُ الِاسْتِغْفَارِ [خ، س].

wa-taqaddama sayyidu al-istighfāri [خ، س].

The supreme formula for seeking forgiveness was given earlier [خ، س].

«إِنِّي لَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ فِي الْيَوْمِ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً» [ص، طس].

«ʾinnī li-ʾastaghfiru Allāha wa-ʾatūbu ʾilayhi fī al-yawmi sabʿīna marratan» [ص، طس].

“I seek Allah's forgiveness and repent to Him seventy times a day” [ص، طس].

أَكْثَرَ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً [خ، س، ق، طس]، مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ [طس، مص].

ʾakthara min sabʿīna marratan [خ، س، ق، طس], miʾata marratin [طس، مص].

More than seventy times [خ، س، ق، طس]; one hundred times [طس، مص].

«تُوبُوا إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ، فَإِنِّي أَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ فِي الْيَوْمِ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ» [عو].

«tūbū ʾilā rabbikum, fa-ʾinnī ʾatūbu ʾilayhi fī al-yawmi miʾata marratin» [عو].

“Repent to your Lord, for I repent to Him one hundred times a day” [عو].

«مَا أَصَرَّ مَنْ اسْتَغْفَرَ - وَلَوْ عَادَ - فِي الْيَوْمِ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً» [د].

«mā ʾaṣarra man istaghfara - wa-law ʿāda - fī al-yawmi sabʿīna marratan» [د].

“A person who seeks forgiveness has not persisted in sin, even if he returns to it seventy times in a day” [د].

«إِنَّهُ لَيُغَانُ (١) عَلَى قَلْبِي، وَإِنِّي لَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ فِي الْيَوْمِ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ» [م، د، س].

«ʾinnahu layughānu (1) ʿalā qalbī, wa-ʾinnī li-ʾastaghfiru Allāha fī al-yawmi miʾata marratin» [م، د، س].

“At times a veil comes over my heart (1), and I seek Allah's forgiveness one hundred times a day” [م، د، س].

«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَوْ أَخْطَأْتُمْ حَتَّى تَمْلَأَ خَطَايَاكُمْ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ، ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرْتُمُ اللَّهَ لَغُفِرَ لَكُمْ، وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ، لَوْ لَمْ تُخْطِئُوا لَجَاءَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُخْطِئُونَ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ، فَيُغْفِرُ لَهُمْ» [أ، ص].

«wa-alladhī nafsī biyadihi, law ʾakhṭaʾtum ḥattā tamlaʾa khaṭāyākum mā bayna al-samāʾi wa-l-ʾarḍi, thumma istaghfartumu Allāha laghufira lakum, wa-alladhī nafsu muḥammadin biyadihi, law lam tukhṭiʾū lajāʾa Allāhu biqawmin yukhṭiʾūna thumma yastaghfirūna, fa-yughfiru lahum» [أ، ص].

“By Him in whose hand is my soul, if you sinned until your sins filled all that lies between heaven and earth, and then sought Allah's forgiveness, He would forgive you. By Him in whose hand is Muhammad's soul, if you did not sin, Allah would bring a people who would sin and then seek forgiveness, and He would forgive them” [أ، ص].

(١) الْمُرَادُ هُنَا مَا يَغْشَى الْقَلْبَ وَيُغَطِّيهِ، وَقِيلَ الْمُرَادُ مَا يُعْرَضُ مِنْ غَفَلَاتِ الْقُلُوبِ عَنْ مُدَاوَمَةِ الذِّكْرِ، وَقِيلَ الْمُرَادُ هُنَا مَا يُعْرَضُ مِنْ الْغَفْلَةِ وَالسَّهْوِ الَّذِي لَا يَخْلُو مِنْهُ الْبَشَرُ.

(1) al-murādu hunā mā yaghshā al-qalba wa-yughaṭṭīhi, wa-qīla al-murādu mā yuʿraḍu min ghafalāti al-qulūbi ʿan mudāwamati al-dhikri, wa-qīla al-murādu hunā mā yuʿraḍu min al-ghaflati wa-l-sahwi alladhī lā yakhlū minhu al-basharu.

(1) What is meant here is something that comes over the heart and covers it. It is also said to mean the lapses in which hearts fail to remember Allah continually, or the heedlessness and forgetfulness from which no human being is entirely free.

