Invocation when he faced the enemy
Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 2|Chapter 15
وكان (عليه السلام) يقول إذا لقي العدوّ محارباً
Invocation made by Amīr al-mu’minīn when he used to face the enemy.
اَللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ أَفْضَتِ الْقُلُوبُ، وَمُدَّتِ الْأَعْنَاقُ، وَشَخَصَتِ الْأَبْصَارُ، وَنُقِلَتِ الْأَقْدَامُ، وَأُنْضِيَتِ الْأَبْدَانُ.
O’ my Allāh ! hearts are getting drawn to You, necks are stretching (towards You), eyes are fixed (on You), steps are in motion and bodies have turned lean.
اَللَّهُمَّ قَدْ صَرَّحَ مَكْنُونُ الشَّنَآنِ، وَجَاشَتْ مَرَاجِلُ الْأَضْغَانِ.
O’ my Allāh! hidden animosity has become manifest and the pots of malice are boiling.
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَشْكُوا إِلَيكَ غَيْبَةَ نَبِيِّنَا، وَكَثْرَةَ عَدُوِّنَا، وَتَشَتُّتَ أَهْوَائِنَا.
O’ my Allāh ! we complain to You of the absence of our Prophet, the numerousness of our enemy and the diffusion of our passions.
﴿رَبَّنَا افْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْفَاتِحِينَ﴾
Our Lord! Decide between us and between our people with truth, and You are the Best of Deciders. (Qur’ān, 7:89)