The Excellence of Prayers and Strong Recommendation about it

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il and Ibn Mahbub, both narrating from Hanan ibn Sadir from his father who said: “Once I asked Abu Ja’far (al-Baqir) عليه السلام, ‘What is the best form of worship?’. He عليه السلام said, ‘There is nothing more virtuous before Allah عز وجل than to ask and request Him for things.' There is no one more spiteful in the eyes of Allah عز وجل than one who seems himself as above the need to worship Him and does not ask Him.'"

3. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from Maysir ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from Abu ‘Abdillah عليه السلام who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام once said to me, ‘O Maysir, pray and do not say that it is predetermined and it is all over. There is a position with Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, that is not accessible without praying to Him. If a servant keeps his mouth closed and does not plead to receive help, he will not receive anything. O Maysir, there is no door that is knocked repeatedly but that sooner or later it will open up.’”

4. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Khashshab from ibn Baqqah from Mu’adh from ‘Amr ibn Jumayi’ from Abu ‘Abdillah عليه السلام who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام has said, ‘One who does not ask help from Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, becomes needy and poor.’”

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah عليه السلام saying, ‘Pray and do not say that it (belief in predetermination) is already determined and the matter is settled; prayer is worshipping. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘Those who consider themselves above the need to worship Me will soon go to hell in disgrace,’ (40:60) ‘Pray to Me, I will accept your prayers (first part of the above verse).”’

6. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from ibn Abu Najran from Sayf al-Tammar that he heard Abu ‘Abdillah (al-Sadiq) عليه السلام: "Cling to supplication, for you will not be able to draw as close [to Allah] by a means other than this. Do not neglect supplicating for the smallest of things due to its insignificance. Indeed, the one who is turned to for small matters, is also turned to for big matters."

7. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa’Id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from al-Qasim ibn Sulayman from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurara from his father from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام has said, pleading before Allah for help is the form of worship about which Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘Those who consider themselves above the need to worship Me will soon go to hell in disgrace,’ (40:60) pray to Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, and do not say that things are already determined and settled (due to predestination).’ “Zurara has said, ‘The Imam thereby has meant that your belief in Allah’s decision and His measures should not stop you from praying to Allah and pleading before Him for help with seriousness and enthusiasm just as he (the Imam) has said.’”

8. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ari from ibn al-Qaddah from Abu ‘Abdillah عليه السلام who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib عليه السلام has said, ‘The most beloved of deeds before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, on earth is pleading before Him for help and the best worship is chastity.’ The Imam said, ‘Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib عليه السلام was a very prayerful man.’”