 

«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَوْ لَمْ تُذْنِبُوا لَذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ، وَلَجَاءَ بِقَوْمٍ يُذْنِبُونَ، فَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ اللَّهَ، فَيَغْفِرُ لَهُمْ» [م].

«wa-alladhī nafsī biyadihi, law lam tudhnibū ladhahaba Allāhu bikum, wa-lajāʾa biqawmin yudhnibūna, fa-yastaghfirūna Allāha, fa-yaghfiru lahum» [م].

“By Him in whose hand is my soul, if you did not sin, Allah would remove you and bring a people who would sin, then seek Allah's forgiveness, and He would forgive them” [م].

«مَنِ اسْتَغْفَرَ اللَّهَ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ» [ت، س].

«mani istaghfara Allāha ghafara Allāhu lahu» [ت، س].

“Whoever seeks Allah's forgiveness, Allah will forgive him” [ت، س].

«مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ تَسُرَّهُ صَحِيفَتُهُ (١) فَلْيُكْثِرْ فِيهَا مِنَ الِاسْتِغْفَارِ» [طس].

«man ʾaḥabba ʾan tasurrahu ṣaḥīfatuhu (1) fa-lyukthir fīhā mina al-istighfāri» [طس].

“Whoever wishes to be delighted by his record (1) should fill it with abundant pleas for forgiveness” [طس].

«مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَعْمَلُ ذَنْبًا إِلَّا وَقَفَ الْمَلَكُ الْمُوَكَّلُ بِإِحْصَاءِ ذُنُوبِهِ ثَلَاثَ سَاعَاتٍ، فَإِنِ اسْتَغْفَرَ اللَّهَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ ذَلِكَ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ تِلْكَ السَّاعَاتِ لَمْ يُوقِفْهُ عَلَيْهِ (٢)، وَلَمْ يُعَذَّبْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ» [مس].

«mā min muslimin yaʿmalu dhanban ʾillā waqafa al-malaku al-muwakkalu bi-ʾiḥṣāʾi dhunūbihi thalātha sāʿātin, fa-ʾini istaghfara Allāha min dhanbihi dhālika fī shayʾin min tilka al-sāʿāti lam yūqifhu ʿalayhi (2), wa-lam yuʿadhdhab yawma al-qiyāmati» [مس].

“Whenever a Muslim commits a sin, the angel charged with recording his sins waits for three hours. If the person seeks Allah's forgiveness for that sin at any time during those hours, the angel will not bring it against him (2), and he will not be punished for it on the Day of Resurrection” [مس].

«إِنَّ إِبْلِيسَ قَالَ لِرَبِّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: وَعِزَّتِكَ وَجَلَالِكَ، لَا أَبْرَحُ أُغْوِي بَنِي آدَمَ مَا دَامَتِ الْأَرْوَاحُ فِيهِمْ. فَقَالَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ: فَبِعِزَّتِي وَجَلَالِي، لَا أَبْرَحُ أَغْفِرُ مَا اسْتَغْفَرُونِي» [أ، ص].

«ʾinna ʾiblīsa qāla lirabbihi ʿazza wa-jalla: wa-ʿizzatika wa-jalālika, lā ʾabraḥu ʾughwī banī ʾādama mā dāmati al-ʾarwāḥu fīhim. fa-qāla lahu rabbuhu: fa-biʿizzatī wa-jalālī, lā ʾabraḥu ʾaghfiru mā istaghfarūnī» [أ، ص].

“Iblis said to his Lord Almighty, ‘By Your might and majesty, I will never cease leading the children of Adam astray as long as their souls remain in them.’ His Lord said to him, ‘By My might and majesty, I will never cease forgiving them as long as they seek My forgiveness’” [أ، ص].

وَتَقَدَّمَ حَدِيثُ الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ: وَاذُنُوبَاهْ [مس].

wa-taqaddama ḥadīthu al-rajuli alladhī jāʾa ʾilā al-nabiyyi ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam fa-qāla: wā-dhunūbāh [مس].

The hadith about the man who came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and cried, “Alas for my sins!” was given earlier [مس].

«مَا مِنْ حَافِظَيْنِ يَرْفَعَانِ إِلَى اللَّهِ فِي يَوْمٍ صَحِيفَةٍ، فَيَرَى فِي أَوَّلِ الصَّحِيفَةِ وَفِي آخِرِهَا اسْتِغْفَارًا إِلَّا قَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى: قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لِعَبْدِي مَا بَيْنَ طَرَفَيِ الصَّحِيفَةِ» [ت].

