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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Manifestations of the All-Merciful O Allāh, Free Every Captive أَللٌّهُمَّ فُكَّ كُلَّ أَسِيْرٍ Meaning of Asīr The word Asīr originates from al-asr , which means: الشَّدُّ بِالْقَيْدِ...
“Fastening with a bond…” Rāghib, the famous lexicographer, in his Qur’ānic dictionary al-Mufradāt [^1] says: One who was tied by fetters was known to be asīr ; thereafter, the word was intended for every entity that is seized and bound, even if it was not fettered by anything… for example: أَنَا أَسِيْرُ نِعْمَتِكَ. “I am bound to your favor.” From the abovementioned definition, the comprehensiveness of the concept of the word ‘ asīr ’ becomes clear.
The traditions of the Holy Prophet (s) and his immaculate progeny also reveal this truth. Following are some examples: a. Imām Abu’l Hasan al-Thālith[^2] (‘Alī al-Naqī (as)) is reported to have said: وَالْجَاهِلُ أَسِيْرُ لِسَانِهِ. The ignorant one is a captive of his tongue. b. In a supplication[^3] from Yūsha’ bin Nūn (as) we find the following expression: إِلٌهِي: أَنْتَ مَلِكَ الْعَطَايَا، وَأَنَا أَسِيْرُ الْخَطَايَا.
“O God, You are the Sovereign of bestowals while I am a captive of my faults.” c. In one Ziyārah of Arba‘īn [^4] (40th of Imām al-Husayn (as)) said to be taught by Imām al-Sādiq (as), we address Imām al-Husayn (as) as follows: أَلسَّلاَمُ عَلى أَسِيرِ الْكُرُبَاتِِ. “Peace be upon the captive of deep sorrows.” d.
In his well known epistle[^5] to Mālik al-Ashtar, Imām ‘Alī (as) says: ...فَإِنَّ هٌذَا الدِّينَ قَدْ كَانَ أَسِيراً فِي أَيْدِي الأَشْرَار؛ يُعْمَلُ فِيْهِ بِالْهَوَى، وَتُطْلَبُ بِهِ الدُّنْـيَا... “…for surely this Religion was a captive in the hands of the evil folk, for under its pretext they would follow their base inclinations and seek worldly gains…” e.
In Nahju’l Balāgha [^6], while explaining the characteristics of the angels, Imām ‘Alī (as) is reported to have said: ...فَهُمْ أُسَرَاءُ إِيْمَانٍ... “…for they are captives of faith…” The word ‘ asīr ’ likewise has a relative connotation: whereas a group of people may be captives of their vain inclinations but suffer no physical imprisonment, while another group may enjoy utter spiritual freedom, but be in the state of physical captivity.
The Apparent Extension of Asīr Certainly, this verse is one of the most painful verses of the supplication. Many innocent human beings throughout the world today suffer imprisonment.
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