Chapter on the Prayer of the Day of Mab‘ath and the Night of the Middle of Sha‘ban

Muhammad ibn Yaqub from Ali ibn Muhammad, who transmitted it with a raised chain from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: “When it is the night of the middle of Shaban, pray four rak’ahs. In each rak’ah, recite ‘al-Hamd’ (Surah al-Fatihah) and ‘Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad’ (Surah Ikhlas) one hundred times. When you have finished, say: ‘O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, indeed I am in need before You عز وجل, And I seek refuge in You عز وجل, And I fear from You عز وجل, And I seek protection through You عز وجل. My Lord عز وجل, do not change my name, And do not alter my body. My Lord عز وجل, do not burden me with severe trials, And do not let my enemies gloat over me. I seek refuge in Your pardon from Your punishment, And I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your anger, And I seek refuge in Your mercy from Your chastisement, And I seek refuge in You عز وجل, from You عز وجل. Exalted is Your praise. You عز وجل are as You عز وجل have praised Yourself, and above what those who speak may say.’” He (Ibn Muhammad) said “And Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, also said: ‘On the twenty-seventh day of Rajab, the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, was commissioned (nubbi’a - received revelation for the first time). Whoever prays on that day, at any time he wishes, twelve rak‘ahs; reciting in each rak‘ah the ‘Umm al-Kitab’ (Surah Al Fatihah) and any surah that is easy for him, And when he finishes and gives the salam, he remains seated in his place. Then recites the ‘Umm al-Kitab’ (Surah Al Fatihah), (four times). And the three chapters of seeking refuge (al-Mu‘awwidhat: ‘Qul A‘udhu bi-Rabbi al-Falaq’ (Surah al-Falaq), (four times). And ‘Qul A‘udhu bi-Rabbi al-Nas’ (Surah an-Nas)), (four times). Then, while still seated, he says: ‘There is no God but Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Allah سبحانه وتعالى is the Greatest, (four times). praise be to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, glory be to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, (four times). And there is no power and no strength except with Allah سبحانه وتعالى’ (four times). Then he says: ‘Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Allah سبحانه وتعالى is my Lord عز وجل, and I do not associate anything with Him عز وجل’, (four times). Then he supplicates, and he will not ask for anything except that he will be answered in every need, unless he prays for a calamity upon a people or for the severing of family ties.”