«mā min ḥāfiẓayni yarfaʿāni ʾilā Allāhi fī yawmin ṣaḥīfatin, fa-yarā fī ʾawwali al-ṣaḥīfati wa-fī ʾākhirihā istighfāran ʾillā qāla tabāraka wa-taʿālā: qad ghafartu liʿabdī mā bayna ṭarafayi al-ṣaḥīfati» [ت].

“No two recording angels raise a day's record to Allah and He sees a plea for forgiveness at both its beginning and its end without Blessed and Exalted Allah saying, ‘I have forgiven My servant for whatever lies between the two ends of the record’” [ت].

«مَنِ اسْتَغْفَرَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِكُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَمُؤْمِنَةٍ حَسَنَةً» [ط].

«mani istaghfara li-l-muʾminīna wa-l-muʾmināti kataba Allāhu lahu bikulli muʾminin wa-muʾminatin ḥasanatan» [ط].

“Whoever seeks forgiveness for the believing men and women will have one good deed recorded by Allah for every believing man and woman” [ط].

وَتَقَدَّمَ: مَنْ لَزِمَ الِاسْتِغْفَارَ وَمَنْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُ، جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مِنْ كُلِّ ضِيقٍ مَخْرَجًا ... الْحَدِيثُ [د، س، حب، ق].

wa-taqaddama: man lazima al-istighfāra wa-man ʾakthara minhu, jaʿala Allāhu lahu min kulli ḍīqin makhrajan... al-ḥadīthu [د، س، حب، ق].

It was stated earlier: “Whoever constantly seeks forgiveness and does so abundantly, Allah will provide him a way out of every distress …” to the end of the hadith [د، س، حب، ق].

وَتَقَدَّمَ: مَنْ اسْتَغْفَرَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ ... الْحَدِيثُ [ط].

wa-taqaddama: man istaghfara li-l-muʾminīna wa-l-muʾmināti kulla yawmin... al-ḥadīthu [ط].

It was stated earlier: “Whoever seeks forgiveness for the believing men and women every day …” to the end of the hadith [ط].

وَتَقَدَّمَ حَدِيثُ الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي جَاءَهُ ﷺ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَحَدُنَا يُذْنِبُ، قَالَ: «يُكْتَبُ عَلَيْهِ»؛ قَالَ: ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرُ، قَالَ: «يُغْفَرُ لَهُ» [طس، ط].

wa-taqaddama ḥadīthu al-rajuli alladhī jāʾahu ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam fa-qāla: yā rasūla Allāhi, ʾaḥadunā yudhnibu, qāla: «yuktabu ʿalayhi»; qāla: thumma yastaghfiru, qāla: «yughfaru lahu» [طس، ط].

The hadith was given earlier about the man who came to him (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, one of us commits a sin.” He replied, “It is recorded against him.” The man asked, “Then he seeks forgiveness?” He replied, “He is forgiven” [طس، ط].

«يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ، إِنَّكَ مَا دَعَوْتَنِي وَرَجَوْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَكَ عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْكَ وَلَا أُبَالِي، يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ، لَوْ بَلَغَتْ ذُنُوبُكَ عَنَانَ (٣) السَّمَاءِ، ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرْتَنِي،

«yaqūlu Allāhu taʿālā: yā ibna ʾādama, ʾinnaka mā daʿawtanī wa-rajawtanī ghafartu laka ʿalā mā kāna minka wa-lā ʾubālī, yā ibna ʾādama, law balaghat dhunūbuka ʿanāna (3) al-samāʾi, thumma istaghfartanī,

“Allah Most High says, ‘O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and place your hope in Me, I will forgive you for whatever you have done, and I do not mind. O son of Adam, even if your sins were to reach the clouds (3) of the sky and you then sought My forgiveness,

(١) يَعْنِي عِنْدَ الِاطِّلَاعِ عَلَيْهَا فِي يَوْمِ الْحِسَابِ.

(1) yaʿnī ʿinda al-iṭṭilāʿi ʿalayhā fī yawmi al-ḥisābi.

(1) That is, when he looks at it on the Day of Reckoning.

(٢) أَيْ لَمْ يُطْلِعْهُ عَلَيْهِ.

(2) ʾay lam yuṭliʿhu ʿalayhi.

(2) That is, the angel will not disclose it to him.

(٣) هُوَ السَّحَابُ.

(3) huwa al-saḥābu.

(3) This means the clouds.

