• A suppliant should have full trust and hope in Almighty Allah.

●A suppliant should have full trust and hope in Almighty Allah.[^8] • A suppliant should pave the way to beseech for his/her personal requests by words of praise, thanks, and glorification of Almighty Allah. • A suppliant should invoke blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household to supplicate for personal requests.

In fact, a supplication is enshrouded until the suppliant invokes Almighty Allah’s blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household.[^9] • Just like beginning any supplication by invoking blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household, it is highly advisable to conclude the supplication with the same invocation.

In this respect, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said: مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ إِلَى اللهِ حَاجَةٌ فَلْيَبْدَأْ بِالصَّلاَةِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ثُمَ يَسْأَلْ حَاجَتَهُ ثُمَّ يَخْتِمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، فَإِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَكْرَمُ مِنْ أَنْ يَقْبَلَ الطَّرَفَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَدَعَ الْوَسَطَ إِذْ كَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ لاَ تُحْجَبُ عَنْهُ.

Whoever wishes a request to be granted by Almighty Allah, should begin his supplication by invoking blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household and conclude it with the same invocation, because Almighty Allah is too generous to respond to the two ends of a supplication and reject the center. He never rejects any invocations of His blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household.

[^10] • A suppliant should weep or try to weep and shed some tears, be they as small as a fly’s head.[^11] • A suppliant should acknowledge and confess his/her sins and implore forgiveness.[^12] • A suppliant should beseech Almighty Allah in the name of the Holy Prophet and his Household (S), by making them the intercessors for having his/her supplication responded.[^13] • A suppliant should call upon Almighty Allah by repeating such expressions like the following words ten times at least before submitting the request: يَا اللَهُ يَا رَبِّ يَا سَيِّدَاهُ يَا رَحْمٰنُ يَا رَحِيمُ يَا اَرْحَمَ ٱلرَّاحِمِينَ.

O Allah! O my Sustainer! O my Lord! O All-beneficent! O All-merciful! O Most Merciful of all those who show mercy! It is reported that whenever a faithful believer utters such expressions before mentioning his/her request, Almighty Allah will answer him/her, saying, “I am here to respond to you, My servant, pose your request.”[^14] • A suppliant should mention his/her requests by name and in detail.

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