Supplication (Du`a’) The Holy Prophet has described...
Supplication (Du`a’) The Holy Prophet has described supplication ( du`a’ )([^1]) as the weapon of true believers, the pillar of the religion, and the light of the heavens and the earth:([^2]) اَلدُّعَاءُ سِلاَحُ المُؤمِنِ، وَعَمُودُ الدِّينِ، وَنُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضِ. Supplication has thus become one of the distinctive features of the Imamiyyah Shi`ah who have excelled all others in this peculiarity.
As a result, they have written down tens of books, both brief and elaborate, on the merits and etiquettes of supplicating. Such books have also comprised the prayers and supplications reported from the Holy Imams of the (`a), achieving the purpose which the Holy Prophet (s) and his Household (`a) aimed at when they urged and aroused the interests of people to supplicate Almighty Allah through numerous statements and traditions, such as the following: أفْضَلُ العِبَادَةِ الدُّعَاءُ.
Supplication is the most favorite act of worship.([^3]) أحَبُّ الأعْمَالِ إلَى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي الأرْضِ الدُّعَاءُ. For Almighty Allah, supplication is the most desirable act (of worship) that is done on this earth.([^4]) Moreover, the (`a) said: إنَّ الدُّعَاءَ يَرُدُّ القَضَاءَ وَالبَلاَءَ. Verily, Supplication may hold off predetermined calamities and misfortunes.([^5]) الدُّعَاءُ شِفَاءٌ مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ.
Supplication is a remedy for all maladies.([^6]) Narrations have described Imam `Ali Amir al-Mu'minin (`a) as markedly suppliant.([^7]) A great deal of supplication is expected to be an outstanding feature of one who is described as the chief of the monotheists and the leader of the devout. Like his sermons, Imam `Ali’s (`a) supplications, one of which is the famous Supplication of Kumayl (known as du`a’ kumayl )([^8]), have been masterpieces of Arabic eloquence.
They contain such marvelous Divine facts and religious directives that provide an advanced program of education for true Muslims. If carefully observed, the supplications of the Holy Prophet (s) and Imams (`a) contain an excellent pattern of conduct that a Muslim individual can follow.
They arouse the powers of true faith and conviction, stimulate the spirit of sacrifice for the truth, present the secrets of worship and the pleasant taste of confidential talk with the Almighty, and prescribe what one should learn from one’s religion, what brings one close to Almighty Allah, and what drives one away from corruption, whims and heresies.