 

غَفَرْتُ لَكَ، يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ، لَوْ أَتَيْتَنِي بِقُرَابِ(١) الْأَرْضِ خَطَايَا، ثُمَّ لَقِيتَنِي لَا تُشْرِكُ بِي شَيْئًا، لَأَتَيْتُكَ بِقُرَابِهَا مَغْفِرَةً» [ت].

ghafartu laka, yā ibna ʾādama, law ʾataytanī biqurābi(1) al-ʾarḍi khaṭāyā, thumma laqītanī lā tushriku bī shayʾan, laʾataytuka biqurābihā maghfiratan» [ت].

I would forgive you, child of Adam. If you came to Me with sins nearly filling(1) the earth, then met Me without associating anything with Me, I would come to you with forgiveness nearly filling it” [ت].

«إِنَّ عَبْدًا أَصَابَ ذَنْبًا، فَقَالَ: رَبِّ أَذْنَبْتُ ذَنْبًا فَاغْفِرْهُ لِي. فَقَالَ رَبُّهُ: أَعَلِمَ عَبْدِي أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ، وَيَأْخُذُ بِهِ؟ غَفَرْتُ لِعَبْدِي. ثُمَّ مَكَثَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ أَصَابَ ذَنْبًا، فَقَالَ: رَبِّ أَذْنَبْتُ ذَنْبًا آخَرَ، فَاغْفِرْهُ.

«ʾinna ʿabdan ʾaṣāba dhanban, fa-qāla: rabbi ʾadhnabtu dhanban fa-ighfirhu lī. fa-qāla rabbuhu: ʾaʿalima ʿabdī ʾanna lahu rabban yaghfiru al-dhanba, wa-yaʾkhudhu bihi? ghafartu liʿabdī. thumma makatha mā shāʾa Allāhu, thumma ʾaṣāba dhanban, fa-qāla: rabbi ʾadhnabtu dhanban ʾākhara, fa-ighfirhu.

“A servant committed a sin and said, ‘My Lord, I have committed a sin, so forgive me.’ His Lord said, ‘Does My servant know that he has a Lord who forgives sin and calls to account for it? I have forgiven My servant.’ Then he remained as Allah willed, after which he committed another sin and said, ‘My Lord, I have committed another sin, so forgive me.’

فَقَالَ: أَعَلِمَ عَبْدِي أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ، وَيَأْخُذُ بِهِ؟ غَفَرْتُ لِعَبْدِي. ثُمَّ مَكَثَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ أَصَابَ ذَنْبًا، فَقَالَ: رَبِّ أَذْنَبْتُ ذَنْبًا آخَرَ فَاغْفِرْهُ لِي، فَقَالَ: أَعَلِمَ عَبْدِي أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ، وَيَأْخُذُ بِهِ؟ غَفَرْتُ لِعَبْدِي ثَلَاثًا، فَلْيَعْمَلْ مَا شَاءَ» [خ، م، س].

fa-qāla: ʾaʿalima ʿabdī ʾanna lahu rabban yaghfiru al-dhanba, wa-yaʾkhudhu bihi? ghafartu liʿabdī. thumma makatha mā shāʾa Allāhu, thumma ʾaṣāba dhanban, fa-qāla: rabbi ʾadhnabtu dhanban ʾākhara fa-ighfirhu lī, fa-qāla: ʾaʿalima ʿabdī ʾanna lahu rabban yaghfiru al-dhanba, wa-yaʾkhudhu bihi? ghafartu liʿabdī thalāthan, fa-lyaʿmal mā shāʾa» [خ، م، س].

He said, ‘Does My servant know that he has a Lord who forgives sin and calls to account for it? I have forgiven My servant.’ Then he remained as Allah willed, after which he committed another sin and said, ‘My Lord, I have committed another sin, so forgive me.’ He said, ‘Does My servant know that he has a Lord who forgives sin and calls to account for it? I have forgiven My servant three times; let him do as he wishes’” [خ، م، س].

«طُوبَى لِمَنْ وَجَدَ فِي صَحِيفَتِهِ اسْتِغْفَارًا كَثِيرًا» [ق].

«ṭūbā liman wajada fī ṣaḥīfatihi istighfāran kathīran» [ق].

“Glad tidings to anyone who finds abundant prayers for forgiveness in their record” [ق].

