He, the Exalted, says: “… Had they, when they wronged...

He, the Exalted, says: “… Had they, when they wronged themselves, come to you and pleaded Allah for forgiveness, and the Apostle had pleaded for forgiveness for them, they would have surely found Allah all-clement, all-merciful.” [^4] This verse is clear in that the pleading for forgiveness by the Prophet (S) on behalf of the believers is among the ‘means’ which Allah has encouraged His servants to seek recourse to when supplicating Him and seeking His forgiveness.

What has been reported in history of the coming of the believers to the Holy Prophet (S) during his lifetime and his seeking forgiveness for them, applies after his demise also; for the Prophet of Allah (S) is living even after his death and provided for near Allah, the Exalted. Pleading with the Holy Prophet (S) and the (‘a) The Islamic narrations are replete with great emphasis on asking for help from the Holy Prophet (S) and his Progeny (‘a).

Dawud al-Barqi says: “I used to listen to Abu ‘Abdillah as-Sadiq (‘a), he mostly used to implore Allah for the sake of the Five, that is the Prophet of Allah, Amir al-Mu’minin, Fatimah, al-Hasan, and al-Husayn (peace be upon all of them).”[^5] Sama’ah is reported to have said, “Abu al-Hasan al-Kazim (‘a) said to me, ‘O Sama’ah!

If you sought a need from Allah, then say, ‘O Allah, {I beseech You} for the sake of Muhammad and ‘Ali, for they enjoy status and rank with You, and {I implore You} for the sake of that status to bless Muhammad and his Progeny, and do with me such and such.’”[^6] Means of Recourse to Allah in the Supplication of Kumayl In the supplication of kumayl , we find a set of means by which Imam ‘Ali (‘a) has sought recourse to Allah, the Exalted.

Actually, these means which have appeared in this supplication constitute the second part of it. But in order for us to discuss the means which the Imam (‘a) employs in this supplication and through which he seeks his needs, it is necessary to give a brief explanation about the structure of this supplication, the key concepts it entails, and the methodology based on which the key ideas presented in this supplication have been arranged.

In actual fact, each of the famous supplications that has reached us from the (‘a) entails specific concepts and a particular methodology based on which those concepts are organized. Each of these supplications has a specific way to commence it and to bring it to close. Similarly, each of these supplications has a structure and a layout peculiar to it.