Al-Kafi · Hadith 17

The Book of Supplication · Concise Supplications for Worldly Needs and the Hereafter · Volume 2, book 2, chapter 60, Hadith 17

Original Arabic text

17 - علي بن إبراهيم، عن أبيه، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن معاوية بن عمار قال: قال [لي] أبو عبد الله (عليه السلام) ابتداء منه: يا معاوية أما علمت أن رجلا أتى أمير المؤمنين (صلوات الله عليه) فشكى الابطاء عليه في الجواب في دعائه فقال له: أين أنت عن الدعاء السريع الإجابة؟ فقال له الرجل: ما هو؟ قال: قل: " اللهم إني أسألك باسمك العظيم الأعظم الاجل الأكرم المخزون المكنون النور الحق البرهان المبين الذي هو نور مع نور ونور من نور ونور في نور ونور على نور ونور فوق كل نور ونور يضيئ به كل ظلمة ويكسر به كل شدة وكل شيطان مريد وكل جبار عنيد، لا تقربه أرض (1) ولا تقوم به سماء ويأمن به كل خائف ويبطل به سحر كل ساحر وبغي كل باغ وحسد كل حاسد ويتصدع لعظمته البر والبحر ويستقل به الفلك حين (2) يتكلم به الملك فلا يكون للموج عليه سبيل وهواسمك الأعظم الأعظم الاجل الاجل النور الأكبر الذي سميت به نفسك واستويت به على عرشك وأتوجه إليك بمحمد وأهل بيته أسألك بك وبهم أن تصلي على محمد وآل محمد وأن تفعل بي كذا وكذا ".

Published English translation

17. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu’awiyah ibn ‘ Ammar who has said the following: “Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) on his own initiation said to me, ‘O Mu’awiyah, bear in mind that a man once came to Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) complaining of the delay for the answer to his prayer. Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) asked, “Why do you not pray with the quick for acceptance supplication (prayer quickly accepted)?” The man then said, ‘Please tell me what that supplication is?’ The Imam told him to say, ‘O Lord, I plead before You through Your great name, the greatest one, the glorious one, the magnanimous one, the one treasured and hidden, the light of the truth, and the clear authority in the argument. It is a light with light, a light from a light, a light in a light, a light over a light, a light above all lights, a light that illuminates all darkness, crumbles down all hardships, all condemned devils and every hardheaded tyrant. (It is such) a light that the earth cannot hold and the sky cannot not withstand. With it every frightened person feels secure, every magician’s magic will turn invalid, and the transgression of every transgressor, the envy of every envier will turn ineffective. Due to its greatness the ocean splits open, the ships sail in safety when the angel speak with it, the waves will have no way to it and that is Your greatest of great, glorious of glorious name, the great light with which You have named Yourself and with it You have established Your power over Your Throne. I turn to You through Muhammad and his family and I plead before You to grant al-Salat (favors) upon Muhammad and his family, to provide me help in such and such of my needs. (One then should mention his wishes)”’

Narrator and transmission

See the transmission information preserved in the original source text.

Attributed scholarly assessments

Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi: حسن

Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (12/455)

Assessment transcribed from the source's named scholar and reference. No new grading or consensus is asserted; differing entries remain separate.

Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi: Catalogue non-inclusion note (not an authenticity grade)

Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī

Source records non-inclusion in this scholar's selection; this is not itself a weak or authentic grade.

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