وَتَقَدَّمَ حَدِيثُ الَّذِي شَكَا إِلَيْهِ ﷺ ذَرَبَ لِسَانِهِ، فَقَالَ: «أَيْنَ أَنْتَ مِنَ الاسْتِغْفَارِ؟» [مص، ي].

wa-taqaddama ḥadīthu alladhī shakā ʾilayhi ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam dharaba lisānihi, fa-qāla: «ʾayna ʾanta mina al-istighfāri?» [مص، ي].

The hadith mentioned earlier concerns the man who complained to him (peace and blessings be upon him) about his abusive tongue. He said, “Why do you not seek forgiveness?” [مص، ي].

وَكَيْفِيَّةُ الاسْتِغْفَارِ:

wa-kayfiyyatu al-istighfāri:

How to seek forgiveness:

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ [مو، م].

ʾastaghfiru Allāha, ʾastaghfiru Allāha [مو، م].

“I ask Allah for forgiveness; I ask Allah for forgiveness” [مو، م].

«مَنْ قَالَ: أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ. غُفِرَ لَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ قَدْ فَرَّ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ» [د، ت].

«man qāla: ʾastaghfiru Allāha alladhī lā ʾilāha ʾillā huwa al-ḥayyu al-qayyūmu wa-ʾatūbu ʾilayhi. ghufira lahu wa-ʾin kāna qad fa-rra mina al-zaḥfi» [د، ت].

“Whoever says, ‘I ask forgiveness of Allah, besides whom there is no god, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining, and I turn to Him in repentance,’ will be forgiven even if he had fled from the advancing army” [د، ت].

ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ [ت، حب، مو، ط]، خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ: غُفِرَ لَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِثْلُ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ [مص].

thalātha marrātin [ت، حب، مو، ط], khamsa marrātin: ghufira lahu wa-ʾin kāna ʿalayhi mithlu zabadi al-baḥri [مص].

Three times [ت، حب، مو، ط]. Five times: he will be forgiven even if his sins are like the foam of the sea [مص].

وَإِنْ كُنَّا لَنَعُدُّ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الْمَجْلِسِ الْوَاحِدِ: «رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ (الْغَفُورُ) [ت، س، ق] الرَّحِيمُ» [د، حب] مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ [عه، حب].

wa-ʾin kunnā lanaʿuddu lirasūli Allāhi ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam fī al-majlisi al-wāḥidi: «rabbi ighfir lī, wa-tub ʿalayya, ʾinnaka ʾanta al-tawwābu (al-ghafūru) [ت، س، ق] al-raḥīmu» [د، حب] miʾata marratin [عه، حب].

We used to count the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saying one hundred times in a single gathering: “My Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance. You are truly the Accepter of Repentance—the Ever-Forgiving [ت، س، ق]—the Most Merciful” [د، حب] [عه، حب].

وَمَا أَحْسَنَ قَوْلَ الرَّبِيعِ بْنِ خُثَيْمٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: لَا يَقُلْ أَحَدُكُمْ: أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ. فَيَكُونَ ذَنْبًا وَكَذِبًا، بَلْ يَقُولُ: اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ.

wa-mā ʾaḥsana qawla al-rabīʿi bni khuthaymin raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhu: lā yaqul ʾaḥadukum: ʾastaghfiru Allāha wa-ʾatūbu ʾilayhi. fa-yakūna dhanban wa-kadhiban, bal yaqūlu: Allāhumma ighfir lī, wa-tub ʿalayya.

How fine is the statement of al-Rabiʿ ibn Khuthaym, may Allah be pleased with him: None of you should say, “I ask Allah for forgiveness and repent to Him,” only for it to become a sin and a lie. Instead, one should say, “O Allah, forgive me and accept my repentance.”

وَلَيْسَ كَمَا فَهِمَ بَعْضُ أَئِمَّتِنَا أَنَّ الاسْتِغْفَارَ عَلَى هَذَا الْوَجْهِ يَكُونُ كَذِبًا، بَلْ هُوَ ذَنْبٌ، فَإِنَّهُ إِنِ اسْتَغْفَرَ عَنْ قَلْبٍ لَاهٍ لَا يَسْتَحْضِرُ طَلَبَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ، وَلَا يَلْجَأُ إِلَى اللَّهِ

wa-laysa kamā fa-hima baʿḍu ʾaʾimmatinā ʾanna al-istighfāra ʿalā hādhā al-wajhi yakūnu kadhiban, bal huwa dhanbun, fa-ʾinnahu ʾini istaghfara ʿan qalbin lāhin lā yastaḥḍiru ṭalaba al-maghfirati, wa-lā yaljaʾu ʾilā Allāhi

This does not mean, as some of our scholars understood, that seeking forgiveness in this form is a lie; rather, it is a sin. If a person asks forgiveness with a distracted heart, without consciously seeking forgiveness or turning inwardly to Allah,

(١) مَا يُقَارِبُ مِلْأَهَا.

