Chapter on the Prayer of Needs

Musa ibn al-Qasim al-Bajali narrated from Safwan ibn Yahya and Muhammad ibn Suhayl from their shaykhs, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: “When you are faced with an important need before Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Mighty and Majestic, then fast for three consecutive days; Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. When it is Friday, Allah سبحانه وتعالى willing, perform ghusl and wear a new garment, then ascend to the highest room in your house and pray two units (rak’ahs) therein. Then raise your hands toward the sky and say: ‘O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, I have come to Your courtyard, Acknowledging Your Oneness and Your Self-Sufficiency, And knowing that none is capable of fulfilling my need besides You عز وجل. And You عز وجل know, O’ my Lord عز وجل, that every time Your blessings increase upon me, my neediness toward You عز وجل intensifies. A worry (such-and-such) has struck me, You عز وجل are aware of its removal without being taught, all-encompassing without effort. So I ask You عز وجل by Your Name which, when You عز وجل placed it upon the mountains, they were crushed; And when You عز وجل placed it upon the sky, it split; And when You عز وجل placed it upon the stars, they scattered; And when You عز وجل placed it upon the earth, it was spread out. And I ask You عز وجل by the truth which You عز وجل have placed with (Prophet) Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and the Imams عليه السلام (and you name them to their end), I ask that You عز وجل send blessings upon (Prophet) Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and his family عليه السلام, And that You عز وجل fulfill my need, And ease its difficulty for me, And suffice me in its concern. So if You عز وجل do so, then to You عز وجل belongs all praise; And if You عز وجل do not do so, then to You عز وجل belongs all praise, You عز وجل are neither unjust in Your judgment, nor accused in Your decree, nor feared in Your justice.’” (Imam عليه السلام then continued) “Then place your cheek on the ground and say: ‘O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, indeed Yunus son of Matta, Your servant, called upon You عليه السلام from within the belly of the whale, and he was Your servant, and You عليه السلام answered him. And I am Your servant; I call upon You عليه السلام, so answer me.’” Then Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “When I have a need, I supplicate with this supplication, and whilst I return, it has already been fulfilled.”

Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Duwail from Muqatil, who said: I said to Imam al-Ridha عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “May I be your ransom, teach me a supplication for the fulfillment of needs.” Imam عليه السلام said: “When you have an important need from Allah سبحانه وتعالى, perform ghusl (ritual bathing), wear your cleanest clothes, and apply some perfume. Then go out under the open sky and pray two units (rak’ahs) of prayer. Begin the prayer by reciting the ‘Fatihat al-Kitab’ (Surah al-Fatihah) and ‘Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad’ (Surah al-Ikhlas) fifteen times. Then bow (for rukuh) and recite it fifteen times in the same manner as the prayer of al-Tasbih, except that the recitation is fifteen times. When you finish with salam, recite it again (Surah Ikhlas) fifteen times. Then go into prostration (sujud) and say in your prostration: ‘O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, every object of worship from beneath Your Throne to the depth of Your earth is false except You عز وجل, for indeed You عز وجل are Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the True, the Clear. Fulfill for me the need of such and such this very hour, this very hour!’ And be insistent in what you seek.”