Al-Kāfi

10ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ عَنْ بِشْرِ بْنِ مَسْلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيهِما السَّلام) يَقُولُ مَا أُبَالِي إِذَا قُلْتُ هَذِهِ الْكَلِمَاتِ لَوِ اجْتَمَعَ عَلَيَّ الإنْسُ وَالْجِنُّ بِسْمِ الله وَبِالله وَمِنَ الله وَإِلَى الله وَفِي سَبِيلِ الله وَعَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) اللهمَّ إِلَيْكَ أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَإِلَيْكَ وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِي وَإِلَيْكَ أَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي وَإِلَيْكَ فَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي اللهمَّ احْفَظْنِي بِحِفْظِ الإيمَانِ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيَّ وَمِنْ خَلْفِي وَعَنْ يَمِينِي وَعَنْ شِمَالِي وَمِنْ فَوْقِي وَمِنْ تَحْتِي وَمِنْ قِبَلِي وَادْفَعْ عَنِّي بِحَوْلِكَ وَقُوَّتِكَ فَإِنَّهُ لا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلا بِكَ. مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ مِثْلَهُ.

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn ‘A’Yun from Bashir ibn Muslimah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) would say, ‘Even if all human beings and Jinns will gather together against me I will not be concerned at all after saying these words: “In the name of Allah, with Allah, from Allah, to Allah, in the way of Allah, and upon the religion of the Messenger of Allah, O Lord, to You I have submitted my soul, to You I have turned my face, from You 1 have found support for my shelter, and in Your hands I have placed my affairs. O Lord, protect me by the protection of belief from all directions: front, back, right, left, above, below me and before me and defend me with Your means and power; there is no means and no power without You.’” Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr a similar Hadith.

11ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لِي رَجُلٌ أَيَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قُلْتَ حِينَ دَخَلْتَ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ بِالرَّبَذَةِ قَالَ قُلْتُ اللهمَّ إِنَّكَ تَكْفِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَلا يَكْفِي مِنْكَ شَيْ‏ءٌ فَاكْفِنِي بِمَا شِئْتَ وَكَيْفَ شِئْتَ وَمِنْ حَيْثُ شِئْتَ وَأَنَّى شِئْتَ.

11. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from certain individuals of our people from who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘A man once asked me, “What did you say when you met abu Ja’far (Mansur al-‘Abbasi, ruler) at Rabadha?” The Imam said that I told him what I said was this: ‘O Lord, You are sufficient for everything and there is no alternative for You, suffice me with whatever You will, as You will, whenever and wherever You will.’”

12ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُيَسِّرٍ قَالَ لَمَّا قَدِمَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ أَقَامَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مَوْلىً لَهُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَقَالَ لَهُ إِذَا دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ فَاضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) نَظَرَ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَأَسَرَّ شَيْئاً فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ نَفْسِهِ لا يَدْرِي مَا هُوَ ثُمَّ أَظْهَرَ يَا مَنْ يَكْفِي خَلْقَهُ كُلَّهُمْ وَلا يَكْفِيهِ أَحَدٌ اكْفِنِي شَرَّ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ فَصَارَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ لا يُبْصِرُ مَوْلاهُ وَصَارَ مَوْلاهُ لا يُبْصِرُهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ يَا جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ لَقَدْ عَيَّيْتُكَ فِي هَذَا الْحَرِّ فَانْصَرِفْ فَخَرَجَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) مِنْ عِنْدِهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ لِمَوْلاهُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَفْعَلَ مَا أَمَرْتُكَ بِهِ فَقَالَ لا وَالله مَا أَبْصَرْتُهُ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَ شَيْ‏ءٌ فَحَالَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ وَالله لَئِنْ حَدَّثْتَ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَحَداً لأقْتُلَنَّكَ.

12. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al- Hassan ibn Ali from Ali ibn Maysir who has said the following: “When Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) went to meet Mansur al-‘Abbasi. He (Mansur) told his slave to stand ready and as soon as Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) enters cut off his neck. When Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) entered he looked at Mansur and said something to himself that he did not know what it was then he said out loud, ‘O the One who is sufficient for all of His creatures, and no one is sufficient for Him, suffice me against the evil of ‘Abd Allah ibn Ali. ’ Mansur turned to be as such that he could not see his slave and his slave could not see him. Mansur then said, ‘O Ja’far ibn Muhammad (it seems) we have caused you so much fatigue in this hot day, you may go back.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) then left his office. Mansur asked his slave, ‘What stopped you from carrying my order?’ He said, ‘By Allah I could not see him, something came as a barrier between him and I.’ Abu Ja’far (Mansur) said to him, ‘If you ever tell this to anyone I will kill you.’”

13ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي دَاوُدَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَ لا أُعَلِّمُكَ دُعَاءً تَدْعُو بِهِ إِنَّا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ إِذَا كَرَبَنَا أَمْرٌ وَتَخَوَّفْنَا مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ أَمْراً لا قِبَلَ لَنَا بِهِ نَدْعُو بِهِ قُلْتُ بَلَى بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله قَالَ قُلْ يَا كَائِناً قَبْلَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَيَا مُكَوِّنَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَيَا بَاقِي بَعْدَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَافْعَلْ بِي كَذَا وَكَذَا.

13. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from Ahmad ibn abu Dawud from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Imam said to me, ‘Should I instinct you with a supplication so you can pray? We are a family that whenever something causes us pain or fear a ruler for something we cannot cope with, we pray to Allah with this supplication.’ I said, ‘Yes, may Allah keep my soul and the souls of my parents in service for your cause, O descendent of the Messenger of Allah.’ The Imam told me to say, ‘O the One who existed before everything, O the Giver of being to everything, O the Eternal Being after everything, grant al-Salat (favors) upon Muhammad and his family, and confer upon me such and such of my wishes and needs.’”

14ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَهْزِيَارَ قَالَ كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَمْزَةَ الْغَنَوِيُّ إِلَيَّ يَسْأَلُنِي أَنْ أَكْتُبَ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) فِي دُعَاءٍ يُعَلِّمُهُ يَرْجُو بِهِ الْفَرَجَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَمَّا مَا سَأَلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَمْزَةَ مِنْ تَعْلِيمِهِ دُعَاءً يَرْجُو بِهِ الْفَرَجَ فَقُلْ لَهُ يَلْزَمُ يَا مَنْ يَكْفِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَلا يَكْفِي مِنْهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ اكْفِنِي مَا أَهَمَّنِي مِمَّا أَنَا فِيهِ فَإِنِّي أَرْجُو أَنْ يُكْفَى مَا هُوَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْغَمِّ إِنْ شَاءَ الله تَعَالَى فَأَعْلَمْتُهُ ذَلِكَ فَمَا أَتَى عَلَيْهِ إِلا قَلِيلٌ حَتَّى خَرَجَ مِنَ الْحَبْسِ.

14. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from Ali ibn Mahziyar who has said the following: “Muhammad ibn Hamza al-Ghanawi once wrote to me to ask abu Ja’far (a.s.) to instinct him with a supplication that helps make his wish for relief come true. The Imam wrote back to me, ‘About the request of Muhammad ibn Hamza who wants to be instructed with a supplication that helps make his wish for relief come true, tell him to hold to this: “O the One who suffices for everything and nothing suffices for Him, suffice me in what concerns me in my condition,” 1 hope this will suffice him in his condition of sadness, by the will of Allah, the Most High.’ 1 then informed him of the supplication and shortly thereafter he was released from prison.’”

15ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيهِما السَّلام) يَقُولُ لإبْنِهِ يَا بُنَيَّ مَنْ أَصَابَهُ مِنْكُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ أَوْ نَزَلَتْ بِهِ نَازِلَةٌ فَلْيَتَوَضَّأْ وَلْيُسْبِغِ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ أَوْ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ فِي آخِرِهِنَّ يَا مَوْضِعَ كُلِّ شَكْوَى وَيَا سَامِعَ كُلِّ نَجْوَى وَشَاهِدَ كُلِّ مَلأ وَعَالِمَ كُلِّ خَفِيَّةٍ وَيَا دَافِعَ مَا يَشَاءُ مِنْ بَلِيَّةٍ وَيَا خَلِيلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَيَا نَجِيَّ مُوسَى وَيَا مُصْطَفِيَ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) أَدْعُوكَ دُعَاءَ مَنِ اشْتَدَّتْ فَاقَتُهُ وَقَلَّتْ حِيلَتُهُ وَضَعُفَتْ قُوَّتُهُ دُعَاءَ الْغَرِيقِ الْغَرِيبِ الْمُضْطَرِّ الَّذِي لا يَجِدُ لِكَشْفِ مَا هُوَ فِيهِ إِلا أَنْتَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ فَإِنَّهُ لا يَدْعُو بِهِ أَحَدٌ إِلا كَشَفَ الله عَنْهُ إِنْ شَاءَ الله.

15. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from certain individuals of his people from ibn abu Hamza who has said the following: “I heard Ali ibn al-Husayn saying to his son, ‘My son, if anyone of you faces a misfortune, or an incident, he should complete a Wudu and perform two or four Rak’at (a prayer consisting of four times bowing down on one’s knees) prayer and then say at the end, “O the One who is the right one to complain to, O the One who hears all the whispers, observes every group, knows all secrets, and O the One who removes misfortunes as He wills, O friend of Ibrahim, O the party of special conversation with Moses, O the One who has chosen Muhammad (a.s.) I plead before You like one whose poverty has become intense, his patience has run thin, his power has weakened, like the pleading of a drowning person who is alien and helpless and cannot find anyone to save him from his suffering except You, O the Beneficent, the Merciful.’ Whoever pleads before Allah with this supplication Allah will remove his hardship, if Allah so wills.’”

16ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَخِي سَعِيدٍ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَدْخُلُنِيَ الْغَمُّ فَقَالَ أَكْثِرْ مِنْ أَنْ تَقُولَ الله الله رَبِّي لا أُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئاً فَإِذَا خِفْتَ وَسْوَسَةً أَوْ حَدِيثَ نَفْسٍ فَقُلِ اللهمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ وَابْنُ عَبْدِكَ وَابْنُ أَمَتِكَ نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ عَدْلٌ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ مَاضٍ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ اللهمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَداً مِنْ خَلْقِكَ أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ نُورَ بَصَرِي وَرَبِيعَ قَلْبِي وَجِلاءَ حُزْنِي وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي الله ال��ه رَبِّي لا أُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئاً.

16. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from son of brother of Sa’Id from Sa’Id ibn Yasar who has said the following: “Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) that I suffer from sadness. The Imam instructed me to say very often, ‘Allah, Allah, my Lord, I do not believe in anything as His partner,’ if the insinuation and evil thoughts reduce then say, ‘O Lord, I am Your servant, son of Your servant and the son of Your female servant, my forehead is in Your control. Your judgment about me is just. Your determination about me is effective. O Lord, I plead before You through every name that is Your name that You have revealed in Your book, or have taught it to any of Your creatures, or has kept in the unseen knowledge with You, to bestow al-Salat (favors) upon Muhammad and his family, make the Holy Quran the light for my eyes, the spring for my heart, removal of my sadness, and banishment of my anxiety. Allah, Allah, my Lord, I do not believe in anything as His partner.’”

17ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنِ الْعَلاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ دُعَاءُ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) لَيْلَةَ الأحْزَابِ يَا صَرِيخَ الْمَكْرُوبِينَ وَيَا مُجِيبَ دَعْوَةِ الْمُضْطَرِّينَ وَيَا كَاشِفَ غَمِّيَ اكْشِفْ عَنِّي غَمِّي وَهَمِّي وَكَرْبِي فَإِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ حَالِي وَحَالَ أَصْحَابِي وَاكْفِنِي هَوْلَ عَدُوِّي.

17. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu la’ far (a.s.) who has said the following: “In the night of the attack of the confederate army against the Muslims this was the supplication of the Holy Prophet: ‘O the One to whom people in distress cry for help, O the One who answers the plea for help of the helpless people, O the One who removes my concern and anxiety, remove from me my anxiety, concern and trouble; You know my condition and the condition of my companions, suffice me the fear from my enemies.’”

18ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ أَبِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ خَرَجَ بِجَارِيَةٍ لَنَا خَنَازِيرُ فِي عُنُقِهَا فَأَتَانِي آتٍ فَقَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ قُلْ لَهَا فَلْتَقُلْ يَا رَءُوفُ يَا رَحِيمُ يَا رَبِّ يَا سَيِّدِي تُكَرِّرُهُ قَالَ فَقَالَتْهُ فَأَذْهَبَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَنْهَا قَالَ وَقَالَ هَذَا الدُّعَاءُ الَّذِي دَعَا بِهِ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ.

18. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from Ibrahim ibn Israel from al-Rida (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once in the neck of one of our female servant, a scrofula appeared, and someone came to me and said, O Ali, tell her to say, ‘O Compassionate, O Merciful, O Lord, O my Master,’ repeatedly. The Imam said, ‘She did as she was instructed and Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, removed the disease.’ He (Imam) said that this is the supplication with which Ja’far ibn Sulayman had prayed, (his troubles were removed).”’

19ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) دُعَاءً وَأَنَا خَلْفَهُ فَقَالَ اللهمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِوَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيمِ وَاسْمِكَ الْعَظِيمِ وَبِعِزَّتِكَ الَّتِي لا تُرَامُ وَبِقُدْرَتِكَ الَّتِي لا يَمْتَنِعُ مِنْهَا شَيْ‏ءٌ أَنْ تَفْعَلَ بِي كَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ وَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ رُقْعَةً بِخَطِّهِ قُلْ يَا مَنْ عَلا فَقَهَرَ وَبَطَنَ فَخَبَرَ يَا مَنْ مَلَكَ فَقَدَرَ وَيَا مَنْ يُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَافْعَلْ بِي كَذَا وَكَذَا ثُمَّ قُلْ يَا لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله ارْحَمْنِي بِحَقِّ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله ارْحَمْنِي وَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ فِي رُقْعَةٍ أُخْرَى يَأْمُرُنِي أَنْ أَقُولَ اللهمَّ ادْفَعْ عَنِّي بِحَوْلِكَ وَقُوَّتِكَ اللهمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ فِي يَوْمِي هَذَا وَشَهْرِي هَذَا وَعَامِي هَذَا بَرَكَاتِكَ فِيهَا وَمَا يَنْزِلُ فِيهَا مِنْ عُقُوبَةٍ أَوْ مَكْرُوهٍ أَوْ بَلاءٍ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَعَنْ وُلْدِي بِحَوْلِكَ وَقُوَّتِكَ إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ اللهمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ زَوَالِ نِعْمَتِكَ وَتَحْوِيلِ عَافِيَتِكَ وَمِنْ فَجْأَةِ نَقِمَتِكَ وَمِنْ شَرِّ كِتَابٍ قَدْ سَبَقَ اللهمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي وَمِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ أَنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَا إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَإِنَّ الله قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ عِلْماً وَأَحْصَى كُلَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ عَدَداً.

19. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al- Husayn who has said the following: “Once I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.) to instruct me with a supplication while I was behind him. The Imam said, ‘O Lord, I plead before You, through Your magnanimous face, Your great name, Your majesty beyond reach, through Your power beyond control, to facilitate for me such and such.’ The narrator has said that the Imam wrote for me a note in his own handwriting, ‘O the One Who is High, thus, has subdued (all things), the unseen Who has knowledge (of all things), O the One who owns (all things), thus, has measured (all things), O the One who gives life to the dead and has power over all things, grant al-Salat (favors) upon Muhammad and his family, and provide me such and such needs.” Then the Imam said, ‘O the One beside whom no one deserves to be worshipped, grant me favors. ’ He wrote for me in another note instructing me to say, ‘O Lord, defend me by Your means and power. O Lord, I plead before You this day, this month, in this year for Your blessings and if any trouble, misfortune or punishment that may take place therein, keep them away from me and my children by Your means and power; You have power over all things. O Lord, I seek protection with You against the loss of bounties, change in good health, sudden misfortune, and the evil of the past record of deeds. O Lord, I seek protection with You against the evil of my soul, the evil of every walking creature that You control by their forehead You have power over all things. Allah’s knowledge encompasses all things and has enumerated all things.’”