(1) mā yuqāribu milʾahā.

(1) That is, nearly enough to fill it.

 

بِقَلْبِهِ، فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ ذَنْبٌ عِقَابُهُ الْحِرْمَانُ، وَهَذَا كَقَوْلِ رَابِعَةَ: اسْتِغْفَارُنَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى اسْتِغْفَارٍ كَثِيرٍ. وَأَمَّا إِذَا قَالَ: أَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ. وَلَمْ يَتُبْ، فَلَا شَكَّ أَنَّهُ كَذِبٌ.

biqalbihi, fa-ʾinna dhālika dhanbun ʿiqābuhu al-ḥirmānu, wa-hādhā kaqawli rābiʿata: istighfārunā yaḥtāju ʾilā istighfārin kathīrin. wa-ʾammā ʾidhā qāla: ʾatūbu ʾilā Allāhi. wa-lam yatub, fa-lā shakka ʾannahu kadhibun.

then this is a sin whose punishment is deprivation. It is like Rabiʿah's saying, “Our seeking forgiveness itself needs much seeking of forgiveness.” But if someone says, “I repent to Allah,” without actually repenting, there is no doubt that this is a lie.

وَأَمَّا الدُّعَاءُ بِالْمَغْفِرَةِ وَالتَّوْبَةِ فَإِنَّهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ غَافِلًا فَقَدْ يُصَادِفُ وَقْتًا، فَيُقْبَلُ؛ فَمَنْ أَكْثَرَ طَرْقَ الْبَابِ يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَلِجَ؛ وَيُوَضِّحُ ذَلِكَ إِكْثَارُهُ ﷺ فِي الْمَجْلِسِ الْوَاحِدِ مِنْهُ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ، وَقَطْعُهُ لِمَنْ قَالَ:

wa-ʾammā al-duʿāʾu bi-l-maghfirati wa-l-tawbati fa-ʾinnahu wa-ʾin kāna ghāfilan fa-qad yuṣādifu waqtan, fa-yuqbalu; fa-man ʾakthara ṭarqa al-bābi yūshiku ʾan yalija; wa-yuwaḍḍiḥu dhālika ʾikthāruhu ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam fī al-majlisi al-wāḥidi minhu miʾata marratin, wa-qaṭʿuhu liman qāla:

As for praying for forgiveness and repentance, even if the person is inattentive, the prayer may coincide with a time when it is accepted. Whoever knocks often at the door is likely to enter. This is made clear by the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) saying it one hundred times in a single gathering, and by his definite assurance of forgiveness for the person who says,

«أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ» بِالْمَغْفِرَةِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ قَدْ فَرَّ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ، مَرَّةً أَوْ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ، فَهَا قَدْ كُشِفَ لَكَ الْغِطَاءُ، فَاخْتَرْ لِنَفْسِكَ مَا يَحْلُو.

«ʾastaghfiru Allāha wa-ʾatūbu ʾilayhi» bi-l-maghfirati, wa-ʾin kāna qad fa-rra mina al-zaḥfi, marratan ʾaw thalātha marrātin, fa-hā qad kushifa laka al-ghiṭāʾu, fa-ikhtar linafsika mā yaḥlū.

“I ask Allah for forgiveness and repent to Him,” even if he had fled from the advancing army, whether said once or three times. The veil has now been lifted for you, so choose for yourself what you find pleasing.

وَفِي كِتَابِ «الزُّهْدِ» عَنْ لُقْمَانَ:

wa-fī kitābi «al-zuhdi» ʿan luqmāna:

In the Book of Asceticism, Luqman is reported to have said:

عَوِّدْ لِسَانَكَ: «اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي»، فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ سَاعَاتٍ لَا يَرُدُّ فِيهِنَّ سَائِلًا.

ʿawwid lisānaka: «Allāhumma ighfir lī», fa-ʾinna li-llāhi sāʿātin lā yaruddu fīhinna sāʾilan.

Train your tongue to say, “O Allah, forgive me,” for Allah has times during which He does not turn away anyone who asks.